Alice + Olivia Fall/Winter 2025: A Fusion of Art, Elegance, and Shakespeare in Love
As the fashion world turned its attention to New York Fashion Week this February, Alice + Olivia’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection emerged as a vibrant celebration of bold femininity, artistic expression, and contemporary sophistication. Designed by the brand’s ever-visionary founder Stacey Bendet, the FW25 lineup seamlessly blends vintage glamour with modern edginess, reaffirming Alice + Olivia’s reputation for creating clothes that are as powerful as they are playful.
Stacey Bendet's Alice + Olivia Fall 2025 collection, "Shakespeare in Love," was a captivating exploration of texture, romance, fantasy, and drama, drawing inspiration from the Bard. A representative for the brand stated that the collection "exemplifies how we can draw inspiration from the past to create something truly relevant for the present."
Stacey Bendet's Alice + Olivia Fall 2025 collection reimagines Shakespeare's characters for the modern age. Initially inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Bendet expanded her vision to encompass other plays, including "The Merchant of Venice", "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", and "All's Well That Ends Well", even drawing inspiration from the playwright's life itself.
The collection's design process involved extensive research at the archives in Stratford-upon-Avon, immersing the team in Shakespearean fabrics, embellishments, and theatrical elements. Unlike previous high-fashion interpretations of Shakespeare, Bendet's collection is decidedly commercial, featuring novelty cocktail dresses, Shakespeare-quote-embroidered sweaters, and embellished shredded jeans.
However, Bendet also included more formal pieces, such as a salmon-colored gown with a tiered lace skirt and a black high-neck coat adorned with intricate embroidered flowers, adding a moody romanticism to her signature floral prints.
“We went into the archives in Stratford-upon-Avon where you got to look at all the fabric, the embellishments, quotes, old theater sets,” designer said.
While it remains debatable whether Queen Titania and Lady Macbeth would embrace skintight latex or jacquard miniskirts in 2025, the enthusiastic turnout at the New York Fashion Week presentation suggests a significant audience for Bendet's unique vision.
Bendet, known for her love of artistic collaborations, hinted at influences from avant-garde artists and subcultural movements.
“This collection is about duality,” she explained backstage. “It’s about how women can be both strong and soft, rebellious and refined—all in the same breath.”
Key Looks That Defined the Runway
The novelty cocktail dresses, sweaters embroidered with Shakespeare quotes (“Though she be but little, she is fierce” was a no-brainer), and shredded jeans adorned with rhinestones, pearls, and chains.
Maximalist Prints: A nod to pop art with bold, graphic prints splashed across maxi dresses and tailored coats. Some pieces featured abstract portraits, while others showcased surreal floral patterns, creating a visual feast.
Dark Romance: Floor-length dresses in velvet and lace, layered with dramatic capes and intricate beadwork. Shades of deep burgundy, midnight blue, and classic black dominated this segment, evoking a sense of gothic elegance.
“We always do floral prints, but I wanted them to feel a little more moody and romantic,” she said.
A Presentation That Felt Like Performance Art
True to Alice + Olivia’s tradition of immersive presentations, the FW25 showcase wasn’t just a runway—it was an art installation in motion. Models posed in elaborately designed sets that resembled chic loft spaces filled with art and vintage furniture. It was as if the audience had stepped into the heart of 1580's.
Alice + Olivia’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection is a masterclass in juxtaposition—where vintage glam collides with street-style grit, and where femininity is redefined through fearless self-expression. Stacey Bendet once again proves that fashion isn’t just about what we wear; it’s about the stories we tell.
In a world that often demands women to choose between strength and softness, Bendet boldly declares: Why not both?
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