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Here’s Why Kate Spade’s Death Is Hitting Middle-Aged Women Hardest

For so many of us at who are now at midlife, buying a Kate Spade bag as a rite of passage, a sign of style and success in the 90s...

For so many of us at who are now at midlife, buying a Kate Spade bag as a rite of passage, a sign of style and success in the 90s when the shapely, label-showing bags debuted. Was yours an Audrey Hepburn-worthy navy one? Or a joyous striped number?

For decades after, anything with a Kate Spade label signified a just perfect blend of cool and classic; of chic neutral and Palm Beach bright colors…something that would give us a dash of beauty and confidence. We loved the smiling woman behind the brand, too, for her innate fashion sense and entrepreneurial smarts. For having a company that soared to billion-dollar status (she sold it over a decade ago) and for seeming to have a rock-solid marriage. Those who were ferocious fangirls drooled over Kate’s apartment –where her daughter’s artwork hung next to iconic paintings–as showcased in design magazines, and delighted to know that she was starting a new accessories venture.

The news of Kate Spade’s death hits particularly hard because she seemed so blessed, with all the outward trappings of success. It’s a sad moment to lose a woman in her prime, one whose work made so many people’s lives a bit brighter. And it gives us a moment to pause and reflect on how none of us know what goes on in another person’s life, even if from the outside they seem to have a fairytale existence. At NextTribe, we’re saying rest in peace to the wonderful Kate, sending our condolences to her family, and sharing with our community this: If you or someone close to you is struggling, the National Suicide Hotline is one of the best-known resources out there to pull people through troubled times. It can be reached at 800-273-8255.
–Janet Siroto
By Janet Siroto

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