This American brand welcomes shoppers to a smartened up Wild West, writes Aznim Ruhana Md Yusup.
AMIDST the tragic passing of founder Kate Spade in June, Kate Spade New York lives on. Spade had sold her eponymous label in 2006, and the company, now owned by fashion conglomerate Tapestry Inc, has grown to become a global brand.
Its most recent Autumn 2018 collection is a romantic celebration of rural America. You can almost imagine the design team’s mood board and the images tacked on there; cowboys, prairies, country music hall – you get the picture.
The brand’s presentation in Kuala Lumpur had some of these themes too. The hall at KLPaC was set up with a horseshoe pit, giving the invited celebrities and online influencers a chance to play the tossing game. Chelsia Ng fronted a band and sang pop songs with a country twist.
Meanwhile, the clothes are high on feminine charm. The dresses are cut in a conservative silhouette and come with floral patterns, while patchwork prints and guipure lace feature heavily too. Colours are mainly dark blue and faded pink. Ruffles and a high collar lend the wearer the look of a respectable Southern gal.
Plaid and tweed appear in jacket and trouser sets, while denim separates keep the collection firmly within the American design theme. A horse motif on a sweater is perhaps too on-the-nose, but looks charming nevertheless.
Handbags are what brought Kate Spade to the limelight, and this collection has updated versions of the Sam bag from 1993. The boxy bag now comes with suede handle and fringe detail on a croc-embossed leather body. It’s also available in shearling and velvet versions.
Kate Spade is also releasing a smooth leather boho bucket bag called Vanessa in a variety of colours. The chain strap shoulder bag named Marci is updated in a quilted zig zag motif, while the snake-print leather bags are aimed at the non-squeamish.
As for footwear, Kate Spade’s kitten heels again evoke the coquettish Southern miss, while the knee high leather boots are made for the modern cowgirl. Overall, it’s a fun collection and very wearable, as evidenced by the large number of guests who were dressed by Kate Spade.