Kate Valentine grew up in Kansas City. She met Andy Spade in 1983 at college and they moved to New York in 1986 where Kate started her career as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle. She saw a need for practical, stylish handbags and decided to create a smart, well-edited collection. She and Andy began the company kate spade and they were joined by their mutual friend Elyce Arons, and by Paola Venturi when they began to make shoes. The company grew to hundreds of stores internationally with a unique identity, and inspired countless other young women to begin their own businesses. She and Andy sold kate spade in 2006 when their daughter was two. She joins her friends and partners to create Frances Valentine.