Stacey Bendet is a master of creating innovative sets for her Alice + Olivia collection, and spring 2026 was no exception. This season’s theme was “The American Woman.”
“The idea was to focus on the 250th year anniversary of America in 2026, but also the intersection of fashion, pop culture and history, and how those moments define how women dress and how we feel,” said Bendet during a preview.
As guests entered the Hall of Records, they encountered a 20-foot interpretation of the Statue of Liberty wearing a gown printed with butterflies and American roses to symbolize life. One of the sets represented American pop culture with fast food, American sports and art. It featured a printed dress encapsulating the show’s theme, referencing vintage, American West, the flag, the American eagle and the Statue of Liberty.
The 45-look lineup capitalized on American sportswear and clothing that could easily take the woman from day through a dressy evening. There were preppy and colorful staples such as polos, collegiate knits, baggy jeans, and pleated minis and lots of great eveningwear, such as a a poppy red bias-cut jersey gown that captured 1940s glamour, and pretty florals in engineered beading. Gowns featured lace, burnout chiffons and intricate jacquards layered over organza, along with embroidery, sequins and beadwork.
— Lisa Lockwood