you’ll need:

a 12-unit ice cube tray (we prefer the classic square shape)

a handful of safe-to-eat flowers, like violets, geraniums, marigold, sunflowers or carnations

instructions:

1.    bring purified water to a boil. (boiling will help prevent pesky bubbles from forming and prevent the cubes from looking more white than clear.)    let  cool.

2.    create small piles of the flowers you want to use. trim away leaves or stems so you’re left with petals.

3.    pour the cooled water into the tray, filling 1/3 of each square. let it freeze.

4.    place the flower pieces on top of the frozen ice cubes, then pour more water over the top, filling the ice cube square. (don’t try to shortcut this step. if you pour all of the water in with the flower at once, the flower will just rise to the top. you want it to sit prettily in the center of the ice cube.)

5.    place the tray back into the freezer and let the ice cubes freeze completely. finally, enjoy them in your beverage of choice!

we love the love!

you see, bold blooms — be it in color, size or spelling — can be found all around us.

all month long we’ll be filling our feed with sunny shots of eye-catching fire escape florals, fluorescent bouquets and petals that pack a powerful punch. show us what fresh picks spark your interest by tagging your posts with the hashtag #boldblooms .

happy snapping!

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/boldblooms/feed/ 0 this month, show us your favorite florals on instagram http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-armory-show-is-on-in-nyc/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-armory-show-is-on-in-nyc/#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:04:11 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5457 Read More »]]>  the armory show at pier 92 and 94 here in manhattan is like a years worth of thursday nights in chelsea (the best night for going gallery hopping), mashed into one glorious weekend. two names at the top of our must-see list are new york-based norwegian artist bjarne melgaard, and installation artist diana thater, known for her creative manipulation of spaces using video and light. another highlight on our list is artist devon dikeou, who is inviting visitors to take centerpieces from her “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” installation at pier 94 a half hour before the close of the show.

these bold blooms—one of the things we love most in our 20th anniversary year—are perfect for sprucing up your digital devices and we hope you love this exclusive downloadable wallpaper as much as we do.

enjoy!

allium, cosmos and zinnias and peonies are just some of the stems we’re playing with this month. and beyond fashion, we’re romanced by unexpected ways to bring flowers to the forefront of our everyday. so stay tuned for a month of ideas that will awaken your inner horticulturist.

1. lashes and liner: apply just a touch of liner across the top lid, but layer on the mascara and make your lashes the focus.

2.  your foundation: don’t get too heavy handed. a slight sweep of either powder or tinted moisturizer will look luminous without being heavy.

3. red lips? say “I do!” apply straight from the tube, then blot the excess with a tissue to create a light stain effect.  and not come off on the receiver of your kiss!

4. skip the blush. you’ll be all aglow, naturally, from your romantic day.

for the wedding itself, entertaining, bedding and kitchen are three categories that never fail.

give things newly marrieds can share, like a pair of big mugs and china plates for their morning coffees and croissants, or a pair of sophisticated champagne flutes for them to toast their anniversaries year after year. or a 2-piece desert set for cutting celebratory homemade cakes. (the ones below are all from our grace avenue collection and dressed up with grosgrain ribbon detailing.)

we also love monogrammed bed linen — if you’ve just gotten married, there’s just nothing cooler than seeing your initials entwined. we love our classic spring street sheet set as a sophisticated canvas—especially in crisp grey and white.

for the bridal shower, personal pieces the bride-to-be can use to dress up her vanity, like a vintage-looking ring holder or vanity box, are the epitome of lady-of-the-house chic.

yet the eternal question remains: do you take the gift with you on the big day or send it afterward? while we think toting a beautifully wrapped gift is all part of the wedding guest fun, modern etiquette (taking into account the convenience of online shopping and such) would say you can send your gift on to the new couple up to two months after the wedding.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/pass-the-parcel/feed/ 0 we love to give the most delightful kinds of bridal shower and wedding gifts http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-gwen-flat-gets-fancy-in-w-magazine/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-gwen-flat-gets-fancy-in-w-magazine/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:27:53 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5366 Read More »]]> those are our pointed gwen flats peeking out in w magazine’s february issue—and with a slinky textured gown, heavy lashes and statement earrings, it makes for one glamorous combination. we love the hint of ’70s disco sophistication—perfect for dancing the night away, or for striking a party pose. what’s equally perfect? being able  to wear the gwen with skinny denim and a peacoat to brunch just as effortlessly the next day.

get inspired for your big day with a little help from the creative ideas that made these weddings extra special:

 we know things can get a little hectic for a bride-to-be. so we especially love that paperless post’s electronic post box makes it easy to track pending rsvps. (one less thing off your plate—hurrah!)

to toast the new collection and our love of all things bridal, we’re dedicating the week to our most favorite wedding tips and tricks. first on the to-do list: a handy timeline for sending everything from announcements to invitations for your big day, featuring our rose bed series:

though we’re still shaking off our glitter from last night’s oscar festivities (made all the more fun with a game of oscar bingo), the end of one season–academy awards–cues the start to another: music festivals. with south by southwest just 15 days away (hip hip hooray!), we put together a little wish list playlist, below, inspired by the bands we can’t wait to catch live across the country this spring and summer. listen in and enjoy.

we love…

…the way sophie wears a top-and-trousers ensemble in a matching print. note her simple hair, and no jewelry. the effect is nothing less than nonchalantly chic.

…the way georgina teams a sleek-collared lbd with a feminine bow-studded shoulder bag and booties. (note taken!)

…and how zoe offsets a tomboyish bow-tie print shirt dress with very flirty heels. a day-to-night combination that always wins big in our (style) book.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/dressing-colorfully-in-black-and-white/feed/ 0 how three actresses shone bright at the best of british talent party in kate spade new york http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/whos-that-girl/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/whos-that-girl/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:30:05 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5293 Read More »]]> despite the 100F and up temperatures (which sounds pretty dreamy right now), there are a lot of reasons we love nyc in the month of august — summer fridays, saturday afternoon parties at moma ps1, alfresco brunch, not to mention movies and concerts in the parks.

this august will be even better, though, thanks to the special little one-eyed lady we spied sprinkled among the splashes of citron, pink and mixed prints of our fall collection. with her quirky sensibility and strawberry bob–not to mention penchant for red lipstick and a well-placed bow–she’s definitely our kind of gal.

 so who is she? our girly cyclops was created exclusively for us by nyc-based artist craig redman–a take on his iconic darcel disappoints character–as part of a unique collaboration launching in august. we love that redman–whose work has appeared at the louvre in paris as well as magazines such as teen vogue, vanity fair, and dazed & confused–loves new york city just as much as we do.

this purse-and-pup toting icon is just a sneak peek of what’s in store for our quirky-cool collection of graphic knits, clutches and accessories that capture the spirit and electric colors of our hometown (new york, new york!) with redman’s artistic talent and a touch of cheeky kate spade new york charm.

we can’t wait to show you more!

 

 

 

taking a quick spin around the office this afternoon (camera in tow) we captured another eye-catching office trend: signature thick-framed glasses. whether cat eye, square, or slightly rounded, we love polishing off our look with a pair of bold frames, which lend everything from fluffy sweaters to flirty shifts a sleek twist. our office-wide obsession has now spread to studs, pendants and rings in our latest cheeky jewelry capsule collection inspired by what is our brand stylist brad goreski’s most iconic item, too.

with just over a month to go till our newest fragrance, live colorfully, arrives in shops on april 1st, kate spade new york creative director deborah lloyd hosted a spirited soiree in new york city’s chelsea district–our favorite for all things artsy and vibrant–during nyfw.

one of our favorite ways we describe the scent is that it dances on the skin like light on a prism. (the idea of prisms also inspired the decadent bottle.)

as if bringing that idea to life, ladies like jamie king, langley fox hemingway, audrey gelman, oh land, and katie fogarty–the lovely face of our fragrance campaign–danced the night away amid glowing neon signs, swirling disco lights, and a glitter-dusted dance floor to a very special dj set by london fashion blogger, dj and model bip ling (looking sharp in our bow-bedecked ruthie cardigan).

stay tuned for more live colorfully news!

when it comes to chocolates, we love to get lavender truffles. flowers? peonies, please. and as to the card…well, you know we’re just as particular when it comes to stationery. and we’re smitten with paperless post. so for this valentine’s day we’ve created 10 exclusive kate spade new york designs with them for sending to your sweethearts. some have flirty phrases; others have cheeky quips. (our “let’s make out” card is already one of their most popular.) one even features a sophisticatedly cool illustration from one of our favorite artists. in essence, we created the cards we ourselves would be tickled pink to get in our inbox, and hope your nearest and dearest will be too.

it debuts april 1st. excited? we sure are.

the inspiration: this month’s playful palette of clotted cream, donovan yellow, bazooka pink, mint cream and roy blue.

to mimic the lovely hands you see here, choose your five color order and then paint each nail a different hue, working left to right across both hands starting with your pinky finger. (you want your left pinky and right thumb to be the same color).

then add very important final touch: a single sweep of black at the tips for an sophisticated and artful edge.

inspired, this month, by our love of all things pop—colors that pop, pop art, the phrase “pop” itself—on friday we asked you for your favorite pop songs of all time for music monday. thank you for all of your suggestions! and to @alekzalatte, @eecully, @yoga32meg, @carolinefm, olivia s., nicki c., and jessica z., julie l. who made this month’s mix.

enjoy!

now through february 22nd, show us—and the world—your idea of what it means to “live colorfully” and have the chance for your original photo to appear in an upcoming campaign. here’s how to have your photo considered for use (see all the terms and conditions below):

1. follow @katespadeny on instagram.

2. upload your own original photo on instagram that shows your idea of what it means to “live colorfully” and tag it with the hashtag #livecolorfully and @katespadeny.  it could be a bouquet of your favorite blooms, a colorful moment in the sun, even bright socks peeking out from your shoes. be sure your account is set to “public” so we can see it!

we’ve made a little inspiration board to get you started. happy snapping!

PHOTO SUBMISSION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS NOT A CONTEST AND THERE IS NO PRIZE BEING OFFERED.  Participants are encouraged to submit and upload their “Live Colorfully” photos (“Live Colorfully”), in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.  Submissions will be accepted commencing at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on January 23, 2013 and ending at 11:59 PM ET on February 22, 2013 (the “Submission Period”), when all submissions must have been received.  A purchase or payment will not improve your chances of your photo being selected.  Live Colorfully is governed by these Terms and Conditions and is subject to all applicable U.S. federal, state and local laws. Void where prohibited.

1. Eligibility for Participation. Live Colorfully is open only to legal residents of the continental United States, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.  Proof of residency and age may be required.  In order to participate in Live Colorfully, a Participant must fully comply with these Terms and Conditions and, by participating, you represent and warrant that you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and the decisions of Sponsor, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects relating to Live Colorfully.

2. How to Participate. To participate in Live Colorfully, you must have a valid, public Instagram account.  If you do not already have an Instagram account, download the free Instagram application or visit www.instagram.com and create an account as instructed.  An Instagram account is free of charge.  Once you have an Instagram account, to participate in Live Colorfully, during the Submission Period: (1) you must follow @katespadeny on Instagram; and (2) using Instagram, upload a photo (the “Photo”) tagged with the hashtag #livecolorfully and mention @katespadeny. The Photo should depict Participant’s idea of how to “live colorfully”; it could be a place, a moment or anything else that signifies living colorfully to the Participant.  There are no limitations on the number of Photos that a Participant may submit but a Participant cannot have more than one (1) “Selected Photo” (as defined in Section 5 below).  Photo submissions must be publically viewable on Instagram and must comply with Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, in addition to these Terms and Conditions, including but not limited to Section 3 below, in order to be eligible and qualify for participation in Live Colorfully.  Photos will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the Instagram account from which the Photo is uploaded at the time of submission, as identified by the primary email address associated with that account.  All submissions become the property of Sponsor upon receipt and will not be acknowledged or returned.

3. Photo requirements. The Photo must comply with the following requirements: (i) the Photo may not feature any people other than the Participant unless Participant has obtained all necessary written permission and releases from such people prior to submission; (ii) Participant must own all rights, including copyright, in and to the Photo; (iii) other than the Sponsor, its brands and/or logos, the Photo may not show, contain, mention, depict, refer or otherwise allude to the name or logo of any retailer, manufacturer, brand, product, store, place of business, person, company or character in such a way or manner as to imply an affiliation with, or endorsement of, the Sponsor or its brands; (iv) the Photo must be Participant’s own original work, created solely by Participant and not created professionally; must not have been previously published, released or distributed in any form; must not have won any award; and must not infringe the copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other personal or proprietary rights of any person or entity; (v) the Photo may not contain, mention, refer or otherwise allude to any material that is violent, lewd, obscene, sexually explicit, pornographic, disparaging, defamatory, libelous, racially or morally offensive or otherwise contain inappropriate content or objectionable material; (vi) the Photo cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs or tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any political agenda or message; (vii) the Photo cannot in any manner defame, misrepresent, contain disparaging remarks or reflect negatively about Sponsor, its products, or other people, products or companies or their products, or in any way reflect negatively upon such parties or explicitly or implicitly communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill with which Sponsor wishes to be associated, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion; (viii) the Photo cannot contain any personal identification, such as personal names, email addresses or street addresses; (ix) the Photo cannot depict and cannot itself be in violation of any law; and (x) the Photo must otherwise be in compliance with these Terms and Conditions.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject and/or remove any Photo that Sponsor believes, in its sole discretion, does not comply with or is in violation of these Terms and Conditions or that otherwise contains prohibited or inappropriate content.

4. Representations and Warranties/Indemnification.  Each Participant represents and warrants as follows: (i) the Photo is owned by Participant and has not been previously published, distributed or otherwise exploited; (ii) the Photo is wholly original with Participant and as of the date of submission, the Photo is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (iii) the Photo does not and will not violate or infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other rights of any other person or entity, including, but not limited to, rights of privacy and publicity; and (iv) the Photo does not and will not violate any applicable laws, and is not and will not be considered defamatory or libelous.  Each Participant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors harmless from and against any and all third party claims, actions or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses relating to or arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of the warranties, representations or agreements of Participant hereunder.

5. Grant of Rights/Selection of Photos.  Each Participant agrees that Sponsor shall have the right, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, to post Participant’s Photo (in whole or in part) on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and other social networking sites or any websites owned or operated by Sponsor and hereby irrevocably grants Sponsor a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free perpetual license to use and display the Photo for any and all purposes in any and all media channels without limitation, worldwide and without additional compensation, notice or approval by Participant.  In its sole discretion, Sponsor shall select up to twelve (12) Photos (the “Selected Photos”) for Sponsor’s use in an upcoming marketing campaign associated with the “Live Colorfully” theme (the “Campaign”).  Participants who submitted the Selected Photos will be contacted by Sponsor and required to assign to Sponsor all rights, title and interest, including all copyright, in and to his/her Photo and to execute and return to Sponsor any documentation required by Sponsor to effectuate said assignment of rights, together with an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability and Publicity Release (where permitted by law), by the date specified by Sponsor.  If the Participant that submitted a Selected Photo is under the age of majority in his/her state of legal residence, the Affidavit and other documents must be executed on their behalf by his/her parent or legal guardian.  The odds of a Participant’s Photo being chosen as a Selected Photo depend upon the number and quality of all the Photos submitted.  Sponsor is under no obligation to choose any one or more Photos as a Selected Photo and may elect to choose less or more than twelve (12) Photos as a Selected Photo in its sole discretion.

