Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet presented the Spring 2026 collection under the theme The American Woman, transforming New York City’s Hall of Records into the setting for a 45-look show on September 13th. The collection framed fashion as a dialogue with history and culture, timed ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Bendet described the collection as a tribute to women who shaped American culture, art, and style. She approached the lineup as an exploration of their grit and pragmatism, infusing the pieces with references that carried both glamour and utility. American sportswear anchored the looks, appearing in reworked classics and inventive pairings. A poppy red bias-cut jersey gown channeled 1940s silhouettes with pared-down elegance. Tailoring surfaced in a long, lean men’s suit styled with a crisp white shirt and a loosely knotted tie. Preppy signatures took on playful forms through polos, collegiate knits, baggy denim, pleated minis, and sweeping striped skirts.
Color directed the mood with poppy red, emerald green, navy, pale pink, and yellow. Fabric innovation paid homage to the golden era of U.S. manufacturing, expanding the brand’s vocabulary of craft. Lace, burnout chiffon, and jacquard layered over organza to create depth, while embroidery, sequins, and beadwork added dimension. Eveningwear included multiple references, from Gilded Age ballgowns with full skirts and long trains to a tuxedo-inspired mini dress and corseted jersey mini echoing 1950s glamour.
The Hall of Records provided the setting for a series of installations that expanded the collection’s story. Its Beaux-Arts and French Baroque architecture framed symbolic works placed throughout the space. At the entrance, a 20-foot reinterpretation of the Statue of Liberty appeared in a gown covered with butterflies and roses, symbols of life. Nearby, a reimagined Constitution titled We the Women and a mural of an abstract American flag emphasized themes of resilience and creativity.
Within this environment, Bendet connected fashion to cultural symbols and architecture. The staging presented American identity through the lens of the women who shaped it. Each look carried echoes of a particular era, yet together they formed a broader narrative of invention and influence.
Alice + Olivia’s Spring 2026 presentation closed on a note of optimism, affirming the role of women as central to American culture and style.
