This is a memoir of the personal and professional relationship between Elyce and Kate. They met as undergrads at the University of Kansas in 1981, and their friendship took off from there!
Most of the memoir covers their friendship before Kate Spade New York was sold to Liz Claiborne in 2006. This is a love letter from Elyce to Kate about their friendship. They had a very normal best-friendship, which included the normal difficulties of any relationship.
If you are looking for a tell-all with details about Kate Spade's death by suicide, this is not the book for you.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The writing was strong with real and raw anecdotes that are true of any long-term friendship. Elyce was the only person who could have written this book about her best friend.
Narration: 5.0 stars
Elyce does a great job with the narration. I love it when the author narrates the audiobook. Especially as it is her and Kate's lives before, during, and after the loss of her best friend. Elyce was never the "face" of any of the companies with Kate, but she rocks it!
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters are Elyce (the author and BFF) and Kate (the eponymous designer and BFF).
The secondary characters are the other partners (both professional and personal), parents, friends, and family.
The tertiary character is Kate Spade New York - the company.
There is a huge cast of characters (especially New York fashion folks), which makes it hard to follow who is who, as I am from Los Angeles.
The character development was good, but most especially for the two main characters. We are let into their entire friendship and backstories.
Memorable: 4.0 stars
Kate and Elyce, along with their partners, create an international and multi-million-dollar empire out of basically nothing. Of course, they make mistakes along the way, but what entrepreneurial spirit during the wild 1990s!!
Entertaining/Educational: 4.0 stars
I had always thought that I had bought Kate Spade during the heyday, but I was wrong! I didn't realize that Kate, Elyce, and their partners sold their final stake in Kate Spade New York in 2006.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
There had to be a better picture!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfection on ALL levels! (Read the book to find out WHY!)
Strong recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
9 hours, 25 minutes
Simon & Schuster Audio
Release date: 6/17/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Moderate cursing, sexism, misogyny, suicide, pregnancy
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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