6. Publicity Release; Use of Personal Information.  Except where prohibited or restricted by law, a Participant’s submission(s) of Photo(s) constitutes the Participant’s agreement and consent for Sponsor and any of its designees to use and/or publish Participant’s name and/or Instagram username worldwide and in perpetuity for any and all purposes relating to Live Colorfully, including, but not limited to, advertising, trade and/or promotion on behalf of Sponsor, in any and all forms of media, now known or hereafter devised, including, but not limited to, print, outdoor, TV, radio, electronic, cable, or World Wide Web, without further limitation, restriction, compensation, notice, review, or approval.  By submitting Photos, Participants will be sharing their personal information with Sponsor. Personal information collected by Sponsor will be used for administration of Live Colorfully.  In addition, by participating, Participants agree to Sponsor’s use of Participant’s personal information as described in its privacy policy at www.katespade.com.  Please refer to Sponsor’s privacy policy for important information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by Sponsor.  Sponsor is not responsible for disclosures made by any third party.  Participants may subsequently opt-out of receiving further emails as set forth in Sponsor’s privacy policy.

7. No Tampering, Right To Cancel, Modify.  Sponsor and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors shall not have any obligation or responsibility, with regard to: (a) submissions that contain inaccurate information or do not comply with or violate these Terms and Conditions; (b) Participants who have committed fraud or deception in participating in Living Colorfully; (c) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet or computer malfunctions, failures or difficulties; or (d) any damages, injuries or losses of any kind resulting from participating in Live Colorfully. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify and/or terminate participation in Live Colorfully for any reason at any time.

8.  Release of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranty; Forum Selection Clause. By participating in Live Colorfully, Participants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Instagram, Facebook, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors (the “Released Parties”), from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury (including emotional distress), and/or death, which may occur in connection with preparation for, or participation in, Live Colorfully, and for any claims or causes of action based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy.  The Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to Participant’s or to any other person’s computer, regardless of how caused, relating to or resulting from participating or downloading materials or software in connection with Live Colorfully.  Participants acknowledge that Sponsor has neither made nor is in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representations or guarantees, express or implied, in fact or in law.  Except where prohibited, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, or the rights and obligations of Participant or Sponsor in connection with Live Colorfully, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of New York, or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. In addition, any dispute relating to Live Colorfully (including these Terms and Conditions) shall be brought in the appropriate state or federal court having jurisdiction over the subject matter located in New York, New York.  Participants hereby irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of said courts and waive any claim of forum non conveniens or lack of personal jurisdiction that they may have.

9. Sponsor: Kate Spade, LLC d/b/a Kate Spade New York, 2 Park Avenue, 8th floor, New York, NY 10016.  Live Colorfully is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram, Facebook, or any other social media platform.  Any and all questions, comments or complaints regarding Live Colorfully must be directed solely to Sponsor, not Instagram, Facebook, or any other third party.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/how-do-you-live-colorfully/feed/ 0 submit your original photo on instagram for the chance to be part of an upcoming campaign http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/what-are-you-listening-to/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/what-are-you-listening-to/#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:06:40 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5121 we’re in the mood for pop. pop music.

tell us your favorite pop song in the comments section below and it may make its way into the next week’s music monday!

we’re listening…

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/what-are-you-listening-to/feed/ 0 your favorite pop tune could appear in next week's music monday playlist http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/my-what-lovely-eyes-you-have/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/my-what-lovely-eyes-you-have/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:57:35 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5109

curling up with classic movies–particularly ones lush with colorful costume designs and stylish sets–are one of our favorite ways to while away the weekend. on this occasion we’re  happy to bask in the comfort of our own settee and watch one of our favorite films, 1964’s what a way to go.

in this classic comedy, a young and stunning shirley maclaine (in, at one point, all her gold lame one-piece glory) stars as an ill-fated ingénue who denounces money in the name of true love yet finds herself rotating through an enviable list of the most eligible characters (played by the most eligible men of the golden era, including dean martin, gene kelly and paul newman to name a few) and winds up as an oh-so wealthy widower, despite her best efforts to search out a simple life.

 the silver lining  to her string of her marriage misfortune? an over-the-top wardrobe that that takes pops of color (one of the things we love most) to a new level with powder blue crinoline-ruffled nightgowns, frothy tangerine marabou-trimmed hats and a pink floor-length chinchilla coat—all designed on a $500,000 budget by famed costume designer edith head who received eight academy awards and 35 nominations in her career(including one of her work in what a way to go.)

 mix in glossy beehive updos (created by the 72 hairstylists on set) and $3.5 million dollars worth of jewels for good measure and you have cinematic sartorial magic worthy of a weekend night.

one of our favorite past times–right up there with popping into art galleries, flower shops and old school cinemas–is losing ourselves in bookstores.

in london (where we have three shops), persephone books is a top choice of places to spend an extended afternoon. it’s a tiny space tucked in between a quint coffee shop and a delicatessen on lambs conduit street, in the very literary borough of bloomsbury. and it’s not just a bookstore–it’s an independent publishing house, too.

founder nicola beauman thoughtfully resurrects little-known novels, diaries, short stories, non-fiction, biography and cookery books written mostly by women and primarily dating from early to mid-twentieth century to publish in signature grey book covers. modern-day writers like adam gopnik write the prefaces. and the endpaper–the leaves of paper before the title page and after the text–are always a wallpaper or fabric dating from the year of the original publication of the book. the beauty in these little details cinches the deal for us, every time.

in the case of miss pettigrew lives for a day, the endpaper is an elegant 1938 furnishing linen by marion dorn. winifred watson’s novel (which may sound familiar as it was also a film, though loosely based it) is in many ways a society cinderella story, spiked with fine-grain humor: an out-of-work, middle-aged governess in ’30s london (miss pettigrew) gets to experience first-hand the ease of sophisticated life purely by accident. in turn, she blossoms into a social swan. (ps: the fashion references alone will entice you to read from cover to cover.)

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-friday-pickup-mrs-pettigrew-lives-for-a-day/feed/ 0 a charming book from an even more charming bookstore. plus: happy hot toddy day. http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-fine-art-of-being-artsy/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/the-fine-art-of-being-artsy/#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:38:17 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=5003 Read More »]]>

whether we’re repining iconic photographs and old travel posters on pintrest, or sampling playlists on pitchfork, we’re constantly on the lookout for things that make our world more colorful.

in some cases, literally more colorful. lately we’ve been spending hours scrolling artsy—a new and free, subscription-based website  that appoints you the sole curator of your own unique, online gallery to fill with your favorite styles (including east village art and post-minimalism) subject matters (americana, city life) and mediums (abstract sculpture, glass, even graffiti).

think of it like pandora meets the met: choose from more than 21,000 works from galleries, museums and private collections around the world and then filter down your final choices by color, size or even price.

you can follow your favorite artists—there’s more than 3,700 to choose from including carl ostendarp, kim luttrell, and mary heilmann (a couple of our current favorites)—to learn their latest news or have artsy’s art genome technology suggest new ones to add to your feed. with art heavyweights like larry gagosian of the gagosian, and barrett white of christie’s as advisors on the site, those recommendations are pretty spot-on.

if all this careful curating leaves your apartment walls feeling a little lacking, you’re in luck: there is an “inquire” button which will connect you directly with the appropriate gallery for purchasing info.

happy perusing!

this very month we turn 20. can you believe it? my, how we’ve grown since launching our first nylon handbag in 1993.

and we’re so excited for the fun, fabulous, and, of course, colorful surprises we’ve got in store for 2013 (yes, pun intended) — the year of things we love.

the holiday parties might be over, but our festivities are just getting started! happy 2013!

and for tomorrow…we of course have you covered. the quickest path to recovery from all the fun finery may be as easy as  having a few of your nearest and dearest over for 1 bloody mary, 2 slices of our egg strata with all the fixings, and 3 back-to-back films viewed from the comfort of your own sofa. (first on our playlist: designing woman, starring lauren bacall.)

recipes below. enjoy!

rob roy

ingredients:

2 oz blended scotch whiskey

3/4 oz italian vermouth

1 dash orange bitters

maraschino cherries

directions:

1. fill a metal shaker with cracked ice, whiskey, vermouth and bitters.

2. shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve.

mini piggy wellingtons

ingredients:

1- 12 oz package fully cooked chicken sausage links (or any variety you prefer)

1- 8 oz sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1/3 cup whole-grain mustard

directions:

1. pre-heat oven to 350F.

2. using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, carefully trim the puff pastry into 3-inch by 1-inch strips.

3. cut sausages in quarters lengthwise, then again in half across.

4. roll sausage piece in single pastry strip and transfer to non-stick baking sheet. repeat.

4. bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and fluffy.

5. serve with mustard sauce on the side.

bloody mary

ingredients (for 1 pitcher, serves 6):

4 cups chilled, fresh tomato juice with pulp (no seeds!)

9 oz vodka

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

3/4 tsp tabasco sauce

3/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp celery salt (optional)

directions:

1. stir all ingredients together in pitcher.

2. fill glasses with chunky ice and serve.

egg strata

ingredients:

8 slices white bread, cut into cubes

1 lb chddar cheese, grated

7 eggs

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp salt

2 cups milk

any of the following: sausage, ham, pepper, onion, and any other veges you love

directions:

1. fill a 13″x19″ pan with half of the bread cubes, and top with half of the grated cheese.

2. in a separate bowl, beat together eggs, mustard, salt, milk and all additional ingredients. pour over mixture in pan and sprinkle remaining cheese and bread on top.*

3. bake in pre-heated oven for 1 hour at 325F.

*it’s even easier to enjoy if you make this dish the day before. simply cover pan with cling film after finishing step 2 and refrigerate overnight. then, bake when ready.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/a-tipple-and-a-nibble-3-4/feed/ 0 we're rounding out our weekly holiday series with something special for tonight, and a little something for tomorrow http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/were-on-holiday/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/were-on-holiday/#comments Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:04:38 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4627

“we both love to entertain and struggled to find recipes that fit the vibe and personality for what we were creating,” says fisher of the pair’s inspiration behind an appetizers-only cookbook. “we craved dishes that aren’t normally considered appetizers, so it just became a natural thing to miniature all the items we wanted to serve.” and we’re glad they did.

below, a few of their kitchen secrets:

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/whats-cooking/feed/ 0 meet jenny and teri, the masterminds behind the addictive food blog, spoon fork bacon, and a new book about tiny party food. genius. http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/its-dress-up-time/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/its-dress-up-time/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:22:34 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4605

here we’ve scaled down the sandwiches into mini bites perfect for passed hors d’oeuvres (unsightly mid-bite gooeyness, be gone!) and paired it with a complimentary craft beer cocktail every partygoer can agree on.

black velvet

ingredients:

stout

champagne

directions:

fill a champagne flute half-full with stout.

slowly top with chilled champagne.

mini grilled cheese

ingredients:

8 slices of fresh bread or squares of focaccia, cut into 4 equal squares

4 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature

4 oz white cheddar cheese, sliced

4 oz gruyere cheese, sliced

directions:

1. heat a wide, shallow frying pan or griddle over medium heat.

 2. on your prep board, lay out half of the bread and evenly divide both types of cheeses among the pieces, making sure the cheese reaches all the way to theedges.

 3. sandwich each slice with another piece of bread that is lightly buttered on the outside.

4. place a few sandwiches in the pan  butter side facing down, and cook until bread turns golden and cheese begins to melt, about five minutes.

  5. flip, and cook for another five minutes. remove from pan.

6. as you may be cooking in batches*, adjust the temperature to prevent the breadbrowning before the cheese melts in the next batch

 7. serve hot.

**for easy prep, plan ahead! cut bread the day before and seal in air tight containers. assemble before the party starts, and then pop onto the pan a couple of times throughout the night, making small batches.

want know if you should buy someone a wedding gift if you traveled long distance for the ceremony? or how to successfully do the “day-to-night outfit” without breaking the office dress code?  simply tweet your pressing queries at @katespadeny and you may see them here on the blog. plus, we’ll let you know when yours have been answered!

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/deliberate-polish/feed/ 0 introducing our new (unpretentious) column about minding your modern manners http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/holiday-how-to-wrapping-a-present/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/holiday-how-to-wrapping-a-present/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:15:21 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4559 Read More »]]> have you decided how you’ll be wrapping all your delightful gifts this year?

there’s nothing prettier than seeing a pile of meticulously wrapped gifts waiting to go out to the ones you love. inspired by our season of kaleidoscope brights, we whipped up two sophisticatedly fun ideas that got us very excited to get the wrapping party started:

to feed your entertaining inspiration–and ensure you don’t get stuck serving boxed wine and potato chips–we’re serving up a few easy to whip up recipes to spice up your nights throughout the month.

 these tasty cocktails and appetizers go hand-in hand, adding a memorable touch to your next get together even if your under a time crunch.

just scroll down to see the first delicious duo. (plus, a quick how-to on shaking the perfect cocktail.)

elderflower gimlet

ingredients:

2 parts gin (or vodka, though gin pairs slightly better with the nibble)

1 1/2 parts St. Germain

1 1/2 parts freshly squeezed lime juice

lime slices for garnish

directions:

fill a cocktail shaker to the brim with ice and add all ingredients except lime slices

shake vigorously* until condensation appears on the outside of the shaker.

strain and serve in a martini glass or glassware of your choice. garnish with a lime wheel.

*alternatively, you can stir this cocktail vigorously in the shaker with less ice, though traditionally any cocktail involving citrus is shaken, not stirred.

TIP: how to successfully (and gracefully) shake a cocktail in three simple steps:

1.     pour ingredients into a tin shaker that is 7/8 full of ice and cover with a glass, pressing down hard on top to seal.

2. holding the tin tight at the rim to help keep the cocktail cool, shake the tin hard and fast over your shoulder  (like a present you’ve somehow stumbled upon and are trying to figure out what’s inside).

3.  once the tin looks frosty, strain the ingredients into a glass.

mini cheesecakes

ingredients:

1 box vanilla wafers

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3 tbsp melted butter

mini muffin cup liners

8 oz cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

cherry preserves (or raspberry preserves or kiwi slices)

directions: 

 line mini muffin tray with paper cups and place wafers in the bottom, flat side facing down.

blend the cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla and pour batter into the cups.

bake in a pre-heated 375F oven for 10 minutes. remove and chill immediately for 1 hour, or put in freezer for 15 minutes, covered.

top with tiny slices of kiwi, or small dollops of cherry and raspberry preserves.

enjoy!

