'Hug your loved ones': Kate Spade's niece pays tribute to late fashion designer

Kate Spade’s niece, actress Rachel Brosnahan, has broken her silence following the death of her fashion designer aunt with a touching tribute.

The 27-year-old, known for her roles in House of Cards and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, took to Instagram to share a video of Spade smiling with her husband and business partner, Andy Spade, dancing to a mariachi band next to a Christmas tree.

“Knowing Katy, this is how she would want to be remembered,” the post said.

“She had a light that words can’t capture but touched everyone she came into contact with.

“She was exceedingly kind, beautifully sensitive, insanely talented, funny as heck and one of the most generous people I have ever know. She was effervescent.”

Brosnahan ended the post by urging her followers to “hug your loved ones extra tight”.

The actress’s grandmother June is Kate’s mother.

In a 2017 interview with Women’s Wear Daily, Brosnahan said she admired fashion “from afar” but added “people around me have said that I’ve inherited little pieces of Katy’s style”.

The famed handbag designer told Page Six in January she and her daughter, Frances, 13, jumped up and down when Brosnahan won the Golden Globe for her role in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.

“We are insanely proud,” Kate said.

Kate’s brother-in-law David Spade, who is Andy’s brother, also paid tribute with a holiday photo.

He wrote even though it was “fuzzy”, he was sharing it because “we had so much fun that day”.

David called her “sharp and quick on her feet”, noting “she could make me laugh so hard”, which is quite a compliment from a famous comedian.

He urged people in this “rough world” to take care of each other.

Kate was found dead on Tuesday morning in her Manhattan home by a housekeeper.

She left behind a note, reportedly leaving a message for her only child.

Her family members issued a statement saying they were “devastated by today’s tragedy” and they “loved Kate dearly and will miss her terribly”.

Brosnahan’s tribute comes in contrast to multiple reports of troubles in Kate’s life.

There have been reports she was having trouble in her marriage.

Kate’s older sister Reta Brosnahan Saffo issued statements saying she believes the designer suffered from mental illness for a number of years and her sister’s suicide “was not unexpected by me”.

• Kate Spade’s ‘message for daughter in suicide note’

“Sometimes you simply cannot SAVE people from themselves!” Ms Saffo said.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.