Emma Roberts’ 32nd birthday happens to fall on the same day as Kate Spade’s Fall 2023 presentation. For most fashionistas or celebrities walking the runway, having a birthday during New York Fashion Week (opens in a new tab) wouldn’t be ideal, making an already stressful few days even crazier. But the actor isn’t worried. “I’m actually going home today, back to L.A.,” Roberts said with a laugh. “So this is my first and last event at NYFW.” She focused on enjoying the moment, taking in the sweeping views from the top floor of the Whitney Museum of American Art and marveling at the clothes.
The clothes It’s easy to marvel: rainbow-colored suits, sequined suits and drop-dead prints-these are the perfect celebratory pieces you’ll want to wear on your birthday (or at least look at, in Roberts’ case). “The story of fall 2023 evokes the universal sense of joy that the season brings-a new sense of energy,” Tom Mora and Jennifer Lyu, senior vice president and head of design at Kate Spade, shared in a press release shared in a press release. “Getting dressed again is exciting …… whether it’s having drinks with friends, discovering a new restaurant, or stumbling upon an art exhibit. This collection celebrates these moments in everyday life and the unexpected things that can happen.”
It’s the quintessential showcase for dopamine dressing, with its mood-boosting magic. “Kate Spade only makes clothes that make people happy,” says Roberts, a longtime fan of the brand. Her outfit is further evidence of her belief in the pleasurable nature of the brand’s products: a polka-dot A-line mid-length bustier, a semi-sheer black top and high-heeled Louboutins. (I admit that at one point, I paused our conversation to give Roberts a spin-“It’s a very twistable dress,” the Maybe I’ll Do It star said while laughing and letting me spin to my heart’s content.)
MC: On the other end of the spectrum, what trends do you not want to see come back?
ER: I don’t like flats, I think everyone is wearing ballet flats now. It’s cool, but as a short person, I like heels. I like the height – I need the height!
MC: If you could go back and tell your younger self some style advice, what would you say?
ER: If I could tell my younger self something about style, I would say keep it simple. In the early 2000s, I think we really overdid it. So I would tell myself, “Just wear a black turtleneck sweater and a cute pair of pants and call it a day!”
MC: Do you have a must-have item in your closet that you can wear that will give you instant joy? A little dose of serotonin?
ER: I love anything leopard print. A leopard print bag, a leopard print jacket, a leopard print shoe – it just makes up the whole outfit.
MC: As we end our conversation, I want to step away from fashion a little bit. I know that you and your friend Karah Preiss started Belletrist, a book club and online community, five years ago. Is there a favorite book you’ve read recently that’s really stuck in your mind?
Uh: Gosh. There are so many books. I mean, anything by Joan Didion, because she’s the best. Then last year, I read Claire Vaye Watkins’ I Love You, But I Choose Darkness . I loved the title alone, but it’s also a great book.
MC: What is a classic that you think everyone should read?
ER: Anything by JD Salinger. Once again, Joan Didion. At this point, she’s a classic, and I love all of her work.
