The Alexa Chung Effect: Looking Back At Her Irreverent Style
Evolution
As the British muse celebrates her 40th, we look back at her
most iconic looks
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Alexa Chung attends The 2022 Met Gala
Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo
by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met
Museum/Vogue)
Alexa Chung is one of those OG 21st century ‘It’ girls whose
outfits remain etched in the back of our minds and continue to
inspire us.
From her beginnings as a scouted model and her first presenting
job on the UK’s Popworld in 2006 to having her own clothing
line and being a fixture on glamorous red carpets like the
Met Gala, Chung has lived many lives. And yet, because of our
perennial infatuation with her youthful style, she’s still the
ageless talent wearing socks with heels and beaten-up leather
satchels in our eyes.
Even in 2023, when microtrends and TikTok
aesthetics dominate our fickle moodboards, the
British icon stays true to her taste. And as we’re trying to
get around low-slung jeans and velvet tracksuits again, her
presence will always be a welcome palette cleanser. Throughout her
time on our radar, a highlight of her style has been an inimitable
knack for mixing and matching. Pairing luxury pieces like vintage
Chanel bags and Manolo Blahnik pumps with
high-street pieces and vintage
denim, to clashing prints and layering delicate florals with
grungey leathers and sneakers, she’s genuinely the GOAT of
contemporary ‘It’ girls.
Moreover, Chung has achieved something quite special with her
fashion choices: cultivating a distinct
personal style, all the while keeping us on our toes with looks
that are as fun to look at as they are to imitate.
As she turns 40 this month, we celebrate her impact by tracking
some of her most iconic looks (that we’re sure you’ll remember), as
well as how her style has evolved over the years. Scroll on to
relive it all.
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: Television personality Alexa Chung walks
through Bryant Park on September 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo
by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: TV personality Alexa Chung attends the 37th
International Emmy Awards gala> at the New York Hilton and
Towers on November 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Mike
Coppola/FilmMagic)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Alexa Chung poses on the front row
at the House Of Holland show for London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter
2010 at Bloomsbury Ballroom on February 20, 2010 in London,
England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage)
PARIS – MARCH 09: Alexa Chung attends the Chanel Ready to Wear show
as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 at
Grand Palais on March 9, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois
G. Durand/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK – APRIL 14: Alexa Chung attends the LOFT launch of Style
Studio at The Bowery Hotel on April 14, 2010 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)
NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Alexa Chung attends Art of Elysium “Bright
Lights” with VERSUS by Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane at
Milk Studios on April 30, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew
H. Walker/WireImage for VERSUS)
NEW YORK – MAY 03: TV Personality Alexa Chung attends the Costume
Institute Gala Benefit to celebrate the opening of the “American
Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” exhibition at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010 in New York City. (Photo
by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JUNE 17: TV personality Alexa Chung attends the YSL
Belle D’Opium fragrance launch at The YSL Stage on June 17, 2010 in
New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: Alexa Chung is seen backstage at
Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2010 in
Glastonbury, England. This year sees the 40th anniversary of the
Festival, which was started by dairy farmer Michael Eavis in 1970
and has grown into the largest music festival in Europe. (Photo by
Claire Greenway/Getty Images)
TV personality Alexa Chung attends the Mulberry LA Pool Party Bash
celebrating the A/W 2010 Collection at Chateau Marmont on July 20,
2010 in Los Angeles, California.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Alexa Chung is seen in East Village on June
21, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Alo Ceballos/GC
Images)
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 29: Alexa Chung attends the Glastonbury
Festival at Worthy Farm on June 29, 2014 in Glastonbury, England.
(Photo by Danny Martindale/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 15: Alexa Chung is seen on July 15, 2012 in New
York City. (Photo by David Krieger/Bauer-Griffin/GC
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 19: Alexa Chung attends the launch of W
Beijing – Chang’an, at Wyld on February 19, 2015 in London,
England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images for W Beijing –
Chang’an)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: Alexa Chung arrives at The Serpentine
Gallery summer party at The Serpentine Gallery on July 2, 2015 in
London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
for The Serpentine Gallery)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Alexa Chung attends the 2014 Future Of
Fashion Runway Show at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May
1, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N.
