Designer Stacey Bendet’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection for alice + olivia was made up of 39 looks that stole the runway. What made this collection stand out was the combination of eccentric colors combined with simple black and white looks. I especially enjoyed the flowing fabrics and embroidered beading that made up the collection. However, the flowing pieces were paired with perfectly tailored pieces to balance the looks. The collection was made up of two types of outfits: bold and colorful versus black and white. While I thought the two completely opposite types of looks were both vibrant and fresh, I was drawn to the black and white outfits that featured a pop of color in the accessories.
After seeing this collection, I could not wait to see if I could bring it to life with my own wardrobe. I started with the statement piece of my outfit: a white, pleated knee length skirt from Topshop. If twirling around in this beautiful skirt was not enough, I felt it was very similar to the ready-to-wear pieces. I thought this skirt was complementary to the collection, as it incorporated both the pleated style seen throughout the collection and the full volume style found in the outfits. Keeping with the simplistic elements of the alice + olivia collection, I paired the skirt with a scoop neck, long sleeve black shirt. I was inspired by the pops of color in Bendet’s collection to add a statement necklace with bright pink and turquoise gems with a hint of leopard detail, too. I also added a pair of large, pink earrings to tie in with the necklace. To finish off the look, I added a simple pair of nude ballet flats to allow the focus to remain on the skirt and bold jewelry.
I was drawn to this collection because it was so vibrant with textures and colors. I was excited to see if I could translate this spring collection into a winter outfit. By adding a long sleeve shirt and flats, rather than sandals, I was happy with my alice + olvia-inspired outfit. With so many ready-to-wear collections going down the runway, all that feature so many different styles, textures and colors, I cannot wait for spring— and not just because of the warmer weather.
Get My Look: 1. A full, knee length skirt. 2. A simple, black shirt. 3. A brightly colored necklace, or other statement jewelry piece.
