Jacqui Alexander doesn’t follow the trends. She doesn’t need too. Instead she creates timeless pieces which can be passed down generation to generation and treasured forever.

While most 19 year olds are snoozing through a lecture, or dancing the night away in some club, Alexander is a young woman fully immersed in the fashion world, creating fashion masterpieces.

For winter, Alexander has created an ‘essentials collection’, which is for girls just like her who are busy, travel a lot and work.

She visited Thailand last year with some friends, but was also there for business. Alexander believes that Asia will be a new market for her clothes and is being actively pursued for her collection over there, she has even being asked to do a show in Bangkok in July.

Alexander really broke into the spotlight when she was named the face of the Motorola Spring Fashion Week last year in Melbourne.

“It took everything to a different level. It allowed things to happen faster than they usually would in the fashion industry,” Alexander said.

From there, Alexander became a firm favorite for fashionistsas in Melbourne and has developed a loyal following. She will have a runway show at the Rosemount Fashion Week in Sydney, has being on show in Dubai and has been featured in both The Age and Cleo.

She also confirmed whispers that she has struck a deal with a major department store, but could not reveal whether it was David Jones or Myer.

As the daughter of two very artistic parents, her father a costume designer for the Russian Ballet and her mother a painter and sculptor, Alexander was destined for the fashion business.

“Fashion has always being my life. I have never known anything different,” she said.

However, after finishing high school, Alexander begun an advertising degree at RMIT University, but she has since deferred to focus on her fashion career. If she were to go back Alexander said she would love to study journalism and write because she has always being a creative person. In fact, her secret talents lie in painting and writing.

She is also dedicated to the art of collecting. She has serious collections of teapots, vintage jackets and watches (she was wearing two vintage ones when we spoke).

“My ambition is to travel around the world, and each place I go to, purchase a teapot.”

Alexander is one of the youngest designers in Melbourne, although you wouldn’t know it with her expertise and maturity. With so many well-established designers based in Melbourne such as Allanah Hill and Wayne Cooper, many younge people would struggle with the pressures of the highly competitive industry.

“Being young takes away the fear aspect, because I know that I am young, and I can take constructive criticism because I am still learning as I go. I’ve got the energy to give it my all,” Alexander said.

Alexander aims to create pieces which are timeless and loves the idea that her clothes can be passed from one generation to the next. She tries to create a unique look that not everybody will be wearing from off the shelf.

One particular unique piece that Alexander has created as part of her winter collection is the catsuit. It is a woolen suit that can be worn under anything from a silk dress to a jersey skirt. She says that this will be a must-have for winter, because as always, layering will be very popular.

“It’s a great winter essential. It replaces having to wear stockings and long sleeve tops,” she said.

Much of the winter collection is androgynous, with slouchy checked pants and a John Lennon felt jacket, popular buys for the season. Alexander favored the masculine, streamline look because it is ‘sexy.’ She found that this style suits a ‘modern girl who’s got the career and who travels.’

However, there are some very feminine pieces in the collection. The necessary party dress has been tweaked by Alexander through the use of soft tulle.

“It avoids satin or sequins, which a lot of girls find intimidating or over the top,” she said.

The slouchy checked pants are a favorite of Alexander’s and customers alike and are a throwback to the 1920s era of Coco Chanel and other icons. A woolen turtleneck dress is another great basic item, along with the silk blouses and cute shirt dresses.

Alexander tends to tone down her collections for winter, leaning towards the ever popular black Melbournians always embrace.

“Summer has much more color and much more glam,” she said.

Thanks to this practicality, the most sought-after pieces in the collection are the parka, shirt dress, basics and silk blouse.

“It seems to be a packing list, for a holiday. They’re easy to fold, and they’re lightweight,” Alexander said.

At such a young age, a great artistic background and strong interest for her work nationally and internationally, it seems Alexander has already secured her place in the fashion world.

Her collections are stocked in boutiques nationally, such as Nicola and Green With Envy. Go to www.jacquialexander.com.au for more information.