In partnership with Kate Spade
There is a particular kind of magic that happens when a room fills with creative minds, a long table, and a little too much stuffing. For RUSSH’s Friendsgiving soirée with Kate Spade, that magic took place at Ursula’s in Sydney – a restaurant that somehow manages to feel both impossibly elegant and delightfully intimate, the kind of place where laughter doesn’t just bounce off the walls, it settles in.
Guests arrived in the Fall/Holiday 2025 collection – an orchestra of rich hues, festive textures, and playful silhouettes. Think deep scarlets, mint frosting greens, soft knits, faux fur, and the brand’s iconic spade details woven throughout. The beauty of the collection lies in its versatility and modern energy, offering everything from softly structured shoulder bags to shimmering silver finishes and statement holiday dresses. And true to Kate Spade’s spirit of individuality – colour, wit, optimism – every guest styled the pieces in their own way, transforming the room into a live-action mood board of personal expression.
Before anyone could even think about carving a turkey, each guest was handed a glass of champagne and guided to the Gratitude Tree – a whimsical little moment designed to set the tone for the evening. Hands filled with pens and tiny cards, guests scribbled down the things they were thankful for: the silly, the sentimental, and the secrets meant only for the branches. Soon, the tree was rustling with notes – an installation of gratitude that felt wonderfully on-brand for Kate Spade, a House long anchored in the joy of shared moments and feminine camaraderie.
Inside, Ursula’s had prepared a meal that can only be described as a food-lover’s love letter. Plates piled high with many of the restaurant's signatures – from the unmissable Moretan Bay bug pasta, to the restaurant's famous roast chicken, crab, creamed corn, lime, and konbu butter main, and of course, the golden syrup dumplings for dessert. By the end of the night, the table looked exactly as a true Thanksgiving spread should: messy, overflowing, and absolutely glorious. A still life of shared plates and shared stories.
The guest list – a mix of actors, directors, models, and artists – brought with it a considered balance of sophistication and mischief. Old friendships were toasted. New ones were formed across dishes passed and jokes told. And somewhere between the mains and dessert, the room filled with a warm, rolling wave of laughter. Not the polite kind, but the real thing – the sort that rises from deep in the chest and takes the whole table with it.
Of course, no Friendsgiving is complete without a little friendly competition. Our lucky-dip stocking proved as chaotic and charming as intended. Five guests walked away with Kate Spade bags – the extremely versatile Duo, adorable Halo, and other seasonal favourites in jewel-tone hues and holiday textures – while everyone else received the sweetest bag charms, tiny treasures designed to bring a touch of personality to their new-season accessories.
By the time the night drew to a close, the air felt thick with gratitude, conversation, and the unmistakable sparkle of togetherness – a quality that sits at the heart of Kate Spade’s vision, where shared moments have the power to transform the everyday into something extraordinary.
If Friendsgiving is about celebrating the people who make life delicious, then this one – dressed in colour, joy, and an undeniable chicness – was a feast in every sense.
To discover more of the collection, shop your favourite pieces on the Kate Spade website.
