Kate Spade October

I'm not a fan of Kate Spade's colour of October. In fact I'm thinking that they've run out of inspiration for living colourfully because as colours go chocolate seems like a clear admission of defeat.

Fortunately they don't feel the need to stick solely to the colour of the month and there are a few pieces I'm liking.

wool martingale sweater $195

 I'm pleased to see the adorably bow-cuffed Martingale sweater revisited in this lovely shade of african violet rather than a shade of chocolate, though I can see these two colours could work well together.

silk reade blouse $295

The polka dot print tie-neck Silk Reade blouse surely has a lot of Emma potential but while I think the silhouettes and details of the ruffled tie-neck Catarina blouse and the cropped bow-adorned Nightingale jacket would be great on Emma, I'm not really loving the zebra print. Perhaps it will grow on me. I know it will if Emma wears either of them.

Catarina blouse $295 and Nightingale jacket $695

Nellie dress $395

The Nellie dress comes not in chocolate but a strong graphic print of red, white and black and with the ruffled placket I definitely like it.

caravell dress $445

 I like the simplicity of the Caravelle dress, and of course the bow, but it's certainly more Rachel circa season 3 than Emma.

Accessories wise I'm much more tempted. I mean who doesn't love mittens? And pom poms? And I love red and pink together so these would be perfect for me.

hand in hand pom pom mittens $95

The popcorn necklace seems fun and festive

popcorn garland scatter necklace $148

And I adore the plaid coal tote which is like a winter version of Emma's Jayma's point breeze

fireside plaid small coal $365

But I've really fallen for the black and white houndstooth and patent leather henley park little nadine too. For me it's retro styling wins.

henley park little nadine $345

And if I had to pick a shoe from the new arrivals, and I kind of do, it would be the lovely multi-colour glitter karolinas.

karolina $325

Emma needs more Kate Spade

No, I mean it. I know that she has a lot of Kate Spade already. And I'm not for one minute suggesting that she stop shopping for clothes anywhere else. Not at all. I mean I even think she could be a little more adventurous these days. I'd really like to see the kind of eclectic mix of designers she wore in season one. But I do think there are a few more Kate Spade pieces that really belong in Emma's wardrobe.

Like this white sweater which comes with its own bow necklace.

Ellis bow-necklace top $245 from Neiman Marcus

 

And I also think Emma should have this floral print jillian dress because it makes me think of her Tory Burch cardi and it has a gorgeous bow.

Jillian floral-print dress $425 from Neiman Marcus

I do love to see Emma in a simple sheath dress and I think she'd look beautiful in this shade of african violet. Oh yes, as well as some very pretty pleat details, it also has a bow.

mademoiselle silk-cotton bow dress $395 from Neiman Marcus

And because you can't have too many dresses and I think that's something Emma's begun to realise, and because I find this one instinctively appealing - I think it looks like floral josie and brodie and a dress we haven't met yet with a bow all had a baby.

barbara bow dress $395 (note not leopard print) Neiman Marcus

Also I hope Emma snapped up this betsy bow-jacquard skirt for $120 when it was in the sale this summer. I think it would be perfect to wear with her Betsey bow cardigan, or the ellis bow-necklace top or almost any of her numerous Kate Spade cardis.

betsy bow-jacquard skirt originally $345 from Neiman Marcus

That probably is enough for now at least.

September Kate Spade Picks

My little blog had a birthday yesterday...and I didn't forget...no I just decided to celebrate it's one year and one week anniversary instead. Curious, perhaps, but it does allow me to do a whole week's posts in celebration. I'm thinking a series of posts on Emma's favourite designers? I haven't really decided but spontaneous is good. I mean I'd never have even started this blog if I hadn't written the first post on a whim one day while waiting for our boiler to be installed. Surprising really to think my blog owes its existence not to a love of clothes or shoes or jewellery but something far more mundane. And perhaps even more surprising to think that I'm still here blogging one year later.
Anyway I thought I'd start right back at the beginning, or at least with the basis of so many Emma outfits...Kate Spade.

Kate Spade color of September by shinyprettythings 

I'm very happy with all the shades of ruby this month. I'm loving the bags adorned with giant bows and pretty buttons and the pink and red combos in particular. The bardot sweater dress and the ruffled antoinette dot top don't seem particularly Emma to me (the latter because of the neckline) but if Emma's trying new things who knows? But I could easily see Emma in the poppy tweed delphine skirt or the tweed malerie jacket. And I see every reason why Emma would want the cammie cardi in red as well as white...every reason being the super sweet bows at the cuffs and an insatiable love of cardigans.

Now I know there's inevitably a lot of speculation about season 3 but I like to think that I'm considering the most important of these questions. In season 3 will Emma get a new coat? And if so which coat will it be?

For this reason I've included cherie and patrice for consideration although I don't particularly see them having a place in Emma's wardrobe. But then I did say mona wasn't for Emma so....

