What does it take to build not just one iconic brand, but two?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy travels to New York City to sit down with Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and Frances Valentine, inside the Frances Valentine offices. Elyce shares how growing up on a Kansas farm with an artist mother and a houseful of fashion magazines shaped the entrepreneur she would become, and how a love of vintage shopping as a kid turned into a lifelong eye for timeless style.

They dive into what it really took to build Kate Spade into a household name, the friendship-first culture that shaped both companies, and what young entrepreneurs consistently misunderstand about building a lasting brand. Elyce also opens up about losing her best friend and Kate Spade co-founder, Katie Kate Spade, in 2018, the Love Katie collection born from that loss, and what writing her book, We Might Just Make It After All, taught her about grief, memory, and connection.

Emily and Elyce also get into what's next for Frances Valentine, including a Mary Tyler Moore-inspired collaboration, an upcoming collection with Blair Eadie, and a new Frances Valentine location opening this fall in Charleston, South Carolina. The conversation closes with Elyce’s advice for what every woman should remember when she gets dressed in the morning.

This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and building something meaningful even after everything changes.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome to New York: meeting Elyce Arons at Frances Valentine
• 2:00 - A Kansas farm, an artist mother, and the roots of a fashion entrepreneur
• 19:00 - The Love Katie collection: honoring her best friend and business partner
• 33:00 - Behind the Mary Tyler Moore x Frances Valentine collaboration
• 38:00 - What Elyce hopes every woman remembers when she gets dressed

Mentioned in this episode:

• Frances Valentine
• Kate Spade
• We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons
• Mary Tyler Moore x Frances Valentine collaboration
• Frances Valentine Charleston, South Carolina (King Street)
• Blair Eadie x Frances Valentine holiday collection

Join us: Subscribe to The Joy Club Podcast so you don't miss an episode. Like this one? Let us know what stayed with you. Leave a review – it helps other women find us.

Connect with Emily McCarthy:

Emily McCarthy - Website

Emily McCarthy - Instagram

Emily McCarthy - YouTube

Location - 2237 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404

What actually goes into a single piece of clothing before it ever reaches the sales floor?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy launches a brand-new segment with Stella, Assistant Apparel Designer at Emily McCarthy. Stella shares how a persistent portfolio (and a memorable typo) landed her a spot on the creative team. They dive into her SCAD background and expertise, as well as what really happens behind the scenes of a clothing brand. From year-long design timelines, to the all-day fitting sessions where every button, seam, and stitch color gets picked apart.

Emily and Stella talk about the early days, to now. They highlight the custom Italy-inspired belt buckles behind this upcoming collection, and what it took to finally create the "perfect" white tee. They also get into what defines true luxury versus just expensive, why trends like capris and barrel jeans have such passionate opinions in the office, and what brings each of them joy outside of work - from a new puppy to a solo cup of shark teeth on Tybee Island.

This is the first of many behind-the-brand conversations, and Emily and Stella want to hear what you're curious about next.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome & meet Stella, Assistant Apparel Designer
• 1:00 - How Stella joined the Emily McCarthy team
• 11:00 - Inside a fitting day: buttons, seams, and the bill of materials
• 17:00 - The story behind the custom Italy-inspired belt buckles
• 30:00 - What brings Stella joy: a new puppy, iced coffee, and Tybee Island

Mentioned in this episode:

• Emily McCarthy Luxe Foundations collection
• Emily McCarthy Rome & Florence-inspired fall collection

Join us: Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Like this one? Let us know what you want to hear about next. Leave a review – it helps other women find us.

Connect with Emily McCarthy:

Emily McCarthy - Website

Emily McCarthy - Instagram

Emily McCarthy - YouTube

Location - 2237 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404

What happens when your dear friend also helps build your business?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Julia Barrett—Director of Business and Brand Development at Emily McCarthy and one of Emily's closest friends for nearly 17 years.

From navigating marriage and motherhood together to growing the Emily McCarthy brand behind the scenes, Julia shares stories that most people have never heard. She talks about the moment she thought Emily had completely lost her mind over buying a building, what it's really like working alongside your good friend, and the lessons she's learned while helping build a nationally recognized lifestyle brand.

You'll also hear:

• How Emily and Julia's friendship began
• The realities of building a business together
• What people misunderstand about life behind the scenes
• The biggest lesson Julia says she'll carry forever
• What finding joy looks like on an ordinary Tuesday

If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a successful brand while preserving a lifelong friendship, this conversation is full of honesty, laughter, and plenty of heart.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome & our midday fridge cig ritual
• 3:00 - How our friendship began, and navigating motherhood together
• 7:00 - The building nobody else could picture
• 16:00 - The lesson Julia says she'll carry forever
• 30:00 - What joy really looks like on the sales floor

Connect with Emily McCarthy:

Emily McCarthy - Website

Emily McCarthy - Instagram

Emily McCarthy - YouTube

Location - 2237 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404