Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet SS23

Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet SS23

House of alice + olivia, welcomes women to come and indulge in the endless glamour, whimsy, and inspiration found in Stacey’s wonderland version of home. For the Spring of 2023, Stacey Bendet of alice + olivia asks “Why must glamour only exist outside?” 

“So often do my interiors inspire my design, and my designs inspire my interiors,” she notes. Forged out of her own personal experience of decorating a new home in the last year, her SS23 collection presentation puts forth the surreal possibilities of creating an illustrious wardrobe inspired by interior decor. But this is no study in minimalist design. Instead, it nods to a British eclectic style: eccentric and maximalist, sophisticated and dramatic. 

In the presentation, people wander through several vibrantly decorated rooms. Women don alice + olivia housecoats made of a gorgeous brocade reminiscent of regal window curtains. Some lounge on couches with tulle floral gowns that are speckled with hints of bright colors as if a garden comes to life on the garment itself. Others show their grand dame prowess with rich white silk capes welcoming guests into a glamorous dinner party. There are even some who wear sculptural floral cocktail dresses, ideal for the woman who wants to exude both romance and sexiness. In a cheeky move, there’s a coat meant to emulate a gorgeous baked cake and is worn in a room filled with actual renditions of the decadent treat.

But glamour wasn’t the only thing on Bendet’s mind for both the collection and her home, she mixed in elements of 90’s grunge while maintaining a vibe that is both feminine and chic. “It’s modern femininity, where women can mix and match collection pieces. Make them more fun, youthful, livelier,” she says. This is noticeable, indeed. alice + olivia’s signature tailoring is cropped for modernity. Silk dresses are paired with sneakers or the brand’s new line of trucker hats. Mini leather dresses are lined with resplendent embellished crystals, while others are fully engulfed in them. The color palette is as varied and vibrant as it gets. Tulle and organza make their own seasonal statement in dramatic shapes and fresh colorful silhouettes. There are pops of bright greens, pinks, turquoises, and, as Bendet likes to call a soft hue of red orange, “Chili Pepper.” There’s also a string of vegan trench coats (a season must have!)  worn with renditions of wide leg denim styles that alice + olivia enthusiasts always covet. Cropped tailored blazers come in chic solids as well as a beautiful hot pink version with embroidered flowers, reminiscent of a beautiful garden bouquet that has come to sartorial life. Bendet even brings an element of nostalgia to the collection, revisiting the classic preppy rugby attire, though her version teeters on modern and feminine, something she says makes you feel at home in a fresh revisional way. 

This season alice + olivia introduces a brand-new line of accessories and styles. As mentioned, Bendet introduced new embellished trucker hats for the days when one just wants to feel utterly cool, and bucket hats and pool slides that tie back to hero prints of the spring collection. On the other days, when being more lady-like is in one’s fashion appetite, Bendet offers an ethereal line of silk floral scarves. There are also ribbed cotton tank tops – some cropped – that are now available in pink, and white, and are great for when being casual is what’s appropriate. 

While House of alice + olivia, is primarily inspired by the beauty found at home, its reach is not so singular. Ultimately, the collection is another love note to women who are not defined by one aesthetic, demographic, age…. It is a treasure trove of designs for women who want options, who find happiness in the mundane, and who cultivate the world through both clothing and interior design. “You should always dress to match the room you’re going to be in. Your outfit is the iconic moment that it’s meant to be in a room that is it in,” she says.

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