Rachel Brosnahan’s new fashion project is a meaningful one.
Maggie Cepis for Frances Valentine
The label has always had family at the heart of it — Kate founded Frances Valentine with her husband of 24 years, Andy, 56, as well as Elyce Arons, who was her best friend since they were college freshmen. The designer also named it after her daughter, Frances Beatrix (“Bea”), 13. (The Spades and Arons launched the line a decade after Kate left her namesake empire, which they helped build together.)
Therefore, when it came time to casting the campaign for spring, turning to Kate’s niece was an obvious choice. “She’s always been very close to Katy, and she’s been a part of the company since the beginning,” Arons, now the CEO of Frances Valentine, says of Brosnahan. “She said yes to the idea, and here we are!”
The campaign itself is a tribute to the late designer’s signature colorful aesthetic and vision of spreading joy through vibrant fashion designs that feature whimsical touches. And many details of the shoot incorporated things the designer loved.
The photographs were shot in one of Kate’s favorite places, her Frances Valentine New York showroom overlooking Bryant Park. “It has really high ceilings, and all of Katy and Andy’s art is up everywhere,” says Arons. “It’s such a beautiful space to be in.”
RELATED VIDEO: Rachel Brosnahan Shares Video of Kate Spade in Happier Times As She Pays Tribute to Her Aunt
For more on how Kate Spade’s family, friends and fashion label are keeping the late designer’s legacy alive, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
“I think it’s more meaningful than any other campaign we’ve done because it’s [Rachel], and she was so close to Katy,” says Arons. “I know it would really make Katy smile.”
For example, in one of the campaign shots, the actress holds a square yellow satchel named the “Midge.” Arons shared that Kate actually named it after her niece’s beloved character onMaiselafter the first season was released in 2017, before Kate’s death. It now comes in a variety of colors, from light blue to pink. “Katy loved color,” says Arons. “She was not afraid of it.” For this bag, however, Arons thinks she would have picked green. (The “Midge” and the rest of the pieces Brosnahan wears in the campaign are all available now onfrancesvalentine.com.)
Rachel Brosnahan at the 2019 SAG Awards on Jan. 27.
The actress, meanwhile, is happy to help keep her aunt’s legacy alive and be a part of the future of her label Frances Valentine. Last night, she even hosted an event at the brand’s Madison Avenue pop-up shop to raise money for a cause close to her heart,the Covenant House, which helps homeless youth.
Adds Brosnahan: “I feel so privileged to partner with Frances Valentine to showcase their spring collection in celebration of my Aunt Katy’s life, legacy and love of fashion.”
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source: people.com
