It’s been over a decade since the Alexa Chung It book hit the shelves, and honestly, the fashion world hasn't quite been the same since. When it first launched in 2013, people didn't really know what to make of it. Was it a memoir? A scrapbook? A collection of moody polaroids and sketches? It was all of those things, but mostly, it was a physical manifestation of the "Indie Sleaze" era that defined a generation of Tumblr users and festival-goers.
If you walk into a used bookstore today, you’ll probably find a pink cloth-bound copy with a giant eye on the cover. It’s iconic.
Alexa Chung wasn't just another celebrity writing a book because her agent told her to. She was the British "It Girl" of the late 2000s and early 2010s. We’re talking about the woman who basically single-handedly made Peter Pan collars and Barbour jackets a thing for twenty-somethings living in East London. The Alexa Chung It book captured that specific, lightning-in-a-bottle moment where personal style started to matter more than high-fashion trends.
The Aesthetic That Launched a Thousand Mood Boards
What people often get wrong about this book is thinking it's a "how-to" guide. It isn't. You won't find a list of "10 wardrobe essentials every woman needs." Instead, it's a messy, beautiful dive into Alexa's brain. She talks about her love for Mick Jagger. She writes about the heartbreak of a breakup and how that influences what you wear.
The photos are candid. Some are blurry.
It felt real. In an era before Instagram became a polished gallery of sponsored content, Alexa Chung It felt like peaking into someone’s private diary. She shared her insecurities about her legs and her obsession with Jane Birkin. It’s a very visual experience, filled with doodles and handwritten notes that make the reader feel like they’re sitting on her bedroom floor.
It Wasn't Just About Clothes
Funny enough, the book spends a lot of time talking about music and heartbreak. Alexa’s relationship with Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner was the stuff of indie legend, and while she doesn't name names in a gossipy way, the melancholia of that era drips off the pages.
She writes about the power of a good soundtrack. She mentions how a specific song can make an outfit feel like a costume for a movie that hasn't been made yet. That’s the core of the Alexa Chung It book philosophy: style is an emotional response, not a commercial one.
Why the Critics Were Initially Wrong
When it first came out, some critics were pretty harsh. They called it "vapid" or "lightweight." They missed the point. They were looking for a literary masterpiece, but what they got was a cultural artifact.
Interestingly, the book has aged surprisingly well. While other style guides from 2013 feel incredibly dated—anyone remember the "chevron" obsession?—Alexa’s advice on navy sweaters and denim shorts is still totally relevant. She championed a look that was timeless because it was based on classic silhouettes:
- The trench coat.
- The breton stripe.
- The "I just woke up like this" hair that actually took forty minutes to style.
She taught a generation that it was okay to look a little bit undone. In fact, it was better to look undone.
The Alexa Chung It book really leaned into the idea of the "muse." She looked back at women like Françoise Hardy and Anna Karina. By doing so, she gave her young fans a history lesson in 1960s French New Wave cinema without them even realizing it.
The Influence on Modern Social Media
You can see the DNA of this book in every "photo dump" on Instagram today. The trend of posting a blurry photo of a coffee cup next to a vintage book and a pair of sunglasses? That’s pure Alexa Chung. She pioneered the "curated mess" aesthetic long before there was an algorithm to reward it.
The Practical Side of the It Girl Lifestyle
Despite the dreamy photos, there are some genuinely good nuggets of wisdom hidden in the prose. Alexa talks about the importance of a uniform. She basically tells readers to find what works and stick to it religiously. For her, it was denim. For you, it might be something else.
- Stop trying so hard. If you feel uncomfortable in an outfit, everyone can see it.
- Vintage is your friend, but don't dress like you're in a costume drama. Mix it with something modern.
- Eyeliner should be messy.
- Confidence is mostly just pretending until you actually feel it.
The Alexa Chung It book is surprisingly honest about the effort it takes to look effortless. She admits to spending hours thinking about things that others might find trivial. But that’s what makes an "It Girl," isn't it? The obsession with the details that no one else notices until they see the final result.
Why You Should Still Read It in 2026
You might think a book about style from over a decade ago would be irrelevant now. You'd be wrong. In a world of "fast fashion" and "micro-trends" that disappear in two weeks, the Alexa Chung It book stands as a reminder to slow down. It’s an argument for personal style over "fashion."
The book encourages you to find inspiration in weird places. A character in a movie. A grandmother’s old scarf. A photo of a rockstar from the 70s. It’s about building a visual identity that belongs to you and nobody else.
Honestly, the physical book itself is just a nice object to have. The pink cloth cover has a tactile quality that an e-book just can't replicate. It’s meant to be thumbed through, dog-eared, and left on a coffee table where it can get a little bit beat up.
Beyond the Pink Cover
If you're looking for a deep, philosophical treatise on the state of the garment industry, this isn't it. But if you want to understand why a whole generation of women started wearing Chelsea boots and cat-eye flick eyeliner, this is the primary source.
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Alexa’s voice is self-deprecating and funny. She doesn't take herself too seriously, which is a breath of fresh air in an industry that usually takes itself way too seriously. She talks about her "long, spindly legs" and her "flat chest" in a way that felt revolutionary at the time. She wasn't trying to fit into a traditional mold of sexy; she was trying to be "cool," and she succeeded.
Actionable Takeaways from Alexa's Philosophy
If you want to apply the lessons from the Alexa Chung It book to your own life today, start by auditing your wardrobe for "costume" pieces versus "identity" pieces.
- Identify your "Security Blanket" garment. Alexa has her navy jumpers. What is that one item you put on when you feel like you have nothing to wear, but you still want to feel like yourself? Buy it in three different versions.
- Ditch the "Perfect" Hair. The book emphasizes texture. If your hair is too shiny or too neat, it lacks character. Use a salt spray. Sleep in a braid. Let it be a little chaotic.
- Mix the Masculine and Feminine. This is the core Chung-ism. If you're wearing a short, feminine skirt, wear it with heavy loafers or a man’s oversized shirt. Balance is everything.
- Invest in a Great Coat. A lot of the photos in the book feature Alexa in various outerwear. Her logic? In cold climates, people only see your coat anyway. It might as well be a good one.
- Start a physical scrapbook. In a digital age, there is something powerful about cutting out a picture from a magazine and sticking it to a page. It forces you to be more selective about what you actually find inspiring.
Ultimately, the Alexa Chung It book isn't just about her. It’s about the permission to be a bit of a mess while still looking chic. It’s about the intersection of music, art, and clothes. If you haven't looked at it in a few years, it might be time to pull it off the shelf. You’ll probably find that the "Indie Sleaze" queen still has a few things to teach us about how to navigate a world that’s increasingly obsessed with perfection.
Go find a second-hand copy. Look at the sketches. Ignore the trends of 2026 for a second and remember what it was like when fashion was just about expressing who you were on a Tuesday afternoon.
Next Steps for Your Wardrobe:
- Audit your basics: Look for high-quality denim and navy knitwear that can act as your "uniform" base.
- Research 60s icons: Look up the filmography of Anna Karina or the music of Françoise Hardy to see the direct influences Alexa references in the book.
- Practice the "one-thing" rule: If your outfit feels too "done," remove one accessory or intentionally muss up your hair to achieve that specific "It" look.