Wow. Wow. During my 2017 Christmas shopping, I checked into Kate Spade jewelry and accessories, which I used to LOVE, especially on their sales. I would buy *many* and save them for bday, Christmas gifts all year 'round. This year was a big MEH, which was a little disappointing, and I was a little surprised. But I thought maybe my tastes are just becoming "more mature." At the time, I didn't know at the time that Coach had acquired KS.
Then two weeks ago I bought a KS bag online on sale for about 1/3 original retail price, and thought I got a huge bargain. As I was enjoying my purchase and reading about Kate Spade, I searched online and learned she has NOTHING to do with the company anymore and has not for about 10 years! I had erroneously believed she was the creative genius behind all the cool bags and accessories I'd collected over the last 4-5 years, a cool Catholic American whimsical, feminine designer genius.
THEN I read that soccer-mom COACH had acquired the full KS company. Jolt. Then the dots joined themselves. The newer Coach products are not the same as the older KS ones. They don't have the same look-and-feel. That unique slightly-vintage whimsy is gone. The fascinating and irrepressible charm is gone - or at least fading very fast. I the recalled that I did notice more reviewers commenting that the dust bag was not included. And the bag I just bought was not lined - which I thought was a new, hip thing when I purchased it. Now I realize it's just another drop in quality. Getting less for the same price. Not sure if I *ever* saw a KS bag without a lining, but maybe I missed something.
Then my super-analytical mind decided to check into the 14-K plated hardware. I looked at a few newer bags, and sure enough, no mention of gold plating in the "Details" section. Whoa.
I felt like an investigative reporter and wanted to make sure I had my facts straight, so I chatted with Customer Service. Sure enough, they confirmed that Kate Spade no longer does gold-plating on hardware.
HUGE DROP IN QUALITY.
I couldn't help it, so I chatted back that this was probably the Coach effect, a big drop in quality. LOL
So there you have it. Soccer-mom Coach has cheapened Kate Spade to just another Michael Kors - slightly cuter perhaps. I noticed most of the jewelry also was missing the gold plate. Perhaps not all, just the lower priced stuff that was in my price range.
Horrible product decision. I would have preferred a slight increase in price to maintain the gold plating. Gives the brand that extra zing, sparkle and makes me feel like I made an investment purchase. No longer. Congrats, Coach. You have ruined KS.
BTW, Kate Spade the woman has changed her name to Kate Valentine. She has released a new brand "Frances Valentine." The bags do feel a bit more casual and mature, less cutesy. The shoes are to die for and priced as such.
IMHO Frances Valentine is marketing to the boutique crowd, but not the Millennials. In bags it looks a little more casual and comfortable with high quality. In shoes it does look very premium and distinctive Kate Spade flair - perhaps even more high-end than before. Not daily-wear shoes - but statement shoes - some. Some shoes are more the comfort look.
I felt a great loss for Kate Spade, but I'm o.k. because trying to move away from leather. There's a lot of very cruel torture of especially young animals to produce the millions of bags on the market each and every season.
No, Virginia, these are not meat by-product bags. This is a lie. There are cows skinned alive (and young calves) for leather bags. If you sew, you know how much fabric is required for a full piece of leather as with these bags.
I'm going for plastic and lower prices.
I really hope someone (besides $tella McCartney) will take up the vinyl handbag space with some really cute and practical bags. No, I'm not willing to pay $200-300 for plastic, but I will pay closer to $100 if for a good cause and an awesome handbag.
Happy New Year to all!
So that's where all our money went...
