It’s always exciting to stumble upon raw, beautiful and enviable talent. That’s why the first time I saw fashion designer Alexandra Nea’s blog, The Art of Afternoon Tea, I felt that rush you get when you ‘discover’ something brilliant.
After completing a diploma of fashion design, Alexandra was quick to start her eponymous label, Alexandra Nea, which saw her showing at RAFW and selling through local and international retailers including Cactus Jam and Selfridges. When the opportunity to move to London came through a job with Ted Baker, she made the brave decision to pack up shop and see what destiny had in store. While in Europe, she made the most of her time exploring some of the world’s finest fashion capitals including Milan and Paris.
Alexandra’s success did not end there. On returning to Australia she worked as the Senior Designer at Collette Dinnigan and is now the Senior Designer and Production Manager of Little Joe Woman. How she then finds time to create her beautiful illustrations to compliment delicious recipes is beyond me, but somehow she does and the blogosphere is all the better for it!
Refusing to learn computer technical drawing, Alexandra is a bit of a traditionalist and that’s what makes her artwork so striking. She is able to bring some old world charm back into a creative industry that is rapidly evolving in response to technological advances. I love the juxtaposition of hand drawn illustrations alongside words that can only be read onscreen via the world wide web. It’s an interesting paradox but one I welcome with open arms (and stomach) – have your breakfast with Audrey and your afternoon tea with Alexandra! To see more of these marvelous illustrations visit The Art of Afternoon Tea.
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