There is a wonderful certainty inherent in a Kate Spade collection. A familiar pattern, a lovely line, a cute cut that never really changes. For instance, from season to season, you know there always will be a wild, unrelenting print, there always will be a meandering evening coat, and there always will be a trophy dress (or ten) that mix luxury with ease. And there will always be a pricey tag. Always. Always meaning, on occasion, and for all occasions.
For Fall 2015, all of those elements were present and accounted for – blouses and casual shift dresses decorated with wild dots and dancing flamingos (depending on the configuration) – tea length skirts in in fire engine red silk organza, Scottish woodland plaid, and a particular silk shantung trophy dress in a gorgeous shade of hyacinth blue – the featured T ‘her’s day’ blue tie dress (pictured here and finished off with a hold over pair of sparkly pumps from several seasons ago.)
KSNY designs transport an audience out of an everyday experience and makes the ideal life seem palpable. And I have seen this happen, live and in living color when I first introduced Sharlotte to the flagship. At the tender age of 9, she was enamored by the fun, the charm and the classic style that is well suited for a new age, or any age. The jewel box on Madison is full of little (and large) trinkets – ageless and bodacious amounts of accoutrements – an entire first floor full of glitz and glamour. In fact there is just enough product to reassert the brand’s identity with subtle yet playful and colorful sparkling beauties in an emotionally resonant setting. I get emotional just remembering how delighted this prepster was when she realized that just because the clothes didn’t fit (yet) there was a plethora of stash that fit her just right. She took home enough baubles to write about in the diary that she took home to write about. KSNY (the actual upper east side shop) is a magical little gem, a consistent dose of preppy enchantment. And, happily there are no age or height requirements for entry. In fact, on occasion, while shopping for an occasion, Ryleigh was even given the dog friendly “Greene Light” go ahead (too good to pass up!)
Coco Chanel was quoted as saying “dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Love. Love. Love. Her. And she was way ahead of the eight ball with that fashion reflection, as the only accessory needed with any Kate Spade dress, actually, is a full length mirror. That said, perhaps Alice and the Looking Glass will become Fall forward fashion fodder for a 2016 collection. Sharlotte would love that!
Photographs by Viva Violeta Photography
