Alice + Olivia Transports Onlookers to a Whimsical Fairytale Land for Fall 2014 (Runway Review)

The Scene: Far from her usual stark space, the scene for the Fall 2014 Alice + Olivia show seemed to be straight out of the insides of Stacey Bendet‘s whimsical mind. The presentation at the fictional McKittrick Hotel saw classic fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White come to life with the feel of an old-world curiosity shop. Celebrities sipping champagne included Bella Thorne, Paris and Nicky Hilton (we’re always reminded they still exist during Fashion Week), Sarah Rafferty, AnnaSophia Robb and, most excitingly, Zosia Mamet in wide-leg floral pants!

The Inspiration: Bendet’s signature style was definitely out in full force and this didn’t seem like much of a departure from her usual look. She was inspired by the children’s pop-up books of Benjamin Lacombe. 

The Look: The collection reminded me that I love fall clothes. I’m not sure what it is, but Fall 2014 hasn’t felt very, well, like fall. But the high-waisted tweeds, golden brocades and fox fur stoles all scream autumn. Fur coats, sweater coats, leather moto jackets — there was a lot of awesome outerwear in this collection. And you’ll need it when your top is made out of lace. Always a little bit twee and doll-like, the darker color palette and jewel-tone accents gave the collection a feel that was more grown-up than seasons past.

The Accessories: Suede over-the-thigh boots, furs along with red and mustard snakeskin embossed leather. There were also beautiful patterned tights and lots of lace.

The Beauty: I was a little surprised to see the Alice + Olivia girl in so much makeup; a dark lip, well-lined eye and smoky shadow juxtaposed nicely with the sweet fairy stories. Hair was big, curly and a bit like a chic rat’s nest. Very, “I woke up like this.”

The Takeaway: It comes as no surprise that Stacey Bendet is one of those girls who is designing for herself and her friends, and her own stylistic influence was quite obvious. Add to that the whimsy of the pop-up book and you understand the crazy trip Bendet conveys. It almost felt like she wanted to be inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but decided that was too passe. The show was solid, pretty and filled with juxtaposing textures which made it all the more dynamic.

All images: IMAXtree