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Raised in a creative, chaotic household in upstate New York, the designer behind ALIX OF BOHEMIA has always preferred to craft her own destiny. As a child, Halloween was her high holiday—an excuse to sketch elaborate outfits and traverse the fabric store with her mother, from whom she learned to embrace the hippie lifestyle.
Photo of Alix Verley-Pietrafesa
Photo ofAlix Verley-Pietrafesa
Today, Alix still worships at the altar of color, pattern and texture, bringing that same sense of play and exploration to every piece she designs. With influences that span continents and decades (she’s lived in London, Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic, to name a few), Alix’s world is one where leopard can flirt with paisley, crochet is a love language and Keith Richards is her eternal muse.
How did you get your start in fashion? Were you always interested in clothes and design?
My mother is an artist, and I pretty much grew up in her studio—some of my earliest memories are rooted there. I’m the eldest of four kids, and our house was very chaotic and creative. Creativity was encouraged in every area, whether it was a school project, getting dressed or preparing a meal.
I always loved clothing and costumes as a kid—the best part of the year was Halloween when my mother would take the four of us to the fabric store to choose materials for the elaborate costumes I would design.
How did growing up in Upstate New York influence your aesthetic and perspective?
My childhood was pretty idyllic—lots of time in nature, which fostered a love of the outdoors and a deep respect for the planet. Elements of nature are a theme in my work, and we only use natural fibers in our garments to minimize our impact on the environment.
Upstate New York is beautiful, but I always had a thirst for adventure. I left home as a teen for boarding school and ended up going to college abroad. The next couple of decades saw me living in London, Hong Kong Mallorca, the Dominican Republic and, finally, New York City. Each of these places has shaped my aesthetic in some way.
You wrote your college thesis on the Bohemians of post-war Paris. What attracted you to the topic, and does it still resonate with you today?
During my art history studies, when we came to the post-war era, all of these artists and intellectuals were producing work in Paris that pushed the boundaries of what came before. They were living unconventional lifestyles, dressing in ways that blurred gender norms, and producing provocative, challenging new work—people like Alberto Giacometti, Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre. I’ve always been intrigued by rebels and people living outside the norm. While writing my thesis and studying imagery of these individuals, dressed in these fabulous outfits, I was struck by the idea that clothing could facilitate a lifestyle.
Where does the name ALIX OF BOHEMIA come from?
I was always kind of a free spirit and loved dressing like my hippie mom in the 70s as a kid. I was touring a castle in Scotland with my mom when I was in college, and we happened upon a portrait of Anne of Bohemia. My mom remarked, “Oh, that’s like you, my little hippie—my little ALIX OF BOHEMIA,” and the name stuck with me. She sounded like a girl who loved adventure, who didn’t belong to any place or anyone, but could go anywhere and fit in.
How does travel influence your work? What place has inspired you most and why?
Travel is a huge part of my life and the collection. The clothes we make are inspired by my travels and are quite literally made to travel—throw them in a suitcase and take them anywhere.
If I had to choose, I’d say London has been one of my biggest inspirations. Living there, I witnessed the best personal style on the streets—it was never about status, always about self-expression. I love that Brits always have a little patina to their look; it’s not too polished, which makes it cool.
How do you stay grounded and creative? Any favorite rituals?
As a mom with a 20-month-old and a baby on the way, I have to say I find it hard to carve out time for my rituals! I like to get up early and drink my coffee in the quiet morning before anyone else is awake and just prepare for the day. I also find the best way to ground myself is to take a walk and do some deep breathing. I have my most creative thoughts while I’m walking.
What’s your sign? Do you feel that your zodiac placements resonate with you?
I’m a Taurus! I think I’m a pretty true Taurus. I’m very determined and stubborn, full of passion and I love beautiful things. My husband Sebastian, who’s my partner in the company, is also a Taurus, so there’s a lot of Taurean energy here! Unlike me, he is very organized and practical, among other things, so we balance each other out. We’re both pretty creative in different ways, so there’s a lot of harmony.
What’s your design process like? Do you still make some things by hand?
I find it so hard to just sew a little bit—it’s either you’re in or you’re out. Learning to delegate and articulate what I want to create instead of making it myself has taken several years. It’s such a different process, with a much more zoomed-out perspective. I have an amazing team, and we work closely to realize ideas at every stage of the design process. Sometimes I’ll sew a little detail here or there, place embroidery motifs or mend something. I’ll often demonstrate something technical or try to work it out with my own hands.
The design process has so many facets. We design all the fabrics for our collections, so the season always begins there and kind of spirals out. The fabric, the textures and the prints inform so much. Or I’ll start a season with an obsession, like capes, and things flow from there. There’s usually a layered inspiration and theme—right now we’re about to show Resort 2026, which was inspired by Gustav Klimt, mosaics and gold. We work with an incredible network of artisans who realize all of the collections by incorporating myriad hand techniques—hand embroidery, hand crochet, hand weaving and hand printing. It’s pretty magical.
What’s your secret to mixing colors, textures and patterns in a cohesive way?
I spend a lot of time playing with prints and textures—you’ve got to have fun with it. Some things, like stripes and animal prints, are often neutrals that can go with anything. I tend to take a crazy piece and pair it with something equally bold, and add a big old cuff or a silver belt. It’s all about play, contrast and scale—often two of the same style prints work in different scales, like florals. Some of my favorite combinations are: leopard print with paisley, polka dots with stripes, sequins with linen and jute.
What pieces from the current collection are you especially excited about?
I have a hardcore obsession with crochet, and our crochet always gets me really excited. Our rose crochet Tyler dress and Emery shirt are so special and, like everything in our collection, made by hand. I love our Farah pants, which are in every collection in different prints. I feel like a flowing flare pant just always looks groovy.
How do you describe the ALIX OF BOHEMIA customer? How do you want them to feel when wearing your pieces?
She’s well-traveled, loves art and music and dresses for herself—she knows who she is and what she wants. I want our customers to feel empowered, confident and totally comfortable in their skin when they wear ALIX OF BOHEMIA. The clothes should make you feel a little rock and roll.
How do you describe your own personal style? What styles or trends have you been wearing most lately?
I tend to be pretty eclectic; I like what I like, and I choose garments that feel emotional and interesting to me. If I’m not wearing ALIX OF BOHEMIA, I’m wearing vintage. I don’t wear trends—not because I have anything against them, I just don’t really know what they are. I always look to Keith Richards for inspiration, my eternal muse!
All images courtesy of ALIX OF BOHEMIA
Alix Verley-Pietrafesa doesn’t follow trends—she follows inspiration. We catch up with the designer to talk vacation wardrobes, Taurus tendencies and the freedom that comes from adventure.
