Kate Valentine, formerly known as Kate Spade (born Katherine Noel Brosnahan; December 24, 1962, present full legal name Katherine Noel Frances Valentine Brosnahan Spade), is an American fashion designer and businesswoman. She is the namesake and former co-owner of the designer brand, Kate Spade New York. In 2006, she sold the last of her shares in that company. In 2016, she and her partners officially launched a new fashion brand called Frances Valentine.
Brosnahan was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from St. Teresa's Academy, an all-girl Catholic high school. She attended the University of Kansas and then transferred to Arizona State University, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma, and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1985. She is of Irish descent.
In 1986, she worked in the accessories department of Mademoiselle in Manhattan, where she was credited in the magazine's masthead with her maiden name as Katy Brosnahan. While at Mademoiselle, she moved in with Andy Spade (brother of actor and comic David Spade), a native of Scottsdale, Arizona. The two had worked side-by-side as salespersons in a men's clothing store, Carter's Men Shop in Phoenix. Together, they were featured in the magazine as part of a photo story on couples in love.