Kate Valentine founded Kate Spade with her husband Andy Spade before they were even married. The couple sold the company in 2006, but they’re back on the fashion scene with new brand Frances Valentine—created with friends Elyce Arons and Paola Venturi. Boca Mag caught up with the bubbly and refreshing Kate at Nordstrom at Town Center at Boca Raton on April 7 to talk about all things fashion, and of course, Frances Valentine.
How did you get started with fashion?
It’s funny—I always did love it—never imagined going into it, but I love fashion. My mother used to take me to vintage stores before I could drive. I remember Ralph Lauren was doing a navy pea coat, and I kept saying, “I want a navy pea coat.” My mother said, “There’s this great one at Ralph Lauren,” and I said, “I want a real one from the army/navy store.” So, she took me to the army/navy store, and that was the beginning. Then I started going to vintage stores—one in particular in Kansas City called Past Times—and I would buy all of my short, little leopard coats and my little lime green kid gloves. I adored it. But really, I was a journalism major. When I moved to New York, I ended up at Conde Nast at Mademoiselle Magazine. When I interviewed, they said that they had something in the fashion department but not in the articles department, so I probably wouldn’t want it. I was like “It’s a job. I want it.” After five years of doing that, I ended up as the Senior Fashion Editor over accessories. After that, my husband Andy and I decided to start Kate Spade before we were married. Then we got married, and started the company. Elyce and I have been best friends since we were 18, and she and a friend came on as partners. This time around, Elyce and I, and Andy are all back together.
What have you been up to in the time between selling Kate Spade and starting Frances Valentine?
Working, a lot. I have a daughter. She’s in fifth grade. She just turned 11. After the years at Kate Spade, which I loved, I really wanted a break and to spend some time with my daughter. I knew how much went into that, and I didn’t want to miss those years. Now, she’s getting to an age where she has a lot of homework, tennis two days per week, lacrosse two days a week—so what am I going to do? I decided to go back to work.
What is it like working with your husband?
I adore it. He’s really one of the few people who I would absolutely need his opinion on things. We bounce everything off of each other. In terms of opinion, I trust his—a lot.
Why handbags and shoes?
First time around, I started with bags. This time, it’s really focused on shoes. We’re dipping our toe into handbags. We’re slowly developing as I’m getting warmed up into more of a collection. Right now, it’s item driven. The shoes, and even our distribution are very limited right now because I feel like we’re tiptoeing back in. Some people expected us to blow it out, and I just feel more comfortable easing in. I’m not doing things because I have to; I’m doing them because they make sense to me.
What is similar/different between Kate Spade and Frances Valentine? Has your style changed?
I’m still the same person. I haven’t gotten older—I’ve evolved from one age to the other. I think your tastes do change a little bit. What you’re wearing at 10 isn’t what you’re wearing at 18, and so on. At the same time, there’s a thread of things that I happen to like. I think I’ve simplified them. I’ve really played great attention to signature pieces of hardware—like the geodesic dome heel, the martini glass heel and the little buckle. I’m focusing on being clean. It’s a lot about the architecture of the shoe. I love that—making sure there’s a modernity to it, that it’s something versatile but also always a surprise.
What is your favorite piece in the collection?
The Bella style, which is the one with the geodesic dome. I just think it’s very clean, and then you look at the heel and think, “Oh, that’s great.” It’s a very simple shoe, but there’s a little lift to the simplicity of it—a spirit, a smile.
What inspires your designs? Do you just wake up some mornings with ideas?
Yes, and honestly, it’s crazy! When I was on spring break in Jacksonville trying to get a massage, I swear I was looking for paper and a pen. When you have a moment to think. I don’t design by themes; it’s really more by mood. I’ll look at the collection, and there’s a cohesiveness to it that keeps it clean and edited, but not so tightly edited that it looks overly merchandised. It has to have a reason for being, and hopefully an interesting reason for being.
What advice would you give someone that’s interested in fashion?
I don’t think whether or not you’ve had experience in it matters at all. For me, it’s a sensibility. Be willing to work really hard; it really is true. I would make sure that what you’re doing isn’t already out there. It’s about creating something that isn’t out there. That’s what I think has been our success and the success of most designers out there—doing something that’s identifiably theirs.
