Per usual, the Kate Spade Madison Avenue collection has an early-sixties feel about it. But what seems different is the subtle restraint. The KSNY presentation can verge on the chaotic, with too many quirky novelty items popping up. I look, but don’t linger at the kitsch, there’s simply no time. But these past few seasons, a simple, stylish sequence of born again classics meant a flourish here, a pop of color there and that, caught my eye. As it should be, when the perky pinks played out, they rallied the design forces, spun the color wheels and cued in a tried and true but new hue. “Fresh Air” the robins egg blue, the cute color that pays homage to the world famous tint that is quintessentially Tiffany (Pantone, actually made that aqua blue a custom color #1837, representing the year Tiffany & Co. was founded, and is now a registered trademark.) So while KSNY borrowed the blue for a season, the aqua favorite is actually the property of another NYC retailer and the gem of 5th Avenue.
The robin’s egg blue or turquoise color that came to be known as Tiffany Blue is said to symbolize communication and creativity, so for Tiffany & Co., and Kate Spade, circa 2013 the color was recognized as style and sophistication, a great heritage of elegance, exclusivity and flawless craftsmanship. And both retailers rely on a bow to call it a wrap – so the borrowing and lending and living life colorfully theme was like a continuous and deep breath of “Fresh Air” all around.
I consider KSNY and the “your girl Friday” staff very seasoned, highly professional and refreshingly honest. When I bought this silk shantung cocktail dress, a few seasons back, they told me that the color and the fit were timeless. How right they were, again. And more than two years later, that color just popped out at me (behind all the black widow dresses) when I was rummaging through the closet in search for another fun frock for a fancy black, now robin’s egg blue fundraiser. I always ponder whether it is appropriate to wear bright colors to dull events, but then I remember the ‘something borrowed, something blue,,,,, something story and then this ageless mint condition aqua number got pumped up and favorited right out the door. Kate and Tiffany and Co. c/o Kate and Tiffany and Co.
Photographs by Viva Violeta Photography