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/a-tipple-and-a-nibble-1-elderflower-gimlets-mini-cheesecakes/feed/ 0 the first in our weekly holiday sips-and-snack combo series http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/steal-the-spotlight/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/steal-the-spotlight/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 02:54:45 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4532 Read More »]]> are all your upcoming holiday parties making you wish you had, say, a whole new fancy wardrobe?

notice how she’s teamed each with simple black pumps and, at most, dainty jewelry—that’s stylish proof that all a girl needs is a great dress to look effortlessly polished.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/taylor-swift-takes-a-twirl/feed/ 0 how she (glamorously) wore our dresses http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/for-the-birds/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/for-the-birds/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:15:03 +0000 ks_admin http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4504 escape to blue skies, even if you’re stuck in the office, by dressing up your digital devices in this exclusive kate spade new york downloadable wallpaper. it’s our “birds over arches” print, which you’ll see on our elegantly modern handbags and clothing this month, too.

cute stocking suffer alert: our darling $10 wrap bracelets are featured in the december/january issue of teen vogue! reminiscent of our favorite childhood accessory with its slap-on-and-go fun factor, we’ve dressed up our version with brightly colored rubber and some of our favorite quips. we love how they look layered with sparkle for the holidays.

the book covers her famous adventures shooting with the likes of david bailey and richard avedon, dating terence stamp amongst many other leading men of the time, and traveling the world for shoots with the likes of vogue, harper’s bazaar, vanity fair, and glamour. a mini album of photos from the era captures the glamour of the time that we know and love. but hearing it from her perspective — as a young ingenue from rural buckinghamshire — really captures how limitless the possibilities were in swinging 60s london, even when you weren’t looking for it. that’s only the first half of the book. equally fascinating is what happens after she quit fashion once and for all in her 30s, moved to cornwall, married her husband michael and purchased a small inn, which she still runs today.

her enviably low-key polish throughout is where a large part of the beauty of this story lies: to paraphrase another leading lady we love, we get to see that jean was just a girl standing in front of a camera, the world telling her they loved her. and we find her all the more inspiring for it.

that’s why we brought in some ideas from some of our favorite shoppers. “our favorite part of holiday gifting after picking out the perfect thing is wrapping it up and writing a little note,” enthuse sally ann and molly bernadette of a piece of toast.

“sometimes the stocking stuffers are the most important part! it’s all in the details,” advises matchbook magazine’s lilly jane warren. and we all equally agree with cult of pretty’s ann colville somma when she says that her “favorite thing is turning people on to neat products and spoiling them with treats they might not indulge in themselves.”

there’s nothing more delightful than seeing your special someone’s face light up when they open your gift. that is as much of a present as the gift itself. take a peek at all of our bloggers’ wish lists as well as brad and deborah’s, right here!

speaking of cranberry sauce, try this cranberry chutney, too. the idea of tossing in rich, smokey ground tellicherry pepper at the end is a trick we discovered purely by accident, and are so grateful we did. it totally makes the dish!

happy thanksgiving!

our crafty team came up with a clever way to get get a jump on your holiday shopping while you’re checking the status of everyone’s turkey dinners this week on facebook: our holiday gift guide is there now, too!

and we’ve enlisted some stylish helpers to get you started: find inspiration in the wish lists (we call them “jewel vaults”) of deborah lloyd, brad goreski and the ladies behind some of our favorite blogs–including apartment 34, a piece of toast, the everygirl, love taza / rockstar diaries,  cult of pretty, style & pepper, matchbook magazine and camille styles–and start your own. Then, share your lists, and shop directly from the site.

it doesn’t stop there: get a first look at our brand new holiday e-cards on paperless post, shop for the men in your life at jack spade, and…starting december 3rd we’ll be doing a daily trivia prize with some amazingly dazzling prizes. (sweet!)

it all starts here!

from top to bottom:

carlyle bracelet

lip crayon box set

gladys cardigan

brightspot avenue grayce bag

touch tech bow gloves

once upon a time, “#” was merely a button on your phone that you’d press when calling, say, your office voicemail, or an automated customer service number. back then, which was really not that long ago, we called it a “pound sign.”

fast forward, and the “hashtag” (which sounds so much cuter) is now part of our day-to-day correspondence, whether on twitter, instagram or just texting. and we love how it has a way of turning just about any phrase before it into something cheeky and cute.

we’ve used some of our current favorites (above) to dress up a few new bags, pouches, and tech accessories. (take a peek here to see what they’re about.)

now that you know some of ours, what are some of your favorite hashtags?

oh the squeals, the squeals that echoed through our halls when our new holiday mini nail polish set arrived. aside from the sweet little bottles which are perfect to slip into a makeup pouch or clutch, the set of two solid hues and two glittery lacquers make eight totally different combinations.

 for a brilliant day-to-night trick during the work week, we love the idea of wearing a solid during the day, and then layering on your glitter of choice at 6pm–especially during the holidays.

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/perfectly-nail-polished/feed/ 0 because a girl can never have too much sparkle http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/10-ways-to-make-a-big-difference-with-hurricane-sandy-relief-efforts-this-week/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/10-ways-to-make-a-big-difference-with-hurricane-sandy-relief-efforts-this-week/#comments Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:45:08 +0000 j_ford http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=4309 Read More »]]>  

• donate to nyc.gov - 100% of funds are dispersed to relief organizations and their efforts in the area.

• starting today, bid on online auctions at charitybuzz.com organized by the cfda and vogue as part of fashion for sandy relief.  you could win dinner with gwyneth paltrow, a chance to meet anna wintour during a behind-the-scenes tour of vogue….the list goes on and on. we’ve donated an exclusive tour of our 2 park avenue headquarters followed by a trip to the kate spade new york store for a private styling session with our  president and creative director deborah lloyd, and brand stylist brad goreski–with a $2500 shopping spree.  snazzy!  100% of the proceeds raised from the auction will go to the mayor’s fund to advance new york city and to other relief organizations in the tri-state area.

• the food bank of nyc, community food bank of new jersey, and staten island recovers would love your non-perishable food items, your time, or online donations.

•  596 Acres, an organization in the far rockaways area of new york that helps transforms vacant public land into community resources, has taken a super active role in helping out the area–and some of their relief sites have even smartly set up online registries for items they need donated. check it out.

• give to the united way either online or, if you live in the area, with the following specific items: canned food, hygiene products, blankets, flashlights with the appropriate batteries (batteries are very important!), and trash bags.

• have a soft spot for furry animals? the liberty humane society of new jersey is in need of cat and dog food as well as other pet supplies.

live locally? there’s even more ways to help:

• sign up to volunteer at http://www.nycservice.org and http://www.jerseycares.org/: these sites make it super easy to join a clean up crew or help deliver supplies and food, in all areas of new york and new jersey.

• eat locally: fill your belly and promote a speedy recovery for restaurants impacted by the storm–chronicle your adventures by tagging your tweets and photos of what you’re eating out on instagram with #dineoutNYC to get others in the mood to nosh there, too.

• go put a smile on someone’s face and spend the day with nursing home residents still at the park slope armory emergency shelter in brooklyn. volunteers are needed to help with food preparation, social support, daily routines and activities (chess, anyone?) to help take their minds off the trauma. drop in or stay for a while; they’d love the help–especially during overnight shifts. they need 50 day volunteers and 40 each night, and are in particular need of volunteers who speak spanish and russian. sign up here and here.
• in manhattan, donate blood at any of these locations: met life donor center at 200 park avenue, citigroup donor center at 153 east 53rd street, and the port authority donor center on 8th avenue and 41st street, in the south wing.

the third and final designer in our series on the latest emerging talent to join the prestigious cfda fashion incubator under the mentorship of our own kyle andrew, senior vice president of global marketing, graduated just three years ago from parsons and, along with her business partner max stein, already counts some of fashion’s most influential retailers—including shopbop and barneys—as customers.

name: reece solomon

age: 26

grew up in: new jersey

current city: manhattan

job title: designer/creative director of reece hudson

established in: 2009

i got here by…first studying communications at boston university, and doing a semester abroad in paris where i interned for french fashion magazine l’officiel. after graduating, i studied fashion design at parsons and interned for proenza schouler and rag & bone.

i started designing handbags because….i’ve always loved them, and during an accessories course at parsons i started playing with techniques i had been exploring in apparel design and using them as a basis to design handbags.

it made sense to launch my own line when…we saw a void in the market for an independent designer handbag brand with a unique point of view–one not attached to a large fashion house, and conversely not a made-in-china contemporary brand derivative of other designer brands, either.

you can always spot a reece hudson bag because it’s….fashion-forward but not trendy, modern but with classic appeal. it’s downtown but sophisticated, and works day-to-night.

my favorite pieces from the spring 2013 collection is…the stendahl perforated metal evening bag in rose gold and black; the siren mini bag in gradient snakeskin, and the bowery canteen bag in blue metallic brocade leather.

on any given workday i’m…sketching, doing image research, attending a variety of meetings, and drinking a lot of coffee.

i always wanted to be a designer growing up…my only career aspiration prior to that was a veterinarian, because i assumed that meant i could just play with animals all day.

most valuable thing i learned from kyle….the importance of the process in creating a brand book!

career highlight, so far…is tied between being accepted into the cfda fashion incubator program, and FINALLY selling to barneys–for spring 2013!

whether you want to shop by color (may we suggest vivid snapdragon or maraschino?) or price (there are clever bracelets for $10 as well as attention-grabbing bags for under $300), our talented team has had so much fun designing and compiling the very best of the best of everything a girl could ever want into a very easy-to-peruse gift guide.

we’ve also fancied up our colorful gift wrapping with coral-colored ribbon and gem-shaped note cards, designed just for this holiday season.

so we invite you to get glowing–it’s the idea behind all the fabulous color, shine and glitter on display this month, and we think you’ll be glowing from delight, too. (stay tuned! there’s even more fun to come.)

 happy shopping!

 the husband-and-wife team charles and ray eames rank amongst the most important and influential american designers of the twentieth century. in between designing buildings, furniture and toys; taking photographs, creating sculptures and paintings, designing museum exhibits (including the 1964 world’s fair), and heavily influencing industrial and graphic design, they also found the time to made over 100 short films between 1950 and 1982 covering all those fields, too.

          in the six-disc set, the films of ray and charles eames, you’ll learn about such far-reaching matters as toy tops, sea creatures, thomas jefferson and the explanation of advanced math and scientific concepts, all with the delightful quality of highly stylized, vintage educational videos. (we only wish we had to watch these in high school.)

  some of our favorite stills from the films are below (with thanks to the eames office) to kick start your cinematic adventure. whether you watch 1, 2, 3 or all 6, rent them this weekend!

name: whitney pozgay

age: 31

hometown: phoenix, arizona

but i currently live in: brooklyn, new york

job title: designer & chief creative officer of whit

established in: 2009

i actually started out in costume design… which is very specific: you design for a character and the clothes have to be able to been seen from the back of the theater. then the show ends, the costumes get boxed up and that is that.

so fashion for me is refreshing because…. clothing has it’s own story, and that story evolves each day. so i never want to put our girl in a box with a defined idea of who she is. i like to give her a large dance floor, keeping the shapes clean and open for personal style.

you could say my own style has evolved in a similar way… i used to be more literal with my love of vintage. it was maybe even a little costume-like. but now it’s a relaxed and simple mix of things i love.

in terms of inspiration… i do tend to gravitate towards bold prints, retro textures, stripes, and mod easy shapes even though i’m constantly looking at new sources of inspiration. that filter is what keeps the collection consistent.

the signature thing for whit is… a bold print. and every season the theme of that bold print changes. we also always have a strong knit stripe program. stripes are my favorite neutral.

spring 2013 is all about…. bringing your vacation back to your everyday life. my husband, parker, and i started designing the collection on our honeymoon in st. lucia, so there’s a heavy caribbean influence–tropical botanical prints, bright island colors and nautical stripes, but all in city-friendly shapes.

i’m totally obsessed with…the long crane skirt with the canopy print (the one with the leaves). it makes me feel really tall, and that much of a print makes a real statement.

and we also did bags and shoes… i love working with people i admire. yestadt millinery and osborn are both brands that i love, and they bring something to the table that i don’t do. sometimes you get a happy surprise when you mix elements from two different perspectives.

the most valuable advice kyle has given me in the program… has been two things, really: to explore our brand message outside of the aesthetics, and to set bigger goals for ourselves.

and the most valuable thing my aunt kate (spade) taught me….was to not be afraid to edit, and to trust my gut.

career highlight (so far!)… we just had a look in the october issue of vogue, which as a big milestone for us.

here, a trio of recent our top-rated products (and what people genuinely love about them.)

it’s officially the end of summer in our calendar when the last music festival comes around–and we soaked up four glorious days of sunny delight this weekend at austin city limits.

since we’d seen the likes of lovely florence & the machine and gotye already on our various festival jaunts, we took the opportunity this time to check out the new indie talent and compiled a little play list for you of our favorites. enjoy!

this april, the newest batch of inductees set up their studios on 38th street, right in the heart of the garment district. over the next three weeks we’ll be spotlighting three of them who share a common denominator: each have our own kyle andrew, senior vice president of global marketing, as one of their mentors during the program. (we love supporting new talent!)

first up: arielle shapiro, a ballerina from stockton and mastermind behind luxurious lingerie label ari dein.

name: arielle shapiro

age: 27

hometown: stockton, new jersey

but i currently live in: manhattan

before i started my line in 2009… i studied at dickinson college in carlisle, pa; the istituto di polimoda in florence, italy; and then worked at david yurman in the couture, pearl and bead department as their associate designer.

i started designing lingerie because… studying ballet growing up, i was fascinated with the tutu’s construction–the architectural boning and all it’s intricate hand-finishes. karinska–the talented seamstress behind the modern day flat tutu–would even go so far as to hide trinkets in the costumes for ballerinas to discover. the pieces were so detail-driven and special, which gave me an appreciation for what we wear underneath our clothes.

my biggest influence is… my grandmother, lillian dein shapiro. her parents were furriers who had shops in paris, miami and a flagship at the waldorf astoria. she was also a ballerina, and quite a fashion maven! legend has it that diamond lil, as she was known, wore a rabbit stole and fuchsia taffeta gown to her junior prom. keep in mind this was during the great depression! years ago, she gifted me a vintage dior pink dressing robe. it’s exquisite.

my spring 2013 line is… very maharaja meets manhattan. i was inspired by south east asian colors—rich teals with mint, light pink with black-and-cream batik, spicy burnouts—and shiny gold trimmings. we’ve all seen the black and pink with chantilly lace thing before, so i try to set myself apart from the typical lingerie aesthetic.

the most valuable advice kyle has given me… has been to focus on the long-term. in our very first meeting she asked me, “what does the forbes cover headline read in 20 years when you’re featured?”

i’d like it to be… the lion among ladies: ari dein knows women are valuable, and makes them valuable things.

my favorite career highlight so far… other than being selected for the cfda fashion incubator? watching blair waldorf wear my pieces–the boutique hotel chemise and classic boutique hotel pajamas–on gossip girl last season. it was a major highlight, indeed!

love her line as much as we do? you can shop the entire ari dein collection here.

“i took the most classic, flattering shade of peach for the lips and gave it a parisian twist–a slightly smoky undertone so that instead of being bright, it’s super chic and seductive. the perfect combination of fruity and nude.” she explains. “wear it to brighten your work look or pair it with a fun ‘cat eye’ black liner at night for some swinging 60s style.”

poppy couldn’t be more right about how fresh-looking a shade it is. just check out all the combinations below:

while we may live in an era of casual texts, err on the side of politeness when it comes to thank you cards. that being said, you also want to sound like yourself:

• to begin, use “mr.” “mrs.” or “mr.” for anyone you’re on a last-name basis with. for close friends and family, you can call them whatever name or term of endearment you use–if you call your granny “bubbles”, start your card to her with that.

• write naturally. composing the note in your head first helps to keep it conversational and not too stiff. use contractions (“i’m so glad!” instead of  “i am so glad!”) unless you’re specifically drawing attention to that statement.

• refer to the actual gift, event or even conversation you’re acknowledging, and then call out something specific about it. do you love the bracelet your friend gave you so much that you’ve worn it for a week straight? say so!