Todaro/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Alexa Chung attends the Royal Academy
Summer Exhibition Preview Party at Royal Academy of Arts on June 4,
2014 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Alexa Chung attends the European
premiere of “The Legend Of Tarzan” at Odeon Leicester Square on
July 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty
Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: Alexa Chung is seen on September 13,
2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gardiner Anderson/Bauer-Griffin/GC
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 30: Alexa Chung attends the ALEXACHUNG London
Launch & Summer 17 Collection Reveal at the Danish Church of Saint
Katharine on May 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M
Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for ALEXACHUNG)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Alexa Chung attends The Fashion
Awards 2017 in partnership with Swarovski at Royal Albert Hall on
December 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai
Tang/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Alexa Chung attends the Heavenly Bodies:
Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo
by Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic)
CHANTILLY, FRANCE – MAY 25: Alexa Chung attends the Christian Dior
Couture S/S19 Cruise Collection on May 25, 2018 in Chantilly,
France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images For
Dior)
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 04: Alexa Chung attends the Chanel Ready to
Wear Spring / Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week at Grand
Palais on October 4, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le
Segretain/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 05: Alexa Chung arrives for the Miu Miu
Ready to Wear Spring / Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week
on October 5, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Trago/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Alexa Chung arrives at the ELLE
Style Awards at The Savoy Hotel on February 13, 2012 in London,
England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
BICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Alexa Chung hosts the Bicester
Village British Designers Collective launch on March 21, 2012 in
Bicester, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Alexa Chung attends the Isa Arfen
Spring/Summer 2019 collection launch at San Lorenzo on November 28,
2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave
Benett/Getty Images )
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 18: Erdem during London Fashion Week
February 2019 on February 18, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by
Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 04: Alexa Chung attends the Stella McCartney
show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter
2019/2020 on March 04, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand
Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Alexa Chung attends The 2019 Met Gala
Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on
May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Alexa Chung attends the Royal Academy of
Arts Summer exhibition preview at Royal Academy of Arts on June 04,
2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai
Tang/WireImage)
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Alexa Chung is seen on day one of
the Glastonbury Festival on June 28, 2019 in Glastonbury, England.
(Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 27: Celine Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020
show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2019 in Paris,
France. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 30: The Business Of Fashion Celebrates
The #BoF500 2019 at Hotel de Ville on September 30, 2019 in Paris,
France. (Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage)
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 01: Alexa Chung attends the Miu Miu
Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on
October 01, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Alexa Chung during London Fashion
Week Fall Winter 2020 on February 16, 2020 in London, England.
(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Erdem at National Portrait Gallery
during LFW February 2020 on February 17, 2020 in London, England.
(Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 25: Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear
Fall/Winter 2020/2021 : Day Two on February 25, 2020 in Paris,
France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 01: Valentino show as part of the Paris
Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on March 01, 2020 in
Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Images)
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 24: Alexa Chung is seen on day one of
the festival wearing her vintage Barbour jacket on June 24, 2022 in
Glastonbury, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: British Vogue ‘Forces For Change’
dinner hosted by Edward Enninful and Vanessa Kingori at The
Londoner Hotel on December 4, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by
David M. Benett/Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 19: ERDEM front row during London
Fashion Week February 2023 at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on February
19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Perfect Magazine Party during
London Fashion Week September 2021 on September 19, 2021 in London,
England. (Photo by Neil Mockford / Ricky Vigil M/GC
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Alexa Chung attends The Fashion
Awards 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2021 in
London, England. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via
Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 01: Alexa Chung attends the Shrimps
‘Shrimpsmas’ Party at The George on December 01, 2021 in London,
England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Alexa Chung attends ‘The Fendi Set’
book launch event at the Royal Academy of Arts on February 08, 2022
in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Images for FENDI)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Alexa Chung attends The 2022 Met Gala
Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo
by John Shearer/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 29: Isabel Marant Womenswear
Spring/Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September
29, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty
Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: The Fashion Awards 2022 at the Royal
Albert Hall on December 05, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by
Gareth Cattermole/BFC/Getty Images for BFC)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 20: Tommy x Shawn: The “Classics Reborn”
Global Activation VIP dinner at The House Of KOKO on March 20, 2023
in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Tommy
Hilfiger)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 20: National Portrait Gallery Re-Opening on
June 20, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai
Tang/WireImage)
