Watch Out for Kate Spade

If there’s one thing that handbag queen Kate Spade is good at, it is pops of color/ (Okay, and polka dots.) So it comes as no surprise that the designer’s first-ever line of watches is full of brights, like the canary yellow and hot pink Carousel bangles pictured above, which are also available in turquoise. Even some of the standard gold and silver pieces have soft pink accents, like the rosy-hued minute hand on both the gold and silver Gramercy Grand watches. But for us, the standout is certainly the bangle watches, which come with cute phrases engraved inside, just like Kate Spade’s adorable idiom bangles. The only thing we love more than the graphic black-and-cream design of the Delacorte bangle is the cheeky “When in Rome” inscription.

Are you sensing a geographical pattern to these names, which include Gramercy Hotel and Delacorte Theater? Kate Spade’s collection is inspired by New York City, so each design takes its name from a local landmark, including a Metro Strap watch. Perhaps, every watch should be inscribed with “New York minute.”

Text Kara Solarz
Image Racked.com

The Flat Out Truth

It’s no doubt that heels are the most chic, feminine shoes to wear. But the truth is, they aren’t always comfortable, or worse, good for your feet. That’s why flats get runner up when it comes to best shoes.  A fun pair of shiny flats can make a girl as happy as a pair of new heels, and flats are so much more comfortable. So treat your feet to a day off with a fabulous pair of shoes.

Here are some of our favorite picks:

Tory Burch – classic and cute

Coach – polished and sophisticated

Kate Spade – fun and colorful

There are so many fun styles, it’s hard to pick which ones to wear. That’s why these shoes are perfect for day or night. You can look chic and stay comfortable at work or play. Plus, the winter months are the best time of year for this look. 

Heels are always a necessity, but it’s good to give your feet a rest every once in awhile, so do it in style with a cute pair of flats. Flats are a great way to switch it up and have fun with color, sparkle, and pattern. 

Text Sera Michael

Source Tory Burch

Useful City Mittens

These gloves are playful with a purpose. Stamped with “taxi” on the palm, it will be impossible for anyone to miss these bright yellow mittens. Kate Spade has designed every city-goers dream accessory. When its cold and you refuse to take your hands out of your pockets to hail a cab, you have Kate Spade to thank for being so creative and trendy!

Everyone knows that bright colors are in style this winter, so why not make a bold move and purchase these mittens, now on sale on her official website. Made with ultra-soft wool, these mittens will keep your fingers warm in any city you decide to gallivant in when the cold weather strikes. These multi-purpose mittens will turn heads when they're pointed towards those busy city streets, and on top of that, they will make taxi-calling on your cold winter days not so dreadful.

Text Sydney Ruby
Source Kate Spade

Graphics Galore

While we've seen techno-tribal bags, polka dot pumps, and other eye-popping, patterned accessories from seasons past, a plethora of lively graphics have captured the attention of the fashion industry once again! With an eclectic and exciting assortment of printed handbags and shoes, it's no wonder why designers have said goodbye to boring, solid-colored accessories and "hello" to energetic (and rather quirky) accent pieces for the spring 2012 season. 

Many prominent designers by the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Kate Spade are bringing this wild and playful trend back into the spotlight. But let's be honest, has it ever left? Au contraire, this bold fashion statement is continuing to take the fashion world by storm. Even celebrity tastemakers such as Rihanna, Beyonce, and Whitney Port have all been spotted sporting this trend. 

So, spice up your wardrobe with a bold, graphic-printed accessory, and take a walk on the wild side. You will surely be strutting down the streets in style.

Text Jasmine Song

Image and Source WWD

Mad for Melinda

Your holiday lights shouldn't be the only thing left to brighten up this winter season. Your accessories should also do the trick. This season, it's ok for your neons and pastels to take a ride alongside some of your muted tones. Kate Spade knows this, and so should you. That's why, this fall, they've introduced the Flicker Melinda. It's neon and patent leather all rolled into one! 