• ways to close a thank you letter: fondly, warmly, kindly, affectionately, best, yours.

if you’ve received  a really nice thank you gift from someone–and especially if you’re swooning over it–by all means, send a short note back. something to the effect of  “the bouquet of flowers/gorgeous candle/bottle of champagne was so unnecessary to send–but I’m so glad you did!” will make their day.

when it comes to timing, sooner is better, but better late then never. you may need to be clever with what you write, but there’s no need to belabor its tardiness. concentrate on the gift itself, and of course be sincere. it will still mean a lot that you made the effort.

certain times of the year pose the chance of multiple events being organized on the same night—especially in the fall and winter—so get on people’s calendar by sending out a simple save the date four to six weeks in advance. then follow up with the actual invitation about two weeks before your ‘do with all the specifics. (it’s also a nice reminder.)

 include the essentials:

• what the event is
• day, date of the event
• where the event is (include the specific address if it’s not already known to everyone)
• time
• rsvp date and contact (if needed)

and give them your own twist:

• give the occasion a clever name. call a 30^th birthday party a “flirty 30.” a little dinner for friends at your apartment in the depths of winter can become a “january party.”
• if you want people to come a little fancy, a personal note to “dress: up!” is a fun way to say so.
• if you’ve devised a special cocktail for the evening, allude to it here!

these are so fun to write. but what to say after the initial “congratulations! I’m so happy for you!” ?

• follow the general beginnings and endings of the thank you card (above)
• since an occasion worth a hurrah card is something the person has likely worked to achieve, acknowledge, for instance, how proud you are of them or how much they deserve it. for delights like an engagement, new addition to the family and so forth, notes about how they’ll be wonderful parents, what a lovely couple they make, or advice you’ve found helpful will make what’s already a high moment for the one receiving the card, even more meaningful.

 

our exclusive collection of digital stationary for paperless post makes it all so easy. see it, write it, and send it all here.

 

yes, that’s what sarah simmons does at city grit.  and we’re in awe of just about everything she does. so if you can’t get to new york to enjoy one her feasts, here are some secrets you can put into use at home:

i’m from: ”fayetteville, north carolina.”

now i live in: “manhattan’s east village.”

how it all started: “the supper club originally started in my apartment about six years ago as a way for me to see my friends since i travelled a lot for work. when i decided i wanted to move into food, something where i would only have to cook half the time seemed ideal.”

top of my guest-chef wish list: “ned elliott from foreign & domestic, and bryce gilmore from barley swine. that’s actually two people, but they’re both from austin, texas.”

tastiest food-and-drink duo: “homemade pimento cheese and an old fashioned. it  calls to me from the refrigerator.”

party snack du jour: “i love retro snacks–a plate of olives wrapped in a cheese pastry never fails in popularity.”

what i cook when i don’t actually feel like cooking: “on thursdays i’ll go in to the “walk in”–where we keep all the recent leftovers–and fill an entire shopping bag of random stuff we’ve already prepped. that, or almonds.”

favorite spice: “smoked cinnamon. it does wonders for orange marmalade amongst a lot of other things. and sumac–it’s a root that has a lemon flavor but it’s not highly acidic.”

give me three ingredients: “and i’ll make deviled eggs and put something exotic in it like pickling juice or sumac.”

the last thing i ate and drank: “almonds and coffee. it’s a chef’s life!”

name: dot huang

gig: kate spade new york store designer

what that means… i design our shops inside and out—sketching floorplans and ideas for fixtures, even picking paint colors for the walls. i also work on architectural details and elements, collaborating closely with our creative and visuals team. when everything is ready, construction takes our designs and brings them to life.

how I got here… i studied interior architecture at risd, and my first job was at a firm here in manhattan called icrave, designing restaurant interiors like abe & arthur’s.

my favorite kate spade new york moment is… the opening of our bellevue shop in seattle, wa. it was the first project i worked on from beginning to end, and i got to fly out for the opening. it’s incredibly rewarding to see ideas come together!

to me, polka dots are… incredibly versatile. they play with your eyes: they can read as a pattern, but also a texture. it’s amazing what you can do with the sizes, colors and patterning of dots.

you’ll always find me wearing my… cobble hill leslie in oyster. it’s the perfect size for work and goes with everything.

a film so good we’ve seen it not once, not twice, but (yes) three times since it opened on friday, “diana vreeland: the eye has to travel” is the topic of conversation in the office. (watch the trailer and you’ll see why.)

so in our inspired mood, we asked our whimsical creative director deborah lloyd (just back from a trip to paris—vreeland’s favorite city): what’s your why don’t you of the moment?

here’s a trio of our top-rated products (and what people genuinely love about them.)

here, five of our favorite pieces from the collection.

keep snapping and tagging—you may see your photo here next week!

whether cycling in copenhagen, gallery crawling through chicago and shanghai, sampling fancy coffees in san francisco, or scouring the best flea market stalls in toronto—or just want to hang out—we’ve got the inside intel on any delightful adventure you’re hankering to take.

want to get your hands on a set? skate by our soho shop this saturday or 5th avenue store on sunday.

name: pavia rosati

i was born in: trenton, new jersey

…but today i live in: new york city & london

i started fathom because… my life was getting to the point where i was sending recommendations on where to go for a honeymoon in greece, a restaurant in tribeca or a week in italy to friends (or a cousin/brother/friend of a neighbor) at least once a week. fathom is the result: the dream travel website. we don’t tell you everything—choice overload is exhausting—we only share the good stuff.

the last place i traveled was… croatia. i especially loved hotel lone in rovinj, the salty italian sailor who took us around the islands on his tiny boat, and the afternoon lunch at stancija meneghetti.

my idea of a great escape is… a weekend at lo scoglio (1), a restaurant and hotel on a tourist-free strip of the amalfi coast. the food is perfect, the sea is gorgeous, the people are loving.

my favorite hotel on planet earth is… a tie between il palazzo in venice (the romance! the intrigue! the fantasy!) and amanwella (3) in sri lanka (the beach! the isolation! the swaying palms!)

i never travel without… a notebook (6).

my in-flight essential is… a few thin cashmere sweaters to layer because i can never get warm enough. planes are always freezing!

my getaway bag always includes… three fun but elegant dresses that won’t wrinkle, one pair of pants, two tank tops, a few button-down v-neck cardis, flats (5) i can walk 12 hours in, snakeskin sandals that can handle cobblestone streets and lots of gorgeous necklaces (2).

when it comes to beauty on the go… i could survive forever with amore pacific cleansing oil, bumble & bumble tonic, and hermes un jardin sur le nil perfume (4).

the most memorable meal i’ve ever had… is a tie between don alfonso (7) on the amalfi coast and le meurice (8) in paris.

in between shooting the fall 2012 video at the iconic robert miller art gallery in manhattan’s chelsea district, deborah lloyd (dressed in our glamorous rossalyn faux fur coat) and brad goreski lace up their skates, take a spin and share some very crucial skating style advice. enjoy!

-deborah lloyd, president & creative director

to bring our fall campaign to life, we transformed manhattan’s iconic robert miller art gallery into a makeshift roller skating rink and gave our girls colorful wheels to complement their decked-in-dots outfits—see for yourself in our playful campaign video.

our creative director deborah lloyd whipped up a high-spirited collection of ladylike looks spiked with devil-may-care attitude; our stylist brad goreski gave it a zhuzh.  deborah lippman chipped in with gingham-painted nails. it’s all inspired by some of our most favorite things ever—here’s a close-up look at what those are (as well as the full collection!):

take a peek at snapshots from the party below!

*photos by anthony bo chan

1. allswell  we can’t help but notice there’s some serious street style happening in brooklyn—people are strutting the pavement like its their job. once you’ve gotten your street-peeping fix, feast your eyes on the daily changing menu (and late-night eats) at this simple little boite, made even more charming by the mish-mash of retro wallpapers decorating the joint. (124 bedford avenue, brooklyn)

2. caffe storico  rubbing elbows with a celeb is good for a tweet, but think about what dining in a museum will do for your instagram feed. this new italian brunching/lunching post (a dozen blocks from the tents) resides inside the new york historical society, and the restaurant’s walls are lined with bright white shelves displaying a collection of 19th-century china. (170 central park west, upper west side)

3. fivestory  now this sounds like the beginning of something grand: a design-focused concept shop in a glamorous townhouse located on — wait for it — east 69th street. you could probably get away with lounging around, pretending you’re killing time between shows when you’re really just savoring the scent of a robert mapplethorpe orchid candle. (18 east 69th street, upper east side)

4. mission chinese food  on any given moment of any given night, this lower east side restaurant looks like a barrier-to-entry for some first-rate runway show. everybody’s clamoring for sizzling sichuan plates that are so addictive and deliriously tasty they practically make you see stars. (154 orchard street, lower east side)

5. top hat  september brings up all sorts of feelings: back-to-school feelings, new-years-resolution feelings, seasonal giddiness. all the material pleasures that go along with those emotions can be found at this very small shop: colored masking tape, pavement chalk, cross-stitched handkerchiefs, notebooks, and specialty leather goods. (245 broome street, soho)

all received custom vespa lx-50’s splashed with a punchy print by florence broadhurst, based on their #ridecolorfully pinterest boards and chosen by our whimsical panel of judges. check out where these ladies have been speeding off to:

but as the gal meets glam blogger started gathering digital inspiration for their outdoor ceremony, up popped hues of blush and bright pink—which became the accent hues—then heart sparklers…. all the way down to her reception dress. (she picked our scallop-edged teasdale dress.)

the only directive from her fiancé? “he simply said ‘what you love makes me happy,’” she smiles. smart man. here are some of the clever ideas julia said “i’ll do!” for her big day—as well as ways to get her girly-sleek style:

photographs by silvana di franco photography

think out of the box! it might be straight-up dots or something dreamily abstract like a balloon floating though the air—the sky’s the limit! and it’s oh-so simple. once you take your photo, here’s what you do:

who: sydney applegate
job: production designer
where: ohau and kauai, hawaii
why: “my family lives in oahu and kauai is just my favorite place in the world. my boyfriend—now fiancé!—had never been to the islands so it was the perfect excuse to visit.”

1. pretty peaks: “hiking up to the top of diamond head on oahu. this view of waikiki made the trek totally worth while.”

2. local sugar fix: “passion fruit sorbet from lappert’s, on the north shore of kauai. yummiest ice cream on the island.”

3. welcome to paradise: “common ground kauai has the freshest, locally grown organic food, not to mention the best shrubbery signage.”

4. putting a ring on it: “my wonderful man proposed on hanalei bay at sunset under a double rainbow. how could I say no?!”

5. a glamorous dip: “chillaxin’ in a salt water pool and in my kate spade new york florence broadhurst malia mills inner tube and swimsuit.

6. somewhere over the double rainbow: “two minutes after taking this photo, i had a ring on my finger.”

7. quick feet: “our house was surrounded by coco palms. delicious and dangerous.”

8. making new friends: “just one of the geckos that greeted us on the island of lanai. i named this little guy david bowie.”

who: wendy chan
job: junior graphic designer
where: san diego, california
why: “classic california beaches, minus the infamous california traffic. plus, amazing wineries are just a few miles away.”

1. hello sunshine:  “driving through the winding roads of san diego we were surrounded by breathtaking views of the pacific ocean.”

2. raise a glass: “enjoying mimosas over brunch at barbella, made with fresh california orange juice, of course.”

3. beach bum: “surfers and kayakers sprinkle the coast of la jolla shores, one of the best beaches in san diego. we went snorkeling and swam with jelly fish, leopard sharks and stingray.”

4. food fix: “the best spicy shrimp tacos can be found at oscar’s mexican seafood. they’re made with melted cheese and topped with fresh avocado. perfection.”

5. just my type: “as a graphic designer, i couldn’t help but notice all the bright hand-painted signs and colorful murals that fill the city. i loved this one for its vivid colors and beautiful typography.”

6. glow on: “people-watching and relaxing at sunset cliff—the perfect spot to catch the sunset.”

7. grape nuts: “we hit a few wineries in temecula, about an hour outside the city. we wandered the vineyards, where the plumpest grapes i’d ever seen grew in luscious shades of greens and purples.”

who: sophie smith
job: marketing coordinator
where: london, england

1. a hop, skip and a jump: “i had been following the olympics obsessively in the weeks leading up to our trip, so as we were sitting on the runway i couldn’t wait to touchdown in london… though i did stop to capture the gorgeous new york sky before we took off.”

2. all-americana: “i met my parents at heathrow and we stayed with family friends in north london, which served as home-base for the week. as soon as we arrived, we were greeted with a huge american flag hanging in their kitchen… diplomacy at its best!”

3. sweet inspiration: “the slogan of the london olympics. the city was alive with patriotism and spirit.”

4. horsing around: “our first event was the equestrian jumping finals, which was a perfect start to the games since my whole family rides horses. my sister and i made it onto the jumbo screen as we wildly waved our flags and cheered on the two riders from team usa!”

5. hot ticket: “this is a stub i’ll definitely be saving.”

6. in good order: “i was impressed with how well-organized everything was. all the tube stations had signs pointing spectators in the right direction for every event. thousands of volunteers were on hand to help people get where they needed to go. when we went to pick up tickets to the games, they even provided travel cards so that you wouldn’t have to waste time buying tickets for the underground.”

7. on the ball: “we scored great seats for the men’s semifinal volleyball match—right in the action.”

8. in the bag: “my sister’s kate spade new york scout cross-body was perfect for the olympics—it left hands free to wave the flag.”

9. perfectly polished “to prep for the olympics, i had to make sure my nails were patriotic!”

planning a trip across the atlantic? be sure to swing by a few of sophie’s favorite uk spots…

34
“one of the best meals i’ve ever had in london was at 34 in mayfair. their fleur de sel chocolate and coconut bombe is not to be missed.”

hawksmoor
“they’re known for having the best steak in london and i can’t say that i disagree. before dinner, be sure to pop over to spitafields bar downstairs for amazing cocktails—their ‘desert island drinks,’ which change monthly, are dangerously good.”

queen of the hoxton
“after dinner at hawksmoor, you can go out in nearby shoreditch, one of the trendiest new areas in london. queen of hoxton has an amazing roof terrace.” 

take a peek at snapshots from the très chic soiree below… cheers!

take a peek at snapshots from the star-studded bash below… enjoy!

name: suzanne schloot
job: social media manager
where: fire island, new york

1. too cool: “a trip to fire island is never complete without a stop at houser’s bar in ocean beach to watch the sunset. their signature cocktail, the zippy cooler, is not to be missed.”

2. getting there: “it’s a short 25 minute ferry ride, but the moment you hop on the boat is when the real vacation starts!”

3. how charming: “there are several towns on the island but ocean beach is its unofficial capital. mom & pop shops & markets dot its main streets, and it overflows with small-town charm, reminiscent of simpler times.”

4. get your claws: “we had the lobster special at houser’s before heading back to the city while waiting for the ferry on sunday.”

5. bike around town: “one of the first things you’ll notice on fire island is the absence of cars. bicycles and red wagons are the preferred mode of transportation.”

6. play your cards: “i brought a deck of cards and we’d play games on the back deck in the morning and before dinner. we even played a few on the beach. go fish!”

7. beach bum: “the beach is never more than a 10 minute walk from any point on the island. while food nor drinks are allowed on ocean beach, a pup is a must! you’ll always see a dog or two running through the sand.

8 & 9.  in the zone: “we caught some really great waves. make sure to surf and swim only in the designated areas… there’s nothing worse than coming in after a lifeguard warning whistle. (guilty as charged.)”

meet the woman behind the très chic capsule, garance doré.

shop kobe’s leopard print case and other chic iphone accessories on katespade.com.

who: heather rosenthal
job: graphic designer
where: new orleans,  louisiana
why: for a friend’s weekend bachelorette party

1. tickle the ivories:  ”we rocked the casbah at pat o’brien’s piano bar on bourbon street, sipping hurricane drinks until our tongues turned red and dancing to our favorite tunes played on piano.”

