Kate Spade Wallets and Accessories
Kate Spade has made so many different wallets and accessories it would be impossible for me to show them all. However, this page will go over basic wallet and organizer shapes, then show you examples of counterfeit wallets and organizers so you know what to avoid.
Continental Wallet
Let's start with the Continental Wallet. This is a basic large flap wallet. This wallet does NOT have any exterior pockets (most fakes of this style do). The corners on the flap are squared off.
Here is the interior; you can see it has a credit card flap on the interior and a plastic ID window. It is black nylon on the inside as well as the outside.
There is an alternate version of this wallet that was made in approx. 1999. It has a plain "kate spade" label on it rather than "kate spade NEW YORK." Many bags from this year also feature this label.
Cyril Wallet
The Cyril Wallet is extraordinarily similar to the Continental Wallet. It does not have any exterior pockets. Notice that the front flap has rounded corners. I'm not certain for the reasons behind this design change, but these corners do seem less likely to get snagged on something, eh?
~Dot Noel:~
~Newbury Nylon~
French Wallet
This is the basic nylon French wallet. It has a flap on one side (squared off corners), tab closure on the other. The interior is lined in nylon and has a plastic ID window.
Here's a French Wallet from the Brighton leather collection; notice the corners are slightly rounded, but otherwise the shape is the same:
Francis Wallet
The nylon French Wallet has been reincarnated as the "Francis" wallet. The only difference, again, is the rounded corners on the Francis Wallet. You'll probably see the names "French" wallet and "Frances" wallet interchanged on eBay, and this isn't a big deal as they are basically the same.
Keyring Wallet (aka "Ruth" Wallet)
This wallet shape was formerly known as the keyring wallet and is now the "Ruth" wallet. It has an attached keyring on the interior and a plastic ID pocket on the back. This is one of the smallest wallets. Shown here in Luggage Stripe and black Katy leather.
Compact Wallet
The compact wallet is another small wallet with no outside pockets and a flap closure that completely covers the front of the wallet. Shown here in pink boarskin.
Calder Wallet (Also Known as "Slim Continental Wallet")
Stacy Wallet
This is a very teeny fold-out wallet that has no exterior pockets. It does fit coins, credit cards and bills.
Mini Folded Wallet
This shape of wallet is intended to fit into your evening bag. It is a tiny flap wallet that holds a few credit cards. It's slightly larger than a card case.
Note the different label on this silk grosgrain mini-wallet - this is from a 2001 collection and has a special label.
Small tri-fold Wallet
This is a discontinued wallet shape; it's like a miniature version of the Continental wallet with no interior card flap. I got this nylon wallet in 2000. It's similar to the Stacy in the interior, the main difference being the full flap closure in the front.
Business Card Case
Commuter Pass
Susanna Wallet
Dorothy Wallet
Marta Wallet
Noa Wallet
Jasper Wallet
Vera Wallet
Checkbook Cover
Desk Planner/Organizer
Personal Planner/Organizer
Pocket Planner/Organizer
Portfolio
PDA Cases
Authenticating Your Wallet or Organizer
Fake Nylon Wallets & Organizers
You might be surprized at just how many fake wallets and organizers there are. Yes, there really are fake organizers! The most common fake, of course, is the nylon continental wallet. However, there are plenty of others you need to avoid.
If you're trying to authenticate a NYLON continental wallet or cyril wallet, check out the pictures above. Note that the authentic continental and cyril wallets do NOT have an exterior zipper pocket. They also do not have lining in a different color or gingham, and they do not have a mesh ID window. Here are some fakes so you can see what I mean:
Always check the label placement and font of the label lettering, as you would when authenticating a handbag.
There is NO METAL HARDWARE on the exterior of the authentic nylon wallets. Also, this sort of pointy flap is off.
Here is the back of a fake continental wallet. Note this huge zipper pocket - this pocket does NOT appear on the authentic continental or cyril nylon wallets:
Another fake wallet exterior with zipper pocket - note that double snap closure on the left. Kate Spade nylon wallets do not have that adjustable closure.
Here is the interior of a fake cyril wallet. Note that the fabric looks sort of grainy, and there is no ID window inside. The overall look is poor construction.
The interior of another fake - note the MESH rather than plastic ID window:
Here's a fake nylon pocket-size organizer:
Note that the snap tab has rounded corners, and there is some sort of interior accordian zipper pocket. There are NO ZIPPERS or zipper pockets on the authentic organizers, anywhere. You have to purchase a separate coin pocket with ring holes if you want a zipper pocket (of course, these are discontinued . . .) Additionally, if you look at the interior of the authentic nylon planner above, it's lined in LEATHER, not nylon.
Fake Leather Wallets & Organizers
I think this is supposed to resemble a "Francis" wallet. However, look at that metal hardware. Kate Spade has never used this sort of metal hardware on a plain leather wallet. And watch the placement of the logo stamp - here it's off center, too far to the right.
Same wallet, interior. This is a small wallet with a detachable strap. You'll note that in the photographs of the authentic wallets above, the only ones with straps are LARGE wallets. There is no authentic small wallet with a detachable strap.
Miscellaneous fake Wallets & Organizers
When you see a wallet or organizer, ask yourself if Kate Spade has ever used that material or fabric. Here are examples of wallets in fabrics that Kate Spade has never even used:
Here is a fake rainbow wallet - note that the whole shape, esp. the bottom corners, is off and the label is off center. The colors aren't quite right, either.
Here's another fake rainbow wallet, in which the size of the flap and the shape of the wallet do not resemble an authentic wallet:
This is one of the funniest fake organizers I've ever seen. Check out that calculator right on the front!
Note the photos of the authentic rainbow personal organizer above. This one, in contrast, is fake.
Again, the planner/organizers do not have detachable straps. That is reserved for a few wallet styles only.
This is another fake rainbow organizer - the corners are VERY rounded, the label is placed too high on the flap, and the label has white stitching around it which you won't see on the authentic rainbow organizer.
Some other general tips:
1. Please be aware that just because a wallet may come with a tag or box, that DOES NOT mean the wallet is authentic!
Above is a fake wallet that does not resemble an authentic shape. The seller of this particular auction sold it with the box, and listed it as authentic. Shame.
2. Keep in mind that even if the wallet looks great, you still need to check the label. Here's an example of bad font, spacing and stitching from a fake wallet's label:
eBay sellers authentic*purses, catspeaks and lauras*luxuries contributed a lot of pictures to this page. They sell lots of great wallets; go check out their auctions!