Stacey Bendet is an unapologetic maximalist. And her new Alice + Olivia collection expressed that more-is-more approach in a multitude of ways. Photos won t do justice to the variety of textures here, which Bendet tended to mash up and play off one another within looks. To pick an example of her approach, take one gold-toned look comprised of a patchwork faux fur, a wholly beaded striped top, and a glittery coated-wool miniskirt. Bendet showed that ensemble with a leopard-print scarf, tiger-print bag, and knee-high tan platform boots. She s always adding.
Elsewhere, there were boiled wools, bouclé, popcorn knits with embedded pearls, bonded-leather knit jackets, laser-cut and embroidered leather pants, and a panoply of laces and brocades. Not all the looks were as texturally dense—there was a slouchy little beaded suit, and the most memorable outfit matched a simple navy turtleneck with a gown-size skirt in a vivid tropical print. These were outliers, though, which speaks to Bendet s devotion to multiplicity. It may not spell coherence, but as a strategy, it s rather sly—no matter your personal style, you d have been hard-pressed not to find something here you liked, whether it was the cool bonded-knit motorcycle jacket, or the metallicized ski sweater, or a little brocade tee, or a boudoir-ish feather-trimmed frock from the Alice + Olivia eveningwear capsule. Bendet offers an array of propositions and invites girls to pick and choose.
