how to achieve alexa chung's tomboyish fall style

"she possessed a quality which suggested we are one fringe trim away from being her"

Many years ago, I went to a salon and asked for curtain bangs. I picked that salon because all the stylists on their Instagram had enviable tousled hair and clothes that looked-like-Doen-but-were-actually-vintage. So I trusted them to make me look good. Their bathroom had dark forest green wallpaper and a birdcage hanging in the corner, designed for the post-haircut mirror selfie session in mind. (We don’t talk about salon bathrooms as a site of self-reinvention enough).

“I have inspo pics,” I said quickly—and a bit defensively—to imply to the stylist that I did my research. I thought about it. I clicked on my saved folder titled “curtain bangs” and showed her a bunch of Alexa Chung hair photos.

---

When Jane Birkin died this summer, Alexa Chung wrote an homage to her. How she was a style inspiration, always one step ahead, the original blueprint.

That and her iconic fringe, which speaks to her magic trick — even though she was obviously otherworldly she also possessed a quality which suggested her beauty was attainable and that we are one fringe trim away from being her.

How Alexa Chung feels about Jane Birkin is how I feel about Alexa Chung. I first came across Alexa Chung on Tumblr as a teenager. She was the epitome of indie cool. She was the reason I coveted Carel Kinas for years, they were my dream “grown up” shoe. It meant a lot to me that her last name, Chung, was unequivocally Asian. Her personal style is enduring. Here I am in 2023, still enamored with her bedhead chic street style looks from over a decade ago. After analyzing dozens of Alexa Chung outfit photos, her fall looks stood out to me most—it’s where her tomboyish sensibilities shine.

---

The Leopard Coat

Alexa loves leopard print. There are photos of her with leopard print booties, a leopard print bag, but most consistently: the leopard print coat. She typically styles it as the “bolder” element in an otherwise simple outfit consisting of black or blue jeans or a polka dot dress.

i like this outfit but would tweak the proportions for myself - i’d go with a jacket that is more cropped, hitting above the hips

the hood of the jacket is kinda interesting, make it feel more sporty and casual. and then the balaclava pop of sky blue brightens things up a bit

I style a leopard jacket from MOTHER (PR product i actually really like) with cinnamon colored Jesse Kamm sailor pants and magenta Nicole Saldanas (resale)

---

The Silk Slip

Alexa loves wearing silk slips with Converse.

yes, more of a summer look but such a good base to wear a cheeky jumper or leopard print coat over - and you’re set for fall

the sheer, the gray-blue shade (so Prada), the way the Converse are slipped on bc you can see her heels. IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE!

Brown Heavy Manners slip dress (resale), Simone Rocha platform oxfords (resale)

The Cheeky Jumper

I’m saying jumper and not sweater because she’s British and I’m trying to tap into her internal monologue. Alexa loves a cheeky jumper. Something that may seem quite simple, but has a whimsical design element that catches you off guard.