New York City celebrates 20 years of Alice + Olivia, a brand that is undoubtedly weaved into the fabric of Manhattan.
The SS22 NYFW presentation, entitled “Come Create With Us,” was a festival of fashion, art, and creative expression.
Stacey Bendet sure knows how to throw a party. A fashionable one, of course.
“Come Create With Us” is an invitation to inspire, share fashion and art, and showcase a collection of beautiful clothing alongside a community of creative women who bring those clothes to life.
The collection is presented amidst the works of female artists who were invited to "create with us", a nod to alice + olivia’s storied collaborations with creators of all kinds.
Fashion and art are constantly in conversation in New York City, and this celebrated connection has long been a source of inspiration for Stacey Bendet since the brand’s founding nearly two decades ago.
Notable guests included: Nicky Hilton, Kenzie Ziegler, Lea Michele, Lucy Hale, Adrienne Bailon, Madison Pettis, Amelia Gray Hamlin, Alexis Ren, Batsheva Haart, Olivia Ponton, Hannah Ann Sluss, and many more!
And let’s not forget the creative genius behind the operation: Ms. Stacey Bendet herself. Bow down, ladies.
In an ode to alice + olivia’s twenty-year anniversary, hallmark creations of the brand from sexy-fit statement pants to patchwork combinations of classic romantic signature prints are back with a modern twist.
The collection opens with bold head-to-toe color. Perfectly placed cutouts and refined details in gorgeous silky dresses, a tribute to alice + olivia’s classic goddess dress, create looks that are the living embodiment of each shade.
The effect of bright red suiting with a sexy cropped corset, all fit with precision, is strikingly dramatic.
Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments from Grey Goose and Chandon while experiencing the interactive, curated space.
A bright green jumpsuit, a yellow cropped jacket and mini skirt, a tailored bright orange oversized blazer with silky wide-leg trousers, and a blue slit dress with a double-take-worthy train, are accessorized with long scarves that add a glamorous extension to the colorful fabric.
Clean lines make tie-dye wide-leg trousers with a matching statement coat extra resplendent, and the debut of a brand new Stace Faceprint brings together every color of a rainbow.
These strong color moments are art in themselves, styled with flair by Stacey Bendet and Sofia Karvela.
The looks are a physical harmony of color, but also a symbolic harmony of dedicated followers that make up a tight-knit alice + olivia family.
The collection would not be complete without an element of 70’s glamour and rock and roll. Gotta stay true to our roots, people.
Shiny accordion pleats on skirts and dresses, light-catching beadwork and sequins, and chunky chain belts and straps bring shine to every facet of the collection.
Bec Adams set the mood for the evening with a curated DJ set and singer/songwriter Samantha Urbani performed original music for the attendees.
When Beyonce came over the loudspeaker, the room immediately transformed into a full-blown dance party.
The feel-good music invited all the attendees to get down and funky. The proof is in the pudding—aka on Serena Kerrigan’s Insta story.
A bustier encrusted with pearls, sequins, and beading is a lush-chic statement piece, and a short tiered party dress with a sparkly crystal bow is a fresh take on the iconic babydoll silhouette.
An homage to early alice + olivia is embedded throughout the collection, like classic black-and-white tailoring that feels nostalgic yet distinctly modern.
Statement bell bottom and wide-leg pants harken to the first collection—strong, long, and impeccably tailored—with a relevant update: all wide-leg pants are made of a new eco blend fabric.
Spring/Summer 2022 is also made with entirely vegan leather, from tiered vegan leather skirts and dresses to an amazing faux croc suit. Stacey is throwing it back but also making positive strides forward.
Hair accessories and bold beauty moments *shoutout Justine Marjan* gives a soft edge to each look.
Exaggerated “more-is-more” embellishments in pearly hair clips, chunky chains, and detailed maximalist OPI manicures with their own chain accents and pearls bring a glam rock and roll feeling to the collection’s femininity and beauty.
The presentation is a collective; a live collaboration of female artists, incorporating visual artwork into show sets, live dance, music, and performance all bringing the clothes to life.
A phenomenal hip-hop dance trio performed choreography by Ebony Williams, which truly wowed each and every guest.
The mural backdrop for the collection was live painted by Blair Breitenstein, whose bold lines and colors were created as each look was placed against her artwork.
Art and fashion seamlessly melded together, creating a living, breathing installation that will live rent-free in our minds for years to come.
Photography by: Jamie McCarthy, Amy Lombard, Joe Schildhorn
