It’s always sunny at Alice + Olivia. Stacey Bendet’s clothes consistently reflect her bubbly personality and for Resort, there was plenty of that signature peppiness throughout the collection. Though she never gets overtly political with her designs, she admitted that this lineup was meant to give women a sense of escapism during our turbulent political times. “It’s just happy, and I think that’s what people want right now,” Bendet said at today’s preview. “I think when you get up in the morning you want to be excited about getting dressed and taking on the day—part of my job as a designer is to give them a bit of a break from reality.”
At Alice + Olivia, that means sequin rainbow striped mini dresses, oversized knits with the word yes scrawled across the front, and a poufy black sheer skirt with feminism embroidered all over it. While some of the slogan pieces in the collection did feel a bit over-the-top, there were certainly some wearable, loosely Americana- and sportswear-inspired items that Bendet’s girls will surely eat up, among them some nicely conceived wide-leg trousers with oversize cuffs, a sculptural off-the-shoulder trenchcoat, and a pretty poppy print cocktail dress. Grown up track pants were in the mix, as was a curious pair of jeans with an extreme slit up the side seam. If these pieces teetered into overdrive alongside the word play, there was certainly an optimistic vibe. In Bendet’s world, that has been a successful formula and at the end of the day, it always makes for a happy customer.
