“Leisure is not a luxury; it is a necessity for the creative mind. In the quiet moments of beauty, we rediscover ourselves.”
From The Desk of Ms. Keishel
My dearest readers,
Born in Trinidad and raised between the Caribbean island and New York City, I grew up immersed in stories, culture, and history of my little countryside village Toco, and ensconced in the bold, expressive fashion of Brooklyn.
During my early years as an editor, writer, and book critic I honed my craft in storytelling, but I knew something was missing. In an era where intellectual women are often defined by their ambition alone, I longed to create a space that celebrated knowledge and achievement, as well as, heritage, leisure, beauty, and soft living. I dreamed of an elegant world where literature, fashion, and art converged effortlessly. There was a time when I did not know how to put this into words, but I knew that there was a need for a haven where intellectualism and elegance could exist side by side. I wanted to create a space where thoughtful women could reclaim the true art of living in their highest form, as part of their narrative. And after speaking to many high-achieving women, it seems like they yearned for the same.
And so, Alexandrine was born from that longing.
Alexandrine is a heritage lifestyle house devoted to the art of cultured leisure — the belief that a life well-lived is one shaped by beauty, ideas, and intentional experience. It is a space where the intellectual and the aesthetic are in conversation, and where the way you spend your time is understood as a reflection of who you are and who you are becoming.
Here, leisure is not a reward for productivity or a pause between obligations, but a practice that is deliberate, cultivated, and deeply personal. It is the afternoon spent with a book that changes how you see the world; or a walk through a museum that reminds you why beauty matters. It can also be a beautiful scarf that becomes a part of your morning ritual.
Alexandrine exists to inspire that kind of living. Through the writing, the curation, and the experiences and aesthetics I share, I invite you into a more thoughtful, more beautiful version of your everyday life. This is a space for women who believe that refinement is essential, and that culture, beauty, and leisure are necessities for a life of genuine meaning, and not just luxuries.
Welcome to the House of Alexandrine.
With grace and gratitude,
Ms. Keishel
Early 1900s
The Foundation
Alexandrine — A woman of quiet strength and dignity, she worked on a cocoa estate in Toco, Trinidad. Her story, rich with heritage and perseverance, inspires the very essence of Alexandrine today.
Mid-1900s
A Matriarch’s Grace
Henrietta — A dedicated housewife who cultivated a home filled with warmth, tradition, and storytelling, passing down the values of resilience and refinement to the next generation.
Late 1900s
A Healer’s Touch
Marcia — A nurse, balancing compassion and precision, she carried forward the family’s legacy of care and dedication, embodying the quiet strength of the women before her.
2010
The First Chapter in Fashion
JLEHSIEK — A vision for fashion took shape as I launched my first clothing line, JLEHSIEK, a bold step toward merging design with storytelling.
2015
A Pause for Reflection
After five years of growth and exploration, JLEHSIEK closed, marking a moment of evolution—a pause before the next chapter.
2025
The Birth of Alexandrine
Alexandrine & Co. is born—a literary lifestyle brand and fashion house that seamlessly fuses elegance with the vibrant richness of Caribbean heritage, weaving storytelling, art, and history into every creation. Inspired by the legacy of the women before me, this is more than a brand; it is a testament to a lineage of strength, elegance, and vision.
“Elegance is not about trends—it is about history, artistry, and the quiet confidence of knowing who you are.” —Ms. Keishel
about alexandrine
Cultured Leisure & Atelier
Alexandrine is a heritage lifestyle house devoted to the art of cultured leisure and slow fashion. We design experiences, practices, and aesthetics that inspire women to cultivate more thoughtful, beautiful lives.
Cultured leisure is the deliberate pursuit of art, ideas, beauty, and culture as a foundation for a life well-lived. It's reclaiming leisure as an intellectual and spiritual practice, and a pillar of a meaningful life, not a reward for productivity. At Alexandrine, that philosophy is the foundation of everything we do.
Crafted For A Life of Cultured Elegance Where Intellect Meets Leisure
the alexandrine parlour
A Space for Intellectual & Artistic Exchange
The Alexandrine Parlour is a sanctuary where scholarship, style, and cultured leisure come together as a single act of cultural expression. The Parlour comes from the tradition of the literary salon and the historical parlour, where writers, philosophers, and creatives gathered to think and to live well together. Through intimate gatherings, aesthetic research, and the careful preservation of ideas worth keeping, The Alexandrine Parlour holds space for those who understand that how we dress, speak, read, and convene is a life well-considered, and thus a creative act.
join the conversation
Our Parlour is both digital and physical
Parlour Talks — A seasonal in-person salon series that invites guest writers, thinkers, and tastemakers to reflect on themes inspired by our collections. Held in beautifully curated spaces, these gatherings are designed for meaningful conversation, cultural discovery, and connection.
Themed Literary Salons — Virtual and occasional in-person gatherings hosted throughout the year where members dive into stories and ideas that bridge literature, art, fashion, and history, with guest speakers, writers, and editors. Members are welcomed and encouraged to share related work.