Alexandra Holder is a creative director, a writer and all around inspirational woman, working and living in London with her family. Not to mention her impeccable and effortlessly cool style we absolutely love.
Most recently Alex worked as Acting Content Director at ELLE magazine, where she was part of Elle’s powerful #MoreWomen campaign video (watch HERE)for which she produced, demonstrating how few women are in powerful positions around the world. The headline of the campaign wrote: “The story of how women in positions of strength continually support and empower each other is consistently ignored while the myth that we put ourselves against each other perpetuates”.
Before Elle, she was Partner and Executive Creative Director of advertising agency Anomaly working with brands including Stella McCartney, Universal Music, Diageo, YouTube and Lyst.
She’s currently pursuing her own creative projects including a collaboration with MIND on mental health for young women and writing a book proposal.
MERCER7 had the opportunity to meet with Alexandra ask a few questions about her lifestyle and work.
Follow Alex’s journey over on her Instagram and read her latest articles over on REFINERY29 about ageing and confidence, and ELLE about her wedding plans (we love her idea of a perfect wedding!)
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
I’m currently writing and pursuing my own creative projects. Most recently I was Acting Content Director at ELLE magazine and before that I was Partner and Executive Creative Director of advertising agency Anomaly working with brands including Stella McCartney, Universal Music, Diageo, YouTube and Lyst.
I love creating a campaign that makes people think differently about a cause & I love a brand with mass reach. So getting a high street fashion brand to acknowledge female issues – anxiety, motherhood, pay-gap, inequality, etc.
Alexandre Holder
YOU’VE HAD AN IMPRESSIVE CAREER TO DATE – BESIDES YOUR ROLE AS ACTING CONTENT DIRECTOR AT ELLE MAGAZINE, YOU HAVE WORKED WITH IMPRESSIVE BRANDS. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Apart from getting Bell End on a poster?! All the smart people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Especially the nine years I spent with my advertising creative partner Oli Beale. I met him when I was 24 and we spent years flying to ridiculous places by writing ‘we open on a beach’ scripts. We worked really hard for great brands and got to have lots of fun while we did it. Another highlight was switching careers at 33. I went from advertising to editorial. ELLE brought me closer to culture, gave me the freedom to write and made me realise that you can try different things and don’t have to stick to a prescribed path.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
I’m trying to write as much as possible. Probably revealing far too much while I do.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION?
I love creating a campaign that makes people think differently about a cause & I love a brand with mass reach. So getting a high street fashion brand to acknowledge female issues – anxiety, motherhood, pay-gap, inequality, etc. Tackling those with some heart and a cool aesthetic will always be my dream brief.
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY BUSY, JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD, FAMILY LIFE AND YOUR CAREER. WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
This sounds so wanky – but I’m on a ‘zero self improvement month’ not because I was particularly self improving before, but I was always trying. I’m no longer clicking on articles with titles such as ‘the things the happiest people in the world do everyday’ or forcing my self through podcasts about productivity. Instead I’m taking lots of baths, reading fiction for fun, hanging out with my one year old son and finally watching series 6 of Girls. I’m 2 weeks in and ironically I’ve never felt more on it.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
Everything Hadley Freeman and Lindy West write for the Guardian. Everything Ruby Tandoh writes for ELLE. Oh and THISinstagram account.
GO-TO BRANDS FOR EVERYDAY DRESSING?
It used to be Alexander Wang but then I grew both a child and hips, so now it’s Adidas, Cos, &Other Stories, Samsoe and Samsoe, Mads Norgaard, Topshop, House of Sunny & Vivienne Westwood.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
A life where you feel content and have freedom to make necessary changes.
BEST PIECE OF ADVISE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Don’t lie to yourself. What ever happens at least admit to yourself how you feel about something and why you’re doing it. Amazing how many times I used to lie to myself.
WHAT WOULD YOU BUY IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT?
A holiday home on an easyjet flight path – probably on the French Spanish border.
WHAT ITEMS ARE ON YOUR WISHLIST FOR THIS SEASON?
Some badass Gucci sunglasses that make me look like a cat.
Instagram: @ALEXANDREHOLDER
