Elyce Arons
Written by Lysel Maddex
From Kansas to NYC and Back Again
Written by Lysel Maddex
Before Kate Spade arrived in the 1990s and Frances Valentine seventeen years later, we must zoom out to find a small farm in the Midwest.
Elyce Arons grew up in the small town of Sedgwick, Kansas, far from the glitz and glamour of New York City. It was a trip to NYC as a teenager that sparked Arons’ desire to make it in the big city someday. In college she attended The University of Kansas where she met Kate Brosnahan, later known as Kate Spade. Together, the dynamic duo would get to New York and, along with Andy Spade and Pamela Bell, Kate Spade New York was founded. Years later, after families were established and Kate Spade was sold, Frances Valentine was started, but by that time, things were different.
“We launched both of those brands at very different times in our lives. We started Kate Spade when we were young and had nothing to lose. It felt right (and exciting!) to take big risks, and that led to big rewards. When we launched Frances Valentine, the world had changed. E-commerce was king, and though we thought we were prepared, it turned out we had a lot to learn,” Arons’ wrote. Today, Frances Valentine is thriving with a tight-knit group working together.
Spade passed away in 2018. In 2025, Arons’ published her book “We Just Might Make It After All,” saying, “My goal was to show Katy as she truly was during those vibrant, creative years at Kate Spade and Frances Valentine: curious, kind, fiercely loyal and full of life.” It comes as no surprise to say, just as the title implies, that the pair did make it after all in NYC, and a lasting legacy was built that changed the New York fashion scene forever.
Elyce Arons and Kate Valentine examine fall 2016 samples at their new York studio.
Fashion thoughts from Elyce Arons
Q: As a lover of vintage styles, who inspires you the most?
A: My biggest inspirations are Mary Tyler Moore, Kathryn Hepburn, Diana Vreeland and of course, Jackie O. It is as much about their personalities as it is about their fashion. They navigated the world as strong women, and it showed
in how they dressed.
Q: What is your go-to, absolutely must-have accessory?
A: I have so many favorites, but if pressed, I think there is nothing that lifts an outfit or mood more than a string of pearls.
Q: How do you keep your styles fresh and updated and still balance the vintage elements?
A: Using an unexpected fabric, print or color makes an existing silhouette fresh and exciting. When I find a style that works, I find it is better to update it than reinvent the wheel.
