NEW YORK — Enough of New York. The Kate Spade customer is ready to broaden her horizons, says chief creative officer Deborah Lloyd.
So for spring 2014, the Kate Spade New York collection has a European feel, with capri pants and peplum tops, lemon-printed circle skirts and matching bags for a visit to the isle of Capri, colorful Audrey Hepburn-esque sheaths along with pencil skirt-and-blouse combos for a walk in Paris gardens and a navy halter dress with a white strip down the bodice for the races at Monaco.
"This season I wanted our girl to travel, even if she's just sitting at her desk and dreaming about it, the eye can travel and the mind can travel, so we took her on a trip to Europe."
"It's really about travel," Lloyd said during a presentation of the collection in a loft space converted into a European garden with fake grass and wrought-iron furniture. "Last season we were in New York City, where it all started for us 20 years ago. And this season for spring I wanted our girl to travel, even if she's just sitting at her desk and dreaming about it, the eye can travel and the mind can travel, so we took her on a trip to Europe."
While branching more into clothing, the brand is still know for accessories, and there are plenty of cool looks, ranging from a clutch imprinted with temperature, gas and speedometer gauges to a woven tote with embroidered lemons and the words, "When Life Gives You Lemons."
Lloyd says she's thrilled about the new Kate Space New York flagship store currently under construction in Highland Village and set to open in spring 2014, just in time to showcase this collection. "It's our second (flagship store) ever, which is really exciting, so our Houston ladies are going to get to see our Madison Avenue collection — it's a special collection we just do for our Madison store, so it's for our flagship and will be in Houston soon."
Why Houston?
"We love the girls there. She loves us. She likes to dress up. She likes color. She likes to stand out in the crowd, so what better place?"
The company also recently opened a Kate Spade Saturday store in Rice Village aimed at a consumer who is younger and more budget-conscious than the more affluent Kate Spade New York customer.
The Kate Spade New York spring 2014 collection has a sunny disposition.
