What Would She Wear: Alexa Chung

Not to get too academic on you—we realize this is still summer vacation for some!—but here at Who What Wear, we often employ the Socratic Method during our daily design-centric debates. Whether discussing the perils of crop-tops (sexy or scary?) or the merits of an open-toed boot (the perfect transitional choice?), it's always illuminating to engage in a theoretical dialogue about what we love or loathe about certain trends and trendsetters. Other times, however, it's better to put aside our rhetorical pursuits in favor of those inquiries that have conclusive results. For example, you can often hear queries around the WWW office about what Alexa Chung is wearing, in part because we know that the answers are invariably inspiring. On that note, rather than sleuthing out the details about her latest wardrobe triumphs, we've flipped the script and asked ourselves What Would She Wear? instead. We could pontificate for hours about the many pieces that would look brilliant on the darling dresser, but we'll spare you the endless rhetoric and just show you an A+ selection for your viewing and shopping pleasure!



Though we have long championed her playful taste in clothes and accessories, we do realize that some readers might not be as intimately aware of Chung's every move, so for those of you less immersed in this It-girl's personal style, we have a few notes for your edification. She's the star of MTV's daily lunchtime talk show, It's On With Alexa Chung, which is enjoyable as it showcases her dry wit and sassy sense of humor, but the main reason we TiVo the show is to get a glimpse of her enviable wardrobe (her on-air outfits are also detailed via MTV.com!). Whether she's wearing the a delightful Topshop frock on the telly, or dressed in head-to-toe Burberry for the British fashion house's benefit for The Robin Hood Foundation (above), she always looks completely cool in a very tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Generally speaking, Chung goes for a mix of androgynous items, like unisex shoes or boxy layers, worn with a subtly sexy twist, so we found a wonderful assortment of pieces that embody this spirit. Just make sure to pepper them with your favorite treasured vintage finds and you'll have a Chung-approved look in no time at all!

1. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara ($28) in Black Steel
While Chung takes a decidedly understated approach to her beauty regime, the fashion plate always plays up her lovely eyes in a skillful way. Call it a hunch, but we have a feeling she’d be just as excited about this new Giorgio Armani mascara as we are. The formula is flawless: not only does it boost and lengthen lashes with dexterity, it never ever clumps (we tried, it won’t happen!). While we picked basic black—er, Black Steel—for Ms. Chung, it’s also available in three other colors, including Copper Brown, Gun Metal Grey, and Red Iron. No matter which color you pick, your lashes will thank you!

2. Current/Elliott The Perfect Shirt ($198)
We have long admired Chung's distinct ability to seamlessly weave girly pieces with more boyish basics. As we searched for the latter, we discovered that Current/Elliott, everyone's favorite denim design duo, created a shirt that's perfect for our purposes. The heavy woven button-down is just the sort of down-to-earth piece we were looking for; we can totally see Chung mixing it with a miniskirt and some brogues. Additionally, it would also look amazing over a cheeky polka-dot dress or worn buttoned up with a pair of leather leggings!

3. Jerome Dreyfuss Charles Bag ($798) in Chamois
Chung often chooses quirky and cool handbags (case in point, a vintage record-case doubles as an offbeat carryall), so we think she would appreciate the new-for-fall Charles Bag from Jérôme Dreyfuss (it's not in quite yet, but will be available online at LaGarconne.com shortly!). It has some of the utilitarian sensibilities of her favorite Mulberry bags, but this rendition is a little more luxurious. This marvelous messenger comes in supple tan suede and the strap is the perfect length to wear cross body for window-shopping in New York's West Village!

4. H&M Brocade Skirt ($50)
Our subject du jour frequently shows off her killer gams with hiked up hemlines, so we're sure she'd be wild about this vibrant brocade mini by H&M. In addition to styling it with a casual work shirt, we could also see Chung pair this eye-catching skirt with a menswear blazer and a lust-worthy pair of heels. She would certainly also appreciate its price, as balancing high-end designer pieces with high-street selections is one of Chung's fashion hallmarks!

5. Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Sienna ($45)
Chung is a huge fan of all things Chanel and has repeatedly expressed her adoration for Mr. Lagerfeld. As a devout devotee, we figure she'd probably have the inside scoop on their newest blush, which is inspired by Chanel's iconic tweed fabric and offers a combo of blush and shimmer in one. Just a swipe of this amazing cheek color would look gorgeous with her fair English complexion; the results will be subtle and lovely, much like Ms. Chung, herself!

6. Steve Madden Melin Brogue Shoes ($100)
Though we have spotted Chung sporting penny loafers and seventies-style driving shoes, we think she would love these on-trend black and white brogues, which call to mind the Church's classic English version, but at a much more accessible price-point. Slip into these lace-ups to add a traditional-yet-fresh element to your favorite cropped pants or body-con dress for a Chung-approved look!

7. Nicole Romano Black and Silver Bead Multi Chain Necklace ($230)
Any career girl worth her weight in paper clips knows that the key to transitioning an office-friendly outfit into an evening-ready ensemble is the strategic employment of smart accessories. After a long day at the studio, we can completely envision Chung clasping on this statement necklace en route to a fashion-centric cocktail party or an outdoor concert to elevate her already stellar assemblage into something really show-stopping. —KM