TikToks 'IT Girl' Alix Earle Talks Miu Miu, Skinny Jeans, and Dating Abroad
TikTok's favorite It girl Alix Earle takes on her first Paris Fashion Week.
Ahead of her first Paris Fashion Week, Alix Earle knew she wanted to attend the Miu Miu show. "It still feels chic and classy and very feminine." Fast forward to the final day of PFW and Earle arrived at the show with Youtuber-turned-fashion-icon Emma Chamberlain before going inside to take their seats in the front row. Upon her exit, fans in the crowds shouted her name and she greeted them like one would an old friend.
Since beginning her influencer journey, the University of Miami graduate has gone from making TikToks in her free time between classes to becoming the app's latest It girl, gaining close to 3 million followers in less than a year. When she recommends a product, it sells out—dubbed the "Alix Earle effect"; her podcast Hot Mess, which launched 2 weeks ago, is already a hit; and she was listed on this year's Forbes 30 Under 30.
But moving into the luxury fashion space can be a challenge. Like the brands themselves, there's a history there with those in the industry—everyone knows everyone and they've known them forever. As Earle takes this step into the world of high fashion, L'OFFICIEL USA Editor-in-Chief Caroline Grosso caught up with the young star over coffee at the Hôtel de Crillon after the Miu Miu show to discuss her first PFW, the possible return of skinny jeans, the age-old debate of American vs. European men, and more.
Caroline Grosso: This is your second time in Paris, and your first Paris Fashion Week. What are your first impressions of Paris during Fashion Week?
Alix Earle: I think it's so elevated and chic and I'm having a great time. It's been a lot of fun. I think both the shows and the parties are a good time.
CG: Was there anything completely unexpected? It feels like a bigger stage here, I think the stakes feel a bit higher.
AE: It does, I think it feels a lot more elevated here. And honestly, I was just in New York for Fashion Week and I liked it. It was okay, but I'm loving Paris. I’m shocked by how much more into it I am here.
CG: What did you think of the Miu Miu show?
AE: I loved it. I love Miu Miu as well. Like, I think it's just such a young and fun brand and it still feels chic and classy and very feminine. I was in love with the little mini-skirt looks and there was one jacket that looked like a blazer, but in the style of a jacket and I just thought it was super cute.
CG: What else have you been getting up to here in Paris?
AE: I'm here with my sister, so we've been trying out different food spots running around. We haven't had too much free time to do any real shopping, but we've been going to dinners and getting lunch, just spending time together.
CG: Hypothetically, let's say your phone dies in the middle of fashion week. What do you do?
AE: I'm probably just gonna make friends and small talk with whoever is around me and try and make a connection somehow and have them like take me in and come with them. That's how I have to go about it.
CG: Do you have any non-fashion week things that you like to do here? If you were to recommend one thing to your followers to do while they’re here, what would it be?
AE: I love the Macaroons here. We went to Ladurée and I got a box for me, my friends, my family—I'm bringing them home to everyone. I just think they're so good and obviously they're better in Paris.
CG: They are better in Paris, that's for sure. Is there a fashion trend from your past that you regret trying? Or are you a no-regrets kind of girl?
AE: I mean, no regrets, but I think there's definitely room to learn. I'm trying to think of what's the worst fashion trend...Probably the denim skirts that zipped all the way down in the front—that were like a V shape—were not cute, and I’ll be leaving those in the past. The mini denim skirts are cute. The one I had, the zipper went from the top all the way to the bottom of the skirt.
CG: That also just sounds like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Is there a fashion or beauty trend from the past that you'd like to revisit?
AE: I think growing up low-rise was in, the low-rise skinny jeans were a lot more in and I feel like those are gonna make a comeback at some point soon.
CG: I think you're totally right. I really hate to say it, but I do think the skinny jeans, give it a year or two, will be back. Actually, Prada had it on the runway for this fall. There were so many peg-leg pants, I was like, Are we doing this again?
AE: Yeah, Miu Miu had super low-rise jeans but they kind of had the flare at the bottom. But I’m waiting to see the skinny jeans come back. I don't know how I’ll feel.
CG: You're hosting a podcast now. Are there any dishy questions that you absolutely love to ask your guests?
AE: I honestly really just have on my friends and family, like my sister and I were recording yesterday in front of the Eiffel Tower and asking her some pretty interesting questions about her time abroad, how it's been and if she's into anyone abroad, relationships, how are the men in Europe compared to the men back home?
CG: That's a good question.
AE: That will be coming out in the next two weeks.
CG: Are there any major takeaways from your last few days here? Anything that left a big impression on you or made you want to learn a little bit more about the fashion space?
AE: I’m definitely very, very new to the fashion space and honestly, everyone here is just really inspiring. I'm watching them and I'm a little bit more excited about fashion now and entering the space. I think it definitely opened my eyes to the fashion world a little bit more and hopefully, I’ll take a page out of their books. But everyone here is super elevated and fun, so it was cool to see everyone.
