How to Decorate Like Kate Spade

Kate Spade majored in journalism while working in a biker bar. She eventually became a fashion editor and head of accessories for "Mademoiselle" magazine. Disappointed by the lack of fashionable purses, Spade set out to design her own using fabrics and shapes she found at flea markets. Her efforts grew into an empire that Liz Claiborne bought for more than $130 million.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. View decor and style as your own personal creation, not merely a copy of someone else's design aesthetic. Be bold and confident when cultivating a style; incorporate elements from Spade, but personalize them.

2. Incorporate polka dots of all sizes in your wardrobe, accessories and decor. Use dotted ribbon, dotted cutlery and crystal patterns, polka dot pillows and dotted pet collars. Or, choose another geometric shape and use it as a style theme.

3. Think pink and green. Imbue the wardrobe and decor with pink and green or your own signature color or combination. Mix beautiful monochromatic schemes with bold patterns.

4. Cultivate a variety of styles. Have a specific style at the office, at home, at play and when giving a party. Develop an everyday style, a seasonal style and a travel style. Notice how each style continues a common thread of your overall personal style.

5. Consider "style" a work in progress. Use new experiences and ideas to re-invent style in your life. Be willing to let go of one style and rethink or reshape it to reflect growth and change. Be confident in your personal style so that it enhances, rather than defines you.

Tips & Warnings

• Take style cues from literature and art. Let art inspire your use of color and shape in both fashion and decorating. Read books and visit museums to invite the influence of authors and artists.
• Look to movies for inspiration in style and decor. Contrast "Breakfast at Tiffany's," in which hair and clothing were perfectly orchestrated, to "Annie Hall," where hair and clothing were loose and free-wheeling.