Elyce Arons and Simon Doonan Will Be in Conversation at The Church

The Church will host Elyce Arons, fashion entrepreneur, style icon, business mogul and best-selling author, to discuss her newly released memoir, “We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship With Kate Spade” on Sunday August 10. Arons will be interviewed by fashion icon Simon Doonan, with audience questions to follow.

Arons will take readers on a thoughtful and moving journey of friendship and sisterhood to weave together the coming-of-age story of two best friends and their new line of handbags that revolutionized the fashion accessories industry in 1990s New York City. Books will be available for purchase and can be signed by the author after the event.

Released on June 17 of this year, the memoir chronicles the women’s powerful 40-year friendship up until Spade’s death in 2018. A celebration of Spade’s legacy as a cultural icon and loyal friend, the book is a deep dive into resiliency, perseverance and what it takes to achieve success as a female entrepreneur while exploring the profundity in love and loss.

Elyce Arons is the founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost your mood and tell a story. A 35-year fashion veteran, Elyce knows a thing or two about business and style. She famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate Spade, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Elyce shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history — and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Arons, Spade, and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul and a story to tell.

Simon Doonan is the author of many books, including biographies of Keith Haring and Lou Reed and “DRAG, The Complete Story.” His newest book is titled “The Camp 100: Glorious Flamboyance, From Louis XIV to Lil Nas X.” A longstanding member of the fashion community, Simon was awarded the prestigious CFDA award for his design work as Creative Director for Barneys New York. A BBC TV comedy series based on his autobiography “Beautiful People” aired around the world. Simon is a regular guest at “The Moth,” the well-known storytelling series and a season regular on the Emmy-nominated NBC competition series “Making It” starring Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman.

Elyce Arons will be in conversation with Simon Doonan at The Church, 48 Madison Street, Sag Harbor, on Sunday August 10, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($10 for members). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thechurchsagharbor.org.