Kate Spade: Contents

Kate Spade: Contents
1

Kate Spade: Contents

Helen Gurley Brown
2

Helen Gurley Brown

Polly A. Mellen
3

Polly A. Mellen

Kim Garner
4

Kim Garner

Susan Morrison
5

Susan Morrison

A.M. Homes
6

A.M. Homes

Kitty D'Alessio
7

Kitty D'Alessio

Mary Ellen Mark
8

Mary Ellen Mark

Kate Spade: Contents

Kate Spade: Contents

Helen Gurley Brown

Helen Gurley Brown

Polly A. Mellen

Polly A. Mellen

Kim Garner

Kim Garner

Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison

A.M. Homes

A.M. Homes

Kitty D'Alessio

Kitty D'Alessio

Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark

Kate Spade: Contents
Helen Gurley Brown
Polly A. Mellen
Kim Garner
Susan Morrison
A.M. Homes
Kitty D'Alessio
Mary Ellen Mark

It’s what’s inside that counts. Haven’t we always known that? And, yet, when we first came across Kate Spade’s 2000 coffee-table book Contents, we were shocked by just how much we could gather about a woman by the contents of her purse. (That's a certain sort of “ inside,” right?) Chalk it up to great market research on Spade’s part, but the book of intimate portraits of our female heroes (Polly Mellen, Mary Boone, Susan Morrison, etc) is as much of who’s-who as it is a guide to being a successful modern woman. Especially when it comes to personal maintenance. No matter how minimalist the woman, not a single handbag was free of a touch-up tool, be it Binaca or Chanel lipstick. And though the tome was published more than 13 years ago—when the Kate Spade Reena was THE accessory [Ed. note: Boxy bags are back, so consider breaking yours out?]—very few of the objects photographed would look out of place in our bags today (we’re kind of dying to try “The Minimalist’s Paella” recipe from the New York Times that Susan Morrison carries with her), save for the flip cell phones, the SPF count (50 is the new 8), and OK, maybe the Leonard Cohen VHS.

So, yes, we learned a lot from this limited-edition production, both when it first came out and when we re-discovered it just a few weeks ago—for example, Helen Gurley Brown took the bus. Here, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite 'women of content,' and more importantly, what's in their bag(s).

000001: Helen Gurley Brown , Editor

USA Flag Estée Lauder Compact

Leopard print tissues

Fran Wilson Muted Brown Luxury Liner

Black Philip Kingsley comb

Gale Hayman Hot Coral Lipstick

Lancôme Flamelle Lipstick

Never in her handbag? “Pills.”

000003: Mary Boone , Gallerist

Chanel Intensity 3 Light Beige Double Perfection Makeup Compact SPF 8

Chanel Tawny Lipstick

Chanel Aqua Crayon Color Stick

Chanel Cognac Color Stick

Never in her handbag? “Clutter.”

000004: Polly Mellen , Stylist

Oral B Oral Hygiene implement

Goody comb

Louis Vuitton cosmetics case

Revlon nail file with tortoise handle

Medicated ChapStick

Binaca Peppermint Spray

YSL Gris Deco Nail Polish

NARS Triple X Lip Gloss

Never in her handbag? N/A

000016: Kim Garner , former Senior Vice President of marketing & artist development, Universal Republic Records

La Perla Body Silk Eau de Parfum

Stila Chinois Eyeshadow

Philosophy Sun Bronze

Philosophy Kiss Me Lip Balm

Goody Hair Brush

Sweet Breath Spearmint Concentrated Spray

Stila Mood Eyeshadow

Essie Pretty in Pink nail polish

Stila Convertible Color Compact

Stila Bouquet Eyeshadow

Lancôme Definicils Mascara

Bobbi Brown Navy Eyeshadow

Cetaphil

Never in her handbag? “A gun.”

000025: Susan Morrison , Fashion editor for _The New Yorker

_Dermabelle Elisabeth of Hungary Moisturizer

Chanel Cocoa Lipstick

Trish McEvoy No. 40 Lip Color

Mustela Sunblock SPF 16

Mason Pearson Brush

Never in her handbag? “A mirror,”

000030: A.M. Homes , Writer

Artificial Tears

Mason Pearson brush

Vitamin E Sunblock Lip Balm

Never in her handbag? “Mice.”

000031: Kitty D’Alessio , Fashion, retail, fragrance, and cosmetics consultant

Trish McEvoy “1” Compact Dual Powder

Round pink nail buffer

Black bobby pins

Round tortoise mirror

Mackenzies smelling salts

Purell Mini Sanitizer

Crabtree and Evelyn Citrus Lotion

Rembrandt Dazzling Breath Drops

Frédéric Fekkai Tortoise Brush

Estée Lauder Gemini Lucidity Compact

Trish McEvoy “2” Eye Pencil

Maybelline Gray Expert Eyes Pencil

Mini Toothrush

Butler Gum Toothpaste

Trish McEvoy Romantic Pink Lipstick

Trish McEvoy “ 17” Lip Pencil

Never in her handbag? “Personal financial papers.”

000046: Mary Ellen Mark , Photographer

White Tic-Tacs

Alexandre de Paris Brush

DeLuxe comb

Never in her handbag? N/A

Photos by Elizabeth Brockway.