2.  pretty praline: “i have a sweet tooth and was excited to try new orleans’ famous authentic praline cookies. we went to aunt sally’s, where you can watch them make it!”

3.  all that jazz: ”although new orleans may be known for bourbon street, we wanted to venture out to where the locals go. we found our way to frenchman street, hopping bars and listening to jazz music.”

4. world is your oyster: ”oysters are my favorite, and i couldn’t believe how big they were—they were the size of my hand! we topped them off with spicy tabasco, which i learned is made in louisiana.”

5. a sweet treat: ”everyone told me i had to try café du monde for their famous beignets, so i went to see what all the hype was about. i’d compare it to funnel cake, but much doughier. it’s no wonder cafe du monde is so famous, their beignets were delicious!”

6.  pardon my french: ”we stayed in the french quarter, which was great because it’s really easy to walk around and it’s so close to everywhere we needed to go. all the beautiful houses in bright colors with wrought iron detailing caught my eye.”

7.  later gator: “we were supposed to go on a high speed swamp tour but unfortunately, we got rained out. next time i visit, i’m definitely doing this!”

8.  magazine street: ”we did some shopping along magazine street to work off all the delicious food we ate over the weekend. i just love the name of this street.”

fast forward to summer and the couple, fresh on the heels of their new york city wedding at st. ignatius loyola (3), are still making music. “while the ceremony was the most meaningful part for us, the reception was our big celebration,” said the bride, who mingled with guests and danced till dawn in our sparkly charm heels (1). “my six-year-old nephew requested the song ‘who let the dogs out.’ we couldn’t turn down his request and break his heart, so we played it… little did we know it would bring everyone to the dance floor. no one left all evening!”

take a peek at our cameos from the wedding below, from cally’s rehearsal dinner outfit (2, “the mademoiselle dress is elegant, classic and the perfect pop of color,” she raved) to the reception, where paper flowers served as seating cards (5) and the newlyweds toasted with our bow-bedecked grace avenue champagne flutes (4). “bows were a central part of our theme, inspired by kate spade new york,” she explained, “it helped create the elegant, playful look i was going for.”

WHERE was the event?

it was held at the louis armstrong house museum, which is located in queens just off the second-to-last stop on the “7” line. this was my first visit and i was blown away. louis moved to the house in 1943 with his wife lucille, and it’s been preserved almost exactly as he left it. plus, the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly and admission is free—it’s truly one of nyc’s hidden gems.

WHY did you decide to go?

great music of course! also, this was one of many jazz shows the museum hosts during the summer, which are all free and open to the public.

the guests enjoyed an amazing house tour from the docents. louis was a sound addict – he would record things happening in the house, such as conversations, dinner parties, etc. as you wander through the rooms, you listen to recordings of actual conversations louis had there, so it feels as if he’s right there with you.  it sent shivers down my spine!

WHAT was the celebration like?

this was called a “garden party” since the musicians were set up outside in louis’ garden and they served his favorite refreshments – lemonade, red beans and rice. i read that he loved red beans and rice so much he sometimes signed his letters “red beans and ricely yours”! to go along with the garden theme, i made a dress from one of my favorite kate spade new york fabrics—a yellow rose print, which was perfect for the sunny day.

overall, the music was incredible, and the party drew a very diverse crowd: the young and old, locals from the neighborhood and many manhattanites all enjoyed an afternoon of jazz together. i can’t say enough about this place, except you must see (and hear) it for yourself!

somebody that i used to know by gotye, featuring kimbra
we are young by fun., featuring janelle monet
reunion by m83
greyhound by swedish house mafia
titanium by david guetta, featuring sia
eyes by kaskade, featuring mindy gledhill
intro by the xx
feel so close by calvin harris
settle down by kimbra
rise to the sun by alabama shakes
good time by carley rae jepsen & owl city
tongue tied by grouplove
all of me by tanlines
take a walk by passion pit
island in the sun by weezer (*an oldie but goodie. we can’t wait to catch them at austin city limits in october!)

who: sophie smith
job: marketing coordinator
where: calistoga, california
why: a very low key (and wonderful) weekend bachelorette party for a friend

1. early bird:  “there aren’t too many positives about taking a 6:30 am flight from nyc to san francisco, however waking up to this view on the plane as we flew over the rockies was a definite highlight.”

2.  first toast: “another as a little girl, i would always get funny looks from flight attendants when i would order bloody mary mix (virgin, of course!) but even today it’s my go to drink on the beverage cart. i fly delta just for the belgian speculos cookies—it’s the only way to get them in america!”

3.  memorable meals: “with it’s laid-back vibe and family-style dishes, ad hoc is like the low-key little sister to thomas keller’s legendary restaurant, the french laundry, but the food is just as delicious. you’ll force yourself to find room for the next bite.  (if you won’t be visiting napa soon, you can still get a taste of this amazing place with the ad hoc  cookbook.”

4. a feast for eyes: “this view from the kuleto estate vineyard truly took my breath away.”

5.  overheard at the vineyard: “i learned that the charming custom of planting a rose bush at the end of each row of grape vines serves more than just an aesthetic purpose — it actually helps protect the grapes!”

6.  happy sipping: “you can never taste too much wine in napa!

7.  feeling grovey: “the reverie winery has a redwood grove on its property, which was so special and stunning. i’ve never seen anything like it”

8.  a nightcap: we ended the weekend with brunch at sol bar at a dreamy spa and hotel called solage calistoga. the outdoor setting was the perfect place to unwind after a day of vineyard hopping and cap off our celebration. they kept bringing us more and more food to celebrate. we were beyond stuffed, but it was so good we managed to find a way to eat it all anyway.

where to stay
the chelsea garden inn
it’s a small, cozy inn, so we had it all to ourselves, and they have a lovely garden where we enjoyed breakfast every morning.

*slip these pieces into your suitcase and you’re golden….

cooper wrap strap watch: if you don’t have international service, bring a watch stay on top of events!

‘london calling’ and ‘a blue streak’  idiom bangles:  how could we resist taking these?

marble hill abstract scarf:  the temperature has been in the 50’s at night, so a scarf is a must.

domina sunglasses:  protect your peeps with all the outdoor events!

kiehl’s activated sun protector suncreen:  it’s oil-free and great for the face and body.

you know us, we can’t resist a good cocktail. and there’s no better way to end the workday (especially when its’ 84 degrees & sunny!) than kicking back with light bites and wallet-friendly drink deals at our favorite happy hour spots in the city. here’s where you can find us between those blissful hours after work and before dinner, enjoying dollar oysters, two-for-one bubbly or a fresh slice of free pizza… cheers!

*best buck oysters (washed down with a crisp glass of white)
the mermaid inn
79 macdougal street, greenwich village
themermaidnyc.com
happy hour: 5:30pm to 7:00pm
enjoy: $1 oysters and little neck clams, $3 fish tacos, $6 wine and $7 cocktails, including the dark & stormy and their signature mermaid mary.

*best burgers & beer, with a gourmet twist
burger & barrel
25 west houston, soho
burgerandbarrel.com
happy hour: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
enjoy: $5 beer & wine and $7 gourmet goodies, such as mini filet mignon sandwiches, bacon bison sliders and chicken lollipops.

*best for a glass (or three) of bubbly
flute champagne bar
40 east 20th street, gramercy
flutebar.com
happy hour: tuesdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
enjoy: two-for-one specials on all champagne, from veuve clicquot to dom perignon and all kinds of bubbly in between.

*best sake & little japanese plates
gyu kaku
34 cooper square, east village
gyu-kaku.com
happy hour: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
enjoy: half-off all bottles of sake (we recommend the wakatake onikoroshi ‘demon slayer’ sake), light bites from $3 and up to half-off grilled goodies, including creme de la creme cuts of chateubriand.

*best mexican food fix
tacombi at fonda nolita
267 elizabeth street, nolita
tacombi.com
happy hour: 3:00pm to 6:00pm
enjoy: $4 cervezas and two-buck tacos, including our favorite beef picadillo and pollo con salsa verde. be sure to try their grilled mexican street corn (topped with chipotle mayo and a splash of lime) for a mere $2.75.

*best for fresh pizza + a bottle of red
tappo thin crust
49 west 24th street, flatiron
tappothincrust.com
happy hour: 3:00pm to 6:30pm
enjoy: a free plain pizza (our favorite!) with any bottle of vino. when it’s sunny out, we love to park outside on their wooden tables and people-watch.

*best (all-you-can-eat) fried chicken
third floor cafe
315 fifth avenue, koreatown
thirdfloorcafe-nyc.com
happy hour: tuesdays from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
enjoy: for a mere $18, treat yourself to all-you-can-eat korean fried chicken plus all-you-can-drink beer & wine. bonus: enjoy shots of their signature cocktails, on the house!

*best for a sweet treat
kyotofu
705 ninth avenue, midtown west
kyotofu-nyc.com
happy hour: 5:00pm to 8:00pm
enjoy: the perfect complement to kyotofu’s famous cupcakes and other darling desserts? two-for-one umami martinis, pomegranate mojitos and other specialty cocktails.

spotted at the teen choice awards: carly rae jepsen looking breezy-chic carrying our delicious little tiki bar cocktail clutch down the hot pink carpet, as seen on justjared.com. the ‘call me maybe’ star (whose hit we’ve had on repeat all summer) took home an armload of awards during the ceremony, including ‘breakout artist’ and ‘choice summer song’. congrats carly!

 photo credit: justjared.com

who: grace lee
job: associate copywriter
where: southampton, new york

1. off you go:“passed time on the jitney with a wonderful book i randomly found on my ipad called delivering happiness, written by tony hsieh, the ceo of zappos. it’s an interesting peek into the start-up world, which i find to be fascinating.”

2. surf’s up: “went surfing for the very first time at flying point beach and had so. much. fun. i actually managed to catch a few waves, even a barrel! perhaps it was beginner’s luck but i like to think having a mean warrior two helped.”

3. happy clam:“my friend adelle whipped up a pot of her famous steamed clams & mussels. she’s an amazing chef—the kind who cooks with fresh herbs snipped from her garden and always manages to get her spaghetti perfectly al dente. if you think this looks yummy, imagine her lobster pasta. it’s heaven.”

4. dive in: “splashing around in the pool. there’s an inflatable beer pong table floating around somewhere in there…”

5. ride around town: “i don’t like to drive so this bike, which i borrowed from our host karen, was my main mode of transportation. i went on bike rides every day (sometimes twice) along idyllic gin lane, to the beach and into town for ice cream from sant ambroeus.”

6. shack up: “i had a craving for soft shell crab and finally got my fix at clam bar, a roadside fish shack off highway 27 in amagansett. their sweet corn chowder is not to be missed.”

7. hair of the dog: “our host eddie mixes a fantastic bloody mary. he’s experimented a million ways to get it just right. take a peek at his recipe below.”

8. beach bums: “wrapping up after a morning surf, beach gear in tow.”

9. sunset soiree: “taking in the beautiful sunset over dinner and drinks with friends at navy beach in montauk. at night, the sky is covered in a blanket of stars. so dreamy.”

—-

eddie’s bloody mary

1 ) 1 can of tomato juice. the type of tomato juice you use is key… some are a bit on the watery side which, in a cocktail, can be good. some are sweet (ok), some are thick and tomato-y (bad).

2 ) a few splashes of tabasco

3 ) twice as many splashes of worcestershire sauce

4 ) juice from 1/3 of a lime

5 ) a little more than a splash of clam juice

6 ) equal parts salt, ground pepper and celery salt

7 ) two teaspoons of olive juice

8 ) 1/2 teaspoon of extra-hot horseradish (more if you like it really spicy)

9 ) garnish with a slice of lime and celery stalk

10 ) mix and enjoy!

(clockwise, from top left)

SEND a summer’s worth of flowers
who can resist a bundle of beautiful blooms? rather than bringing a simple bouquet, florist h.bloom offers exquisite arrangements delivered directly to your host’s doorstep. choose from weekly, bi-weekly or monthly subscriptions. we’re partial to ordering the loose stems and preparing the first delivery ourselves in a beautiful vase with a sweet note.

MAKE a movie memento
leave your hosts a gift they can savor for years by shooting a little film of your stay with this brilliantly lo-fi, hand-operated camera from legendary film company, lomo. called the lomokino, it shoots the most beautiful, grainy mini movies on 35 mm film and lets you watch your work when it’s done. we suggest leaving the camera behind for their screening pleasure (simply wrap and present it in a pretty tote with some extra rolls of film, so they can make their own masterpieces.)

PLAN an afternoon al fresco
instead of showing up with the usual bottle of wine, prepare a picnic by the sea (or even the backyard) complete with the prettiest wicker basket stuffed with a thermos of spiked lemonade, sandwiches, plates for all (these pretty solar ones are made of melamide, so they’re also unbreakable). bring along some big, fluffy beach towels and enjoy!

BRING a season’s worth of fun games
surprise your host with our faux-grass tote filled with hours worth of amusement: a horseshoe set (which doubles as a good luck charm), a set of bocce balls and our cheery playing cards featuring a summery design by australian artist florence broadhurst. keep everyone cool in the heat of competition, with a sixpack of icy suds too.

*cobble hill little minka: “finally, a bag that speaks to the modern woman. fill it up as the day goes on without disrupting your outfit.”

*eddie or cora: “keep an extra pair of flats for walking if your heels begin to hurt.”

*abstract rose scarf: “always carry a scarf, in case it gets chilly. you never know what’s going to happen to the weather.”

*blue print cleanse green juice: everyone is obsessed with juices right now! the first thing that came to mind was, “oh, i can fit my bottle of water and green juice in here.”

*one lucky duck chewy almond crunch bar: “i always like to keep healthy, gluten-free snacks for later.”

*st. elmo stripe cosmetic case: “always keep a makeup bag tucked away so you’re always prepared for that unexpected call from a friend who wants you to meet them for an impromptu drink.”

who: kristina d.
job: digital marketing manager
where: block island, rhode island
why: “some good friends gathered for bachelorette party. we wanted amazing cocktails and great beaches, and since most of us are rhode island natives (including myself), block island was a natural place to celebrate.”
trip motto: “what happens in block island really stays in block island!”

1. sail away: “a short ferry ride takes you to the island, which is just twelve miles off the rhode island coast. i love it for the dramatic, picturesque bluffs, charming inns and amazing beaches (there are seventeen miles of them!). these rock piles are a familiar site at the harbor.”

2. all aboard: “this colorfully painted school bus greets visitors as they get off the ferry. i’m not sure if it’s actually used anymore but, it’s become a sort of mascot for the island, since you can always see it in the distance when you arrive and as you leave.”

3. the look: “flip flops and boat shoes are the shoes of choice for island-goers.”

4. buoy up: “a wall of bright buoys makes you quickly realize you’re not in new york city anymore! the island popular with fishermen, who use the colorful floating markers to remind them where they’ve left their traps at sea.”

5. getting around: “you can transport your car to the island via the ferry, but mopeds are the quickest (and definitely the most fun) way to get around.”

6. have a seat: “these salmon-colored adirondack chairs are the perfect place to relax after an afternoon of cocktails and snacks on the national hotel’s wrap-around deck (their mussels, clam chowder and calamari are my personal favorites).”

7. happy feet: “the bride-to-be puts up her feet for a moment at the amazing house where we stayed. it had sweeping views of the atlantic ocean and a firepit in the backyard.”

