Story by Editor-at-Large Europe CAROLINA OGLIARO
Alice + Olivia Fall/Winter 2025: Shakespeare in Love, A Tale of Romance and Rebellion in Fashion
In the heart of New York City, where modernity and history intertwine like threads of an intricate tapestry, Stacey Bendet unveiled Alice + Olivia’s Fall/Winter 2025–2026 collection, Shakespeare in Love. A love letter to the intoxicating passion of Elizabethan drama and the untamed spirit of modern femininity, this presentation transformed the space into a grand tableau where romance, power, and poetry collided in a visual symphony of opulence and rebellion.
All the World’s a Stage: A Theatrical Setting
The guests were transported into a world where the ethereal met the audacious. The venue, a moonlit space reminiscent of a scenographic theater stage, set the tone for what would become one of the most breathtaking presentations of the season.
At the center of it all stood mannequins and models styled in exquisite looks, posed like characters frozen in time. A brocade coat embroidered with golden filigree draped elegantly over a whisper-thin lace dress in the deepest shade of wine, as if Shakespeare’s own Juliet had stepped into the 21st century, armed with modernity yet draped in nostalgia.
Velvet Sonnets and Embroidered Verses: The Fabric of Romance
True to its poetic roots, the collection was a rich composition of textures and silhouettes that spoke of longing and rebellion in equal measure. Luxurious velvet, corseted bodices, and ruffled high collars whispered of Elizabethan grandeur, while sharp tailoring and structured mini dresses anchored the collection in contemporary sophistication.
Bendet played with contrasts, billowing sheer sleeves met razor-sharp cuts, while fluid silk gowns were belted with leather corsetry. The signature Alice + Olivia playfulness was alive in the details: pearl-encrusted gloves, heart-shaped embroidery, and poetic verses subtly woven into the linings of capes and coats, a secret message for the wearer alone.
A Palette for Poets: The Colors of Forbidden Love
The color story was a Shakespearean sonnet in itself, deep merlot, royal sapphire, and emerald green evoked the grandeur of the Elizabethan court, while soft blushes, moonlit silvers, and the deepest midnight black painted a narrative of stolen glances and clandestine romance. Gold embroidery and metallic threads caught the light like candlelit whispers, adding a touch of celestial magic to the collection.
Rebel Hearts: A Feminine Rebellion in Every Stitch
Though steeped in history, this was no museum piece; this was a collection for the modern heroine. The structured blazers with dramatic, trailing hems exuded a regal authority, while thigh-high boots and silk trousers declared independence with every stride. The Shakespearean tragedy of love and loss found its counterpart in strength and self-expression, proving that romance and rebellion are not opposing forces but, rather, two sides of the same coin.
Final Act: A Love Letter to Fashion
Shakespeare in Love is storytelling at its finest. Stacey Bendet has once again managed to weave history, literature, and modernity into a seamless tapestry of wearable art.
With Shakespeare in Love, Alice + Olivia doesn’t just dress the woman, it crowns her, whether she is a Juliet, a Lady Macbeth, or the author of her own epic. In a world where fashion can sometimes be fleeting, this collection is a reminder that style, like love, is eternal. It is a masterpiece written in silk and lace, an ode to the past, present, and future of feminine power.
