Why Kate Spade “SATURDAY” Is Nothing To Get Excited About

I love Kate Spade (just take look at my jewelry collection). So naturally when the company announced in October that it would be launching a more affordable line called Kate Spade SATURDAY in Spring 2013 I was ecstatic.  All of the things I love about Kate Spade designs at a lower price point? Yes, please! The possibilities were endless and I was excited to see what the brand that brought me my favorite wallets had in store.

On October 23, 2012 when @KS_Saturday tweeted “Make plans for Saturday” I was giddy. For months I waited with baited breath for more information about the line. Would they continue with their statement necklaces and big stud earrings? Would their bags be just as cute and practical as their parent brand? An Instagram account was created and soon “sneak peeks” were being tweeted and ‘gramed right and left. The first pictures didn’t give much away about the line – lots of geometric shapes and bright colors. I could get on board with this, I thought.

Image source ks_saturday on Instagram

But when images of the clothing and accessories started popping up I was wary. It felt too geometric. Where were the clean, crisp lines I had come to expect from Kate Spade? This was borderline too playful, too young. After seeing a few images, I knew the brand was doomed.

Image source ks_saturday on Instagram

As the ultimate consumer, if I don’t want to buy your products you may as well pack up and head home. I couldn’t imagine buying a single piece of Kate Spade SATURDAY. Considering the line features clothing, housewares, jewelry, tech accessories and more, that’s saying a lot. I just don’t feel that SATURDAY does  the brand justice.  Check out the following examples and see if you agree:

Kate Spade vs. SATURDAY

Cute, girly teapot vs. Fahrenheit 451-esqe “teapot”

Image source 303Magazine.com & SATURDAY

Winner: Kate Spade

Kate Spade vs. SATURDAY

Bright bracelet with a fun gold detail vs. bulky, childlike block bracelet

Image source Kate Spade & SATURDAY

Winner: Kate Spade

Kate Spade vs. SATURDAY

Feminine leather handbag vs. awkwardly shaped satchel

Image source Kate Spade & SATURDAY

Winner: Kate Spade

Final Score: Kate Spade-3, SATURDAY-0

At the end of the day, lower prices don’t make up for ugly.

Posted by Maya

Blog Stalkers Anonymous

Image source Song of Style

Hello… my name is Cameron and I am a blog stalker.

The first step in overcoming is admittance. So there, I said it, I am a blog stalker – but just for one blog in particular. Song of Style, created by Los Angeles local Aimee Song, has a clever name and editorial-worthy photos. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, you name it, I stalk it. Undoubtedly, it also helps that she was blessed with genes that make every outfit she styles on herself flawless looking.

Image source Song of Style

Named by AM New York as one of the “new influencers” in the blogging sphere, Aimee never lets me down when I need some fashion inspiration. She started her blog in 2008 to showcase her interior design ideas but turned it into a personal style blog – who wouldn’t want to post laid back, girly-grunge style outfits with a fierce twist and shoes for days? With daily posts of her lavish #OOTD (outfit of the day), that I check/stalk – whatever you want to call it – on Instagram, you can see she has an eye for trends. With her new-found fame, brands are reaching out with endorsement deals resulting in Aimee cashing in numerous freebies – yes please! From thrift shop denim shorts to designer handbags and jewelry, you can only imagine what her closet looks like.

Wait, you don’t have you! Since her real job is an interior designer, I would expect an exposé of her self-made and designed closet and mountains of clothes – and boy was I right! Here’s a little taste of what your closet will never amount to… Sad, I know, but you can just live vicariously through stalking her like I have.

Image source Song of Style

Didn’t get your fix from these pictures? Check out the closet video tour she posted to her blog! Go ahead and click that “follow” button…there ain’t nothing wrong with embracing your new addiction!

Posted by Cameron

Cool or Cruel?

Image source Rayfish.com

I love the ocean, and I love seafood, but I do not love knowing what’s swimming around underneath me in that vast body of blue water. If we were on some tropical island together, you would have to find someone else to go snorkeling with you, because I just won’t. Ocean creatures creep. me. out.