8. a sweet treat: “no trip to block island is complete without a visit to the ice cream place. (insider tip: get the turtle sundae.)”

heading for block island? here are a few favorite stops:

ballards inn
“it has a great restaurant and bar right on the beach. you’ll find plenty of locals and visitors, and on most nights you can catch some great live music. they also make a yummy citron-spiked version of rhode island’s famous del’s lemonade (a slushy, lemonade served in the classic green and yellow del’s cup).”

the oar
“order the local beer of choice, narragansett summer ale, then enjoy the views, grassy lawn and yummy outdoor eats. afterwards, enjoy a game of cornhole.”

yellow kittens tavern
with its huge outdoor deck, this is the perfect place to dance away those summer nights (and keep tabs on the score of the game, if you’re interested).

SAVORY

MILK TRUCK GRILLED CHEESE
milktruckny.com
twitter: @milktrucknyc
craving comfort food? reach for milk’s classic, melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese sandwich, made with aged wisconsin gruyere on crispy balthazar bread. an even way to enjoy it? dunked in their pureed plum tomato soup, of course.

RICKSHAW DUMPLING TRUCK
rickshawdumplings.com
twitter: @rickshawtruck
with executive chef anito lo at its helm, this cheeky asian truck serves up dumplings three ways: pork & chinese chive (our favorite!), chicken & thai basil or stuffed with organic edamame.  what we love most? each is accompanied by its own special dipping sauce in complementary flavors.

LUKE’S LOBSTER- NAUTI TRUCK
lukeslobster.com
twitter: @lukeslobsterny
you know us, we love a good lobster roll. and anytime luke’s nauti truck is parked near our office, we always get our claws on their succulent shrimp, crab or lobster rolls, simply seasoned with a dash of celery salt and lemon-infused butter.

SWEET

VAN LEEUWEN’S ARTISAN ICE CREAM
vanleeuwenicecream.com
twitter: @vlaic
nothing hits the spot during a nyc heat wave quite an icy scoop of van leeuwen’s artistan ice cream, churned with tip-top ingredients such as crunchy pistachios imported from sicily or fresh palm sugar by way of bali. you can usually find their pale yellow truck parked along the stylish streets of soho, meatpacking district or, like earlier this year, at the kate spade new york offices!

WAFELS & DINGES
wafelsanddinges.com
twitter: @waffletruck
enjoy a sweet slice of belgium with a light and crispy waffle drizzled with “dinges” such as dulce de leche, maple syrup or nutella. we like ours over the top with a scoop of their mouth-watering spekuloos ice cream.

COOL HAUS
eatcoolhaus.com
twitter: @coolhausny
this so-cal dessert truck staple has finally made its way out east, bringing its playful, inventive ice cream sandwiches (such as beer & pretzels and bananas foster) to new york city. the icing on the cake, er, cookie? almost all their goodies are made with all-natural, organic ingredients.

autumn is still months away, but this month’s vogue “index” offered a little peek at what’s to come with this stylish piece featuring our post street little nadine. keep your eyes peeled for this polished crossbody carryall when it debuts in september…

whether you’re thanking a friend for a long weekend at her beach house or expressing your gratitude for the perfect birthday present, a handwritten note is always appropriate and will make your mother proud. that said, it’s perfectly fine to express your thanks for a special event the same way you were invited—if the hostess phoned to ask you to drinks on the spur of the moment, feel free to call her the day after. either way, remember to include a memorable little anecdote about the evening that will make your hostess smile.

a word to the wise: while you should write a thank-you note as soon as possible, it’s never too late to put pen to paper. and if you’re the holly golightly, five-parties-a-night-every-night type, do yourself a favor and keep a stack of notecards with stamped envelopes at your desk. looking for the perfect stationery? we’ve got you covered with our latest collection of fine paper goods.

we’re heading to the beach to catch the fireworks (and some well-needed r&r) over the long weekend but will see you back on our blog on monday.

cheers!

1. fresh fruit spritzer pinned by real simple
2. firecracker ice pops pinned by martha stewart
3. potato chip cones pinned by martha stewart
4. patriotic chips & salsa pinned by babble
5. hotdogs pinned by iamhunnybee
6. fruit salad pinned by lora jensen
7. vanilla, raspberry and blueberry sundaes pinned by martha stewart
8. bourbon-peach cocktail pinned by southern living
9. coca cola pinned by real simple

my name is: eliza blank.

i was born in: northampton, massachusetts in 1985.

today, i live in: new york city on the lower east side.

i started my company….. the sill in 2012 – nyc’s online destination for hand-potted houseplants – in an effort to make it easy, fun and fashionable to decorate your piece of the city, be it a dorm room, an apartment, or a desk at work, with a living plant contained in something more inspiring than a plastic pot from the corner grocer. i’m hoping the houseplant will claim it’s rightful place as an integral element in the lives of design-minded new yorkers.

i came up with the idea… in college here in the city, when i realized my mom was the only decent resource for good greenery.

i never leave the house without: my iphone, a pen, my day planner, a ribbon hair tie and rosebud lip balm (strawberry).

not a day goes by when i don’t: believe that nyc is the most inspiring city on earth.

in ten years i’ll be: probably in brooklyn (gasp!) will you come visit?  it’s not that far!

if i wasn’t doing this i’d be: working for another start-up, helping to build something special. perhaps even in the fashion industry!

my secret indulgence is: skipping the gym (hmm, now not so secret).

my advice to others starting a business is…. work with the right people. finding the perfect co-founder – the wonderful gwen blevens – has made the sill smarter, faster and most importantly, so much more fun!

i think having houseplants: is a right of passage – like graduating college or moving into your very own apartment.

we feel like proud parents: our über-talented graphic designer katie took a star turn this week when she was featured as one of lucky magazine’s “fashion kids on the rise.” (and we have to agree!). read her interview below and check out the rest of lucky’s fledgling fashion up-and-comers at luckymag.com.

for the mr.
1. slip him this leather flask with a good bottle of whiskey for a gift he’s sure to savor.
2. the perfect carryall for the honeymoon (and beyond), this waxwear duffle is just as at home touring europe’s grandest cities as it is on vacation in paradise.
3. whether he’s off to his bachelor party or on a business trip, he’ll keep his toiletries safely stowed with this dop kit in tow.
4. charming cufflinks for a charming man—enough said.

for them
5. toast the newlyweds’ charmed life together by treating them to our fine crystal decanter, sweetly adorned with a few favorite signs of good luck.
6. they’ll both be able to use our sleek monogram stationery, dressed up with their shared initial
7. sprinkle their everyday with a bit of flavor, thanks to our adorable elephant salt & pepper shakers.

for the mrs.
8. she’ll keep keys to their new home within easy reach with our silver fob, engraved with the quip “off you go!” on an oversized spade.
9. perfectly sized to hold vows, lipstick and extra tissue, our i married adventure book clutch is the ideal accessory for her big day.
10. our glossy patent wristlet will chicly keep her passport, license and boarding pass handy as she heads off for the honeymoon.
11. our gold bangle makes a darling accessory for someone who is tying the knot.

our marketing team played hooky last monday to enjoy a private tour of the met costume institute’s latest exhibition—a treat from our friends over at vogue. named “impossible conversations,” the show is a riveting romp through the worlds of two legendary fashion luminaries who always inspire us—elsa schiapelli and miucca prada. we explored room after room of outré shoes and clothes, oggled schiapelli’s iconic trompe l’oeil designs and surrealist frocks (salvador dali was one of her frequent collaborators!), and headed home full of admiration and awe.

we don’t want to give away too many more surprises behind this chic show (hint: baz luhrmann directed the video), but we highly recommend checking out the exhibit before it departs on august 19th. enjoy!

1. rock the casbah—the clash
2. heart of glass—blondie
3. the safety dance—men without hats
4. paint it black—the rolling stones
5. burning down the house—talking heads
6. don’t you want me—the human league
7. cars—gary numan
8. roam—b52′s
9. girls on film—duran duran
10. under pressure—queen

our craze for camels is catching fast: see what our fans on twitter and tumblr have to say about our desert-chic collection. based on all the buzz, it looks like this trend has got legs!

who’s this handsome hound?
brady kelsay.

what are his stats: age, breed, etc.?
he’s a long-haired dashchund, and he’s eight-years-old.

is this his first turn in the spotlight?
surprisingly yes, but he’s been admired all his life.

sum up his style.
low-key frizzy chic.

is he a backyard-digger or more of a city stutter?
although he was born in the city, he has quickly become an avid chipmunk-chaser in the ‘burbs.

does he do any special tricks?
he says, “please, that’s for amateur dogs, wouldn’t you say?”

how does he like to pass his days?
sleeping on his back waiting for his mom to come home and give him chicken treats.

will he be woofing it up on the big screen any time soon?
maybe, but he’s very selective.

here is the list:

1.arrows— a prop from our fall 2007 campaign

2.shell box—found in web designer’s desk (origins unknown)

3.badge— property of our 5th floor “fire warden”

4.spirograph—creative work room tool (and fun party trick).

5.flamingo—a prop from our upcoming things we love book (abrams, 2013)

6. candy dots—another sweet prop from things we love book

7.piñata—inspiration for our summer 2013 mood boards (hint, hint)

8.dance stop—a fancy foot from our fall 2010 mailer

9.crown–part of a birthday party supply box

10.antlers—a forgotten find from the jack spade show room

11.tiny cards—a treat inside a surprise ball, holiday 2011

12.dinosaur— a prop from our tim walker bizby campaign, 2006

13.spray paint—from our spring “live colorfully” ad campaign, 2012

1. luke’s lobster
93 east 7th street, nyc
lukeslobster.com
made with a quarter pound of juicy lobster meat seasoned with a dash of celery salt and lemon-infused butter, this east village fish shack is famous among purists for their fuss-free approach. (and at just $15, it’s a no-brainer.)

2. ed’s lobster bar
222 lafayette street, nyc
lobsterbarnyc.com
the only place we want to dine when temps hit highs, we can always count on this under-the-radar spot in soho to turn out the perfect lobster roll, lightly mixed with tangy mayo and sprinkled with fresh chives. take a seat at the raw bar and enjoy a slew of other goodies, such as fried ipswich clams, spicy oyster shooters and the plumpest prawns you’ll find in new york city.

3. red hook lobster pound
284 van brunt street, brooklyn
redhooklobster.com
we love that this brooklyn joint uses only freshly-caught, sustainably-harvested maine lobster for their mouth-watering rolls, which are mixed with chopped celery and chives atop toasted, butter-brushed bread. eat in their picnic-style dining room in red hook, or track down their mobile food truck on twitter to get your fix in manhattan.

4. mary’s fish camp
64 charles street, nyc
marysfishcamp.com
located in the heart of the west village, mary’s fish camp has long been the go-to spot. while they don’t take reservations, we think their creamy lobster rolls, served with a heaping pile of crunchy shoestring fries, are worth the hours-long wait.

5. lunch lobster roll
1980 montauk highway, amagansett
lobsterroll.com
heading to the hamptons? find the best lobster salad out east at lunch lobster roll, a charming roadside fish shack along montauk highway opened since 1965 and frequented by mariah carey, brooke shields and tony roberts (their menu says so). served with crinkle-cut fries and a mound of creamy coleslaw, save room for their baked seafood mac-n-cheese and creamy new england clam chowder.

according to the editors at o the oprah magazine, our charming book clutches, featured on the o list in their july issue, are “a novel way to accessorize your little black dress.” we think you’ll agree, the classics never looked so good!

in the meantime, if you need a quick music–fix you can always tune into our radio station on pandora, for a live-streaming mix of our favorite melodies.

1.
northside
williamsburg, brooklyn
june 14th – 17th
vibe: buy a badge and wander through more than a dozen venues across williamsburg for this indie rockfest, which includes free food and drinks.
we’re going for: asobi seksu, jens lekman, the starlight girls

2.
governor’s ball
randall’s island, nyc
june 23^rd & 24^th
vibe: just a ferry ride away from the city, enjoy sunshine, indie pop and hip hop acts in a grassy setting with lobster rolls and croquet.
we’re going for: cults, passion pit, the jezebels, james murphy (of lcd soundsystem)

3.
pitchfork
union park, chicago
july 13^th – 15^th
vibe: no-frills lineup of indie masters and up-and-comers from the online arbiter of indie rock, pitchfork.
we’re going for: we’re going for: feist, hot chip, sleigh bells, vampire weekend, real estate

4.
firefly
dover, delaware
july 20^th – 22^nd
vibe: cushy camping and experimental and indie rock under a lush forest canopy (including air-conditioned wine & beer lounge and hot air balloon rides).
we’re going for: cold war kids, ra ra riot, the black keys

5.
outsidelands
golden gate park, san francisco
august 10^th – 12^th
vibe: seriously rocking bay city music bash complete with on-site wine tastings, and loads of epicurean treats.
we’re going for: justice, norah jones, beck, stevie wonder, jack white, foo fighters

6.
electric zoo
randall’s island park, nyc
august 31^st – september 2^nd
vibe: electropop extravaganza featuring plenty of sweet beats and delicious eats from area food trucks.
we’re going for: axwell, benny benassi, steve aoki, tiesto, sasha

superstar stylist joshua ristaino was on hair and makeup duty, perfecting deborah’s summery glow as she did a quick costume change into a flame-red, one-of-a-kind kate spade new york cocktail frock (ooh la la!) and bulgari jewels. brad opted for a daring-yet-dapper custom suit made by legendary clothier martin greenfield (his bespoke garments have graced the likes of bill clinton and paul newman) in a japanese floral print by australian artist florence broadhurst. after a few final snips and tucks (scissors were the styling tool du jour this year), the glamorous duo were whisked off to lincoln center, where they struck a chic pose on the red carpet before moving on to the evening’s festivities. we’re already excited to tag along before next year’s fete!

*photographs by michael bambino & co

photographs by scott lowe

it seems we’re not the only ones holding a torch for our tiki bar cocktail clutch—see what our friends on facebook and twitter had to say about this punchy piece, which is topped with a 14-karat gold-plated pineapple clasp.

the buzz has been building about the petal-filled fete we held in london recently in honor of the famed chelsea flower show. hosted last wednesday by kate spade new york creative director (and glamorously green-thumbed) deborah lloyd, we invited a few of our favorite bloggers and tastemakers to our sloane square shop for a proper champagne afternoon tea, including tea-finger sandwiches, sweets (7), scones, bubbly and tea.

absolute flowers created the bloom-filled display, filling the shop with a bounty of brilliant buds (3) and dressing our windows with pretty orchid posies (1). super cute (and talented) dj duo oohlala (2) stopped by to spin some tunes for us just before leaving for cannes, and guests such as zoe hardman (8), the broken hearts (6), and little boots  mingled with deborah (4) and played dress up into the early evening. after a fun and festive day, guests took home pieces from our newly-released summer collection (5), thanks to a surprise white elephant gift swap. thanks to everyone for make the day such a blooming success—we’ll be sharing some of the sweet shout-outs sent by some of our guests later on twitter.

