AEXAE Dresses: Leather, Suede and Modern Shape

I did not expect a swimwear label to make me want a suede jacket, and yet here we are. Amelia Perez founded AEXAE in 2015, and its early story lives in swimwear, but the line now reads as a full wardrobe: London-designed, built on menswear technique, relaxed tailoring and natural fabrics. What I like is that the move does not erase the original ease. The clothes still seem to start with movement, then add structure only where it earns its place.

That balance runs through this edit. Plush outerwear and suede bring weight, while cashmere, wool and linen soften the outline. I would keep the styling spare and let texture do the work, especially when a peplum or balloon shape already gives the outfit a point of view. In my fashion dreams, the Wool Contoured Jacket goes over a fine knit and wide trousers, then stays on for the walk home. AEXAE feels strongest when polish is something you can live in, not save for an occasion.

AEXAE dresses turn on proportion: close through the bodice, then short, flared or long. The Leather Suede Mini Halter Dress is the clearest way into the tactile side, and I would balance it with an oversized coat and a flat boot. The Leather Bandeau Peplum Mini Dress has a sharper waist and a sculptural hem, so keep the jewelry light.

For a softer line, the Linen Halter Drop Waist Maxi Dress has the ease of a summer dress but can take a fine knit underneath. The Wool Funnel Scarf Dress is the cool-weather outlier, and its neckline gives it enough detail to stand alone. Picture a late autumn dinner in the maxi dress under a dark coat, neckline left clean. Practical tip: sit down in a mini before deciding on the length.

Outerwear is where the soft-versus-structured idea gets its clearest form. The Lamb Leather Suede Mid Jacket has a relaxed line that can sit over a thin cashmere layer without swallowing it, and the Lamb Leather Suede Aviator Jacket makes the same material feel more protective. The Leather Distressed Moto Jacket is the rougher option, and I would let it do the talking over a plain tank and straight trousers. If you want to keep going, Brown Season: Cashmere, Suede and Leather in Every Shade of Brown is the one I would read next.

When I want a quieter finish, the Wool Contoured Jacket has a neater shoulder and keeps everything tailored. In my fashion dreams, she takes it from an early meeting to a windy walk home with no accessory changes at all. Practical tip: keep the underlayer fine enough that the jacket can move.

The trousers make the tactile tops and jackets easier to wear day to day. The Wool Contoured Balloon Pant is the sculptural shape, and I would pair it with a close-fitting knit or a cropped jacket so the volume looks deliberate. The Cashmere Cable Straight Leg Pant is the softer pair, with the cable texture doing enough on its own.

The Cotton Drape Balloon Pant feels the most relaxed, especially with a fitted tank and a low-profile shoe. My rule is to keep the top half close with any balloon leg, then repeat one color in the shoe or outer layer. For travel I would start with the cotton one, because it reads relaxed without looking like lounge clothes.

This is the part of the edit that makes a season easier. The Cashmere Ribbed Collar Cardigan and Cashmere Knit Roll Neck Jumper soften the leather shapes, and the Lamb Leather Suede Short and Cashmere Mini Short are two takes on the shorter hem. The Leather Maxi Skirt is the long counterpoint, the Leather Bandeau Peplum Top is the sculptural one, and the Lamb Leather Suede Ruched Top is the more fluid choice. I went deeper on a related idea in Brown Clothes for Fall: Suede, Satin, Knit and Leather.

I would start with one strong texture and keep everything else quiet. Picture the Leather Maxi Skirt with a brushed cardigan and flat boots for a slow dinner that turns into a walk home. Opaque tights are the easy bridge for the shorts once the weather turns.

I like AEXAE best when the contrast is on purpose: a protective jacket over a bare neckline, or a soft knit against leather. The swimwear beginnings give these pieces a sense of body and movement, and this edit leans into winter texture and clean tailoring. I would choose one anchor, perhaps the Wool Contoured Jacket or the Cashmere Cable Straight Leg Pant, then keep the layers simple. Nothing here needs to look precious. Although I will admit the suede is what I keep going back to.