At the heart of alice + olivia is Stacey Bendet’s love of storytelling. For her, fashion has never been about simply designing clothes; it’s about creating worlds. Each collection is a carefully crafted narrative that invites women into a realm of whimsy and self-expression. Bold prints, vibrant colours, and playful silhouettes are not just design choices—they are characters in a story, chapters in a book, moments in a life. “When you get dressed each day,” Stacey often says, “your clothes should tell the story of who you are and who you want to be.”
This philosophy has been central to the brand’s meteoric rise. Founded in the early 2000s, alice + olivia quickly distinguished itself from the minimalist wave that dominated the contemporary market. Where others offered safe neutrals and pared-down cuts, Stacey brought joy, humour, and a touch of eccentricity. The result was a refreshing alternative: feminine but not fragile, bold yet wearable, theatrical while remaining modern.
A Visionary
Stacey Bendet herself is as much a part of the alice + olivia story as the clothes she creates. Known for her iconicly eccentric style, she embodies the brand’s spirit in every sense. Her signature look, always polished, always playful, mirrors the personality of the collections. She is both the CEO and Creative Director, a rare dual role that speaks to her dynamism. Running the business while shaping its creative heartbeat, Stacey blurs the lines between art and enterprise with ease.
Her creative instincts were honed early on. Raised in a family connected to lace manufacturing, she grew up surrounded by textiles and craft. That exposure fostered not just an appreciation for quality but also a fascination with the possibilities of fabric. It’s no surprise that alice + olivia collections often feature meticulous detailing, luxurious textures, and unexpected flourishes.
Storytelling Through Style
At its core, alice + olivia is about empowering women to express themselves through fashion. Stacey’s collections encourage individuality rather than conformity. Mixing prints, layering colours, or pairing an oversized bow bag with wide-leg jeans becomes an act of self-definition. It’s a brand that celebrates the art of dressing up, not for the sake of trends, but for the sake of joy.
Among Stacey’s current favourite pieces are the brand’s wide-leg jeans and oversized bow bags. They’re playful yet practical, glamorous but approachable. She’s particularly excited about expanding the brand’s accessory line, envisioning bags that carry the same whimsical DNA as her ready-to-wear collections. For her, every design is an opportunity to inject a sense of fun into women’s wardrobes while still offering timeless versatility.
Fashion Meets Purpose
But Stacey’s creativity doesn’t exist in isolation. Beneath the sparkle and playfulness lies a deep sense of purpose. Sustainability is not, for her, a marketing buzzword; it’s a responsibility. She is passionate about ensuring that alice + olivia evolves with mindful practices, from sourcing clean materials to embracing responsible production methods. Sustainability, in Stacey’s view, is not a fleeting trend but an essential part of the brand’s future.
This blend of playfulness and purpose is what makes alice + olivia unique. Stacey has built a label that allows women to revel in fashion’s joy while still engaging in larger conversations about responsibility and progress.
The Personal Layer
Of course, Stacey’s identity extends beyond her role as designer and CEO. As a mother of three daughters, she intertwines her personal life with her creative vision. Motherhood, she says, has humbled her. It has shaped the way she runs her company, instilling values of empathy, flexibility, and balance. She strives to create a workplace where women can succeed not only as professionals but also as parents, refusing to see those identities as mutually exclusive.
Her commitment to balance is also deeply personal. A dedicated yogi and advocate for wellness, Stacey grounds herself in practices that keep her centred amid the demands of global business and relentless creativity. This mindfulness bleeds into her brand culture, fostering an environment where employees are encouraged to care for both body and mind. For Stacey, fashion should fit into women’s lives—never the other way around.
A Global Story
As alice + olivia grows, Stacey is focused on bringing her storytelling spirit to new audiences around the world. With stores and pop-ups opening across Europe, Asia, and beyond, the brand is stepping onto an even larger stage. For Stacey, expansion isn’t just about numbers or square footage; it’s about sharing a philosophy. Each new boutique is a chance to invite women into the whimsical universe she has built, where clothing is not merely functional but transformative.
The global expansion also reflects a broader vision: fashion as a universal language of joy. Whether it’s a sequined evening gown, a pair of tailored trousers, or a cheeky slogan tee, alice + olivia pieces are designed to spark delight. Stacey’s mission is to spread that delight as far and wide as possible.
London Calling: The Chelsea Opening
This vision comes vividly to life with the opening of alice + olivia’s newest London flagship in the heart of Chelsea, a neighbourhood that mirrors the brand’s spirited elegance. Set within a light-filled corner space on Sloane Avenue, the boutique is designed as a walk-in dreamscape: ivory walls and sweeping mirrors frame candy-bright rails of clothing, while artful floral installations and jewel-toned velvet seating evoke the mood of a private salon. Every detail—from the hand-painted murals to the bespoke chandeliers—celebrates Stacey Bendet’s belief that fashion should feel like entering a storybook.
The store’s curated edit of ready-to-wear, occasion pieces, and accessories reflects the cosmopolitan rhythm of the city, inviting Londoners and international visitors alike to build a wardrobe that is equal parts theatrical and timeless. True to the brand’s ethos of purposeful glamour, the Chelsea flagship also showcases alice + olivia’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, with eco-conscious materials and mindful design choices woven seamlessly into the space. More than a retail address, it is a destination: a stage for creativity and community, where events, collaborations, and limited-edition capsules will unfold throughout the year, ensuring that London’s fashion landscape now has a new and delightfully whimsical chapter.
As the brand continues to expand, Stacey shows no signs of slowing down. She is constantly dreaming up new narratives, new collections, and new ways to connect with women around the world. The future of alice + olivia will no doubt involve more innovation, more storytelling, and more of the quirky, heartfelt energy that has defined Stacey’s career.
For her, the goal is not simply to make women look good, it’s to make them feel good. Fashion, in her hands, becomes a form of self-expression, a tool of empowerment, and a little bit of everyday magic.
alice and olivia
9 King’s Road, London SW3 4RP
