Kate Spade Bows (in More Ways Than One) on Madison Avenue

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Confirmed: Kate Spade's Upper East Side flagship will open Friday. Also confirmed: it has a bow-shaped entrance (the same style proposed in plans for the brand's not-yet-open Upper West Side location). There are also bows on the floor, in the apparel, and for your hair.

Housed in a three-floor townhouse at 789 Madison Avenue, the flagship bleeds the brand's preppy energy on all fronts. While this isn't the company's first New York City store—they have two smaller doors, in Soho and on lower Fifth Avenue—it's certainly the crown retail jewel for the rapidly growing brand. As CEO Craig Leavitt told WWD, the company's mantra is, "uptown is the new downtown." How very Fivestory.

The store clocks in at 7,900 square feet and showcases all of Kate Spade's product categories: handbags, ready-to-wear, fashion accessories, small leather goods, tech accessories, jewelry, watches, shoes, legwear, eyewear, beauty, stationery and home. Additionally, a special Madison Collection is exclusive to the flagship, offering pieces like an organza bow blouse. The special collection retails 25% higher than the regular collection.

Bridal gets a special call out in the new store. While the brand has yet to design wedding gowns, they do offer bridal accessories including shoes, gifts, jewelry, fine china, bases, and frames. Deborah Lloyd, president and chief creative officer, says women come in for their bridesmaids and wind up getting a dress from Kate Spade's regular collection. "We're not ready to go the full gown mode yet." Yet.

And of course this wouldn't be a Madison Avenue flagship without a VIP salon, so they've got that, too. Private dressing rooms and plushy couches—for those bored VIP husbands—make for a comfortable, exclusive experience. The store staff has been trained to be knowledgeable about the neighborhood, and can be consulted for restaurant advice—all those bows can make a shopper hungry, after all—or hair salon suggestions.

Perhaps best of all, the store features a working bar, so you know those in-store parties will be worth braving the uptown 6 train.
· Kate Spade Unveils Madison Avenue Store [WWD]
· The UWS Kate Spade Will Be Like Walking Into a Big Bow [Racked NY]
· Kate Spade Plans to Start Playing House on the Upper East Side [Racked NY]