OUR FAVORITE THINGS: Kate Spade New York

[Welcome to Our Favorite Things, a series featuring—you guessed it!—our favorite things. From books to brands to tunes to film, these are all things we at Windrose want to shout from the rooftops about.]

My love affair with Kate Spade began last summer when I needed a purse that would be my companion on my adventures abroad. My main concern was not getting pick-pocketed, so I had a laundry list of specifications that my purse required. Luckily, I have an outlet mall only 20 minutes from my house with multiple brands that met my small budget. After lots of shopping and comparing, I went with a taupe Kate Spade tote that has since become the central piece to a growing Kate Spade collection. 

In the last year, I’ve exclusively shopped Kate Spade when it comes to handbags and office décor. I’ve bought the same tote in black, two cross body purses, a wallet, notebooks, a tape dispenser and most recently a large cream leather purse that I’ve converted into a camera bag. 

One of the reasons I absolutely love Kate Spade is that it’s a sophisticated brand for the millennial woman that still has a sense of fun. Its ads feature models in more realistic situations while wearing actual clothes that most humans would wear. Now don’t get me wrong, the high fashion world produces some stunning collections that are truly works of art, but I can’t wear or afford works of art in my 9 to 5. Kate Spade is simple and classy with a hint of sass.

So, I’ve devised four reasons why I still choose Kate Spade and why every 20-something should have Kate Spade in their life too:

1.  Quality, not quantity: My mother always said it’s better to buy one quality item than a dozen cheap pieces that you’ll just have to keep replacing. Budgeting and saving up for one high quality piece can go further than consistently buying pieces that continue to wear out.

2.  Simplicity: Along with quality comes simplicity. If you’re going to buy one expensive item that’s going to last, keep it classy or you’ll regret your trendy taste in a couple of years. Having one classic handbag can do wonders for dressing up your wardrobe, and Kate Spade is the queen of classy.

3. Don’t break the bank: I’m lucky that I have an outlet mall nearby. I do have a trade-off between latest collections for low prices, but that’s a sacrifice I am always willing to make!  If you don’t have the convenience of an outlet, you can still sign-up for emails that alert you when Kate Spade is having a sale online. Fun fact: you get a 15% college discount at their brick and mortar stores (including outlets) with your student ID!

4. “There's something for every new adventure—and every lovely adventurer”: From must-have agendas to a clutch that looks like a mouse (cheese key chain included), Kate Spade has something for everyone.  And just in case you needed another reason to buy Kate Spade, their company also recently announced that they’ve teamed up with startup, Everpurse, to introduce purses that actually charge your iPhone. Yes, that’s right. Your purse will be able to actually charge your phone for you! Yes, we do live in the future.

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