In her upcoming memoir titled We Might Just Make It After All, Elyce Arons offers a deeply personal and moving tribute to her best friend and longtime business partner, the late Kate Spade. The book chronicles not only their shared history but also the emotional weight of friendship, creativity, loss, and legacy. Through her memories and reflections, Arons paints an intimate portrait of the woman behind the globally recognized brand, revealing aspects of Spade that were both tender and complicated.

The foundation of their friendship was laid during their freshman year at the University of Kansas, where the two young women immediately clicked. Their connection was instant and effortless. Late-night conversations, laughter, and shared aspirations quickly made them inseparable. They were dreamers who complemented each other—Spade with her distinctive, quirky creativity, and Arons with a grounded perspective and a gift for organization and business.

After graduating, both moved to New York City to pursue their ambitions. It was the early 1990s, a time of possibility and struggle, especially for young women entering the competitive world of fashion and publishing. In 1993, the duo—joined by Spade’s husband, Andy Spade, and their friend Pamela Bell—co-founded what would become the iconic Kate Spade brand.

Working from a small Tribeca apartment, they launched a handbag line that quickly became a sensation. With Spade’s signature design flair—colorful, feminine, and playfully sophisticated—and Arons’ marketing and strategic know-how, they created something unique: a brand that spoke to independent, stylish women in a fresh, approachable way.

Kate Spade the brand became synonymous with cheerful elegance and modern femininity. But behind the playful patterns and structured silhouettes was a designer who was far more than her public persona. Arons, who refers to her friend affectionately as “Katy,” reveals a more private side of Spade.

She describes her as a deeply feeling, intuitive person, someone who could sense the emotional undercurrents in a room and who was remarkably empathetic. Yet, this heightened sensitivity also made Spade vulnerable. Despite her success and vibrant public image, she privately struggled with depression—something that even those closest to her couldn’t fully grasp at the time.

The height of their business success came with a bittersweet twist. In 2006, after 13 years of building the Kate Spade brand from the ground up, the partners made the difficult decision to sell the company. Bound by a non-compete agreement, Arons and Spade were temporarily sidelined from launching another fashion business. But in 2016, a decade later, they were ready to reunite professionally. Together, they launched Frances Valentine, a new accessories brand that reflected their matured sense of style while preserving the whimsical spirit of their earlier work.

Frances Valentine was more than a business venture; it was a joyful reunion of creative minds and lifelong friends. Sadly, the joy was short-lived. In 2018, Kate Spade tragically died by suicide. Her passing shocked the world and devastated her inner circle. Arons was left to navigate the overwhelming grief of losing a best friend, business partner, and creative soulmate.

In her memoir, Arons confronts this loss head-on. She shares her sorrow, her confusion, and the slow process of healing. She admits that understanding the full extent of Spade’s inner pain is something she may never fully achieve, but she is honest about the complex emotions that followed Spade’s death—sadness, anger, guilt, and love. Arons also emphasizes the need for greater compassion and openness around mental health, recognizing that many, like Spade, suffer in silence.

Despite the profound loss, Arons has remained committed to keeping her friend’s legacy alive. Through Frances Valentine, she continues to honor Spade’s vision and aesthetic. The brand has become a way to remember her, not just as a designer, but as a person full of life, laughter, and creativity. It’s also a reminder of the bond they shared—a friendship that was not only built on business success, but on trust, respect, and unwavering support.

We Might Just Make It After All is more than a memoir; it is a love letter to a friendship that helped shape an industry and touched countless lives. Arons tells a story that is at once inspiring and heartbreaking. She captures the joys of building something beautiful with someone you love and the devastation of losing them too soon. Most of all, the memoir stands as a testament to resilience—of rebuilding after loss, of continuing to create in the face of grief, and of keeping the memory of a dear friend alive in every bag, shoe, and accessory that carries their shared legacy.

Set to be released on June 17, 2025, the memoir offers readers a rare glimpse into the private life of Kate Spade from the woman who knew her best. Through Arons’ words, Spade emerges not just as a fashion icon, but as a deeply human figure—imperfect, brilliant, compassionate, and unforgettable.