ALICE + OLIVIA BY STACEY BENDET CELEBRATES THE AMERICAN WOMAN WITH SPRING 2026 COLLECTION
This New York Fashion Week, designer Stacey Bendet unveiled her Spring 2026 alice + olivia collection inside New York City’s landmark Surrogate’s Court. Inspired by The American Woman, the presentation fused history, culture, and fashion in a sweeping homage to the strength, resilience, and artistry of women throughout the nation’s past and present.
The immersive setting transformed the historic Hall of Records into a surrealist journey through Americana. Guests were greeted by a 20-foot Statue of Liberty figure reimagined in a gown printed with butterflies and roses, alongside a reworked Constitution titled We the Women and an abstract mural of the American flag. Against this grand backdrop, a live DJ set by Blu DeTiger set the tone while attendees sipped Casamigos cocktails.
The star-studded guest list included Ashlee Simpson, Sarah Pidgeon, Brooks Nader with Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane Nader, Nicky Hilton, Ava Dash, Jenny Mollen, Liz Gillies, Julia Butters, Isabella Briggs, Silvia Dionicio, Sofia Bryant, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tina Craig, Isabela Ferrer, Hallie Batchelder, Emira D’Spain, and many more who came out to celebrate Bendet’s vision.
“In 2026, as we honor the 250th anniversary of the United States, we celebrate the American woman,” shared Stacey Bendet. “A woman who has shaped our culture, inspired our art, defined our fashion, and moved through history with strength and style. This collection is a love letter to her.”
The 45-look collection reimagined American sportswear—the foundation of the modern wardrobe—through a lens of bold minimalism and refined utility. Highlights included a striking poppy red bias-cut jersey gown that evoked the elegance of 1940s glamour, alongside lean suiting styled with crisp white button-downs and casually undone ties. Preppy staples were reimagined in bright, playful iterations, from polos and collegiate knits to pleated minis, baggy jeans, and bold striped ball skirts sweeping the floor. Eveningwear transported guests through time with dramatic Gilded Age silhouettes, including full-skirted ball gowns, while corseted jersey minis paid homage to the sultry glamour of 1950s icons.
The palette balanced bold primary hues with soft pastels—poppy red, emerald green, navy, pale pink, and yellow—while intricate craftsmanship pushed fabric innovation. Burnout chiffons, jacquards, organza overlays, sequins, embroidery, and beadwork elevated texture and depth, blending nostalgic Americana with modern femininity.
With the grandeur of its Beaux-Arts architecture and Bendet’s theatrical staging, the presentation made quite a statement. Nostalgic, joyful, and undeniably modern, it was a celebration of women whose tenacity and creativity have defined American style for generations.
