ALEXACHUNG Paris Fashion Week FW18
Represented by Purple PR.
This March, ALEXACHUNG releases the fourth collection titled Virginia. Inspired by the Bloomsbury Group, the collection features 100 Spring appropriate pieces across ready-to-wear, jewellery and shoes, all channelling the playful effervescence synonymous with the brand.
“This season’s inspiration came from writers, painters and sculptors whose lives are filled with created works of beauty. Our muse works in her worn jeans, old t-shirts, borrowed shorts; painting, creating, travelling, loving. Pay close attention to the piping, frills, embroidery and all of the Charleston inspired prints that make up this collection.” — Alexa Chung, Creative Director
ALEXACHUNG: Virginia
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Virginia is a celebration of art, craftsmanship, and self-expression. Drawing inspiration from the works of British painters Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, the sister of Virginia Woolf, the collection evokes a modernist intellectual tone. Both Bell and Grant were pivotal players in 20th Century painting and members of the infamous ‘Bloomsbury Group’, a group of artists, poets, philosophers and writers. Throughout, Chung explores Charleston, the country haven and getaway for the group.
The collection draws inspiration from the works of British painters Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, the sister of Virginia Woolf
The collection is a play between unadulterated comfort and the austere mood of the early 1900’s. True to the lifestyle of the artistic set, oversized ruffle collars, leisurely luxe jacquard pyjamas and sumptuous paisley contrast the loose smock dresses, dungarees and paint splattered denim.
Outerwear and jackets in Virginia all feel in context of the era and are pragmatic in use. Laminated cotton Raincoats in bottle green and cream for typical British days in the garden, sailor jackets in both paisley and navy wool, and the Boxy Military jacket shape harks back to a time gone by. Suits range from a Brideshead Revisited inspired relaxed cream linen two piece, to a delicate flower embroidered check – a bespoke fabric made from an original in-house design.
Dresses this season are an exploration into different silhouettes, trims and necklines. Mid-length dresses of a conservative shape are pulled into the contemporary day with the addition of a bodice with keyhole detail. A key piece is the Ruffle Collar Peasant Dress available in navy and white printed georgette and a white seersucker; these can be worn as loose and lofty or cinched in with a belt. The
Jersey tees and sweatshirts feature prints in the vein of book covers with slogans such as ‘Work of Art’, ‘Tawdry Details’, and ‘Put a Spell on You’, inspired by literature of the time.
Shoes carry the mood of formal and relaxed through cross stitch and perforated clogs, suede espadrille wedges, and comfortable ballerinas with either a flower embroidery detail or a crystal strap.
Jewellery follows the home-grown crafty feeling to echo the works of Vanessa Bell. There are playful wavy hairpins and beaded necklaces with a starfish icon in bashed metal. Brooches in two size op-tions can be pinned to lapels of the cream linen suit or used to elevate simpler looks; these are hand-made silk brooches from Italy, all individually plissée.
Virginia is an ode to the unsung heroes; writers, painters, sculptors, whose lives were and are still filled with wonder.
The collection prices range from £70 for ALEXACHUNG’s signature tees, £500 for statement dresses and up to £995 for jackets.
About Alexa
Alexa Chung’s eponymous brand ALEXACHUNG launched in May 2017.
The brand produces four seasonal collections per year and sits within the advanced contemporary category. Unfettered by the traditional fashion cycle, each collection is available at the turn of the season.
ALEXACHUNG embodies her personality and intuitive sense of style, with the principle of making great clothes for great women. The brand curates its collections in a playfully subversive way; bending long established rules of silhouette, proportion and design.
Its diverse offering of daywear, evening-wear, denim, shoes and jewellery is available in over 100 stockists worldwide and online. The brands e-commerce platform stocks the collection as well as exclusive pieces. The company designs, markets and manages distribution in-house at their headquarters in London.
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With love,
FWO