I feel like a bit of my childhood was stripped away yesterday. The news of Kate Spade’s death hit me harder than I imagined. Her handbag was my first big designer bag (I was 11 and my mom had a matching bigger bag). I also remember getting a Kate Spade dog carrier as a Christmas gift to take my new pug puppy, Dazee (RIP), on the plane to Carlsbad, California each summer. Her planners got me through middle school, high school, and college. She made writing down homework a fun and cheerful task. Her etiquette books demonstrated that she knew how to live a life well-lived. All of this is why I struggle with how Kate passed yesterday.
This whole situation really does show you that money and recognition cannot make you happy. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle. Social media is just a highlight reel. Brands curate lifestyles, not reality. There can be darkness behind the filters and smiles, and the only thing that can make darkness bright is light. If you have light to give, please lead people towards it.
Remember, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Enjoy these photos of Kate and Andy Spade’s Park Avenue Apartment via The Selby.
“I adore pretty things & witty words.”
“In order to lead a fascinating life, one brimming with art, music, intrigue, and romance, you must surround yourself with precisely those things.”
“I love lamps. I can’t stand overhead lighting. I have to have everything on a dimmer.”
