Background
Mrs. Spade was born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, on December 24, 1962. She is a daughter of June (Mullen) and Earl Francis Brosnahan, who owned a road-construction company.
University of Kansas.
Arizona State University.
Andy Spade and Kate Spade at Karlie Kloss and Warby Parker Collaboration launch dinner, Fleurs Bella, New York.
Designer Kate Spade at an event with handbags of her own design in New York, 1998.
Designer Kate Spade inside her New York flagship store on May 28, 1996.
HBO Documentary Screening Of Every F---ing Day Of My Life, 2009.
Kate Spade with a handbag of her own design in 1998 in New York.
Kate Spade poses with handbags and shoes from her 2004 next collection in New York.
(New York Times Bestseller in this charming guide to enter...)
New York Times Bestseller in this charming guide to entertaining, kate spade new york throws rigid rules out the door and shares unpretentious ideas for the modern-day hostess that are easy, festive, authentic, and always with an air of deliberate polish.
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(A great collection photographs of the contents of women's...)
A great collection photographs of the contents of women's Kate Spade bags and purses, along with descriptions of each. Each book is an individually number limited edition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HWBYF6/?tag=2022091-20
Mrs. Spade was born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, on December 24, 1962. She is a daughter of June (Mullen) and Earl Francis Brosnahan, who owned a road-construction company.
She graduated from St. Teresa's Academy, an all-girl Catholic high school. She attended the University of Kansas and then transferred to and graduated from Arizona State University, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1985.
In 1986, Mrs. Spade worked in the accessories department of Mademoiselle in Manhattan, where she was credited in the magazine's masthead with her maiden name as Katy Brosnahan. While at Mademoiselle, she met and moved in with Andy Spade (brother of actor and comic David Spade), a native of Scottsdale, Arizona. The two were working side-by-side as salespersons in a men's clothing store, Carter's Men Shop in Phoenix, Arizona.
Together, they were featured in the magazine as part of a photo story on couples in love. She left Mademoiselle in 1991, with the title of senior fashion editor/head of accessories. While working for Mademoiselle she noticed that the market lacked stylish and sensible handbags, and decided to create her own.
Mrs. Spade and Joel Franklin launched the New York-based design company "kate spade handbags" in January 1993. As the name implies, they initially started out selling mainly handbags, but eventually extended to clothing to jewelry, shoes, stationery, eyewear, baby, fragrance, tabletop, bedding and gifts. In 1996 Kate Spade opened its first boutique, a 400-square-foot shop located in Manhattan's trendy SoHo district, and moved its headquarters into a 10,000-square-foot space in West 25th Street. Her handbags were distinctive for their modern, sleek look, pops of color and utilitarian shapes. Her husband became her partner, and, over the years, their business expanded internationally.
Kate Spade went on to offer products in a range of categories, from eyewear to shoes to paper goods, in more than 450 stores globally. While they sold the business to the Neiman Marcus Group in 1999, the Spades have remained active forces within the brand they built. The company grew to include several retail outlets as well as selling their products through such high-end stores as Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.
In 2004, "Kate Spade at home" was launched as a home collection brand. It features bedding, bath items, china, wallpaper and various items for the home. The brand went international in 2004, when a store was opened in Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan. Kate Spade & Co
. In February 2014 Craig Leavitt became the CEO of Kate Spade & Co., which is a lifestyle accessories and fashion brand. Kate Spade New York has over 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the United States, and more than 175 shops internationally. She also shared about her personal style and philosophies in her three books: Manners, Occasions, and Style.
In 2016, the Spades, along with their longtime friends, Elyce Arons and shoe designer Paola Venturi, launched their new fashion endeavor, Frances Valentine. That year also brought the introduction of a Minnie Mouse-themed line of products, its popularity leading to a new batch of Minnie purses, phone accessories and jewelry in 2017.
(New York Times Bestseller in this charming guide to enter...)
(A great collection photographs of the contents of women's...)
Illustration by Kate Spade
Kate Spade, Fall collection
Kate Spade New York, Spring/Summer
Kate Spade's 2013 Spring Collection
Kate Spade's Autumn Collection
Sketch by Kate Spade
Kate Spade and Jack Spade Spring Accessory Collection Breakfast
Kate Spade New York Mini Makayla
Kate Spade New York Canvas Sam
Quotations:
"I remember someone once said there is a practical aspect to my designs, and I remember thinking, 'That doesn't sound so creative,' but that is actually the truth. There is a practicality to it. I don't design just to design. There is a reason and, hopefully, an interesting reason behind it - that is where my creativity comes in."
"I like my stationery to be funnier, like, 'Here's my note, and it's an elephant with a lady smoking a cigarette on top.'"
"Before I came to New York, I only had a few pictures of the city in my mind. And you know 'That Girl?' Marlo Thomas jumping with her hat? I always loved that, and I wondered what that double street she crosses is. And it's Park Avenue! And that's what I can see out my window."
"People have this impression that I'm a little kooky, but I'm actually very OCD. I love order and organization. I'm a big list maker. But if I cross off too many tasks, and it's hard to see the remaining ones, I have to start a new list. Now that's OCD."
"I buy so much fake jewelry, it's funny. It's not real. I don't wear real diamonds or anything."
"I love lamps. I can't stand overhead lighting. I have to have everything on a dimmer."
"The idea of recklessly spending money - even though it sounds like it's lots of fun, it's fashion - isn't interesting to me. It is a business."
"I'm admittedly not that into the Internet."
"I like a full house because it's how I grew up. I'm one of six children."
Kate Brosnahan first met her future husband, Andy Spade, in 1983 while they were in college. Later, they worked together at the Mademoiselle. Love sprouted between the two and finally they tied the nuptials in 1994. The couple welcomed their daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade, in February 2005.