Who is Alexandra O’Neill? Jill Biden wows in ocean blue coat and dress by emerging American designer
As the United States prepares to welcome its 46th President, Joe Biden, to the office, details about Inauguration Day and the associated festivities are coming out. While not the biggest concern, the President-elect's, as well as the First Lady-elect, Dr. Jill Biden's, fashion choices are still something people look forward to. As the Inauguration Day festivities are set to begin, we have learned that Biden will be wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat, both by American designer Ralph Lauren, while his wife, Jill, will be wearing an ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress by emerging American designer Alexandra O’Neill.
The details were mentioned on CNN as well as tweeted by Washington Post reporter, Matt Viser, who tweeted, "Joe Biden today is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat, both by American designer Ralph Lauren, according to transition officials. Dr. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress by emerging American designer Alexandra O’Neil of Markarian."
Joe Biden today is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat, both by American designer Ralph Lauren, according to transition officials. Dr. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress by emerging American designer Alexandra O’Neil of Markarian.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) January 20, 2021
While previous first ladies have often gone for established designers, Jill Biden's choice is relatively unheard of. Yet, O'Neill has already created waves since establishing her label, Markarian, in 2017. Read on to know more about O'Neill, her designs, and who she has dressed.
Who is Alexandria O'Neill?
O'Neill's label, Markarian, started with a wedding. With a wedding consisting of many festivities beyond the ceremony, including rehearsal dinners and engagement parties, O'Neill found herself struggling to find suitable dresses for every occasion for her sister's wedding years ago. She set out to solve the problem, and thus, Markarian was born. According to Markarian's site, the name is based on a galaxy, thus combining O'Neill's "love of celestial romanticism with timeless design and modern grace." The young designer fell in love with fashion when her grandmother, Gigi, taught her to sew when she was 10 years old.
She says her interest in the stars began while she was growing up in rural Colorado, surrounded by complete darkness and looking at the stars in the sky. She said, " If I looked long enough, I would always see at least one shooting star. The sky that I saw when I was young was infinite, and that is what I loved most about it."
She calls these moments "magic," saying, "I often think it is that magic that led me to focus on antiquities in college - the romantic notion of mythology and the human desire to create sense of the workings of the cosmos." While going for elegance and grace, Markarian aims to be sustainable as well. According to their website, "Each special, romantic, and ethereal piece is thoughtfully made-to-order in an effort to reduce waste."
Who has worn Markarian?
O'Neill first found herself in the limelight when Emma Roberts wore a dress designed by her during an appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'. Other celebrities who have worn O'Neill's designs include Kate Hudson, Beanie Feldstein, Constance Wu, Felicity Jones, Kerry Washington, Laura Dern, Priyanka Chopra, Lizzo, Thandie Newton, Andie MacDowell, among others.
O'Neill has also collaborated with Christie's Interiors in 2019 and with Swarovski for the Fall/Winter 2020 season. For Christie's Interiors, O'Neill worked with interior designer, Cece Barfield Thomas -- who is also her best friend from college -- and designed a line of dresses and homeware inspired by the summer Interiors auction.