Women's
Paula Patton Stars in the Shoe & Handbag Book
Paula Patton covers the Neiman Marcus Shoe & Handbag Book.
On-the-rise actress Paula Patton graces the pages of the NM Shoe & Handbag Book this season. The stunning screen siren, whom you might reconize from the most recent film chapter of Mission Impossible and the Oscar-winning film Precious, is a proud new mom with a killer figure, a dazzling smile and a talent for captivating the camera. For the spread, shot by photographer Walter Chin, Patton played the role of herself, an in-demand actress who has the confidence to wear bold color and print, carry a statement-making handbag and effortlessly brave a pair of scene-stealing, sky-high heels.
“It’s fun to get dressed up everyday, and we should do it more often,” Patton says when asked why she loves fashion. ”It’s not just for other people, it’s for yourself. It puts you in a better mood and it’s a way to express yourself artistically every day.”
Patton wears the Jimmy Choo "Pekabo"platform wedge sandal on page 13 of the Shoe & Handbag Book.
To enhance the vibe of an ensemble at photoshoots, Paula naturally turns to music. After all, she is married to singer-songwriter Robin Thicke and has been known to sing back-up and make a cameo in a music video here and there.
“It puts you in a place,” Patton says citing jazz songstresses Della Reese and Ella Fitzgerald as the type of transformative tunes she tends to listen to on photo shoots or in her trailer on set. “I also like to listen to a lot of Brazilian music. It has a sexiness to it and it also sort of transports you to the beach and makes you feel more relaxed.”
Patton wears the Manolo Blahnik Rila metal strap slingback.
Even though Patton was playing herself in front of Chin and the NM creative team, that included creative director Georgia Christensen and art director Peggy Bennett, the actress couldn’t resist that thespian urge to fall into character.
“When they shot the look with the Proenza bag, I was wearing this white, men’s shirt type of dress and we were walking down the street in New York, and in my mind I was playing a glamorized rendition of Annie Hall,” Patton says of the shot you can see on page 6. Patton’s stylist loved the Proenza Schouler python tote so much, she ended up buying it for herself.
Patton and the Proenza Schouler multicolor python-print tote.
While her stylist made off with a new handbag, it was a pair of Sergio Rossi embroidered painted-canvas heels that really stole the spotlight for Patton.
“They look like they are fresh from the garden,” Patton says of the shoes that made the catalog’s cover. ”It may seem like a shoe like that is a one-outfit shoe, but I dont think it is. You could wear it with a dress or with jeans or a t-shirt. I think that’s what’s fun about accessories—getting the most use out of them and enjoying them.”
Patton wears the Sergio Rossi canvas and leather sandals with embroidered crystals on page 4 of the Shoe & Handbag Book.
Like any true fashion lover, Patton has difficulty picking a favorite designer.
“It’s hard to choose just one!” She laughs. “One of my favorites is Dolce & Gabbana. Their designs are very romantic and I love that they embrace feminity. When I wear their clothes I feel like I am transported to Lake Como or walking on cobblestone streets.”
Patton met with fans and signed copies of the Shoe & Handbag book at NM Topanga Wednesday, March 28. Photo, Brandon Clark.
Whether the camera is on or off, Patton’s appreciation for fashion is evident. Years walking the red carpet and working with stylists has taught her that building a wardrobe is all about investment.
“I have learned through the ages to spend my money on things that are timeless,” Patton says. “I make my fun purchases here and there. But when buying bags and even shoes I try to think about it in a long-term way.”
This season it might be a bright yellow Alexander Wang bucket bag from the photo shoot, that months after first seeing she confesses she is still “in love with.”
Flip through the Shoe & Handbag Book on NeimanMarcus.com or on NM Editions for iPad. During the Shoe & Handbag Event, March 29-April 1, a $350 regular-priced Ladies Shoes or Designer Handbags purchase earns you a $50 gift card. (Some limits and exclusions apply.)
