Alexa Chung Demonstrates Enduring 'It Girl' Appeal at Paris Fashion Week
Alexa Chung, widely regarded as one of the 21st century's most definitive 'It Girls', emphatically proved she still merits that esteemed label on Thursday. The model and television presenter displayed her effortlessly cool aesthetic while heading to Chloe's exclusive afterparty during Paris Fashion Week, cutting a radiant figure that oozed sophistication.
Impeccable Fashion Week Style
The 42-year-old fashion icon left her hotel for the star-studded bash wearing a black structured blazer featuring bold shoulder-pads that accentuated her silhouette. She expertly teamed the jacket with chic cream tailored trousers, adding an extra trendy touch by tying a black leather scarf around her hips as an unconventional belt.
Alexa completed her stylish ensemble with a beige designer handbag, minimal jewellery, and a pair of quirky see-through heels that perfectly captured her signature blend of classic and contemporary elements. Her appearance followed an earlier attendance at the Chloe Fall/Winter 2026-2027 runway presentation, where she dazzled in a peach dress with delicate lace trim.
At the main show, Alexa accessorized her peach ensemble with a matching belt tied around her svelte waist in an elegant bow, complemented by dramatic red eyeshadow that made her eyes pop. She joined numerous famous faces at the presentation, including pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, actresses Aimee Lou Wood and Brooke Shields, and legendary chat show host Oprah Winfrey.
Candid Career Reflections
In a revealing interview with Elle magazine for their October issue, Alexa recently opened up about her multifaceted career in fashion and television, sharing surprising regrets and insights. Despite being considered a muse to many top designers thanks to her distinctive sense of style, she admitted to once believing her "career would be over by the time she was 20."
When questioned about whether she had envisioned her 40-year-old self while in her early twenties, Alexa responded: "Yes, because when I was younger, all of the women I admired were older. I had older friends and I loved their style, and even my mum, I just thought she was the coolest."
She elaborated on her early career mindset: "Because I started modelling so young and thought my career would be over by the time I was 20, I always thought about what my next steps would be. I used to really want to host Desert Island Discs, so I didn't do anything that might mean I wouldn't get to – so, I used to be prudish about doing shoots that were a bit wilder back in those days."
Alexa expressed her sole professional regret: "You weren't allowed to be the type of woman that could present Woman's Hour and be foxy on a cover. That's my only regret, not being foxier."
Style Icon Status and Television Beginnings
The fashion influencer also reflected on being referred to as a 'style icon', recalling: "I remember other people pointing it out more than me noticing it. My mum would say, 'Oh look, that girl looks like you.' Obviously, it was very flattering. I have it with other people, where I'm like, 'I want to look like Gabbriette', or something."
She added philosophical insight about fashion inspiration: "It's nice to borrow and it's sometimes helpful to use someone else's style as a springboard to discover your own personality and style journey."
Alexa reminisced fondly about her early television work on Channel 4's Popworld, which she co-hosted from April 2006 to July 2007: "I really loved it. I'd gone from modelling, which is great for some people, I'm sure, but I found it quite frustrating. I preferred being in script meetings where I was around at a table being asked for my opinion. Alex Zane and I used to write the scripts. It was such an amazing vote of confidence and that was what meant everything to me."
Regarding her fashion choices on the hit show, she explained: "On that show, we were really lucky because we were given a budget to buy clothes. It was the dream. I went straight into Topshop – I wanted to look like how my friends and I did in real life. I remember people on TV at that time were making an effort. But I was like, 'It's Saturday-morning TV, why aren't they wearing Saturday-morning T-shirts? It's weird to be in heels and a dress, because we're all hungover.'"
Alexa concluded: "It was an active decision to feel normal, so that I could be bolder, because a lot of the interviews were quite punchy and you had to be brave. I had to feel like I was myself."
