Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet transported New York Fashion Week into the pages of Shakespearean drama with its Fall 2025 collection, “Shakespeare Is In Love.” Held at Highline Stages on February 8, the presentation embraced the playwright’s poetic world, bringing 16th-century silhouettes into the present with a mix of theatrical grandeur and modern styling. Drawing inspiration from The Royal Shakespeare Company’s historic costume archives, the collection paid homage to the intricate details of period dress while reimagining them for today’s fashion landscape.
Alice + Olivia’s Fall 2025 designs reflected the opulence of Elizabethan fashion, mixing structured elegance with elements of fantasy. The collection featured rich jacquards, corseted bodices, and dramatic lace collars reminiscent of Shakespearean royalty. Lantern skirts and sweeping capes evoked the grandeur of historical costuming, while gold embroidery illuminated velvet gowns and flowing silhouettes. Each piece felt as if it had stepped out of a lavish stage production and into the present.
The influence of The Royal Shakespeare Company was evident in the craftsmanship, with the design team having studied centuries-old costumes in Stratford-upon-Avon. From brocade detailing to embroidered sonnets, the collection captured the essence of Shakespeare’s characters and poetic language, infusing it into wearable art. One standout piece, a black velvet corset gown, paid tribute to Lady Macbeth, while another featured lines from The Merchant of Venice intricately woven into its design.
Though deeply rooted in historical influence, the collection also played with contemporary contrasts. Lace bodysuits, tweed mini skirt suits, and corset-styled denim jackets brought a rebellious, rock-and-roll edge to the otherwise regal aesthetic. Brooch-adorned outerwear, latex leggings, and suede stretch pieces further modernized the collection, ensuring that the Shakespearean influence remained fresh rather than purely nostalgic. Accessories were just as theatrical as the clothing. Bows, pearls, and elaborate appliqué added layers of richness, while famous Shakespearean quotes were embroidered into skirts and prints.
Alice + Olivia extended the collection’s narrative beyond the garments, crafting an immersive presentation where each room represented a different Shakespearean work. A floral dreamscape evoked A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while Juliet’s iconic balcony framed a romantic garden scene. An opulent banquet hall hinted at Shakespeare’s grand feasts, while an elaborate gold set referenced The Merchant of Venice. The show concluded with a poignant quote from All’s Well That Ends Well: “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
Stacey Bendet welcomed a star-studded audience, including Lana Condor, Julianne Hough, Tiffany Haddish, Anna Cathcart, and Gavin Casalegno, alongside industry tastemakers like Princess Nokia, Leonie Hanne, and Tina Craig. Guests sipped themed Casamigos cocktails, the Casa Capulet ginger margarita and the Casa Montague paloma, while a live DJ set by Zoe Gitter underscored the lively atmosphere.
Hair and makeup echoed the collection’s theatrical essence. Lead hairstylist Matthew Curtis created romantic, jewel-adorned braids woven with cascading flowers, giving models an ethereal presence. Makeup artist T Cooper balanced soft, luminous skin with gold-tinted eyes and a deep red lip, a nod to Shakespeare’s most dramatic heroines. Kate Somerville’s shimmering body treatment, infused with gold flakes, added a final touch of stage-ready glow.
Stacey Bendet’s Fall 2025 collection demonstrated that fashion is not just about clothing but about storytelling. By pulling from one of history’s greatest literary figures, Alice + Olivia created a collection that felt both grand and wearable, theatrical yet contemporary.
