Beauty Kit CFDA {Fashion Incubator} Designer ALIX Shares Her Beach-Ready Beauty Secrets
Whether it’s designing her collection of chic bodysuits for her brand ALIX or bringing a no-fuss attitude to her beauty routine, the New York based fashion designer Alexandra Alvarez is all about making beautiful simplicity stand out. This summer, as part of the new class of CFDA {Fashion Incubator} designers, Alexandra is expanding her coveted bodysuit brand into a new swimwear line premiering at Miami’s Swim Week. Minimalist designs with unique cuts, bright colors, and ultimate comfort – Alexandra’s swimwear perfectly translates the ALIX aesthetic to the beach. Her beauty routine naturally follows, always keeping things simple but bold.
We talked fashion and beauty secrets on the beach at W Koh Samui with Alexandra, exploring her go-to beach products and finding out the history behind the debut swim collection that will be featured alongside Thaddeus ONeil‘s collection at the W South Beach Swim Week pop-up shop, open to the public July 21st and 22nd, 2017.
What’s your must-have beauty product for the beach?
Alexandra Alvarez: My La Mer Reparative Face and Body Sun Lotion. Even after laying out on the beach for hours, this lotion helps to keep my skin protected and hydrated. Another secret is the La Mer After Sun Enhancer lotion. This is one of my favorite secrets to bring out your after sun glow for a natural no-make up look at night.
What’s your must-have hair care product for the beach?
AA: My hair product of choice is Oribe Anti-Humidity Spray – perfect for controlling frizz and flyaways. I also can’t live without Oribe Dry Shampoo, literally saves my life when I’m on vacation. And both come travel size!
What’s your beach beauty routine?
AA: The first thing I always do is apply my La Mer Sunscreen lotion for face and body before stepping out to the beach. When I’m on the beach I love to spray the Clarins Sun Care Oil Spray. It gives you the perfect glow, has SPF and doesn’t feel too sticky or oily. The best part about this is that you can also spray it in your hair for sun protection and the fragrance is heavenly. I like to take advantage of a natural dewy look at the beach and keep my make up routine pretty simple. For lips, I use Fresh Sugar Advanced Lip Balm so it keeps my lips nourished and soft.
What’s your go-to beach outfit?
AA: Currently, my go to beach outfit is my ALIX East bikini top and ALIX Collins bottom with my ALIX Shoreclub pants. I love that I can put on a simple tank or top with my shore club pants after the beach and still feel chic enough to go to dinner or drinks post beach.
How do you transition this into going out at night?
AA: Honestly, I just throw on a white linen button down, tie it up around my waist with a knot, add an accessory (like hoops or a cuff) and I’m ready for dinner.
How did you start as a fashion designer and why did you start designing bodysuits specifically?
AA: I started by designing mainly bottoms while I was at Parsons School of Design and couldn’t find simple tops to style them with. This eventually lead me to search for bodysuits and realize there was a huge void in the market (literally non-existent in 2013) for a luxury basic bodysuit that was well crafted and modern.
You’ve recently transitioned into making swimwear. How is this process different than making your bodysuits?
AA: Designing swimwear is very similar in a lot of ways to designing bodysuits, however, the key difference in swimwear is that as much as I want to reinvent the wheel and get creative, you have to consider it’s a product for the water. It has to be swim-friendly and offer the right amount of support and comfort above all.
Is there any design element you wanted to keep the same in your swimwear as your bodysuits?
AA: Versatility and fit paired with an understated edge are elements that remain in my swimwear, always making sure it feels like ALIX.
Finally, what’s your tip for looking great at the beach and beyond?
AA: Pilates and kale smoothies.