Stacey Bendet reveals superstar friend inspired her Alice + Olivia set design

Lauren Sánchez Bezos doesn’t conscionable aviator helicopters, she besides shares manner inspo connected nan fly.

The designer unveiled her outpouring 2026 manner position successful a bid of elaborate vignettes.

When Alice + Olivia founder, imaginative head and CEO Stacey Bendet was moving connected her outpouring 2026 position to beryllium held Manhattan’s Surrogate’s Court, nan caller Mrs. Bezos sent her a vintage Vogue image of 10 models successful jacquard dresses posing successful an elegant bluish Gilded Age room. “She goes, you person to recreate this,” Bendet told Alexa.

“I was staring astatine this set, trying to fig retired what to create successful nan Hall of Records nether nan staircase,” said Bendet, referring to nan celebrated double-flight marble staircase successful nan Beaux-Arts-style edifice. “And erstwhile I saw that image, it was for illustration this magical moment. I was like, ‘Are you reference my mind?’ We recreated nan set.”

On Saturday, nan designer showcased her statement astatine a buzzy day statement successful nan historical building. Hundreds of guests sipped cocktails and toured a bid of elaborate tableaux wherever models posed successful themed vignettes. In nan curved abstraction beneath nan staircase was nan mise-en-scène based connected Sánchez Bezos’ clipping.

Sporting her signature sparkly headbands and inky achromatic oculus makeup, Bendet greeted and posted for photos pinch dozens of stars including Brooks Nader, Ashlee Simpson, Sarah Pidgeon, Mary Holland Nader, Grace Ann Nader, Sarah Jane Nader, Nicky Hilton, Ava Dash, Jenny Mollen and more. UConn hoops champs Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold besides posted up astatine nan event.

Sánchez Bezos couldn’t make it, but Bendet said her friend’s assistance was invaluable. The newlywed philanthropist and media characteristic attended respective high-profile manner events successful New York past week, including Chanel’s Sofia Coppola book party. Sánchez Bezos and her hubby besides went to nan Kering Foundation Dinner and nan motorboat of 72 magazine, nan caller publication from erstwhile British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.

“[Lauren] is truthful creative,” said Bendet. “She loves manner and she’ll nonstop things sometimes.”

The pioneering, fearless American female is nan overarching taxable of this Alice + Olivia collection. “It was inspired by nan truth that it’s nan 250th day of nan United States [next year],” said Bendet. “And I wanted to do thing that reflected connected nan intersection of fashion, art, civilization and moreover manufacture complete time. So each group successful nan show represents a different portion of American history.”

Most melodramatic of each was nan Lady Liberty dress. With a spiked crown her her caput and a torch successful her hand, nan exemplary stood connected nan marble pavilion overlooking nan festivities. Her 20-foot-tall floral gown printed pinch butterflies and roses draped complete nan entrance.

It was a monument to imagination.