Black and white with a pop of red by shinyprettythings 

Confusingly there are quite a lot of black and white new arrivals in this month of ruby but I can forgive that since I adore black and white and it works so well with a pop of colour. My favourite pieces are the dotted did jacket and dotted delphine skirt. Both these pieces would work wonderfully well with Emma's existing wardrobe and easily deserve a place in her closet. I think she should have the bags too...because you can't have too many polka dotted bags with bows.

Emma does have quite a fondness for beaded sweaters so I can easily imagine her picking up the beaded darielle but magdalena and gail both seem more likely to end up on Miss Berry. If Emma doesn't think she already owns enough corsage adorned cardigans maybe she'd like to add rosie to their number and either the bow-cuffed matingale and pretty pink and red on the ave bracelet would add a pop of colour to an otherwise black and white outfit.

Green, white and daisies reworked

Do you remember that outfit you wore, Emma, the one with the green blouse and the white jacket and your Kate Spade daisy necklace? Well, here's the thing, there was really nothing wrong with the concept but the execution it was just not good. So here's an outfit that uses the same colours and incorporates the daisies, albeit on the cardi instead of a necklace (your necklace is lovely btw, you should put it to good use in another outfit).

Emma wears Kate Spade Kati beaded cardigan

And I know that that was a bad time for you, Emma, that you must have been really confused and distressed by the whole marrying Ken thing and Will having a fake baby. And it really is the only excuse I can come up with for some of the outfits you were wearing at that time (yes, crewelwork cardi, I mean you) but you see I'm not sure it's really a good reason. Because one way or another you were letting Will affect how you dressed - either because you gave up caring how you looked or in an attempt to repel him - and it doesn't really matter because in the end you were only compromising yourself. Because you should never dress for a man, Emma, in any way, I'm sure you know that really, and you should never change how you dress because of anyone else. I thought it might be an opportune time to discuss this because it seems, and this is just as an outside observer, that things between you and Will might be well let's just say you might be getting close again and that always brings with it the potential for complications and heartache. But I don't want you to let that affect your style this time, it's just not worth it, so no boxy white jackets, boring blouses and granny cardis okay please? Unless that cardi was borrowed from your grandmother, say because your washing machine broke and you had nothing else clean, then I would understand.

p.s. there are lots of other lovely Kate Spade Kati cardis in various colours and designs ... you could have a blue one or yellow or pink or why not have them all? *subliminal message... get the yellow one Emma, I like the yellow*

I'll blame you Will

Perfect Valentine

kissing frog belt from Kate Spade $125

How perfect would this kissing frog belt be for Valentine's Day? For a gift, if you were lucky enough to have a valentine who could find their way to Kate Spade, or for the finishing whimsical touch to your Valentine's Day outfit, I think this bubblegum pink patent leather belt with sparkling frogs clasp would be perfection.

An Emma look a day: Day 28

Emma wears Kate Spade sunglasses print dress. I really think she should wear this dress - because of the ruffles and whimsical print and because sunglasses are cool and kinda sexy too, afterall. Emma knows about these things.

An Emma look a day: Day 27

Emma wears Kate Spade 'paper hearts iris' top. We'll probably never get to know what Emma wears on Valentine's Day but I like to think she might wear something like this sweet and colourful heart print top - even to school (I mean especially for school). And I'd like for her to wear jewellery that I can read some meaning into like the 'love notes' pendant necklace she has on here (the envelope even opens and there's a tiny engraved not inside). So yes, ya know either that or a broken heart brooch would be fine. Just not something indeterminable like a leaf and berries or a fishing lure ... although come to think of it there could be symbolism in both of those.

An Emma look a day: Day 19

Emma wears Kate Spade 'grace' ruffle print top. I like the red and teal together ... and yes I wouldn't really put pink with it either but Emma just so happened to be holding the clutch. I guess she loves it ;)

More Covetable Kate Spade

Okay, so technically I covet all things Kate Spade but I especially love all things bow-bedecked making these sweet bow earrings and bangles high on my list. And I'd need them in every colour ... surely Emma would agree?

And I need Emma needs these brushstroke bow 'anabel' tote bags too ... to match the cardis that she should certainly have

I love Kate Spade's book of the month clutches and for me this one is a must have. Now I know some of you are going to say it's just a coincidence that this one just happens to be the Jane Austen novel sharing the name of our favourite guidance counsellor ... but I don't agree, I think this one was made just for Emma.

An Emma look a day: Day 18

Emma wears Kate Spade 'josie' jacquard dress with 'moon river' pearl and bow necklace.

An Emma look a day: Day 14

Emma wears Kate Spade 'raya' dress with leopard print bow belt.

An Emma look a day: Day 8

Emma's got a new cardi - this lovely intarsia bow cardigan from Kate Spade! I love that it's styled with a ruffle neck blouse. I love the red but it also comes in black and I really like that too.

Here Emma wears the black version with the hearts and flowers 'grace' top which, with its pretty red on white heart and flower print and ruffled neckline, would also make a lovely addition to Emma's wardrobe.