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USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kate Spade cofounder remembers designer's struggle with fame, final phone call
Kate Spade cofounder remembers designer's struggle with fame, final phone call The name 'Kate Spade' refers to both the iconic fashion brand and its founder, but there was much more to the story than one woman. Elyce Arons is also at the heart of Kate Spade's history, and she's telling her side in a new memoir remembering her late friend. 'We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade' is out now from Simon & Schuster. Arons and Spade met as freshmen at the University of Kansas, later transferring to Arizona State University together, where Spade would meet her husband, Andy Spade (brother of comedian David Spade). The trio cofounded the iconic affordable luxury handbag company together. Arons and Spade were inseparable for much of their adult lives until Spade died in 2018. In her memoir, Arons includes a letter in which Spade calls her 'the first person in my life to really show me how it feels to be truly loved.' Kate Spade was 'miserable' being a public figure Arons' memoir chronicles the humble early days of Kate Spade, starting with Spade's 'aha! moment' after she couldn't find the right handbag for a fashion shoot at her magazine editor job. She and Andy laid the foundations for a new company, then convinced Arons to move back to New York City and join them. Their fledgling company developed out of Spade's New York apartment, and they partnered with local textiles manufacturers who thought they 'were kind of crazy,' Arons writes. When their operation grew too large for Spade's apartment, they moved to an office and sourced dozens of discarded desks they found on the sidewalk. None of the early partners were eager to be the brand's public face, but because Spade – known in her personal life as Katy – had the name on the label, the task went to her. 'Katy never wanted to be the public face of anything. On the contrary, she was apprehensive of fame. But by creating the brand's aesthetic, she was the designer,' Arons writes. "Despite her shyness, Katy had charisma, authenticity, the look, and the X factor that made her the front person and face of the brand. Her name was on the label. We were happy with it for the most part. The only caveat was our worry for her sake about how reluctant she was to carry our torch.' Though Arons writes that Spade 'persevered and did become an expert at being the company face and voice,' she still struggled with public recognition. She was naturally 'slightly introverted' and was uncomfortable with celebrity. She also often had to travel as the face of the company, going on tour to represent new accessory lines and products. Arons describes this as a 'miserable' experience for Spade. When they launched their first perfume, Spade toured alone, eventually confronting Arons in a phone call that she felt 'abandoned' by her team. 'I know it's not your fault that you're not here, but I feel abandoned by you. You guys got me into this. You should be doing this tour with me,' Spade said, according to Arons. Elyce Arons' last conversation with Kate Spade: 'Inconceivable' Years after selling their company, Arons and Spade started shoe and purse company Frances Valentine together. Their sales were strong and it looked to Arons like 'lightning just might strike twice.' Spade died a year later. 'I talked often with Katy about her struggle with depression, which I knew she had been dealing with those last few years. She was actively seeking help with specialists, and we understood the goal was to mitigate the times Katy was carrying that deep sadness which she couldn't seem to shake and had weighed heavily on her in recent years,' Arons writes. 'Most of the time she was herself, and we spent our days together as usual working or socializing. We had discussed the suicides of celebrities in the past and she had said definitively to me, 'I would never, ever do that.'' Still, Arons says she didn't know how deep Spade's depression was. She writes that Spade's death 'left us with many questions.' She had spoken with Spade just the day before about Spade's summer travel plans when Spade said she had to answer a call from her dad and would call Arons back later. That it would be their last conversation was "inconceivable" to Arons. 'Losing my best friend for life – the woman who shared my sense of humor, who'd been my constant companion at school, at work, at dinners, on the phone, in my house, on vacations – was like losing your face in a mirror,' Arons writes. 'It was disconcerting, disturbing and very lonely.' Kate Spade and husband Andy lived apart but 'loved each other' At the time of her death, Spade and her husband had been living apart but just 'needed a break' and 'never even discussed divorce,' Andy told People in a statement after her death. In 'We Might Just Make it After All,' Arons writes that the pair 'loved each other to the ends of the earth.' She also lambasts those who wrote 'surface-y, ready-made explanations' for Spade's death, like marriage or company problems. 'A highly sensitive person, she felt things more deeply than most,' Arons writes. 'But I know for sure she was not so upset about how many pairs of shoes we sold that she would take her own life. We all have dark moments and periods. In one of those moments, she lost hope.' Celeb memoirs to binge this summer: Aging, marriage, Beyoncé and more This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
