While back home in New York earlier this fall at a Thanksgiving brunch (incidentally at our own Yale/Dartmouth Club), I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to Alexa Meyer—former head designer at Zac Posen where I fondly remember working during summer 2008.  I immediately recognized Alexa as the flushed and airy presence that used to come through Zac’s Tribeca studio—bringing a sweet, unpretentious positivity and a fierce sense of fabric with her that always made me look up.

Born in Germany and educated in Paris, Alexa brought a unique accent to the Thanksgiving table of New Yorkers—much like her long-term contributions to the world of women’s wear.  Before Zac Posen, Alexa served for four years as head-designer for the women’s collection at Jil Sander, and later for Celine and Ralph Lauren.  Alexa’s latest design venture is something a little more personal—her own line, The German Fräuleins, which she launched with fellow ESMOD Paris alumna and friend Anjelika Kammann in 2008.  When she invited me to visit her showroom, I couldn’t be more thrilled.  I was dying to see whose closet Alexa had been dreaming up lately.

After trekking down to Crosby Street, I couldn’t be more delighted to arrive at the 4th floor showroom.  Racks and racks of hand-made Italian knitwear, in shades from toasted wheat to amber to slate grey, hung invitingly.  Accented with cool, decadent details—white fur collars and silver, latticework stripes—the collection felt cozy but innovative.

Strongly influenced by their belief in credibility and authenticity, all of Alexa's and Angelika's knit-wear is made from the finest yarn, refined and manufactured in Italy's most respected knit factories, and brought to their showroom totally touchable—a tactile exhibition of quality fabric and fresh, modern design-thinking.  Keep your eyes on The Fräuleins—chances are you’ll have the pleasure of brushing up against them soon—they’ve recently announced they’re expanding to full ladies wear!