Once upon a time, there was a plain nylon Kate Spade diaper bag that came in tote or messenger style in two or three different colors. It hung quietly from your shoulder and when your baby grew up, you could throw books in it and carry it on airplanes. Then diaper bags became this attention-grabbing phenomenon with crazy Asian-inspired silk prints and bubble-gum pink vinyl-covered backpacks that said "LOOK AT ME! I HAVE A BABY! AND ALSO MONEY!".
But Kate Spade would still like some of your money, parents, and she doesn't want to wait until you go back to work and need some demure little kitten-heeled pumps for the office. She wants it now, and she will trade you for silver cups, "day-of-the-week" diaper covers, and something called a brag book, which appears to be a photo album. A photo album? I just upload pictures to my iPod.
Her Maclaren-built stroller is actually pretty cute, although it's navy blue, and if I wanted a navy blue stroller I'd buy a freaking Graco, am I right? The bouncy chair, also built by Maclaren...I don't even know where to start with a $119 bouncy chair. If I ever walk into someone's house and see one, I'm afraid I might stroke out. And those diaper bags are still soldiering on, the peacoats of the diaper bag world. I still kind of want one.
The luxury niche of the children's market is probably a good bet, and since Kate had a kid of her own recently, I'm sure she has her finger right on the pulse, but my kids aren't her demographic. On the other hand, I can never have too many expensive vinyl beach bags, and Lord knows I'd end up lugging diapers and snacks around in it. I think I'd get the orange trim, to match the crushed Goldfish at the bottom.