New York Post
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kate Spade's best friend remembers the late designer's immense charm and secret sadness in new book: ‘She felt things more deeply than most'
Seven years on, Elyce Arons still misses Kate Spade. The two pals met in college at the University of Kansas and remained kindred spirits for nearly 40 years. Together, they helped launch Kate Spade New York in the 1990s and had recently started a new accessories brand, Frances Valentine, when Spade took her own life in 2018, at the age of 55. 'I think of her every day,' Arons told The Post. 'I still get choked up talking about her.' Advertisement 14 Elyce Arons says she still thinks of her late best friend and business partner Kate Spade every day. Stefano Giovannini 14 The two first met as dorm mates in college in Kansas. Courtesy Spade's death seven years ago shocked the fashion industry. Her cheery, colorful designs made people smile, and she seemed to have a picture-perfect life, with a creative, supportive husband and daughter who adored her. Advertisement In her new book, 'We Just Might Make It After All' (Gallery Books, June 17), Arons writes that Spade had suffered from depression in the months leading up to her death. The two spoke about it and had even 'discussed the suicides of celebrities in the past and [Katy] had said definitively to me, 'I would never, ever do that.'' Arons also writes that Spade 'worshiped her daughter' and that she and husband Andy Spade were 'working out their marriage issues and living separately' but that they 'loved each other to the ends of the earth.' 'She was private about many things, even with me,' she writes. 'A highly sensitive person, she felt things more deeply than most. … We all have dark moments and periods. In one of those moments, she lost hope.' 14 Arons has a new memoir out about her friendship with Spade. Advertisement Arons' charming and effervescent memoir depicts the beloved fashion designer as a fierce friend and driven worker whose intense charisma belied an incredible shyness. She laughed when her tulle dress caught fire during her wedding reception (the guests dumped their drinks on it to extinguish the flames), lost the cap of her tooth when climbing a tree before a big meeting with the Esteé Lauder Company, and played pranks on her friends. She was, in short, a delight. 'I feel like so many people remember how she left us, and I want them to remember how she lived,' Arons said. 'She was such a talented person, of course, but such an amazing friend. Advertisement 'She was loyal. She had great values. She was authentic. And I know a lot of people thought of her as a girl next door … but she was the clever girl next door.' Arons and Katy Brosnahan — later known as Kate Spade after she launched her eponymous brand and later married Andy Space — first met in 1981. It was freshman move-in day at the University of Kansas. Arons arrived from her parents' cattle farm in Sedgwick, Kan., in 'purple parachute pants and scrunched green leather pointy-toed boots.' Spade — who had gone to a private all-girls Catholic school in Kansas City — sported khaki shorts, a polo shirt with a popped collar and Weejun loafers. 14 Spade was known for her bright, cheery fashions, but she struggled with depression. Boston Globe via Getty Images 'I looked at her and I thought, 'Oh my god, she's boring,'' Arons admitted. But after they discovered they were both financial-aid students studying journalism (due to a mutual obsession with Mary Tyler Moore) they bonded. One night, while smoking Virginia Slims outside a party, they divulged their family secrets to each other. Arons cried as she recalled losing her older sister to bone cancer at 9 years old, and Spade recounted the pain of her parents' divorce when she was the same age. 'To share that tragedy, finally, with somebody who understood was a big deal,' Arons said. 'That was the moment I knew I had a friend for life.' Advertisement 14 'We all have dark moments and periods. In one of those moments, she lost hope,' Arons writes of Spade (above). Getty Images 14 Arons writes that Kate and Andy Spade were 'working out their marriage issues and living separately' but that they 'loved each other to the ends of the earth.' Sylvain Gaboury The two partied, shopped vintage and studied together. When Spade decided to transfer to Arizona State University — near where her older sister lived — Arons followed her. 'We talked each other into stuff so easily,' Arons said. 'It was like we were attached at the hip.' Advertisement Later, in New York City, Arons worked in fashion PR while Spade was a fashion and accessories editor at Mademoiselle. Spade noticed a lack of good handbag options for the shoots she styled. So she decided to create her own. 'Coach existed, but it felt like an old traditional leather handbag company and it wasn't aspirational at all,' Arons said. 