Would you believe us if we told you that this was Regina Hall’s first New York Fashion Week experience, like ever? We didn’t believe it either until she told us for herself at kate spade new york’s 30th anniversary kickoff to unveil its Spring 2023 collection. “This is it. This is my first Fashion Week. I’m creating a memory with you so you will be one of my first Fashion Week memories,” the Honk For Jesus star said humbly.
Alongside notable attendees including model Emira D’Spain, comedienne Ziwe, actress Rebel Wilson, “Never Have I Ever” Netflix series star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Hall was one of many attendees to witness and interact with the experiential presentation during New York Fashion Week. Right on brand with the beauty of spring, the Scary Movie alumna was dressed head-to-toe in the collection designed by Tom Mora and Jennifer Lyu. From the sophistication of the terrace stripe poplin shirt in black/cream, to the waist-snatching tulip stripe midi skirt in rosa plum, Hall was serving a look that only an icon like herself could.
Speaking of icon, did we mention that she was sporting the Sam icon small tote in true white, alongside her greenhouse floral wrap ring in multi, and greenhouse front-to-back tulip earrings in pink multi. Talk about the ultimate branding. “I picked this one today,” she said as she held up the back proudly. “This bag is good because it’s not too big. You can use it and wear the straps long, and it’s also great for inside the elbow. I feel like it looks like a lady.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: (L-R) Ziwe Fumudoh, Regina Hall, Ava Phillippe, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Ella Bleu Travolta attend the Kate Spade presentation during September 2022 New York Fashion Week at 3 World Trade Center on September 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
During the presentation at World Trade Center in New York City, Girls United exclusively caught up with Hall about her relationship with kate spade new york, her thoughts on Gen-Z fashion trends, and her favorite fall fashion must-haves.
Girls United: Take me back to when your relationship with kate spade first began.
Regina Hall: “I guess technically my relationship started when I lived in New York. I think I bought my first kate spade bag probably in the summer in the late ’90s before I found out they were doing clothes. I just knew about their bags and shoes. I think they have some really comfortable dresses. For me, I need something that I can wear that’s comfortable that I could start in the day, but maybe also go to dinner in if I were meeting friends at night. I’ve passed the point of tight dresses all day [and] I love comfort. I love it to look nice and for there to be something about it that’s chic, but I do like it to be comfortable. I like, ‘it’s great, but not insane effort.'”
What are your thoughts on representation of Black women in fashion and style over the years?
“That’s hard to say because we’re so influential in fashion and style. We always have been, even when we weren’t invited to the party, you know what I mean? The party was still replicating so much of what we were already doing. I think we embody fashion and style. I think so many things are emulated from things that we’ve made stylish, or that we’ve just been wearing and it’s just looked stylish because we were doing it. That goes from the clothes and hairstyles we wear to the way we wear [them]. It’s great that we see more faces behind the scenes doing designs; that is so exciting to me. I think it’s an area where our influence has always been there, but now we’re finally actually seeing credit given and opportunities for us to actually be a part of the process, as opposed to just being the inspiration for the process.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Regina Hall attends the Kate Spade Presentation during September 2022 New York Fashion Week at 3 World Trade Center on September 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
With New York Fashion Week comes the fall, and we love fall fashion. What are some of your fall fashion must-haves?
“I always like a nice black pant. I like a nice denim pant, high-waisted, you can wear a shirt in. You can also wear a great heel with it, and then you can just go out. It’s great for fall. I love a nice beautiful cashmere sweater. A good turtleneck is always a must, and basic solids, creams, whites, blacks, and grays. Those are my colors. If I want to be fancy, I’ll throw in a red. Especially if it’s in the fall, if it’s a richer, blood red.”
We’re in a digital age now where there are so many hacks and trends on the internet. What’re your thoughts on Gen-Z fashion, beauty and style hacks?
“I love seeing new generations’ expressions of style. I think it’s crazy. I was happy they brought back the high-waist jean. I was like, ‘Well, let’s go, Gen Z!,’ and I was happy with the wider pant leg. There’s a lot of things that are really simplistic but fun. I kind of like some of the great androgynous looks that are in now. I always love seeing what every generation brings to fashion and brings to style, what of it I can steal, and what of it that looks appropriate on me. Now, I can’t do these new hot pant shorts with the butt cheek and the crop top because my crop top days are no longer. It doesn’t feel like me anymore, but I used to wear it when I was that age, and it’s fun. It’s fun to see young people embodying style their way.”
Photo Credit: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Regina Hall attends the Kate Spade Presentation during September 2022 New York Fashion Week at 3 World Trade Center on September 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
About D’Shonda: Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, D’Shonda Brown is the Associate Editor at Girls United. When she’s not interviewing or writing, she enjoys running, dancing, buying sneakers, and binge-watching Lifetime movies.