Dr. Macrene Alexiades MD, PhD is a dual board-certified dermatologist and scientist to some of fashion and entertainment’s most famous—but first and eternally, she’s an artist.

A New York native, Dr. Alexiades is part of Friends of the CFDA, a select group of individuals who unite under the same passion in upholding our organization’s mission: to strengthen American fashion globally by amplifying and supporting the business development of our country’s creative design excellence, all while making a positive social impact.

The pursuit of excellence is clear in her résumé: she received three degrees from Harvard, developed her own revolutionary clean skincare brand Macrene Actives, and she devotes her practice to replacing the need for cosmetic procedures and surgery with plant-based, non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free and clinically-proven formulations for the good of our health and the planet.

But before the medical degrees and her current (and excessively chic) Park Avenue clinic where she treats her celebrity clientele, she was the daughter of Greek immigrants growing up in Queens, with a fashion designer mother who had a successful career as a designer for bygone department store Lord & Taylor.

That’s where she credits where her love of fashion began, and now, as an entrepreneur and decorated scientist, she immerses herself within this fashion world not only as a conscious consumer, but she takes it a step further by becoming a true champion and advocate of the American fashion industry.

“My homecoming to fashion proved powerful, and I am delighted and relieved to be among my people at last,” said Dr. Alexiades.

Here at CFDA, we go beyond just friends. We’re family.

Tell us about yourself, your work, and relationship to fashion.

My mother was a fashion designer who got straight A’s at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She was hired as a designer for Lord & Taylor and had a corner office. Per the insistence of my grandmother, she gave it up to get married and raise three Ivy League doctors.

I loved art from young age. I started doing portraits as early as three. When my mother cut patterns and sewed clothing, I would help her and use the scraps to sew doll dresses alongside her. Fashion is in my blood.

When, as a Harvard senior, time came to decide whether to become an fashion designer or a physician-scientist, my mother cautioned, “I don’t want you to be a starving artist.”

I experienced what one would call an early-life crisis, took a semester off, ran home to New York City, and made one of life’s most important decisions during a walk in Central Park (of course)! My brother, a highly successful orthopedic surgeon himself, accompanied me on the historic stroll, where I ultimately concluded that mother was probably right. Although I was gifted in science and math, paving the way for a career in medicine, I was assured that I would always have art as a hobby.

Upon becoming a physician-scientist after completing the Harvard MD-PhD program, I realized that there was not much time for art. In choosing a specialty, I was torn between neurosurgery and plastic surgery, yet the pull of the aesthetic directed me towards the latter. My future husband dissuaded me from a surgical specialty, and urged me to go into dermatology. This ultimatum was much to the chagrin of my mentor, Dr. Robert Goldwin, the chairman of plastic surgery at Harvard Medical School and editor in chief of the Annals of Plastic Surgery, who famously argued, “You are a stallion, you need to run!” Nevertheless, I acquiesced and chose dermatology; yet, within this discipline, my art flourished, hence my patients being the most beautiful beings on earth.

The fashion designer inside me exhibited herself as I became emancipated into social circles in Manhattan. My eye for fashion served as an expression of my art and my frame as my own mannequin. Celebrity patients and friends expressed kind admiration of my style, even asking for red carpet advice and styling suggestions. I received compliments, features and profiles from editors at Town & Country, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Vogue.

On one beautiful day, I was invited by Steven Kolb to become a founding member of the Friends of the CFDA. I found my home. The Friends of the CFDA, like myself, are intellectual creatives who have a natural talent for fashion, but for reasons like mine, ended up in other fields.

What inspired you to become a Friend of the CFDA?

The CFDA is the organization to which I feel the strongest affiliation in my life. I am a member and officer of many medical, dermatological, editorial, charitable, and art related organizations, including the Costume Institute of the Met. While the Costume Institute celebrates and preserves historic designs through an artist’s lens, the CFDA, to me, is the beating heart of fashion, which is where my vibration matches seamlessly.

So far, what has been your favorite part of belonging to the organization?

My favorite part is the regular gatherings where I have forged incredible friendships with other Friends of the CFDA. We are united by our love of fashion design, and have similar personalities, passions, desires and minds. We enjoy the beauty of the designs, get to experience shows intimately, meet designers, and feel the pulse of American fashion, which is at the forefront of innovation. The joy I get in showcasing gorgeous designs as I attend unforgettable events is immeasurable.

What do you think is the most exciting part of American fashion, and why?

The most exciting part of American fashion for me is that it comes from the streets as much as the salons. It manifests the most visible, accessible and usable creative expression—from all walks of life, backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs and value systems. It is a visual and tactile representation of the patchwork quilt of our democracy, and I love it. Thus, I believe that American fashion is a great representation of democracy and the CFDA is the force that helps fund young talent from all corners of our society.

What is your favorite American fashion moment?

My favorite fashion moment is sitting front row at the shows. The excitement of the visual feast I am about to receive beats in my chest with anticipation. Whether I am about to see the new collection of one of my good friends Gabriela Hearst, Cate Holstein or Stuart Vevers, or a new designer whose work grabbed my attention and adorned my body, I absorb the experience to the utmost. These are among the times I feel most vibrant.

Who are some of your favorite American fashion designers?

Cate Holstein of Khaite, Gabriela Hearst, Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera, [The Olsens at] The Row, and Christian Nielsen of Aknvas. I met Aisling Camps at the inaugural [CFDA x Frazier Family Foundation] Empowered Vision Award event, and I am very interested in her work—a prime example of how important the CFDA is for elevating talent.

Do you have any exciting personal or work-related things coming down the pipeline we should keep an eye out for?

Keep an eye out for my eye patches by Macrene Actives. My skincare brand is an expression of dermatologic scientific prowess and the art of beauty. Known as the “skincare of the fashion set,” my products are luxurious and dermatologically effective; they replace the need for cosmetic procedures and surgery.

As has been said for my models skin prep during New York Fashion Week, great fashion starts with great skin. Kaia Gerber texted me a photo wearing my test set of eye patches, and I am certainly confident they will be a hit during the next round of NYFW and CFDA events.