'Katy saw this void in the market [for a] functional bag that a woman could actually use and that actually accessorized her outfit and made her feel great. That was the brilliance of it.' 14 When debuting her handbag line, Spade decided at the last minute to sew the labels on the outside of the bags. Boston Globe via Getty Images Advertisement 14 In 2006, the Spades, Arons, and business partner Pamela Bell sold the company to Liz Clairborne Getty Images Arons, Spade, Andy and another friend, Pamela Bell, launched Kate Spade New York in 1990. Spade spent her days creating prototypes out of cardboard on the floor of her and Andy's Soho loft, while the others worked nights and weekends to hatch their business plans. Two days before debuting their bags at the big accessories trade show in Manhattan, Spade decided she wanted their discreet labels sewn on the outside of their vinyl and burlap bags instead of the inside. She, Arons and Bell spent three hours hand-stitching these strips of fabric onto their samples until their fingers bled. But it worked. Barneys and Charivari placed orders. Soon, Saks started carrying them, too. As the business expanded, their lives changed, too. Katy and Andy got married in 1994. In 1999, Neiman Marcus acquired a 56 percent stake in the brand. Advertisement 14 Arons and Spade went on to launch a new fashion company, Frances Valentine. Courtsey of Elyce Arons 14 The company took its name from Spade's daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade. WireImage Despite Spade's magnetism she was very shy. Interviews and public speaking made her anxious. Yet, as the brand grew, so did her fame. When Kate Spade launched a fragrance in 2002, Spade had to travel across the country to promote it, often alone. 'That was very hard for her,' Arons said. 'Every single day, a different city by herself. And it wasn't just that she had to speak to people and come up with something clever, but she had to look good … It was just a lot of pressure.' Their friendship had its ups and downs. 'I had my worst fights with her,' Arons recalled. 'But one of us always called back later and apologized.' When Arons had her first child, she named her Katy, and asked the Spades to be her godparents. They enjoyed playing pranks on one another. Arons remembers one time that Katy got a giant rubber rat and put it in the kitchen sink for Arons to find. 'That scared the heck out of me!' Arons recalled with a laugh. 14 After Spade's death, Frances Valentine released versions of some of her favorite vintage items, including this caftan. Courtesy of Frances Valentine 14 This bright cardigan was also among the pieces. Courtesy of Frances Valentine In 2006, the Spades, Arons, and Bell sold the company to Liz Clairborne. Arons and Spade still constantly talked about work and fashion, however. They came up with the idea for Frances Valentine after Arons found a pair of orange patent leather pumps she wanted, but balked at the $1200 price tag. 'I thought, 'We can do this for $398, and it would be really great quality,'' Arons recalled. The two launched Frances Valentine (named after Spade's daughter) in 2016 as a shoe and handbag line. 'We were both doing everything,' Arons said. 'It was a blast. It just felt good to be back and have the social life at the office again … And we were pretty much just taking off, and that's when we lost Katy.' After her friend's death, Frances Valentine released a special limited collection of two vintage pieces from Katy's wardrobe: a light-blue traditional Mexican caftan she wore on vacations and a sweet cable-knit sweater festooned with bright embroidered flowers. 'We called it our Love Katy collection, and our customers went crazy,' Arons said. 'They sold out immediately, so we made them again, and they sold out again, and again.' 14 Arons, pictured in the Frances Valentine showroom, said the pieces have been a way for her to stay connected to her friend. Stefano Giovannini Now, Frances Valentine has a full apparel collection, which makes up 60% of the brand's business. Nearly all the pieces are based on items that Spade and Arons picked up on their thrifting adventures and treasured. It's a way for her to stay connected with her best friend. 'I think about her all the time, especially when I'm steaming something that nobody else notices needs steaming,' Arons said. 14 Arons said their friendship was a 'once in a lifetime' connection. Stefano Giovannini 'Our friendship was so special,' she added. 'Maybe people get that once in a lifetime.' If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Kate Spade died 7 years ago: What to know about the iconic fashion designer
Kate Spade died 7 years ago: What to know about the iconic fashion designer Show Caption Hide Caption Kate Spade's legacy Learn more on the death of handbag designer Kate Spade. CBC - Business Kate Spade, the designer who helped characterize 1990s fashion with her iconic handbags, died by suicide seven years ago this week. Spade's death on June 5, 2018, stunned the fashion world, highlighting the silent struggles behind one of the industry's biggest names and, along with the death of Anthony Bourdain three days later, sparked a broader conversation about mental health amidst fame and success. A two-time Council of Fashion Designers of America award winner, Spade left behind a brand that captivated young women in the '90s and early aughts that endures today. Who was Kate Spade? Born Katherine Brosnahan in Kansas City, she co-founded her eponymous designer brand in 1993 with her future husband and business partner Andy Spade, the brother of comedian David Spade, in their New York City apartment. Started with hand-taped prototypes, Kate Spade became a rapid success, expanding to shoes, luggage and other accessories. Spade relinquished any ownership of her brand in the mid-2000s, which would change hands a few times before landing at Tapestry, Inc., formerly