Designer Stacey Bendet s latest collection for Alice + Olivia was inspired by the American dream. "You know, that late-1950s optimism," she said in a preview at her Meatpacking District studio. It started with a color palette drawn from the work of artist Ilya Bolotowsky, who cleverly mixed the decade s primary hues with unexpected pastels. For Spring, Bendet took that idea and ran with it. Pale blue chambray-denim pants were paired with a cobalt sequin tank and striped jacket. A Kelly green swing skirt and T-shirt were topped with a red and white Pop-art cardigan sweater that had lips and a heavily mascara-ed eye on it. "There is a little humor in everything," Bendet said. What s funny is how many people flocked to the model who was dressed in white gauchos and a rhinestone-encrusted bustier with a leather jacket thrown over her shoulder. That was the best look, but the handbags, which are a new venture for Spring, were also hard to forget. The Lucite clutches filled with candy were particularly sweet. But overall, the range seemed to lack a cohesive point of view. Yet Bendet spoke to that. "As a designer today, part of my job is to pick a trend and to design the clothes," she said. "But I also need to create a way for my customers to be individuals." With a Meatpacking District store opening next month and other outposts on the West Coast and abroad, Bendet must be doing something right.
