Stephanie Hsu Is Blossoming as the New Face of Kate Spade’s Spring Campaign

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After an exciting 2023 that kicked off with her attending the Oscars as a first-time nominee for Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, Stephanie Hsu has been using her days since to rest, regroup, and reset. Now, she’s looking forward to enjoying the fruits of her labor and is feeling ready for a change. So it feels fitting then for her to be the new face of Kate Spade’s Spring 2024 collection which is an ode to hopeful new beginnings.

Jumbo Plaid Dress

Fleurette Statement Earrings

Awning Stripe Pearl Sweater

Awning Stripe Pencil Skirt

Flourish Mules

In the new campaign, we see Hsu walking through New York City and through a sea of people in giant puffer coats (art imitating life, if I do say so myself). Then, one by one, each of their coats begins to transform into vibrant blooming flowers, signaling the turning of the seasons, and we see Hsu take a step into the sun before bursting into a bold pink suit of flowers. With spring on the horizon, Hsu and Kate Spade are more than ready to blossom.

“I am honored to be included in the brand campaign as it truly embodies that feeling of absolute joy and hope for what’s to come,” the Joy Ride star says of working with the brand. “I think we can all relate to that at this point in the season.” Hsu had quite the year of great achievements, and there’s no stopping her now. Looking ahead, the actress was recently confirmed as the lead in Peacock’s new show Laid and is featured in the upcoming film The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling (NBD, right?).

We caught up with the star to find out more about Hsu’s style inspo (hi, Jeremy Allen White), her relationship with the Kate Spade brand growing up, and what she’s manifesting this year.

What was your perspective on Kate Spade growing up?

What was so amazing was that it was that designer brand that I couldn’t necessarily afford, but I could touch it. It was (and is) accessible. Do you know what I mean? Where it's not like hundreds of thousands of dollars that you're like, “Oh, that will just live in a museum.” I remember being a kid, and I don't know why I have this distinct memory, but there was a moment when their handbags featured a logo that was a little dog. And I just thought that that was so funny that a beautiful handbag could have a little dog. It was so quirky but still chic. That's my first Kate Spade memory.

The brand’s whimsical nature has always been a favorite of mine. How would you describe your personal style?

I just heard about this new trend, Eccentric Grandpa, and I have been the Eccentric Grandpa for generations. I would say that I'm an Eccentric Grandpa plus a chic, funky, joyful, floral, changes-by-the-day kind of girl. I really feel like for me, fashion is something where it is an extension of my mood or whatever era I'm in at that moment. So, it changes by the day and the geography. I'm trying to evolve away from my farm-girl chic right now and bring some city back into my bones. But yeah, Here's the thing, grandparents can be chic. They can stick on stilettos if they want to too. So Eccentric Grandpa really is the umbrella term for me.

Speaking of wardrobe changing by the day, how excited are you to exit puffer season and return to your spring wardrobe? I loved how the struggle of wearing a puffer in the city was captured in this campaign video.

I was just in New York a few days ago and at first, I was so excited to be wearing winter clothes. And then there came a point where the puffer jacket became physically heavy. I am a big proponent of long underwear. I think that if you want to survive in New York during the winter, you should just wear so many layers and long underwear. But then it gets so hot inside and I’m at a dinner running to the bathroom to take off my long underwear because I'm too hot. So, yes, I'm really excited for spring to finally be in full force. I've never been so pale in my life and looking forward to some nutrients from the sun.

Well, this new collection is a great way to usher in the spring season. Do you have a favorite piece?

It’s so hard to choose! The way the designers approached the use of bold patterns, played around with silhouettes, and honored some of their heritage patterns like the Noel in such a fresh way that felt so cohesive, playful, and full of joy. Some of my favorite pieces include the Jumbo Plaid Fit-and-Flare Dress and the Awning Stripe Sweater and Pencil Skirt two-piece set. Stripes, especially navy and white stripes, go with everything and I would even pair the striped sweater layered over the plaid dress for a winter-to-spring transition look. It’s so versatile. There's something so fun and eye-catching about mixing patterns and seeing stripes seamlessly styled with plaid pieces.

Who are some of your biggest style inspirations?

I've been joking that Jeremy Allen White is my style icon because I want someone to just pay me to wear a T-shirt. But I will say that I love Alok so much. Alok as a poet, as a comedian, and just as a true artist who shares what fashion means to them and what they're able to do politically in terms of gender, expression, and beauty. All simply by wearing something colorful. And it is so inherently the spirit of what fashion should be, which is something completely personal and not a fad, but instead something that expresses who you are on the inside that wants to come through. So I feel like, yeah, I think their spirit of fashion is one that I really, really admire. That’s my spectrum, Jeremy Allen White and Alok.

The way I see it, spring is the period where our manifestations start unfolding. What are you manifesting this year?

Every year, instead of resolutions, I choose a mantra or a title for the year. My title for this year or my mantra for this year is “the year of digging in.” So I'm manifesting all the fruits of deep labor, but not just the kind of abundance where you lay on your bed and someone DoorDashes you abundance. I'm really excited to manifest and work towards the things that I want to be growing, whether it's individual projects that I'm working on or writing that I'm doing to receive the fruits of the actual labor that it takes to make things grow.

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