I’m sitting at the dining table in Alex Kate Knight’s new West Village pad, devouring a cup of coffee while taking in the décor as she finishes up on her laptop. Born and raised in Melbourne, she now calls New York home but, as a model, is never in one place long. In fact, when we meet she’s just returned from one of her routine trips to Los Angeles and is already preparing to head to London.
It used to be that she was best known for her face. And it’s true to say that, long after being spotted by one of Mario Testino’s assistant on a London tube several years ago, hers is a face that still sells clothes. Over the course of her career, she’s pretty much done it all: walked the runway in New York, London and Paris Fashion Week, started in editorials in the likes of Marie Claire, Elle and Grazia and has a roll call of clients from Prada, Versace and Giorgio Armani to Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Lanvin. Behind the scenes she’s quietly building a reputation. Now though, she’s becoming known for having one of the best business minds among her peers. In fact, as we sit and talk, her attention is fixed on planning permission, location scouting and logistics for Bluestone Lane, the chain of coffee shop meets eateries she owns with husband and business partner, Nick Stone.
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If you’ve been paying attention on Instagram lately, chances are that you’re more well acquainted with Bluestone Lane than you think. With outposts scattered around the city from in places like NoHo, Midtown and both the Upper East Side and West Village, not to mention spots in Montauk and Philadelphia, it’s quickly been added to the bastion of go-to breakfast and coffee spots. Log on to Instagram any given weekend and your feed is bound to be littered with shots of their much-loved Brekkie Board or Rainbow Bowl piled high with quinoa, spinach, cabbage, feta and the like. She talks to be at length about the menu, the atmosphere she wanted to create and the big expansion plans. Yes, she has a pretty face but it’s the details from which great fortunes stem and when it comes to her business, Alex is all about the details.
It doesn’t end there either. In true multi-hyphenate fashion, she’s also quite the wellness guru, training in Biochemical Science before turning her hand to Pilates, which she now teaches at Core Pilates in New York and with private clients at C-Lean Studio too. Oh, and she just happens to find time to run an uber successful health and wellness blog too. See, she’s the real deal. Who better to quiz about all things health, wellbeing and beauty? Here she talks dealing with disappointment, building an empire beyond fashion and how growing up in Australia has influenced her approach to beauty.
ON GETTING DISCOVERED: It happened the first time at a party in Melbourne and after being signed for a short space of time, I was taken to London where I was discovered by Mario Testino’s assistant on the tube. After that I started shooting some pretty big campaigns with him. Before then I’d never thought about modelling at all. It literally came into my world by accident. As I hadn’t finished school at that point, I didn’t thinking of modelling beyond it being something fun thing to do while at university. I didn’t really know much about that world at all. Melbourne is such a small place. I actually wanted to get into sports when I was growing up. I was ranked 8th in Australia for the under 18’s 400m so track was always my first love. Leading into the national championships though, I tore two spinal discs in training due to my growth spurt, which meant I had to be removed from the championships. Emotionally, it was one of the hardest moments of my life, as it was my everything at that point.
ON LEAVING AUSTRALIA: I left to live in Europe and moved to New York because my husband was transferred to business school here. It was a big transition, as the pace, people and culture of NY was very different to home and New York. Getting used to living in a shoebox of an apartment wasn’t easy.
LIFE BEYOND FASHION: I’ve had so many incredible experiences – working for Dior at a private function at Elton John’s castle in England is definitely up there – but I’ve always been really interested in the world of health and wellness. I started of studying Osteopathic Medicine but couldn’t keep up with the medical practicals because I was always travelling internationally for modelling. I ended up switching to Biochemical Science with a major in nutrition because not only did I love the course, it was a lot more text based so allowed me to keep modelling at the same time. Honestly, for years I used to board planed with giant medical textbooks! Biology and biomechanics are subjects I absolutely nerd out on.
ON TURNING HER HAND TO PILATES: I qualified here in New York at Core Pilates, Pilates entered my world around the time I tore my spinal discs. I practiced twice a week and it reduced my recovery time by about 3 months. After that I became completely hooked. Now I have a private studio that I call my own in New York and I also teach private or duo classes at C-Lean Studio too. I do structural training and traditional Pilates, focusing on alignment and structural strength. I’m all about achieving that long, lean and strong physique.
