Today I read the unfortunate headline that Kate Spade, the New York designer that always made me feel like I was channeling Audrey Hepburn, died today of an apparent suicide. This is such a tragedy for many reasons, most of which is that she was so despondent that she felt her only way out was to end it. She leaves behind a husband and 13-year-old daughter.

Kate and Andy Spade in 1999. (Photo: Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com)

I was just at one of the 120 Kate Spade stores, and although she isn’t part of the day to day operations, it was nice to know that the founder was out there somewhere, being fabulous.

According to the reports…

The company was acquired by Neiman Marcus for $125 million in 2007 and Kate and Andy stepped away from day-to-day operations. Then, it was sold again in 2017 to Coach’s Tapestry Inc. for $2.4 billion. The brand currently has 140 stores in the United States and an additional 175 retail outlets around the world.

It goes to show that money and fame aren’t enough to cure the sickness of the heart and mind. Reports now say she hung herself from a doorknob with a scarf with her husband in another room. She wrote a note addressed to her daughter that said something to the effect that “This is not your fault! Ask Daddy!” Her daughter was not home at the time. The reading between those lines seems to be printed in plain, easy-to-read capital letters. As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety, I am especially sorry.

Godspeed, Kate.