Victoria fans of designer reach out

The suicide of Kate Spade, famous for her bright, cheery designs, is inspiring a new mental-health movement as women reach out in grief to each other, say fashion-mindful Victoria women.

“There are a lot of hearts breaking right now,” said Khloe Campbell, owner of Amelia Lee, 544 Yates St. “But the whole Kate Spade thing is really becoming a new movement in itself,” Campbell said. “I’m hearing and seeing so many women posting online saying: ‘We need to talk about this.’ ”

Spade, 55, was found dead in the bedroom of her New York apartment on Tuesday. Some reports say her husband was at home at the time. She left a note telling the couple’s 13-year-old daughter it was not her fault.

Women such as Campbell, who has a long experience in fashion, said Spade’s death is a horrible shock to those who loved her work. Kate Spade designs were always imbued with a natural cheerfulness, fun and midwestAmerican good sense.

Handbags were large enough to be useful and attractive enough to set off an outfit. Colours were bright and vibrant. Various patterns sparked alongside each other in daring combinations.

Kate Spade items were also never priced unreasonably. They allowed most woman to aspire to that extra little panache of a desinger-label piece.

“Her brand is just so funloving,” said Maggie SimokLahay, who previously managed a Kate Spade store in Vancouver. “It’s for the woman who is the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave.”

Simok-Lahay is taking a lesson from the news. Outward appearances can deceive and she hopes all women look to themselves and others with new kindness and concern that becomes routine.

“Maybe, that woman at the party who has people laughing all around her is really the saddest person at the party,” said SimokLahay. “You can’t know what sort of battles they might be fighting.”

Zoe Breen, manager of Bernstein and Gold, a fashion and lifestyle boutique at 608 Yates St., said even her father, not a fashion follower, reached out upon hearing of Spade’s suicide.

“This is a big wakeup for everyone to practise kindness,” Breen said.