Coach, Inc., after a $2.4 billion purchase in 2017. How did Kate Spade die? Spade was found dead in her Upper East Side apartment in New York City. She was 55. Her cause of death was ruled suicide by hanging. In a statement reported by media at the time, Andy Spade said his late wife had "suffered from depression and anxiety for many years" but "was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives." Her death was followed by Anthony Bourdain's suicide three days later. "There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock," Andy Spade continued. "There were personal demons she was battling." Kate Spade's best friend Elyce Arons, who is writing a memoir titled "We Might Just Make It After All" about their friendship, said the couple "were trying to work things out," she told People in an interview published June 3. The book is set for release on June 17 through Simon & Schuster. Kate Spade's daughter Frances was namesake of her new brand Spade's daughter Frances Beatrice Valentine Spade was 13 at the time of her death. Police reported at the time that she left Frances, now 20, a note. In 2016, Kate Spade turned to a new brand based around her daughter, the luxury footwear and handbag company Frances Valentine, with which she remained active until her death. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kate Spade died 7 years ago: What to know about the iconic fashion designer
Kate Spade, the designer who helped characterize 1990s fashion with her iconic handbags, died by suicide seven years ago this week. Spade's death on June 5, 2018, stunned the fashion world, highlighting the silent struggles behind one of the industry's biggest names and, along with the death of Anthony Bourdain three days later, sparked a broader conversation about mental health amidst fame and success. A two-time Council of Fashion Designers of America award winner, Spade left behind a brand that captivated young women in the '90s and early aughts that endures today. Born Katherine Brosnahan in Kansas City, she co-founded her eponymous designer brand in 1993 with her future husband and business partner Andy Spade, the brother of comedian David Spade, in their New York City apartment. Started with hand-taped prototypes, Kate Spade became a rapid success, expanding to shoes, luggage and other accessories. Spade relinquished any ownership of her brand in the mid-2000s, which would change hands a few times before landing at Tapestry, Inc., formerly Coach, Inc., after a $2.4 billion purchase in 2017. Spade was found dead in her Upper East Side apartment in New York City. She was 55. Her cause of death was ruled suicide by hanging. In a statement reported by media at the time, Andy Spade said his late wife had "suffered from depression and anxiety for many years" but "was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives." Her death was followed by Anthony Bourdain's suicide three days later. "There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock," Andy Spade continued. "There were personal demons she was battling." Kate Spade's best friend Elyce Arons, who is writing a memoir titled "We Might Just Make It After All" about their friendship, said the couple "were trying to work things out," she told People in an interview published June 3. The book is set for release on June 17 through Simon & Schuster. Spade's daughter Frances Beatrice Valentine Spade was 13 at the time of her death. Police reported at the time that she left Frances, now 20, a note. In 2016, Kate Spade turned to a new brand based around her daughter, the luxury footwear and handbag company Frances Valentine, with which she remained active until her death. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kate Spade death: Fashion designer died 7 years ago
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Seven years after kate spade's suicide, best friend elyce arons shares their story
Spade, known to close friends as 'Katy,' died by suicide on June 5, 2018. Arons met Spade when they were freshmen in college, and their friendship blossomed into a business partnership that helped build the iconic Kate Spade brand. The memoir offers a rare glimpse into their personal connection and Spade's private struggles, which Arons describes as 'a permanent ache.' In an excerpt published by PEOPLE, Arons recalls visiting Spade's Park Avenue apartment days after her death. The once bright and meticulously kept home was dark and chaotic. As Arons opened the closet door to retrieve clothes, a swarm of moths flew out. She instinctively yelled, thinking Spade might be playing one of their old pranks. The moment underscored the painful reality that her friend was truly gone. Their story began in 1981 at the University of Kansas and continued through the rise of their handbag business in the '90s, alongside Spade's husband, Andy, and partner Pamela Bell. The brand's success grew quickly, leading to CFDA honors and global expansion. Despite professional triumphs, Spade's private life became more complex. After launching a new brand, Frances Valentine, in 2016, she died two years later. Arons admits she's still processing the loss. 'Those who loved her continue to grapple with her loss, seeking peace with a decision that left lasting heartbreak,' she writes. Her message now is simple: cherish the people you love and never take their presence for granted. We Just Might Make It After All will be released June 17 and is available for preorder.