Now, much to my horror, there is a shoe company that is offering up custom kicks made from stingray skin. As if my fear of reptiles and snakeskin wasn’t enough.

Rayfish Footwear allows you to “grow” your own sneaker (their words, not mine) with their unique bio-customization technique. AKA, you design your own living stingray by combining different skin patterns from various species’ DNA that the company has on file, and then they transform your de facto pet stingray into your new sneaks.

It takes the company about 6-8 months to raise a “shoe-sized” stingray with the pattern of your choice on it, with the exception of squares or logos. As the head of Rayfish Footwear explains, “the expression of the DNA on the skin doesn’t allow it.” At least we know this company has limits!  If you’re vain enough to actually want a pair of these bespoke shoes, they start at around $1,800.

Seriously, is this illegal? It seems like it should be. At least when we raise cows for slaughter, it’s to fuel our bodies not fuel our shopping addiction.

Posted by Hannah

Sensitive Sally

Fashion. It is an ever-evolving and controversial medium of self-expression. We live in a free country, so if you want to wear a floor-length rabbit fur coat, by all means. Just be aware that someone from PETA might throw a bucket of paint on you, a la Samantha Jones in the Sex and the City movie.

Lately, everyone has been up in arms  about Adidas’ new concept, the JS Roundhouse Mid shackle sneaker by Jeremy Scott. If you’ve ever seen any of Jeremy Scott’s designs, you’d understand that his quirky execution of style always combines pop culture with couture. However, the brand had to cancel its production plans of the sneaker after critics (and Joe schmo consumers) identified the kicks as “symbols of slavery.”

Hmmm. I’m no expert, but isn’t the fact that people interpret the shoes as “oppressive” and “racist” also inherently racist…? I mean, it assumes that only African-Americans will be wearing the shoes, which in turn, would make the fashion statement a faux pas (apparently). For some reason, similar renditions of women’s heels with ankle cuffs, chains, and lock & key motifs are not criticized or considered controversial (although, to be fair, I found these on some questionable S&M-type websites…).

Either way, people are being far too sensitive. There’s no reason to perceive the shoes as symbols of slavery. If anything, they remind me of being in jail, and stripes and tangerine are two of summer’s hottest trends! Not to mention, it’s not like the sneakers are named “slave sneakers,” unlike a certain pair of hoop earrings that appeared in VOGUE Italia last year.

There are lots of things that offend me, fashion statements and otherwise, but I don’t go around telling people what they can and cannot wear (probably because I’m not important enough). Don’t be such a sensitive Sally; if you don’t like them, you don’t have to wear them.

Posted by Hannah

Image source msnbc.com

Candid Photo from 1969? Or Your Favorite Brand’s Newest Advertisement?

It’s a valid question. As I was sitting here listening to “The Doors” Pandora playlist, I started thinking of all the trends from the past that have resurfaced as of late. I mean, this authentic photograph of high school girls in 1969 could easily be an ad for a major retailer today. I know what they say, “trends come back in style all the time.” But seriously, every time I go shopping, there’s a little something from the past that has made a comeback. And I’m not talking strictly the ’60s — the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s have all made an appearance as well. Who would have thought meshing them together would actually work?

Other than the 1960s styles that have come back thanks to the Mad Men craze (Banana Republic dedicated a whole line to the series), let’s talk about Jeffrey Campbell’s 1970s-esque platform shoes that look all too familiar to the ones we saw Travolta rocking in Saturday Night Fever. Or what about American Apparel’s light-washed, high rise jean shorts? They’re leaping off the shelves this spring but would have fit in just fine on Saved by the Bell’s Kelly Kapowski. And last but not least, the number of pieces I’ve seen that are reminiscent of the ’90s is mind blowing — asymmetrical skirts, that thick heeled pump (that I swear I witnessed my mother wear to work in 1994), and last but not least crop tops — crop tops everywhere.

Don’t get me wrong, if there’s anyone who’s a sucker for nostalgia, it’s me. I just can’t believe all these different styles are popular, again, all at once. I guess I’ll just have to try them out and get back to you. Whether I’ll look as good as Kelly in the light-washed cutoffs is another story…

Posted by Kate

Image source Life Magazine via Retronaut