1. summer drinks pinned by the kitchn
2. grilling pinned by real simple
3. ginger roasted carrots pinned by momma mccall
4. pasta salad pinned by punchfork
5. toasted coconut cake pinned by real simple
6. ice cream pie with warm blueberries pinned by real simple
7. homemade ice cream sandwiches pinned by whole foods

for memorial day weekend, mix up a batch of mrs. lilien’s refreshing honeydew freeze, an icy explosion of  fresh melons, elderflower liquor and fizzy champagne. gather up a fun bunch, find a spot in the sunshine and enjoy!

in addition to being an acclaimed accessories designer and modern muse, the legendary mrs. apfel spends two weeks every spring guiding budding fashion students on special tour of new york city, teaching them the a-to-z of the business—and this year we were lucky enough to be on the agenda.

everyone enjoyed a special welcome from kate spade new york creative director deborah lloyd.

two experts at living colorfully—iris and deborah—strike a pose. iris’s antler necklace and trademark “o” shades had us all swooning.

our guests were treated to brief presentations by teams from graphic and web design, visual, merchandizing, product design and pr departments about how they got started, what they do, and why they love it.

our merchandizing masters amanda and bridget shared a fall 2012 car clutch that elicited lots of oohs and aaahs.

our visual whizzes cameron and ashley elicited plenty of giggles with their prop-filled presentation, including a giant paisley paper camel and majorette hats from our soon-to-be-unveiled july windows.

another crowd pleaser was the brilliant mood boards shared by our web and print design stars dana and natalie. dana admitted to pilfering one of her props—a bottle of champagne—for some off-the-clock imbibing, to which iris cheered, “good girl!”

everyone posed for a properly playful kate spade new york portrait—a perfect ending to a memorable day. thanks to all our guests and the inimitable mrs. apfel: we hope to see you again next year!

hailed as the “perfect cocktails-by-the-pool clutch” by elle magazine, our summery pool party clutch makes a splash on the front page of their front-of-book fashionfile section in the june 2012 issue.

our 2012 grad style series continues, where we asked a few of our favorite college fashion bloggers to don a little white kate spade new york dress with their cap and gown, with georgetown blogger carly a. heitlinger of college prepster. see snapshots from her big day and read on for her tips on balancing schoolwork with blogging and why she’d rather explore a new city than hang at a crowded bar…

name: carly a. heitlinger
age: 22
school: georgetown university
major: marketing

dream job: starting & running my own company

summer vacay plans: blogging, reading, & résumé sending

favorite undergrad memory: coxing at the henley royal regatta

celebrating graduation with: dinner at the palm with my family. it’s one of my favorite restaurants and really special because we celebrated there after my high school graduation too. we ate a few too many appetizers (the best part of any dinner, in my opinion) and literally didn’t have room for our entrées! i enjoyed having my close family members with me that night to celebrate the end of this great chapter.

spent the last days as a college student: traveling! after weeks of grueling group project meetings, all-nighters, and seemingly endless hours of studying, it was so great to finally not have any homework… ever! i spent a day in boston and a couple of days in new york city. admittedly, i was never a typical college student. i’d rather travel or go out to a nice dinner with close friends than spend hours in a loud, crowded bar. it’s pretty standard, i guess, to go out every night during the last week, but i enjoyed spending my time traveling with friends and exploring the cities!

why did you pick the brittany dress for commencement? i’ve always pictured wearing a white dress to my graduation! i love the summery detailing of the brittany dress—it’s very pretty and simple, perfect for celebrating on the lawn with my friends and family.

how did you add a twist of your personal style? i swapped out the original white belt for the thin bow belt in gold because it needed just a teeny bit of metallic to stand out. i love bows in general, so i didn’t just stop at the gold bow belt… i also wore gold bow earrings too! i layered lots of bracelets, including the confetti carousel watch.

any tips for students aspiring to blog? finding balance between everything going on at school is hard enough– adding the additional priority of blogging makes it that much more difficult. i find that it’s easiest to figure out a schedule for posting that fits your individual preferences. i would write a bunch of posts ahead of time if i knew i had big exams and projects coming up. (school was always my number one priority.) spending an afternoon inside writing posts or responding to emails instead of hanging out with friends can sometimes be a drag. but, in the end, it’s so worth it! i’ve met some of my closest friends through blogging and had the opportunity to do some really cool things.

we’re kicking off our grad style series, where we asked a few of our favorite college fashion bloggers to don a little white kate spade new york dress with their cap and gown, with san-fran style blogger julia engel of gal meets glam. see snapshots from her commencement day and get the 411 on life as a fashion blogger, her dream job and plans after college. (italy, anyone?)

name: julia engel
age: 21
school: university of the pacific
major: business, marketing & entrepreneurship
sorority: delta gamma

dream job: stylist

post grad gig: moving to san francisco to work in marketing

summer vacay plans: i’m getting married in august and we’re going to italy for our honeymoon, so that will be my vacation!

celebrating graduation with: my family and best friends. my parents threw a fiesta after the ceremony, where we had tons of mexican food, margaritas, beer and even a piñata!

why did you pick the floral 300 siren dress for commencement? it goes perfectly with my feminine style. the design is timeless, but the ruffles and floral print makes it unique and fun.

how did you give the outfit a twist of your own personal style? i wore black wedges (which are a must if you’re graduating on grass) and added pops of bright colors through my bag and manicure. i initially wanted to wear colored heels too, but opted not to because it drew eyes away from the dress.

give us the skinny on your blog. how did you get your start? gal meets glam chronicles my personal style, where i share my favorite hair & beauty tips and provide fashion advice for the every-day girl. i started it on a whim about a year ago, never having followed a blog before, with the intention of creating a place where i could share all the amazing tidbits i was finding online. i put together a business plan in my entrepreneurship class and began collecting data from my readers. the feedback was overwhelming (and gratifying!)—people said they felt they could relate to me, as though i was one of their girlfriends. that, to me, solidified the fact that i am in the right place and doing what i’m supposed to be doing.

what made you fall in love with highland lakes and want to build a home here?
“it’s only 2 and a half hours away from brooklyn and it’s my haven. the minute i step over the threshold i feel like i’ve been away for a week. lush with greenery, it feels a long way from the world of fashion. it’s the perfect escape.”

how do you get here?
“i take penelope pitstop, my 1961 e-type jaguar convertible with the top down. it channels the lillian bassman photograph!”

what’s your favorite way to spend a summer day here?
“it starts with breakfast on the balcony listening to the birds, then a walk down to the lake with the dogs. i would do a little gardening before a lazy lunch, then spend the afternoon on the lake. the evening would begin with early cocktails (3) and wrap with dinner under the stars watching fireflies.”

you’re an avid vintage & flea market shopper. tell us about your finds on display here.
“so many! the purple velvet french chair (2) and the “jazz” print (4) are from the brooklyn flea market. i found the french pigment jars (7) at a flea market in paris years ago, and they’ve followed me from my time there. the black and white lamp (5) is my most recent find, from brimfield. i actually redesigned the entire bedroom around it, adding all the kate spade new york animal vases (1) as the perfect friends. as for the owls (6), my favorite bird takes up residence wherever i am.”

what’s your decorating style?
“very light and airy. this is a wooden farmhouse with a wraparound porch circa 1910. i’ve mixed found pieces that reflect its country style with a bit of mid-century modern, french vintage and a dose of kate spade new york glamour (8).”

did you take a different decorating approach here than in your brownstone in brooklyn?
“it’s a little more relaxed and country. the decor of a vacation home should be functional, comfortable and relaxing. nothing should be too precious—wellington boots, dirty paws and gardening clothes are all welcome! in the summer, i like to brighten up the space with colored flowers, mostly from the garden or farmer’s market.”

what are your top five tips for creating a space you love?
1. pick wall colors that you can happily live with. soft colors or a neutral are good, with white trim color. brights are good to add as accents.
2. your house should not only look good, but it should be comfortable. chairs should be lounged in!”
3. fill the space with things you love and make you smile.
4. take your time decorating—it should be a long-term project that evolves.
5. remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

there’s someone we’d really like you to meet…

introducing fifth & pacific companies, inc, our parent fashion house (formerly known as liz claiborne inc), home to kate spade new york, jack spade, juicy couture and lucky brand. consider us a modern family of sorts, where new york chic meets california cool.

take a peek at the video to learn more about fifth & pacific, and catch a stylish cameo by our creative director deborah lloyd.

“let me say this: for the record, i love new york—it’s my favorite place on planet earth—but sometimes, a girl just needs to get out of the city. and what better place to recharge than palm springs? there’s something about the open air and around-the-clock warmth that i find to be incredibly refreshing. and the best part about being in the desert? after the sun goes down, the sky is covered in a blanket of stars so bright and close, you can almost touch them.

we stayed at the parker palm springs (my second favorite place on planet earth), a darling boutique hotel outfitted with charming ceramic curiosities (7), a splashy pool scene (3) and the best fresh-squeezed lemonade (2) along palm canyon drive (1). like its sister hotel in manhattan, you’ll find norma’s cafe, with the perfect bloody mary (5) and a breakfast quesadilla (6) bursting with bacon, egg & guacamole so yummy, we had to have it again the next day.

a random moment from our trip: radiohead’s thom yorke happened to be staying at our hotel. he threw a big bash at his bungalow one evening (where he ended up spinning tunes till dawn) which we tried to crash but, no dice. was worth a shot!”

in the mood for a luxurious island getaway? your timing couldn’t be more perfect: enter our new “travel to tahiti” sweepstakes—hosted by your truly and our partners at luxury link—and we could whisk you (and a friend) off for five nights of bliss in beautiful bora bora, and lavish you with other goodies.

to get you in the mood, we’re posting our trusty tropical packing list plucked from our expert fathom for kate spade new york city guides, which also has the scoop on the south pacific’s chicest places to eat, shop, stay and explore. see it here with the rest of our brilliant city guides.

good luck!

FOR HIM (thanks to our friends at jack spade)

1. with six credit card slots, two pocket sleeves and a small pocket for loose change, this red check bill holder is the perfect piece to bring home the bacon.

2. the ultimate accessory to keep documents, an ipad and the wall street journal tucked away during his commute, the mill leather davis brief is crafted of ultra soft cowhide in a rustic tobacco hue.

3. bound for a skyscraper in the city? nothing says he’s ready to get down to business like a red silk tie (symbolizing wealth, strength and passion) adorned with crisp dots.

4. whether he’ll be power lunching with partners, suiting up underneath a lab coat or working his excel magic at the office from nine to five, a classic blue button down is every man’s workweek essential.

FOR HER

5. it’s the perfect piece to take her from the conference room to cocktails: our cotton jillian dress can be worn at the office with smart flats and a soft cardi, then with metallic sandals and a floral statement necklace‘ for dinner a deux after hours.

6. she’ll always be sure to show up on time for class or a day behind the desk, thanks to our chic seaport grand wristwatch, crafted of sleek stainless steel with a brushed dial and topped with a sweet pink spade.

7. give her a pair of our sweet gumdrop studs, crafted in faceted resin. they’ll add a just-right dose of sparkle to her tailored office ensembles.

8. well-dressed tech: our grand street janine laptop bag is crafted of smooth boarskin leather with pockets aplenty to keep her computer and other weekday essentials safely stowed.

9. we think she’ll love the charming idea of jotting down appointments, meetings, dinner dates and doodles in one place, like our tudor city large debra. crafted of smooth leather with refillable calendars, it’s the perfect piece to keep her business and social affairs perfectly synched.

to all our moms, thank you!

1.
ambar, sample coordinator

2.
blair, wholesale sales assistant

3.
caitlin, pr coordinator

4.
cassandra, associate designer

5.
danielle, executive assistant

6.
erin, senior account executive

7.
erin, project manager

8.
heather, jr web designer

9.
jennifer, print production specialist

10.
julie, e-commerce assistant buyer

11.
joe, director of e-commerce operations

12.
kyle, design assistant rtw

13.
katrina, merchandise data coordinator

14.
kristine, senior marketing manager

15.
natalie, web graphic designer

16.
maraga, director of merchandising

17.
karine, customer service specialist

18.
nicole, executive assistant

19.
rhys, production manager rtw

20.
sansho, jack spade e-commerce coordinator

21.
sydney, production designer

22.
taryn, vp international

23.
taylor, associate graphic designer

24.
yael, creative art director

25.
nina, jewelry account executive

26.
dana, senior graphic designer

27.
whitney, digital marketing coordinator

28.
melanie, e-commerce associate

29.
erin, jack spade assistant apparel designer

30.
sarah, editorial manager

we’re delighted to announce that kate spade new york won the prestigious “lifestyle brand of the year” award at monday’s 34^th annual american apparel & footwear association (aafa) awards gala. held at cipriani midtown, it was an evening of laughter, colorful tributes and plenty of clink clinking (we always love a good party!). the award was accepted by kate spade new york creative director deborah lloyd, who attended the fete with ceo craig leavitt amid a sparkling crowd of stars and fashion industry tastemakers (including host robert verdi and co-honoree michael phelps, who was celebrated for his humanitarian work). we are thrilled to recognized by our peers and congratulate our talented co-honorees… cheers to all!

1. favorite place to visit: “new york city! or somewhere on a beach soaking in the sun.”

2. one thing you never leave los angeles without: “a comfortable (yet chic) pair of traveling shoes.”

3. in-flight essentials: “noise-cancelling headphones, a great scarf, my ipad and a gigantic bottle of water—hydration is crucial!”

4. on the road beauty must-haves: “creme de la mer or ren moisturizers, baxter of california skin products, rosebud salve lip balm and elnett hairspray.”

5.  best multi-duty item to pack in your carry-on: “a good blazer usually goes a long way. otherwise, a good sweater, denim jeans and denim shirt.”

6. favorite hotel: “the mercer hotel in new york city, for sure.”

7. most memorable meal abroad: “at sea satin in mykonos, greece. it was my first meal with [boyfriend] gary.”

8. when i’m in new york for fashion week, i always make time for: “a meal at abc kitchen or indochine. for a quick snack, i love amy’s bread or the vegan goodies at one lucky duck. my other three stops: think pink nails, aroma espresso bar and the boom boom room for a night out.”

9. best travel tip: “you can still dress comfortably and look chic. start your vacation off on the right foot by wearing a cute travel outfit en route to the destination.”

10. best beats for travel:  roman holiday by nicki minaj, countdown by beyonce, call me maybe by carly rae jepsen, wild ones by pit bull and any top 40s tunes!

with the debut of our new kate spade city guides, it seems the travel theme is popping up everywhere, including our newest pattern-of-the-month, which was inspired by far-flung safaris to flower-filled paradises and languid getaways to lush french polynesia. enjoy!

in collaboration with fathom—our always-in-the-know source for all things travel—we’re thrilled to debut our new kate spade new york city guides. we chose five of our favorite destinations—new york, los angeles, tokyo, london and tahiti—and created five colorfully curated online travel guides with tips on the best places to eat, sleep, drink, shop and explore, along with “know before you go” cheat sheets, clever packing lists and itineraries to help you navigate like a native. if you don’t have any getaways on your agenda, these will definitely get you in the mood to plan an adventure (or two!).

to celebrate the occasion, fathom is featuring our very own deborah lloyd, kate spade new york creative director (and expert explorer), for their “postcard” profile, where she opens up about everything from must-have amenities to her in-flight routine. read it here.

bon voyage!

]]> http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/a-sweet-treat/feed/ 0 we're wrapping up the work week with a few scoops http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/host-a-cinco-de-mayo-party/ http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/host-a-cinco-de-mayo-party/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 20:32:13 +0000 g_lee http://blog.katespade.com/btcblog/?p=2653 heat things up for cinco de mayo this saturday by hosting a festive fiesta at su casa, complete with colorful accouterments, breezy dining and mariachi music.

a marry moment: we had our first-ever wedding engagement at our broome street shop yesterday, where greg from chicago put a colorful twist on his proposal to girlfriend leslie—a devoted kate spade new york shopper. (she said yes!)

here’s how it happened: picking up a few goodies from our soho shop during a quick trip to new york city, leslie was in a for a sweet surprise when our sales associate slipped her the mrs cosmetic case with a diamond sparkler tucked inside. once she discovered the ring, her husband-to-be appeared from around the corner with a bouquet of pink peonies (her favorite), got down on one knee and promptly popped the question. as she said yes, the duo were treated to cheers, applause and a set of our crown point champagne flutes. we’ll raise a glass to that!

whether you’re off to a sunny vacation in paradise or simply planning to unplug for the afternoon at your local beach, run for the sun with these warm weather must-haves, handpicked by the travel experts at fathom.

