Stacey Bendet wanted to summarize what female empowerment was, is and will be with a powerful collection that pays homage to history’s female power players in her Fall 2018 Alice +  Olivia collection. She showed how far we have come and how far we still need to go.

The collection was shown in a series of rooms where each room represented an important chapter in the history of women. Notable rooms were the Women’s Bill of Rights Room, the Rococo Rock n’ Roll Room and the Chinoiserie Noir and Gold rooms. Each room was created with the inspiration of a specific benchmark in feminine history with clothes that reflected the progress.

Much of the collection is powerful and sharp with tailored silhouettes that emphasize a woman’s shape but at the same time are also inspired by menswear. Bendet kept the severe silhouettes fun for the season by using bright colors and floral prints to bring in femininity. Other pieces were ruffled and traditionally feminine as Marie Antoinette was one of the inspirations for this collection.

You can see some of the rococo touches inspired by traditional French prints were used in the collection. Bendet used modern cuts and colors to keep them current. Many of the looks in this collection are great for a power woman to showcase not only her femininity but also her point of view.

The collection was styled very aggressively by mixing prints and color, but separately the pieces are very wearable and a fun addition to any wardrobe. The collection spans casual, work and evening wear which also helps tie into her overarching theme of what a woman was, could and will be.

Backstage Beauty

Hair

THE “WONDEROUS WAVES” FROM ALICE + OLIVIA

Stylist Tip: “Using the new Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Sprays allows me to create waves that move with you yet still keep the style in place with lasting hold but without stiffness” – Justine Marjan,TRESemmé Global Stylist

Step 1: Start by washing hair with TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner and spritz damp hair with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray to protect hair against breakage.

Step 2: Evenly apply a quarter-sized amount of TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum to damp hair from roots to ends.

Step 3: Create a clean center part and blow-dry hair using the ghd Air Hairdryer for a smooth and shiny finish

Step 4: Generously spray the NEW TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost all over hair and brush through.

Step 5: Section hair horizontally and curl 1 inch sections vertically around the 1 inch ghd Curve Classic Curl Iron.

Step 6: Spray a smoothing brush with more of the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost and back brush hair for more volume at the ends.

Step 7: Use the ghd Curve Classic Curl Iron around the top layer to re-define any curls.

Step 8: Run a small amount of the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum through mid-lengths and ends using your fingertips to break up the waves.

Step 9: Spray the NEW TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 4: Extend all over to achieve style WITHOUT stiffness for a wavy look that moves with you.

TRESemmé Products Used: Keratin Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner, Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray, Keratin Smooth Shine Serum; look completed with the NEW! Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost and Hold Level 4: Extend

Tools Used: ghd Air Hairdryer, 1 inch ghd Curve Classic Curl Iron

THE “MARIE ANTOINETTE” FROM ALICE + OLIVIA

Stylist Tip: “Spritz the new TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 4: Extend on a toothbrush and brush hair upward to tame any flyaways” – Justine Marjan, TRESemmé Global Stylist

Step 1: Start by washing hair with TRESemmé Thick & Full Shampoo and Conditioner to plumpen up strands for this full, boisterous look.

Step 2: Spritz damp hair with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray to protect hair against breakage.

Step 3: Blow-dry hair using the ghd Air Hairdryer.

Step 4: Spray the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 4: Extend all over dry hair and brush through with a smoothing brush.

Step 5: Set hair by curling small pieces using the 1 inch ghd Curve Classic Curl Iron all in the same direction around the face and pinning them into place to cool.

Step 6: Curl the rest of the hair back away from the face pinning back to cool.

Step 7: Spray the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost all over and let hair cool for 20 minutes.

Step 8: Take the pins out and attach hair padding to the crown.

Step 9: Spray a smoothing brush with the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 4: Extend and brush through the rest of the hair pinning it up around the padding with French pins.

Step 10: Use a toothbrush sprayed with the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 4: Extend to detail the look and smooth away flyaways by brushing upward in a vertical motion.

TRESemmé Products Used: Thick & Full Shampoo & Conditioner, Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray; look completed with the NEW! Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost and Hold Level 4: Extend

Tools Used: ghd Air Hairdryer, 1 inch ghd Curve Classic Curl Iron, French pins

Make Up

Maybelline New York’s Global Make Up Artist, Erin Parsons blended a “classic rock ‘n’ roll uniform” with opulent Marie Antoinette finishings to achieve the below look:

Essie presented the nail look and the models’ were adorned in Erickson Beamon.

The presentation featured music by The Dolls.

Notables in attendance included: Huma Abedin, Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton, stylist Madison Guest, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Ian Mellencamp.