Backstage pass: alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet delivers stunning Shakespeare-inspired collection, how the presentation beauty came to life

'It's reflecting on the past to create in the present,' Stacey Bendet, founder and CEO of alice + olivia, exclusively tells Daily Mail about her latest collection. alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet showcased their fall 2025 offerings during New York Fashion Week at the Highline Stages located on 14th street in NYC's Meatpacking District. For fall 2025, the label unveiled a fantastical collection inspired by the world of William Shakespeare and costumes of The Royal Shakespeare Company.

'I wanted to do something that felt intellectual, and we ended up meeting someone from the World Shakespeare Company and they asked if we wanted to do a collaboration. 'I said yes because at first I started working on a concept around A Midsummer Night's Dream and then I thought I want to weave all the stories of Shakespeare together and show his world. 'Let's weave them together until we create what would have been Shakespeare's world today.'.

Bendet took inspiration from the characters in the playwright's beloved stories and reimagined them for modern women and occasions. 'We went in and took references from the archives and we looked at costumes. I wanted to emulate the big lace ruffle collars, the structured jackets, and the cuff sleeves and then Sofia (Karvela) and I had so much fun styling it.'. alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet showcased their fall 2025 collection during New York Fashion Week at the Highline Stages located on 14th street in NYC 's Meatpacking District.

For fall 2025, the label unveiled a fantastical collection inspired by the world of William Shakespeare and costumes of The Royal Shakespeare Company. 'I want to weave all the stories of Shakespeare together and show his world,' said Bendet. 'It's reflecting on the past to create in the present and I just feel like there's so many lessons to be learned when you go back,' she says. 'I don't think I payed attention to much Shakespeare in high school but going back and being able to read and learn, so many of his lines and quotes are so relevant today which is pretty cool.'.

'It's reflecting on the past to create in the present and I just feel like there's so many lessons to be learned when you go back'. Stacey took inspiration from the characters in the playwright's beloved stories and reimagined them for modern women and occasions. 'We went in and took references from the archives and we looked at costumes'. 'I wanted to emulate the big lace ruffle collars, the structured jackets, and the cuff sleeves and then Sofia (Karvela) and I had so much fun styling it'.

Tying the Shakespearean aesthetic together were fairytale beauty looks fit for a main character. Modern Juliet inspired hairstyles featured big, jeweled braids adorned with cascading flowers, crafted by lead stylist Matthew Curtis. For makeup, T Cooper designed a clean-face look with glistening gold eyes and a bold Lady Macbeth red lip. 'For this season’s alice + olivia show, we brought Shakespeare into 2025. Think Juliet, but make it fashion. Romantic, dreamy makeup with just a bit of edge,' says T. Cooper.

She used Ardell's latest lash collection - the newly launched Ardell Pre-Mapped Extensions in the style Classic - to compliment the stunning makeup looks. 'We all know lashes can make or break a look,' said the celebrity makeup artist. 'Ardell Pre-Mapped Extensions in Classic were the MVPs here. They gave that natural, fluttery vibe without looking overly done, which was exactly what we needed to keep the eyes timeless and flirty.

'And the fool-proof pre-cut lashes were super easy to apply and perfect for this look,' continued T. Cooper. Tying the Shakespearean aesthetic together were fairytale beauty looks. For makeup, T Cooper designed a clean-face look with glistening gold eyes and a bold Lady Macbeth red lip. Before any makeup was applied, models received a ‘fresh from the clinic’ glow backstage, using techniques from Kate Somerville's celebrity loved ‘Signature Facial’, directly from the hands of the incredible Melrose Pl. Clinic estheticians.

Kate Somerville added stage-worthy shimmer to the body by blending moisturizing cream with gold flakes. Before any makeup was applied, models received a ‘fresh from the clinic’ glow backstage, using techniques from Kate Somerville's celebrity loved ‘Signature Facial’, directly from the hands of the incredible Melrose Pl. Clinic estheticians. Skin was cleansed with ExfoliKate Daily Foaming Wash to gently remove impurities and exfoliate before transforming skin with Kate’s two-minute Hollywood facial in a bottle, ExfoliKate Intensive.

ExfoliKate is gently massaged into skin for 30 seconds, focusing around the nose and any areas of texture to unveil a bright, smooth complexion. Models were finished with the ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer for dewy, refreshed base – the ultimate radiant skin prep before makeup. As a finishing touch, gold eyeshadow was mixed into Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer and applied all over the body for an added glow.