The Great Kate Debate
Kate Spade and Urban Outfitters’ new release begs an existential question: Who are you?
By Gutes Guterman and Megan O'Sullivan
Photos by Nina Westervelt
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Published
Summer took flight this week with an unexpected yet chic return: a Kate Spade ‘90s icon. Urban Outfitters brought back the fashion house’s memorable shoulder bag — one that epitomizes 1990’s downtown New York — with a bang. Taking over a gallery on Chrystie Street, Urban Outfitters decked the place with the bag (and life-size images of it) in three quintessential prints: black and white polka dot, rainbow stripe, and the iconic all-black iteration. And don’t be fooled — these prints aren’t just aesthetic decoration. The tight edit of patterns present an existential question: Which one are you?
Ahead of the event, we had this question answered for us. I (Megan) was positive I was an all-black shoulder bag through and through. Alas, I was pegged as a pink-yellow-black-and-blue stripe girl. What does this say about ME? Perhaps it’s time to present an alter ego, etc etc. On the other hand, Gutes felt seen. I’ll let her weigh in here.