WAKE UP AND STYLE THE COFFEE
The Starbucks alice + olivia collection has touched down in Thailand, meaning you can now dress up your coffee in Stacey Bendet’s quirky trademark style.
The second collaboration between the eccentric American designer and the coffee powerhouse contains loads of sass, even if the ceramic mug isn’t wearing a white tutu this season. Instead, there’s an adjustable and removable red bow, which sits atop of the signature Stace Face design on the mug itself. The palette is Bendet’s signature black-and-white, with a hand-painted gold rim (meaning it’s hand-wash only — sorry, girls). It’s sophisticated yet whimsical, and definitely a lot more discreet (and much less embarrassing to carry around at corporate gatherings). A matching tote featuring red rhinestone lips coupled with the Stace Face emblazoned on the Starbucks Reward Card easily transforms grabbing your cup of joe into a stylish affair.
For now, this is the best fans of alice + olivia can get, so better grab these limited edition babies while you still can.
Alice + olivia launched in 2002, when New York native Bendet tried to create “the perfect pair of pants” after not finding any. Growing up around a textile import business, it is no surprise she has made Vanity Fair’s best-dressed list five times. Drawing from her love of vintage and all things feminine, her ornamented fabrics, ultra-flattering silhouettes and fantastical prints became the modern women’s choice for something with a quirky sense of fun, all the while maintaining an air of sophistication.
The brand has since grown into a full contemporary lifestyle brand that offers a signature line, evening wear, footwear and cute accessories in free-standing stores in global shopping capitals such as s Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Kuwait, Tokyo and various cities around the US.
She’s also a staple in the finest department stores around the world.
It’s been a great j ourney for or Bendet, considering how she did not have any initial training in fashion.n. Here, Life speaks with the designerner about the key to her success.
How do you manage designing products for so many different categories?
The line has grown year by year, category by category. It’s been a natural progression for me to evolve the line into a full range of products to fit the alice + olivia customer’s lifestyle.
WhatW are some key factors you keepk in mind when designing?
BeingB able to try on the clothes I designd and to be able to understand howh a woman will feel in them when shesh puts them on is so important!
WhatWh do you think led to the successsuc of your brand, which has growngrow so much from making one pair of trousers?
We offer everyday fashion that allows a woman to mix and match beautiful separates and dresses for all occasions. I’m always working on the fit to make sure it’s perfect, so our customer feels like the product was custom-made.
You never had an initial design background but found success in the field anyway. What steps were crucial to getting there?
I think I approach things in a less-than-traditional way. I have learned much of the technical aspects over the years, but my inspiration usually starts with colour, fabric and print, and then moves on to shape — much like a graphic coming to life.
Why have you chosen to work with Starbucks?
I love working outside of the fashion industry on special collaborations; it is both challenging and fun.