SINGAPORE - She has an Emmy Award for her work on Sex And The City, hangs out with celebrities and lives in one of the fashion capitals of the world - New York City.

But Asia's really the place to be, designer and stylist Patricia Field maintains.

The New Yorker was in town for Digital Fashion Week, a three-day online-only event that allowed viewers to purchase clothes directly off the runway as the shows were streamed.

Also in town were androgynous model Andrej Pejic and America's Next Top Model Cycle 18 winner Sophie Sumner.

The flame-haired costume and fashion designer, 71, who worked on the Sex And The City TV series and both of the movies, told The New Paper last week that she found Asian fashion, especially the fashion choices made by younger Asians, fun and interesting.

Field noted that most Asian fashion, particularly in cities like Bangkok and Seoul, are "colourful and light-hearted", something she attributed to the region's younger population.

"The market is younger, so it's fertile ground for young fashion," she said. "Young men's clothes here in particular are so inexpensive, up-to-date and with it."

It's the variety Field finds in Asia that keeps bringing her back here on shopping expeditions for her self-named boutique back home.

"Every chance I get, I come here to shop for my store," she said. "There's an energy here that I can't help but get excited by."

In the last few years, she has been invited to work in Asia, acting as costume designer for 2010 Chinese film Go Lala Go and 2011 Taiwanese drama Material Queen.

In 2008, she worked on the outfits for Japanese pop star Namie Amuro's music videos for her singles New Look, Rock Steady and What A Feeling.

"She was such a fun person," said Field. "An amazing person to work with, and so professional. I find her sense of style incredible."

Working in Asia in general has been enjoyable for the American so far.

"The professionalism struck me very strongly. People get things done here," she explained. "They work like me. In the US film and TV industry, people are always looking at their watch and counting pennies."

It seems a bit harsh for Field to knock the same industry that's pushed her global exposure. Besides her Sex And The City Emmy win, she was nominated for an Oscar for her work as costume designer for The Devil Wears Prada.

But Field admitted that she enjoys "throwing my opinion around", which is why she has been a guest judge twice now on Project Runway, a US reality television series.

Hoopla

That's certainly not hard to believe, considering her controversial foray into the hoopla surrounding British designer John Galliano last year.

Galliano was sharply criticised by the fashion world for an anti-Semitic tirade he unleashed on two women, which was caught on video.

The incident cost him his job as chief designer at Christian Dior.

Field came to his defence, sending out an e-mail to friends and people in the media, to describe Galliano's tirade as "farce" and "theatre".

"I did that because of my personal experiences with him," she said. "I don't think he has a bad bone in his body."

Recently, rumours have been swirling that he will return to fashion as the head of legendary Italian fashion house Schiaparelli, which will relaunch soon.

While Field says she has no regrets about coming out in support of the designer, she noted that as public figures, there is a "responsibility" to behave well, especially if fans are involved.

"I saw (US R&B singer) Mary J. Blige once in a store. Some girls asked her: 'Are you Mary J. Blige?' and she replied: 'No, I'm her nasty sister.'

"I was like: 'What's wrong with you? You want to make them hate you?'"

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