Classic, Classic, Classic, Kate Spade

If you keep up with the Luxury section of Splendicity you know very well that I adore classic and traditional luxury items for their ability to transition from event to event and from season to season. One designer that thoroughly understands this concept, and has for nearly fifteen years, is Kate Spade.

Kate Spade, a midwestern born, Arizona educated, and New York employed girl understands these values because she saw these classic and traditional items were missing from the fashion industry after working in the industry for some time.

After discovering the lack of these items in the world of fashion, she, along with the husband Andy (who happens to be the brother of actor and comedian David Spade) created “kate spade handbags” in 1993. By 1996 these handbags were all the rage, Kate had won several awards and I had even taken notice.

A Kate Spade handbag, if you remember from a million years ago, was the one handbag I had to have in high school. All the cheerleaders and dance team girls carried around those little black satin purses with the “kate spade” logo on them. I wanted one so badly. I think I babysat for three months straight to get one of these purses. Come to find out, a few years later, (and a few Spanish classes later) lots of the Kate Spade bags at my prestigious high school were fakes.

I’m not the only one that has been duped by fake Kate Spade bags. While more recent Kate Spade bags are much more print friendly, fun, and original, the older more “vintage” Kate Spade bags were criticized by  many handbag designers and luxury fashionistas for being easily copied. They could be found a flea markets, in the back or cars, and even in border towns (where I found one of my favorite ones…and where my Spanish classes came in handy).

Criticisms aside, I adore Kate Spade and the things she has done. She has single handily helped me discover the reality that is classic and traditional fashion. Thanks!

Kate has also branched out into other arenas, including, clothing, stationary, babies, and home. That gets me super excited!

For more information and these images check out Kate Spade