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The First Kate



This blog is a landing page for all things Kate. I will start by saying that my name isn’t Kate…it’s Gidget; I have this affliction to branding or putting my name on anything although my friends call everything I do a “Gidget Original.” I am a big fan of Kate Spade but that brand wasn’t the reason I picked Kate; I love the whimsy and shortness of it. I love that it can be the name of all of our “alter egos” and to be a Kate would be like being part of an awesome anonymous club where real names were secondary.

This blog will be random; sometimes interior design and reimagining my tiny space (I live in just 200sq feet...but that's a later blog entry) and other times, sharing the adventures of the Traveling Kates; where to find them or how to get them to come to you. It might just be pictures of where hubby and I have traveled and got some pretty great finds to use in design or for wedding props but, could just as easily be the latest project I completed and wanted to share with my "Kates." Traveling Kates are what we call the two vintage campers that hubby and I are in the middle of renovating; one will be a traveling boutique and the other will be a beauty and wine bar.

The first Kate…Kate’s Closet, is a 24ft vintage camper that we have gutted and are converting into a traveling boutique, complete with dressing room. She will have boutique clothing, accessories, cuffs, watches, jewelry, and more. This Kate will be the dream walk in closet if we could have them in our homes and secretly want to live in; she will be complete with heating and air conditioner; to shop in any weather conditions, carry the blingy and the natural, the new and whimsical, the on trend and fabulous. This Kate will be a pop up shop in front of my friend’s boutiques, at craft faires, and pulling up to doorsteps…giving a whole new meaning to “personal shopper.” Invite your friends over to shop in “YOUR” boutique that happens to be at the curb in front of your house while enjoying wine and conversation. This definitely isn’t your mom’s Tupperware party but a new way for real life social shopping and not just clicking and adding to cart while sitting in jammies (although that is pretty awesome too…let’s be honest).

 Kate's Closet Brands

Curvy Kate by G. This is a curvy clothing collection with personality that will be launching this summer; carrying looks that you've always wanted, and even a few that you don't know you want...just yet. My passion for carrying curvy design options has always been in my boutiques but this time, I want to be the one designing and creating the looks for people that want a look as colorful as their personalities or as polished as the situation they are in. This summer we will be launching two lines; a Poolside collection and a Bon Voyage collection. In Poolside, these looks will be great coverups to go from pool to lunch or shopping with friends or beach to popsicles. Poolside will be the colors and fabrics that can punch up a black swimsuit and will have coordinating sunnies and big brimmed sunning hats. The Bon Voyage collection will be a bit more subdued in colors but the fabrics will be stunning neutrals in tan, black, and white. These looks will be perfect for cruises or resorts and a great coverup option from pool or beach to dinner and cocktails. The accessories for these looks will include sunnies and clutches and will also have great coordinating jewelry pieces. There will also be a new line of swimwear to choose from as well as shapewear available to smooth out your favorite looks.






The second Kate…Glamour Kate, is a 10ft vintage camper that is also completely gutted and will be reimagined into the perfect make up studio; transporting you to your own personal make up counter complete with wine bar. Glamour Kate will be available to rent for weddings as a dressing room, proms for a pre-party, get ready event with friends, photography sessions, and more. This Kate will even be available as a pop up makeup application studio if you’re looking for someone to apply your makeup for a special occasion of your own; complete with a licensed makeup artist in Starla Ward. Monat hair care line of products are also featured in this vintage camper and can be demonstrated upon request with samples always available thanks to Kara Berg. Need a stylist to give you the hair of your dreams, Amanda will be the perfect accessory to make it happen. This Kate is even available for mini photo shoots for holidays and hosting a boudoir glamour session for that special someone. Heather Hood Photographer has the knack for not just getting a great picture, but capturing the personality on the other side of the lens. Glamour Kate is all about making you feel as confident on the outside as you are on the inside. Between Kate’s Closet and Glamour Kate, we literally have you covered from head to toe. With so many things being made convenient to purchase online via links or Facebook parties; Traveling Kates is doing what we can to bring it back and make it a bit more relational and social. We will always have links to reorder and share but want to remind people how awesome it was to get friends together for a couple of hours and meet face to face. 

The third Kate...Wedding Kate. I was a wedding and event planner for eleven years of my life. It began when I was going for my degree in fashion design and experienced a couple of hiccups; I failed collars and knits. Let me clarify...it was the 80s and it was a notched collar like those found on suit jackets and no matter how hard I tried, it was a look I couldn't master. The next hiccup was not just knits but more specifically, swimsuits. I was unable to figure out the grain of the fabric and just how to lay out for pattern making. Soooo, after finishing and getting the degree, I was quick to shift my focus to wedding gowns since they are never made of knit and the notched collar was never requested. ;) I later went on to get my certificate in wedding and event planning and branched out to organizing the complete event; not just limiting my creative juices to the dress floating down the aisle. I never thought I would jump back into the wedding pool but, with retirement for my hubby fast approaching, I wanted something that we could do together...and I missed my brides. My husband and I have a great relationship; anything I dream up...he can build and then I make it pop with the finishing color or treatment. We will be focusing on props and backdrops for weddings that brides and grooms can rent for their special day. From vintage wallpaper and settees to popping, on trend black and white stripes and gold accents. Imagine a chandelier hanging from a tree or a vintage camper turned wine bar...we can do that. We've recently added a photographer to our wedding lineup because we love what Heather can do behind a lens; her imagination knows no bounds and she is always willing to step outside of the box...brides love that. Because no wedding is complete without flowers. 

I’m soooo excited that you found the first blog of this adventure and hope you come back again and again; never knowing what you will find. To play with us and join the conversation on Facebook, join our group page in Simply Kate or get updates from our business page in Traveling Kates. In Simply Kate we share Target Tuesday and Walmart Wednesday; sharing finds at these places that you just can't live without. Be inspired by a daily devotion that is shared as well as all of the crafty posts shared by other Kates. Traveling Kates will be a great way to see where Kate's Closet and Glamour Kate will be, what collection just came in, reviews of certain products, or check out how you can get either to drive up to your doorstep and have a personal shopping experience to share with your friends and family. You'll first want it for the novelty aspect but then want Kate to come back again and again for the great things you'll find there. And did we mention wine? ;) Wine tasting parties are just another part of the fun that will be combined into these Traveling Kates...just wait and see.

Welcome “Kate” to a fun, crazy, dressed up, decorated, never know what you're going to open, nothing is impossible kinda world. We’re glad you’re here.



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