Every year at New York Fashion Week, there’s always one collection that blows me away. The kind that takes me away to another land where I forget about Instagram notifications and unanswered emails for a few minutes to soak up the magic. This season, that was Alice + Olivia.
The setting was a re-imaged version of the iconic The Chelsea Hotel. Once functioning as a collective residence and place of creativity for cultural icons like Bob Dylan, Madonna, and Andy Warhol, it was said that there was a story behind every day. This rendition however, was a flourishing space for women artists. You can read more on the inspiration behind the collection and interactive gallery here.
Designer Stacey Bendet played with contrasting themes and offbeat combinations to represent what she envisions as “artistic optimism”. Somehow, someway, it all worked together, because as Vogue states, Bendet is literally the queen of Fashion Week. The looks were styled with such courage and conviction, I have a hard time believing anyone would question her juxtapositions.
The collection spoke to different pieces of me – pieces of me that don’t normally feel like they can come out at the same time – like rebellious rule breaker and the goody two shoes, wannabe princess just waiting for my grandma to tell me it’s time for me to reside over Genovia. At a stage in my life where I feel like I’m always expected to know who I am and where I’m going, I found comfort in knowing it’s okay to function as a montage of different women and that I don’t have to show up to the world as the same person every day.
The structure of this set gives sporting shorts at work more potential.
The athleisure elements of the jacket here bring a casual connotation to formal-like florals. Living in Pittsburgh, I don’t have a ton of opportunities to get dressed up all the time. I love that these 3 looks are ones I could dress down to adjust to the lethargic approach this city takes to fashion.
I loved that patterns where left out of these looks to give a vibrant statement.
Overall, I’d argue Bendet’s orchestrated masterpiece was one of the few this season completely worth fending through overcrowded spaces for. Pieces were fit for a contemporary creative who wants to leave a bit of artistic optimism wherever she goes.
Shop Alice + Olivia Favorites
I may make a small commission if you shop or click on these links. <3