UPPING HER #GIRLBOSS CREDENTIALS WITH BLUESTONE LANE: It’s a café enterprise I set up with my husband and I’m super proud of it. We launched it only two and a half years ago and we already have ten locations. It all stemmed from us really narrowing in on both of our strengths and passions. We are both from Melbourne, which has a seriously strong café culture. When we landed in New York, we both really missed our weekend ritual of working out before heading for breakfast in a gorgeous café. That culture didn’t seem to exist in New York, even though brunch is a big thing here. So we decided to make a precinct that feels familiar and welcoming with great coffee and even better food!
THE ART OF JUGGLING: In the beginning we both juggled it with a few of our friends who we brought on board to help. Like me, my husband has a full-time job so the moment we launched Bluestone Lane our lives definitely became really busy. By day my husband ad I would work in our primary jobs and by night would be sorting bread, coffee cups and negotiating with builders. We started small with a tiny hole in the wall café in a building in Midtown. We all chipped and quickly the community of our amazingly loyal customers grew. If you’re thinking about launching your own business, my best advice would be to know what you are good at, do that and stick with it and hire people to plug your gaps.
ON HER SKINCARE ROUTINE: Cleansing in the morning is the thing that wakes me. I use Rational Skincare, which is absolutely divine. I was introduced to it from my skin care doctor in Melbourne and I have been using it ever since. The emulsion is creamy and beautiful on the skin. I lightly exfoliate my face with a Natural cotton cloth then apply a hydration serum from Sisley, finishing with Rational’s UV moisturiser. For my body, I swear by coconut oil. I’ve used it for years. It’s particularly great in the evening for removing eye make-up, which I love, especially for those days I’ve been on set. If I’ve had a lot of makeup on, I cleanse with the same Rationale cleanser but use my Clarisonic and use a Tata Harper resurfacing face mask for a seriously boost. Once I have finished with the mask, I add drops or rosehip, argan and jojoba oil onto my skin. Growing up in Australia, sun protection is important so I’ve always worn it both in summer and in winter. I wear sheer sunscreens like Titzo 3 or La Roche Posay’s Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid, nothing less than SPF30.
ON ‘GET UP AND GO’ MAKE-UP: I never wore make-up growing up. My mother was like the make-up police. I literally wore it for the first time at 18. Now, anything I know about make-up is because I’ve been lucky enough to work with amazing professionals for so many years. I think my rule of thumb is less is more. My race out of the door face is concealer under the eyes, filled in eyebrows, a little mascara, highlighter on the cheeks and a little stain on the lips. If I don’t have to wear make-up, I don’t. Most days I’m making-up less, as I much prefer other people doing it for me. Product-wise, I love Tata Harper lip and cheeks products and I think Becca makes the best sheer skin coverage. I’m a sucker for Tom Ford eyeliner and red lipsticks too.
ON HER HAIR ROUTINE: I used to have really long hair. I haven’t been adventurous with my hair over the years – it’s been long, with a slight wave my whole career. I try and wash it only three times a week, as I don’t like washing the natural oils out of my hair. I use the Kevin Murphy angle wash and hydration rinse. My routine is quite paired back. I use argan oil in the ends before bed each night and aside from that, try and keep it healthy through my diet. I eat lots of natural fats, avocado, almonds, and fish oil, which definitely helps keep my hair looking nourished. In the past, I’ve used Viviscal, which is a vitamin that helps with your hair and nails too. For my highlights, I swear by Frederick Ferraki in Soho – they’re amazing!
ON HEALTH & FITNESS: I do a lot of training by myself, as I do a lot of combination work. But I of course enjoy group classes to, as they are so motivating. I do Barrys Bootcamp in New York and spin, barre and dance classes too. I’m big on mixing it up. I always try to workout before I get onto set when I’m away on jobs. It sets my mind and energy for the day, even if it’s just doing a little yoga in my room. When I travel I try to eat light; being on airplanes all the time is difficult so I travel with raw almonds, protein powder and fruit wherever I am.