Alexa Chung’s Latest Collection Is Inspired By Virginia Woolf

For her latest collection, Alexa Chung looked to the Bloomsbury set for inspiration, from painters Duncan and Vanessa Bell to writer Virginia Woolf, with the collection named after the latter.

‘This season’s inspiration came from writers, painters and sculptors whose lives are filled with created works of beauty,’ Chung explained. ‘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.’

The Virginia collection features pieces appropriate for the austere mood of the Edwardian period, from jacquard pyjamas for lounging with a book, or oversized ruffled collars and loose smock dresses for working away at a watercolour painting. There are also paint splattered jeans, dungarees and sumptuous paisley prints, as well as relaxed linen suits fit for Sebastian Flyte of Brideshead Revisited. Our favourite piece though is probably the ruffle collar peasant dress in a white seersucker fabric, which we’ll be wafting around in until summer.

The arty and liberal Bloomsbury set have long inspired fashion. Christopher Bailey created his autumn/winter 2015 show in homage to the group, while Alessandro Michele was similarly interested in their style for his Gucci show of the same season.

The collection is available online and in stores now.