Kate Spade got bought out, and shoppers can't help but feel nervous about it

One of the things we love most about Kate Spade is the brand’s quirky aesthetic and off-beat, small boutique feel. But now that Kate Spade has been bought out by Coach, we — along with many other shoppers — can’t help but start to sweat over what may be on the horizon for our beloved polka-dotted brand.

Coach purchased the brand in a $2.4 billion deal this week, after Kate Spade — like so many 2000s-era mall brands and department stores before it — suffered insurmountable financial losses. An online retail culture coupled with increased competition from fast-fashion brands, like H&M, Topshop, and Forever 21, has drawn shoppers away from Kate Spade in recent years.