Kate Spade

Now lookie at what we have here. Hmmm. There is something that I kind of like about it but I can’t quite put my finger on. Well, first of all, I have yet to own a red handbag. I realize I probably should at least have a red clutch, but that isn’t the case. I am trying to diversify my handbag collection and I am pretty sure a red handbag is much needed. So will a Kate Spade bag be one to break into my collection? Maybe!

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Everyone needs a little sparkle in his or her life. When you’re a woman, it’s easier to find it – jewelry, fancy clothes, etc. And if you’re not taking the opportunity to have some sparkle, you really should.

And you should start with the Kate Spade El Morocco Paola Clutch.

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I remember when I was in high school thinking that my friend Heather was so lucky when she got her first Kate Spade bag. I actually don’t think I had any designer handbags at that point and I was certainly envious of her. I was so impressed by the bag and swore to myself that I would own a Kate Spade one day too. Fast forward many years and I still don’t have a Kate Spade bag. As Megs began teaching me about fabulous handbags out there I realized there is more to choose from than I previously thought. Even though this is the case, I still kind of want a Kate Spade of my own!

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Oh my God. You guys. Not only does the Kate Spade Sherwood Owl Handbag have eyes, a metallic beak, and suede feathers, but it has feet.

I am almost too awed by the cojones that it took to actually design, manufacture and distribute this bag to say anything negative about it. And I don’t mean that in any sort of sarcastic way – it almost makes it all the way down the awesome-awful continuum and flips back around to awesome.

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I just cringed and for once, it had nothing to do with a handbag I was about to write about. As I was perusing the many webpages that I consider my “must views” for the morning, I came across a banner that made me cringe. The banner was advertising back-to-school sales. And while I’ve been out of school for quite some time now, seeing back-to-school mentioned still brings up feelings of sadness. I remember when I was a younger loving and how much Megs and I would look forward to the summer months. We’d run, play and stay up waaay past our normal bed-time. Yet, we both kept our eye out for the infamous back-to-school advertisements.

So, before I spiral out of control, I figured this time, I would try and change my outlook a bit. Let’s think of the positives when it comes to going back to school – FASHION! Back-to-school almost always means new clothes, shoes and bags. Now, while I wasn’t one of the girls who carried designer bags to class, I found one I think might be perfect. The Kate Spade Westbury Mini Brennan Crossbody Bag would definitely boost just about any girls’ back-to-school blues. While you won’t be able to fit all your books and notebooks, you can definitely store some of your supplies. Pebbled leather (white, pink or black), an adjustable strap, gold-tone hardware, several pockets and great lining are just some of the great features of the bag. I love the practicality and accessibility of the bag too. And hey, even if you aren’t going back to school, this is one bag that just about anyone could find use for. Buy through Bloomingdales for $195.

Is anyone out there still looking for a summer clutch? I have a hard time gauging weather-based things from where I am, since Georgia is in for face-melting temperatures until approximately October. If I were to buy the Kate Spade La Playa De Cebra Loren Clutch, I’d still get a good bit of use out of it before cold weather set in, but would the average American customer? That’s a question that I can’t entirely answer on my own.

Is the clutch worth that gamble? Maybe. The zebra-striped straw is more interesting than your average summer clutch, and the contrasting patent trim is a nice, safari-esque touch. The price – almost $300 – seems oddly high for a straw clutch from Kate Spade, though. Even if you’re going to get plenty more sunshine this year, you’d probably be better served by putting that money towards an ultra-luxe leather bag for fall. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $295.

I’m not one of those people who carries a big, travel-sized wallet at all times. On the contrary, I use a little European-style wallet barely big enough to hold dollars, or no wallet at all. I’m not even a big clutch person. But lately, I’ve been wanting a big wallet, that could be used for travel or alone as a clutch. This Kate Spade Union Square Travel Wallet is just the ticket.

It’s a travel wallet, with space for IDs, tickets, and a removable passport holder. But the design is simple and clean, with a bright aqua color that can’t stay holed up and hidden in your big travel tote for long. I’m imagining it with a summery dress, espadrilles, and a big floppy hat (if you’re into hats). At first, I had qualms about it not being all leather, but the more I think about it, the more useful nylon is. It’s a casual clutch, and would be perfect to travel to the beach with (sand won’t ruin nylon!). Sweet. Buy through Nordstom for $175.

Oh dear. It looks like I’ve finally found a beach-y, straw handbag that I don’t like. This is a big day for me, because I really thought that I liked anything that reminded me of vacation or sand or ocean. But I definitely don’t like the Kate Spade Hula Ida Shopper.

If this bag cost $15 at Target, I might think it was funny in a kitschy, literal way. And I hate to snark on Kate Spade, because their recent influx of new talent has turned out several good bags and has the whole company moving in a much-needed new direction. But with a price tag in the several hundred dollar region, this is just too silly and too ridiculous to be permissible. If the orange straw was all woven instead of like a hula skirt, then maybe. But as it is, no. Definitely no. Buy through Nordstrom for $295.

I love it when a wayward brand makes good. We’ve discussed previously that Kate Spade has recently taken on some new talent to right the ship, and while this season’s collection isn’t amazing, they have certainly come a long way from their relatively uninspired past.

If the Kate Spade Montclair Jacques Tote is a good representation of their new designer’s talent, then they’ve got lots of positive things to come. The things that strikes me the most about this bag is the apparent care and attention to detail that was taken when designing it. The edges are precise and well-thought, the folding and layering deliberate and painstaking. The contrasting paint that adorns the exposed leather edges gives the design a bit of depth and heft. The overall effect is high-end and expensive-looking, which is exactly what Kate Spade had been missing for a while. Keep turning out more bags like this, please! Buy through Nordstrom for $475.

Thank the heavens, Kate Spade, that you have hired new talent to guide your company’s creative vision. Because, if I’m being honest, things at your line were getting a bit played out. One can only see so many bags designed with perfect right angle corners before the square and rigid thing gets a little blah.

And the Kate Spade Westbury Opus Satchel isn’t exactly an opus of innovation, it does something that no other Kate Spade bag in recent memory has done: it slouches. And it looks soft and makes me want to touch it. To me, Spade’s bags have always been prohibitively rigid and uninviting, and that’s not the best look for a bag, particularly with the trends that we have going right now. I particularly like this color, which they call Piscine Blue – wouldn’t it look great against a white dress? Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $395.