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#Patricia Field talks about dressing ‘Emily in Paris’

#Patricia Field talks about dressing ‘Emily in Paris’

She’s Carrie-ing on.

Legendary costume designer Patricia Field — the woman who made Sarah Jessica Parker a fashion icon as Carrie Bradshaw on “Sex and the City” — has a new muse: Lily Collins, star of the buzzy Netflix series “Emily in Paris.” The actress plays a 20-something Midwesterner who finds herself working at a marketing firm in the French capital and becoming a social-media influencer overnight.

And one star of the show came straight from Field’s own East Village closet.

“One of Emily’s signature items was my personal phone case that looked like a [retro point-and-shoot] camera,” Field, 78, told The Post. “Emily is constantly taking photos in the show for Instagram and other social media.”

Field calls the accessory “Emily’s ‘Carrie’ necklace” — a shout-out to the gold nameplate jewelry Parker wore that launched a million imitators. It’s “received a very positive reaction from fans,” Field said of the whimsical case, which she picked up in South Korea. (A near-identical version is available on Casetify for $50.)

The show is all about “fashion statements,” Field said.

Lily Collins in a scene from the series "Emily in Paris."
Lily Collins in a scene from the series “Emily in Paris.”AP

Like with “Sex and the City” and Field’s other projects, including “The Devil Wears Prada” and the TV Land series “Younger,” the wardrobe is a mashup of trendy and vintage, high fashion and a little bit of ridiculousness. Looks such as a Barbie-pink mini and trench coat, with matching pumps and knee-high socks, are also a visual feast for an audience stuck at home in sweatpants. Which may be why the rom-com series was Netflix’s third-most-watched offering in the US as of Monday.

“She wants to impress,” said Field of the heroine. She called Emily’s colorful silk button-down with a hot-air-balloon motif a “nod to her excitement at being there — it was intentionally cliche.”

Lily Collins in scenes from the series "Emily in Paris."
Lily Collins in scenes from the series “Emily in Paris.”Netflix

Show creator and longtime Field collaborator Darren Star brought her in early, before roles were even cast, to help shape the characters. “I love working with Darren and give him my casting suggestions,” said Field, who likes to review audition tapes and assess an actor’s “body form” before crafting a signature style.

Field takes Emily from flannels and Keds to trés chic confections by French designers. She enlisted a local, costumer Marylin Fitoussi, to show her how to shop like a Parisian. “I needed someone like her to guide me to locations as well as aesthetics,” said Field, noting that the character “increasingly picks up cues from the French, including [her] beret and the neck scarf.”

She relied especially on the vintage store Les Merveilles de Babellou in Paris’ Clignancourt neighborhood. It supplied her with “rare pieces” and trendy designers, including Stephane Rolland and Alexandre Vauthier, whose strapless black top she paired with a tulle skirt by New Yorker David Dalrymple for a party Emily attends in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Lily Collins in a scene from the series "Emily in Paris."
Lily Collins in a scene from the series “Emily in Paris.”COURTESY OF NETFLIX

And while Carrie had a Manolo Blahnik addiction, Emily has a penchant for Christian Louboutin heels — a love that mirrors Collins’ real-life taste. “Lily loved Louboutins and we were able to provide her a great selection thanks to [the brand’s] enthusiasm,” said Field, noting that the designer provided several pairs of custom metallic mules for “Sex and the City” as well.

One of Field’s favorite Emily outfits is “a green Chanel jacket that I used [for] an oversize look … That interpretation made it youthful, as when I put Carrie in a Chanel jacket with a pair of jeans.” She’s also fond of a hand-painted yellow bag by Jody Morlock and a patchwork dress by Dope Tavio, which Field called “part street and part couture.” Both are from ArtFashion, the costumer’s Lower East Side boutique.

Field feels fortunate to keep it open during these trying times. As a woman who shops for a living, she’s devastated that her go-to NYC fashion emporium has fallen victim to the pandemic.

“My favorite store has been Century 21, as I find varied surprises there as opposed to what’s trendy for the season,” Field told The Post of the local department store chain that filed for bankruptcy last month. “I will miss them.”

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