Dishing on Dishes
When it comes to china patterns, designers of all stripes are getting in on the act.

Kate Spade makes your favorite purse. Ralph Lauren's clothes have been in style for as long as you can remember. And Vera Wang—well, she has top-of-the line wedding dresses, right?

It turns out that all of these designers have something in common besides high fashion—they're all now dabbling in designing china patterns. As more famous designers turn their attention to fine dining, you have more and more contemporary patterns to choose from. This most definitely is not your grandmother's china.

We've picked out a few of the brands you can find locally and highlighted what each brings to the table. You can basically follow your fashion sense—picking china has never been so easy.

Hermès
As delicate and pretty as the French scarves for which the brand is famous, Hermès' patterns are both whimsical and romantic at the same time. The colorful Africa pattern features many four-legged friends and comes in both celery green and soft orange hues (you'll be reminded of freshly sliced mangos in the tropics), which can be mixed and matched. Another pattern dominated by butterflies will make you feel as if you're dining in the wild, though not at all roughing it. The softness of the colors combined with the unusualness of the animal patterns makes this china striking, but not severe.

Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren's china is typically tailored, just like his clothes—no frilly flowers here. Mikasa makes china for the king of Polo, who of course favors classic touches such as platinum trim. He also seems to favor heavy and dark trim in timeless, herringbone-like patterns.

Kate Spade
True to her penchant for bright, bold colors, Kate Spade designs china, made by Lenox, that follows suit. She has one of the widest arrays of patterns, which are most original. They look like everyday dishes, which may appeal to some who find fine china too stuffy and formal.

Spade seems to like using accent plates, and there are many coordinating patterns (polka dots, floral-patterned bands of color and solid bands of color) that look great together in multiple hues. Like your plates with a wide kelly-green band? Spice things up even more with a green floral accent plate, a striped accent plate in aqua or an aqua polka-dotted accent plate. Formal dining has rarely looked this fun.

Matching must come naturally to one who made her name creating the perfect purse for every occasion: Spade also has coordinating flatware and crystal glasses. (And yes, you can get the polka dots on your champagne flutes, too.)

Versace
When you think Versace, you just know it's going to be bigger than life. Like the diva Donatella, this line of china errs on the side of the wild and bold with its gold, leaf-shaped saucer handles—no question about it, these place settings make a statement. Made by Rosenthal, the Versace patterns are sure to add flair to your dining festivities with lush colors such as rich reds, deep blues and gold—lots of gold, of course. Adorned with this china, your table will not be subdued—it will be a conversation piece.

Vera Wang
Vera Wang's patterns, much like her dresses, are rich, elegant, simple and classic. Manufactured by Wedgwood, the designs are clean and sparse but soft and pretty. Her popular Grosgrain pattern echoes the simple elegance of a grosgrain ribbon with its platinum trim.

Wang is a fan of mixing in different accent plates as well, which come in soft pastels and mix well with most all of her patterns. Always thinking of every last detail, Wang also has coordinating flatware and champagne flutes as well as other stemware and even barware.

One Final Note
Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein have gotten in on the designer china act, too, though neither brand is currently carried in the Kansas City area.

An Ode to Tradition: Celebrity
If all the bold designs are a little too much for your tastes, rest assured - the traditional is still out there. Patterns like Celebrity China's White Rose, a white floral pattern on white china, won't ever go out of style, and odds are you'll love it in years to come as much as the day you register for it.

Celebrity has other traditional as well as modern patterns to choose from—truly one of the largest selections available.

Acknowledgments: China courtesy of Halls.