1. made in the shade: “stay shady or scope out the scene with an oversized disguise for the eyes, like these chic tortoise sunglasses.”

2. put on your poker face: “when kadima paddles are out of reach, a splashy deck of cards is a dealer’s choice.”

3. suit up: “the cockatoos bikini is a summer dream, in two pieces.”

4. hot potato: “john’s crispy, crunchy crowd pleasers are hand-cooked and finely packaged, in flavors like deep blue sea salt and aspall cyder vinegar.”

5. into the blue: “poolside glamour is all in the wrist. case in point, this bright blue bangle.”

6. all in a day’s work: “technology takes a summer friday, thanks to this irresistible iphone case.”

7. keep rays at bay: “slather on sunscreen containing natural ingredients like argan oil for double-duty defense and repair. we can’t get enough of josie maran’s spf.”

8. feed thy soul: “we prefer ‘travel porn’ (afar, trunk, endless) over tabloids!”

9. sit pretty: “a brightly patterned sling chair makes for easy spotting on a crowded beach.”

10. in full circle: “the swinging 60s shape of this straw tote goes from beach to boardwalk to backyard party.”

11. amp it up: “jambox delivers big hi-fi sounds, tiny portable speakers.”

model/music-lover/all-around cool kid tali lennox (yes, daughter of annie) put the midas touch on her rocker-chic outfit carrying our gold flicker scout cross-body at the coachella music festival this weekend. while the metallic version is no longer available, we’ve got a bevy of others colors that’s sure to make you stand out from the crowd.

during last week’s record heat, our web designer (and part-time shutterbug) natalie hopped the d train with camera in tow and headed to the end of the line. for those of us that didn’t make it to the shore, she shared these snapshots from her journey and some stories of the day’s many delights:

“as soon as you arrive you’re bombarded with all these colorful, hand-drawn signs (1) enticing you with every gooey, greasy, deep-fried, sprinkle-covered goodie and elixir imaginable. not one thing is good for you and it’s all amazing.

you can see the beach beckoning in the distance (3), but it’s most fun to wander along the boardwalk and through the amusement park to get there. we rode the wonder wheel (see my view from the top, 2) followed by some arcade games. things got a little competitive!

one of the things i love about coney island is all the colorful characters. this time i met a man who moonlights as a plumber and let me hold his parrot (7).

after a full day of indulging and enjoying the rides, we took a nap on the beach as the sun was setting (4). heavenly….”

say goodbye to the days of toting polish-filled ziploc bags in your carry-on: we brought back beauty expert poppy king to help us put together this brilliant on-the-go polish set, guaranteed to satisfy even the most-packing challenged travelers (ourselves included). in addition to fitting perfectly in anything from a purse to an evening clutch, the four richly pigmented shades offer plenty of color-change options and put us in an instant summer-getaway mood.

(photos by bonnie tsang, oh joy! and katespade.com)

we’ve transformed our shops (such as our broome street store, featured here) into one big pool party! we’ve filled our floors with splashy swimsuits, outdoor entertaining accessories and other summer arrivals dressed up in poolside prints, our pattern of the month. dive in…

here, we take a look what makes her wares so out of this world.

we caught up with the swimwear wunderkind and designer of our debut swim collection on the set of our swandive and cannonball? shoot. not only does malia craft the most flattering, magically figure-enhancing cuts ever, but she also makes all of her suits in america and has plenty of sage advice for women on everything from finding the right fit (“experiment, experiment, experiment!”) to embracing our figures. watch the video for more of malia’s inspiring musings.

a pop of pink: see how the cool kids across the pond at cosmo uk styled our dotted chandler romper and hopper house little shyla in their april 2012 issue.

warm weather means wedding season is just around the corner. whether you’re toasting the newly engaged or celebrating a special anniversary, our “two of a kind” tumblers always get a warm reception, and come in sets to suit all lovebirds, including his and hers, his and his, and hers and hers. we’re partial to wrapping them with a bottle of well-aged single malt or presenting them in a picnic basket with confetti, caviar and a bottle of brandy. we’ve even been known to bring them home for ourselves—they’re sure to spark fun party conversation.

we’ve always been susceptible to a bit of wanderlust, but lately it seems our staffers have been bitten hard by the travel bug (in the last month alone, we’ve hit the street markets in thailand, bungee jumped in new zealand and enjoyed oysters alfresco in sunny santa monica). and we never hop a plane without first perusing fathom—our go-to site for all-things travel. the website keeps a stylish pulse on every major city (from eco-friendly yoga in buenos aries to the best people-watching spot in paris—cafe de flore, of course), with postcards from interesting travelers and tools, apps and tips for planning your next trip. what delights us most? with dailycandy alums at its helm, it reads like you’re chatting with your older sister’s cool best friend who just returned from a year abroad. so whether you’re taking a quick weekend road trip or embarking on adventures across the globe, take a peek at what our friends at fathom have to say.

psst… stay tuned for our special collaboration with fathom next month!

for april we’re embracing the life aquatic with a collection awash in punchy prints by artist florence broadhurst. from her fabulous “fingers” print to chic cockatoos and solar swirls, all you’ll need is the cabana and cocktails (preferably rum punch). dip into our pinterest page for more about florence and her iconic prints.

we’re planning to pack a lunch one day this week and pop over to this cool retrospective on architect ralph walker, whose magnificent art deco masterpieces are all over new york city. you may not know his name, but you’ll definitely recognize his iconic buildings in nyc’s skyline (think the barclay vesey telephone building and the irving trust building at one wall street).

check it out at 212 west 18th Street. admission is free and by appointment only, so call first: 212 335 1800.

NORMA’S
at the parker meridien
119 west 56th street
parkermeridien.com
*best brunch classics—with a modern twist
sure, norma’s at the parker meridien may be famous for a $1,000 frittata—it’s bedecked with 10g caviar!—but we’re fans of their more casual (yet equally as decadent) dishes, such as the rock lobster omelet or their berry brioche french toast.
*bonus: enjoy a shot of fresh smoothie as soon as you take your seat, on the house.

PULINOS
282 bowery
pulinosny.com
*best sausage, egg and cheese… pizza
our go-to spot whenever we’re craving classic thin crust, pulinos’ egg-topped pizza always hits the spot on a weekend afternoon. baked in a wood-burning oven with balthazar bakery’s famous “mother” dough, our favorite is the patate—a savory mix of eggs, potatoes, sausage and mozzarella.
*bonus: wash it down with the perfect bloody mary—take your pick from four on the menu: classic (with horseradish, celery salt—the works), mediterranean (with muddled olives), swedish mari (featuring karlsson’s vodka) and a tequila-based bloody maria (spiked with adobo sauce and pickled jalapeno juice).

PEELS
325 bowery
peelsnyc.com
*best comfort food fix
the vibe at peels feels like you’re dining in your grandmother’s sun-drenched kitchen, and with comfort classics such as hush puppies, biscuits and gravy and greenmarket apple pie dotting the menu, it tastes a lot like it, too.
*bonus: our favorite dish is the peel’s chef salad, but we like to swap the roasted chicken for their signature fried variety.

CHINATOWN BRASSERIE
380 lafeyette
chinatownbrasserie.com
*best dim sum
chinatown brasserie, a swanky downtown spot where you’ll find the best soup dumplings outside of shanghai, is the perfect place to get your dim sum fix. enjoy the peking duck and a slew of other sharable dishes with a big group for fun family-style dining.
bonus: now that the weather is warmer, snag a table al fresco. located on the corner of lafeyette and great jones, it makes for one of the best people-watching eateries on the island.

BUBBY’S TRIBECA
120 hudson street
bubbys.com
*best for indulging your inner kid
whether you’re in the mood for something sweet (wild bluberry pancakes served with a mound of brown sugar) or something savory (crispy monte cristo sandwich, anyone?) head to bubby’s for whatever craving. this stroller-friendly spot has been a tribeca staple since the early 90s (jfk jr. and caroline bessette were regulars), and boast the lightest, must luscious sour cream pancakes in all five boroughs.
*bonus: top off your meal with a sweet slice of bubby’s award-winning pie. (our favorite is a toss up between their michigan sour cherry and banana cream pie.)

for those that haven’t already discovered the delights of a malia mills swimsuit, her iconic cuts, which seem to miraculously flatter in just the right places, will literally make you long for bikini season (yes, they’re really that good). we sat down with the swimwear sage and designer of our debut swim collection during the shoot for our swan dive or cannonball video.

q: how and when did you start designing swimwear?
a: i started my business in 1991. i was inspired by growing up in honolulu where swimwear was a big part of my childhood. swimwear should represent sun and fun and vacation and friends and family and the exhilaration you get from a run and tumble into the sea! i want women to feel the power that comes from feeling good about the way we look. when you put on something that fits you beautifully you feel liberated!

q: tell us about your motto, ‘love thy differences.’
a: it’s all about looking in the mirror and really, truly loving what you see. women are very hard on themselves. we need to own our unique beauty. we are all one of a kind, how amazing is that?!

q: what’s your first swimsuit memory?
a: i’m the baby of 6 kids—i have two older brothers and 3 older sisters—and my mom wouldn’t let us wear bikinis. then when i was 8 years old our neighbor gave me this lemon yellow bikini with plastic rings, and i came prancing out and my sisters just howled—they couldn’t believe it. but i felt freedom and fabulousness in that suit.

q: what’s your favorite place to swim?
a: when i was 13 we moved from honolulu to new hampshire, and it was the first time i ever swam in a pond. there was something really magical about walking through the woods with my new friends and then reaching this secret oasis. once you jump in it’s cool and fresh and amazing and dreamy.

q: what do you pack in your beach bag?
a: definitely a swimsuit. or two. or three. lots of sunscreen. i always pack a cashmere sweater. i love being at the beach when the sun goes down and wrapping myself in something warm and soft. oh, and i always have a bottle of water. and a bottle of wine.

q: swandive or cannonball?
a: cannonball! the cannonball is all about how you feel and less about your form, which is more my style.

we spotted adorkable indie darling zooey deschanel looking lovely in our navy and beige striped adette dress in a recent episode of her new fox sitcom, new girl. we can’t get enough of the actress’s modern retro look—our full-skirted dress (no longer online, but available at select kate spade new york shops), peachy cheeks and a side-swept pony with a fringe of bangs.

we asked our designer, cassandra, about her court-side design.

Q. how did you come up with this clever carrier?

A. we had done tennis bags before, so it’s part of our heritage. but we wanted to do a new version that felt fresh, modern and playful. deborah, our creative director, actually came up with the idea for this one. initially we tried to make it out of actual felt they use on tennis balls, but we couldn’t source the material. we opted for this glossy neon pattern leather instead. it has a really nice, soft feel, and the shape is one of my favorites.

thanks to these eye-catching extras in a handful of bright hues, it’s easier then ever to add a quick hit of color to your spring look!

1. hand in hand beaded links necklace: give your outfit a twist of lemon with our cheerful beaded necklace, made entirely by hand by women in rwanda through our hand in hand partnership with women for women international. we’ll be wearing ours with everything from a tank and denim cutoffs to our favorite floral maxi dress this season.

2. carousel watch: we’ve put a new spin on arm candy with our carousel bangle watch, inspired by the whimsical merry-go-round in manhattan’s central park. it’s crafted of gold-plated metal and enamel and, just like our signature idiom bangles, you’ll find one of our favorite turns of phrase, “tickled pink,” delicately engraved inside.

3. juliana too flats: add a splash of color to your ensemble while keeping raindrops at bay with our grass green ballerinas, crafted of waterproof rubber and topped with our signature bow.

4. kate spade rectangular barrette: a quick fix for a bad hair day: tie locks back into a clean low pony and sweep bangs back with our sparkly barrette, crafted with crystals in a milky swimming pool hue.

5. alda aviators: whether you’re hanging out in the city or lounging on a beach somewhere warm this season, say “hello sunshine” in our cool tangerine aviators. not only do they have a universally-flattering fit, polarized lenses shield eyes from harmful rays.

1. belle fleur new york: the go-to florist for fashion editors, tastemakers and style-setters for years, parsons alum meredith waga perez uses her eye for design and detail in each of belle fleur’s gorgeous arrangements with an abundance of blooms and sweet finishing flourishes, like these pretty pink peonies wrapped with a bow. (belle fleur new york, 212.254.8703; bellefleurny.com)

2. banchet flowers: if you’ve ever strolled around nyc’s meatpacking district, chances are you’ve spotted (and lusted after) banchet jiagla’s chic arrangements lining the window of flower bar on gansevoort & washington. using gems from around the globe, the florist specializes in sleek orchid arrangements, as evidenced by these ruby peonies and crisp white phalaenopsis’. (banchet flowers & flower bar, 212.989.1088; banchetflowers.com)

3. b floral: wall-street exec bronwen smith left her job in finance in favor of flowers, opening b floral, a company lauded for a clean and simple approach to its modern, out-of-the-box creations, like these white roses with a twist of lime. (b floral; bfloral.com)

4. l’olivier floral atelier: consider a bouquet from l’oliver the rolls royce of floral arrangements: florist (and author of coffee table tome living art) oliver giugni hails from the south of france and is a favorite among new york city’s fashion, hotel and foodie elite. we love this crisp yet artful mix of white roses and purple freesia. (l’olivier floral atelier, 212.774.7676; lolivier.com)

5. flora new york: based in tribeca, creative director jeff chen specializes in sculptural, asian-inspired creations (like this vivid mix of peonies and orchids) and has helped beautify spaces for a handful of star-studded events in nyc. (flora new york, 212.274.1887; florany.com)  

some big screen highlights were: 1) katniss’s flaming red dress, 2) the kooky, “marie antoinette meets the jetsons” fashions in the capital city, 3) when our designer katie evans almost jumped out of her seat during the giant panther/dog pack chase scene, and 4) the scene where katniss whips out her bow and arrow and shoots an apple out of the mouth of a roasted pig (it almost made us want to take up archery).

we laughed, shed a tear (or two) and when the lights came up, we headed out for a few drinks. all we can say is, the sequel can’t come soon enough.

treat yourself (and your best friend) to a little handmade arm candy, courtesy of our hand in hand collection with women for women international. each friendship bangle is handmade in afghanistan. they’re mixable, matchable and definitely made with love—see how we’re wearing ours.

friends with kids star jennifer westfedlt looked like a fortune as she accompanied beau jon hamm at the mad men season 5 premiere in hollywood clad in our emerald strapless darcie dress, as seen on justjared.com. we’ll be tuning in for the mad man season premiere this sunday on amc.

1.) riverside park has two sets of ten courts—we prefer the old-school clay ones at riverside drive and 96th street, but you can also opt for the hardcourts at riverside and 119th street.

2.) definitely one of the city’s best kept secrets, these twenty-four well-tended and chic courts are located in central park at 93rd street and west drive.

3.) located in the east river park around houston street, these twelve hardcourts are right on the water and under the williamsburg bridge.

4.) there are eight hardcourts in mccarren park on north 13th street between bedford and berry. they’re next to a big public school and a bit rundown, but they definitely have a high cool factor.

5.) you’ll find nine nicely-kept clay courts and two hardcourts in prospect park at parkside avenue near the parade ground.