Kate Spade’s Best Friend Reflects on Designer’s Legacy in Heartfelt Memoir

Seven years after the tragic death of fashion icon Kate Spade, her best friend and business partner Elyce Arons is telling the story behind the name in a new memoir titled We Just Might Make It After All, releasing June 17. The book is a deeply personal reflection on friendship, ambition, grief, and the bond that shaped one of the most beloved brands in American fashion.

Kate Spade, born Katherine Brosnahan, died by suicide on June 5, 2018, in her New York City apartment. Her passing shocked the fashion world and left many reflecting on the legacy of her joyful, colorful designs. For Arons, it marked the loss of a best friend who had been by her side since the day they met as freshmen at the University of Kansas.

Their connection only grew stronger over time. After transferring to Arizona State University—where Kate would meet her future husband, Andy Spade—the two moved to New York and began building careers in fashion and media. Kate worked at Mademoiselle, while Elyce pursued marketing. But in 1993, they joined forces with Andy Spade and Pamela Bell to launch what would become the Kate Spade brand. Kate helmed design, Elyce took on marketing and development, Andy led creative direction, and Bell oversaw production.

What started as a solution to Kate's handbag frustrations on fashion shoots became a global fashion phenomenon. The memoir offers insight not just into the brand’s meteoric rise, but into the quiet moments of friendship and creativity that fueled it.

In an exclusive excerpt shared with People, Arons details those early days and the enduring spirit of her friend. We Just Might Make It After All honors Kate Spade’s legacy while offering a moving portrait of a woman who inspired millions—and the friend who knew her best.