Branding. It is the driving force behind advertising and image making and celebrities who can make or break the newest jeans or handbags or vacation spot.

Now with the untimely death of Kate Spade, what will happen to the brand? Will we find ourselves hiding her name on our wallets and handbags and Kate Spade reading glasses and Kate Spade shoes? And what happens to the inventory in stores around the globe that carry the Kate Spade label?

Her name and brand has changed hands two or three times in the last five years and it is currently owned by Tapestry Inc., the umbrella holding company that owns Coach. How will the corporate honchos deal with this nightmare? Do they offload the inventory, or do they hold a fire sale?

For a generation of young women, Kate Spade bags were THE bag to have because they were whimsical and trendy and beautiful and affordable. Now what? The fashion world will move on. Here today and gone tomorrow is the name of the game. Fashion is transient at best and what was in six months ago, if often “so over” today. Someone, somewhere already has the new bags ready to launch and build the “must have” brand.

One of the reasons we write this blog is to find fashion that is au courant and yet has a shelf life beyond the season.  Looking at what to buy this summer, we found that cardigans are really it. Button them up or leave open at the top, wear with white pants, wear a hot pink cotton cardigan with jeans, even wear a cardigan with a DVF dress. They are inexpensive in cotton and cotton silk blends and they all seem to be on sale at stores like Madewell and Banana Republic.   Get them it different colors and dress up neckline with choker beads or Haitian shell necklaces.

Speaking of Madewell, here is a fairly new company whose brand is going gangbusters. And the prices are great. We found a midi white cotton skirt with a lace border, and a blue and white peasant top. Great looking for all ages and then we found really cool aviator glasses for $55. They also have a great looking pair of canvas slide sandals for $98.   So here is a shopping experience that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Keep on shopping!

Ciao

Lucy and Claudia