Introducing Finely Krafted Womenswear

At 82 years of age, Ralph Lauren is in his sixth decade of business, a remarkable achievement that is testament to his timeless vision of fashion. From humble beginnings selling men’s ties from a drawer in the Empire State Building in the late ’60s, the genesis of Lauren’s empire of American elegance was catalysed by his first foray into menswear, crafting tailored suits and shirts, before launching the Polo line in 1968. He described the Polo look as “tweedy English-American with a French cut,” and while it was a great success with the discerning male echelons of the east coast, it was in even greater demand by the women in their lives, prompting Lauren to release his first womenswear collection in 1972. The rest is, as they say, history.

In doing so, Alexander Kraft follows in the footsteps of some of the greatest names in fashion history. It’s a blueprint that many menswear designers have attempted, but only a handful have achieved success in. Raf Simons designed menswear for a decade before launching his first womenswear collection for Jil Sander. Giorgio Armani met Nino Cerruti in 1964, exclusively designing menswear until 1976, when he released his first womenswear collection under his own name. Tom Ford, too, didn’t release his own line of womenswear until six years after launching his eponymous brand. What the likes of Messrs Ford, Armani and Lauren have been able to leverage across both menswear and womenswear is an acute appreciation of timeless elegance and sophistication, two principles that are at the very core of the Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo collections. The very same pillars upholding the menswear collection—traditional tailoring techniques, flattering silhouettes, an understated neutral colour palette, and luxurious natural fibres—have all been seamlessly translated into the womenswear collection to create a modern aesthetic imbued with elegance and sexiness.

The Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo woman is dynamic, successful, and independent, so this collection elevates and accentuates those traits by creating silhouettes that empower her femininity. Take the slim flared trousers in white, beautifully handmade by a family-owned atelier in Tuscany which references the Yves Saint Laurent wedding tuxedo worn by the inimitable Bianca Jagger in 1971. Alternatively, a pair of navy Cigarette pants perfectly tapered to finish above the ankle creates a svelte silhouette reminiscent of the elegant examples from the late ’50s. Or the unstructured unlined wool jacket in beige, a stunning example of a softly tailored menswear silhouette in the Italian tradition, with a slim silhouette and high armholes. As a result, it creates a highly flattering figure while providing the comfort and ease of wear of a cardigan.

The knitwear elements of the collection are equally as sophisticated, crafted from both cashmere and a cotton/cashmere blend for a beautifully soft finish and a natural drape. Two sleeveless options in a rollneck and a crew neck bring a tactile, textural finish to a smart business look (perfect to pair with the aforementioned navy cigarette pants), while the long-sleeve rollneck version in pure cashmere delivers the perfect blend of chic and refined preppiness, all available in either navy, ecru, or black, as well as a tactile beige faux suede style.

The pencil skirt is one of the eternal classics in a woman’s wardrobe. It’s an extremely versatile garment, able to be worn in both a professional and a social environment. Form-fitting from waist to hips to hem, it was the genius of Christian Dior that popularised the style in his 1954 “H-Line” collection, and it features prominently in this season’s collection. Combining classical elegance with a touch of sexiness, yet always retaining an aura of class and sophistication, the Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo pencil skirt (available in both navy and black) has been crafted from a soft lightweight wool and can be worn with a shirt for a busy day in town, with a long-sleeved top or a cashmere sweater for a day at the office, or with a sleeveless top for a sleek, sexy, yet classy look for a night out. Alternatively, we have also created a shorter wool skirt in a soft beige-brown tone with a more casual, sportier cut ideal for wearing with oversized knits and a pair of loafers for that preppy Hamptons look.

With new seasonal womenswear shirts providing a perfectly fitted cut and ideal to be worn with either a smart professional ensemble or a more off-duty weekend look, the entire Autumn/Winter 22 collection is an amalgamation of strong contemporary femininity and timeless aesthetics. It has been designed with versatility in mind, combining a tight, understated colour palette with classic silhouettes in order to create a plethora of styling options no matter what the occasion. Moreover, working closely with Italian ateliers that we trust, the collection delivers amazing value for money, especially when you consider that it will never go “out of fashion” because great style will always be permanent.

Explore the new AW22 AK Monte Carlo collection