Seven Years after Kate Spade’s Suicide, Her Best Friend Finally Talls Her Story (Exclusive)

Need to know

• Elyce Arons and Kate “Katy” Spade Were Best Friends from the Day They Met As College Freshmen

• Now, Seven Years AFTER LOING HER TO SUICIDE, ARONS HAS SHARED THEIR FRIENDESHIP Story in a New Memoir, We just might make it after all

• Below in an Exclusive Excerpt Shared with People, ARONS SHARES THEIR BEAUTIPUL BONT

Its takeen Elyce arons Seven Years to Write About Her Best Friend, Spadewho died by suicide on june 5, 2018 in her park Avenue apartment. From the time they have met as 18 -ear-op College Freshm, Through their years creation the handbag line that Became a sensation, they were nearly inseparable.

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But there was another katy (as arons calmed her) that the world never saw. “She was highly sensitive and felt Things more deeply than Most,” Says Arons. Her new memoir We Might JUST MAKE it AFTER ALL, Reveals thir intimate Friendship and a Glimpse at Spade’s Private Struggles. Losing her, Sayys Arons, is “a permanent ache.”

Below in an Exclusive Excerpt From We just might make it after allArons Shares Memory of Her Beloved Friend.

On June 9, 2018, Four Days AFTER MY BEST FRIEND OF 37 YEARS TOOK HERN LIFE, I HAD TO HER PARK AGE APPLICATION TO PICK SOME OF MY CLOTHES HER CLOSET. Neither soon nor I Walked in, I felt on Edge. Katy Usually Left Every Light on 24⁄7 and Kept Her Drapes Tied Open. SINCE HER DEATH, PAPARAZZI HAD BEEN STATIONED OUTSIDE. For Privacy, Someone Had Closed the Drapes and Tourned off the Lights.

I headed for her bedroom, the room where it is happy. The USUAL BIGHT, Colorful Room was dim and disheveled, SO uncharacteristic of the tidy space i knew. DISCARDED PAPERWORK FROM THE MEDICS WHO Responded to Katy’s Housekeeper’s 911 Call Lay Struwn Across the Floor.

I was still in disbelief that katy was really gone. We’d Pulled Some Very Elaborate Pranks over the years. We love scaring people, Mostly ourselves. It was one of the Personality Quirks we shared. AS PUT I HAND ON THE CLOSET DOOR HANDLE, I COULDN’T HELP But Think Katy Was Going to Jump Out of the Closet and Scare the–Out of Me.

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The hairs at the back of my neck stood up as I held my breath and opened the door. Hundreds of Moth Flew Out in a Black Wave, Coming right at me.

I shried, stumbled backward and yelled at the empty room, “If you’re doing this, katy, this time, it is not funny!” I bent over to catch my breath. Katy Had Never Put Mothballs in Her Closet Because of the Smell. (My Friend) HADN’T PLANNED THIS MOTH ASSAULT. She was really and Truly Gone.

In August 1981 Elyce Met Katy Brosnahan for the first time on Dorm Move-in day at the University of Kansas.

Once Every-Fridge Was Plugged in, We Started Getting Ready for Our First Frat Party. The College Had Distributed Welcome Bags that Included Virginia Slims Cigarettes (Can You Imagine That Now?), Wella Balsam Shampoo and Shower to Shower Talcum Powder. All the Girls were LINED up at Bathroom Mirrors. Katy sniffed in my directing. “Oh my God, did you use that Powder they gave us?” She asced. “Um, Yes.” “Don’t You Think It Smells Like A Gas Station Bathroom?” She look at the mirror we were sharing, held her nose and crossed her eyes.

Elyce and Katy Transferred to Arizona State University, where Katy Met Her Future Husband, Andy Spade. After graduating in the mid-’80s, they Moved to Manhattan, Where Katy Worked at Mademoiselle Magazine, Elyce at A French Denim Brand and Andy in Advertising. After leaving Mademoiselle In 1992, Katy had an Idea.

Katy often Could Not Find Just the Right Handbag for a Particular Fashion Shoot. On the High End of the Spectrum, there are leather handbags with complex designs. Beautiful and expensive. On the other end were ure ultra-chic minimalist Evening bags. A Solution Started Brewing in Her Mind.

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By 1993 Katy, Elyce, Andy and Their Friend Pamela Bell Deduked to go into the handbag business.
(Katy on Design, Elyce on Marketing and Business Development, Andy on Creative Direction and Pamela on Production.)

It was time to name the baby. Andy’s Idea was to combo katy’s first name with his last name-Katy Became “Kate” Because Andy Liked the Rhythm of Two One-Syllable Words Together. Katy like it a lot, too, but her shyness made her cautious. “DON’T EXPECT WITH TO BE KATE SPADE!” She said wen we first aggregated on the name, and many times after that.

The handbags took off, and in 1995, they were nominated for a cfda award.

We have been on the red carpet along with fashion royalty donna karan, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. I felt like at any moment, Security Wauld Come by and Say, “Hey! Who are Those Punk?!”

Katy was especialy quiet. I know she was Secretly hoping we would be just so she shauld avoid the short Acceptance speech. When it was time for the perry ellis award for the new fashion talent, katy was clutching bot Mine and Andy’s Hands Under the table. When the Winner was announched – cate spade! – thought i would burst with jubilation. After a pause, Katy Smiled and Killed It With The Short and Sweet Thank-You Speech.

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In 1999 They Sold 56 Percent of the Company to Neiman Marcus But Continue to Manage the Business. It expanded to stationery, Eyewear and, in 2002, A Fragrance, Which Katy, As the Face of the Brand, Promoted on a National Tour.

Katy Called with Late One Night from Somewhere Out West. “I Can’t Talk for Long,” and Said. “I have to get at 5 in the morning to do a show, and then interviews all day.”

“How are you?” She had Enough Energy to Sound Angry. “Not Great! And I know it is not your fault, but I feel abandoned by you. You guys go with into this. I did Feel terrible that we had laid this weeight all on katy’s shoulders. It was the first time she has had said anything. At One Point, I HAD THOUGHT, How hard can it be to chat and smile? I had no idea becase i’d never done it.

In 2006, after they sold the brand in full, the four partners celebrated in Cabo San Lucas.

Katy and i had offten joked about being in our -bodies; On Our Last Night in Cabo, Katy and I Stole Away for A Sunset Cocktail by the Beach. We Both Oroured Margaritas.

“So What’s Next?” I Asked. Katy replied, “Whatever it is, we’ll do it together.”

AFTER KATY MOVED UPTOWN, THEY SAW LESS OF EACH OTHER, and ELYCE SENDED A Growing Distance. Still, They Wanted to Work Together Again. In 2016 They Launched Frances Valentine, but Two Years late katy was gone. With more Questions Than Answers, Elyce is Still Learning to Cop with Her Grief.

All of us who loved her have had to find a way to make Peace with her incomperensible choice. It’s not been easy. I’ve learned to never take the People who ca i care about grant. Neither
My Closest Friends: Go To Your Sister or Your Best Girlfriend Who’s JUST LIKE A SISTER TO YOU. Go to her tok and hug her so hard that it is like you won’t ever let her go.

Excerptted from We Might JUST MAKE AFTER ALL: MY BEST Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons. Copyright 2025 © by Elyce Arons. Reprinted by Permission of Gallery Books, An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

If you or someone you know is considing suicide, please conflict the 988 suicides and crisis lifeline by dialing 988, text “Strength” to the crisis text line at 741741 or go to 988Lifeline.org.

We Might JUST MAKE AFTER ALL: MY BEST Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce arons is one sale june 17 and available for prerord, where Books are sold.

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