OverDressed for Life

Me at 5 years old with my red patent leather handbag. Don’t I look pleased with myself. 

Playing dress-up begins at age 5 and never truly ends.

Kate Spade (1962-2018), American fashion designer.

Kate Spade was known for her handbag line which she launched with her husband, Andy Spade, in 1993. The business was a huge success with affordable Kate Spade bags becoming a staple in every stylish woman’s closet. What is lesser known is that the Spades sold a portion of their company shares to Neiman Marcus in 1999 and the rest in 2006. Today the company is owned by Coach.

In 2016 the couple got back into the biz with a new line called Frances Valentine.

I chose this quote because I think many woman can relate and it reminded me of myself at 5 years old when I was all about handbags. I had a small collection which included a couple of patent leather, a wicker, and one orange cloth with a faux tortoiseshell handle. (That one had belonged to my mother but I loved it so much she let me have it.) Indeed I liked to play dress-up with my handbags (and hats), creating outfits to go with them. It made me feel grown up.

Thanks Kate Spade for the reminder and for giving us the opportunity to continue playing.

Sadly, last week the designer hung herself with a scarf in her NYC home.

RIP Kate Spade.