Alice + Olivia 2017 Pre Fall Collection

The coolest girl in the room is never actually in the room, she’s backstage; and Stacey Bendet knows all about her. “It was pretty much about the girls with the band, almost like girls in the green room,” she said. Bendet blended the Seventies and Nineties seamlessly for a “very much now” result, also drawing heavily from the music festival scene. Take, for instance, a romantic silk burnout dress paired with a cool flat boot; an embroidered robe that can be worn with anything from jeans to a dressier suede strapless number, or little embroidered “folky” jackets that still work for today.

On a dressier note, Bendet offered beautiful lace gowns as well as more versatile options, like great embroidered full skirts. “I wanted to make them more casual,” she said. “I made them in a really light silk cotton so they can be dressed up or edged up with a leather bustier.” To complete the looks, Bendet launched sunglasses in all sorts of fun shapes, with embellishments and playful details sure to make her customer happy.