The Flicker Melinda is your classic bag revolutionized for the season. It comes in Firefly Yellow, Black, Berry, Spearmint, and Gold Metallic. There is one for all of your fashionable friends. Priced at $345, these are the perfect gifts for your trendy mates.

Text Kia Chenelle and Christy Greene
Image and Source Kate Spade

Yellow Diamonds In the Light

At an auction in Geneva last week, the Sun-Drop Diamond sold for more than $10.9 million. Weighing in at 110.3 carats, the massive pear-shaped yellow diamond was found last year in South Africa, adding more to its value since there were no previous owners.

There are only about half a dozen people in the world who are able to participate in auctions when diamonds enter the multi-million dollar price range. For the rest of us who aren't lucky enough to have vast bank accounts, precious gemstones are a great alternative to expensive diamonds.

Gemstones like amethyst and quartz range in cut, size, clarity, and color, and they are used to create attractive jewelry combinations and unique styles. Since they are extremely durable and flexible enough to wear for any occasion, they have proven to be great investment pieces. While gemstones may not have the coveted status of diamonds, they're evergreen staples that certainly deserve a place in your jewelry box.

Check out a few of this season's most-wanted gemstone cocktail rings after the jump...

Kate Spade: The Bike Maker

Have you ever dreamed of cruising the streets of your town or city on a killer set of wheels? Well bicycle wheels that is. Kate Spade has collaborated with Adeline Adeline to create the perfect cruiser for any bike-goer. Crafted by Abici in Italy, the bike is sleek, retro, and absolutely adorable. It comes in Spade's classic "Kelly Green" hue and features a steel frame, English-style leather saddle, a silver rear rack, and a night-friendly front light. The best part? The cruiser has a chain guard so go ahead and throw on your flowy dress and cute wedges and have no worries of chain grease stains and scratched ankles.

This fashionable form of transportation will be sure to turn heads and add an unexpected splash of color to your summer outfits. However, riding in style doesn't come cheap. Priced at $1,100 the bike comes in two sizes (26" & 28"). Check out the cruiser online here!

Text Lauryn Stone

Source(s): Refinery29, Adelineadeline.com

Spring's Chicest Sack

Michael Kors Rattan and Leather Box Clutch at Net-a-porter

Peel open the ambrosial pages of any reputable fashion rag and you'll spot the same spring accessory, over and over again: the day clutch. Unlike its sleek and sparkly evening counterpart, the day clutch adds subtle structure to a designer jean and blouse combo. It's the perfect way to add sophistication to a beachy maxi dress and if played right, it can transition to a casual evening out. Opt for a casual woven clutch to add a bohemian flavor or a matte, melon colored leather.

Kate Spade: Planned Adulthood

In the spirit of recounting my holiday haul on the internet, let's talk about a both practical and pants-peeingly awesome gift I received from my ever intuitive boyfriend! A Kate Spade planner! This would make a fantastic winter solstice or late Christmas present, or perhaps you've got a lady friend with a wintery birthday. Maybe you have a ritual of buying yourself a new planner each year. No matter the case, Kate Spade planners are a fantastic gift for any woman and a great way to say: "Listen, you've got too much designer shit in your closet, so here's something potentially useful" or "Here's a fancy calendar; now please stop standing me up on our dinner dates". Fortunately I lie somewhere in-between the aforementioned categories so I'm the perfect candidate for a compact Kate Spade agenda!

Kate Spade planners come in nylon, canvas, and leather and are incredibly well made so they're certain to hold up all year. The brand, notoriously classic with just a hint of bubbly playfulness, offers yearly inserts that feature adorable hand sketches and doodles of champagne glasses and hearts and a myriad of other girly things. I personally can't function without a little space to unpack my brain and make lists but I hate the cluttered and unstylish look of scrap paper and tattered notebooks. The Kate Spade planner not only a more eco-conscious choice but you can keep it together in style! Pick one up to start off the new year with some semblance of order...and hey, just because you look like an adult doesn't mean you have to plan like one. Concert and parties on the 26th, bourbon tasting on the 28th, building a living room tent and drinking my weight in champagne?? I'm simply booked...

Text by Hannah Morris