Alice + Olivia SS ‘27
Stacey Bendet In Wonderland
Written by KRISTOPHER FRASER
In 1865, when Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland, he created a story whose cultural influence would permeate generations to come. A century and a half later, it remains a cornerstone of the cultural zeitgeist. Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet unveiled its spring 2027 collection, Welcome to Wonderland, inspired by the classic story, with scenes ranging from a 1950s animated Disney adaptation to a live-action version, plus a sequel by acclaimed director Tim Burton.
The brand wanted to celebrate the imagination, freedom, and curiosity of the mind and how to see the world through a new lens. The brand’s presentation is always famous for its notable vignettes that are a true testament to set design. There was even a garden surrounding a dramatic 20-foot mirrored gown. In reference to Alice in Wonderland, the collection featured saucer and cup motifs as a nod to the famous tea party scene that is one of the most memorable parts of the story.
Other vignettes included gardens that helped build out the fantastical wonderland and welcomed everyone into the world of Alice + Olivia. Florals became a defining part of the collection and were adapted in variations, from prints on dresses to crystal-beaded embroidery, showing ways to make florals for spring groundbreaking.
The collection danced the line between elevated preppy daywear, cocktail attire, and beautiful evening gowns. The design approach was creating something for everyone, no matter what type of Alice + Olivia girl they are. She could be a woman going to brunch, she could go to a gala, or she could be at a summer garden party.
Casual codes of American sports, like jeans and T-shirts, were juxtaposed against tailored jackets and printed cocktail dresses, playing on the theme of nothing quite being what it seems. Similar to Alice’s journey in Alice in Wonderland, who knows what will be encountered next? Everyday pieces, like tailored blazers, cropped jackets, boxer shorts, and T-shirts, were elevated by details like intricate embroidery, beading, feathers, satin jacquards, and romantic lace.
This season, Alice + Olivia also played heavily with proportions, with off-the-shoulder necklines, dramatic trains, and exaggerated sleeves. The goal was to help further the sense of fantasy with the collection. Aside from embroidery and floral details, lace was also a defining detail in the collection, as it was layered with organza, traced with embellishments, and reimagined across various silhouettes, from gowns to statement jackets.
As Stacey Bendet took us to Alice + Olivia’s Wonderland, this season marked the return of footwear for the brand. Ready-to-wear looks were paired with ballet flats, pumps, slingbacks, platforms, and wedges, with florals, crystals, bows, exaggerated proportions, and a sculpted rose blooming from the heel of a stiletto. This season also introduced DIY T-shirts, a new personalization concept featuring distressed T-shirts and tanks designed to be cut, twisted, wrapped, and styled by the wearer. Limited-edition DIY Couture pieces extend the concept through embellishment and in-store customization. It's Alice + Olivia’s world, and we are happily welcomed into it.
Photographers | NEIL RASMUS & JOE SCHILDHORN, Courtesy of BFA and Alice + Olivia
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