Brand profile

Alice and Olivia

New York contemporary womenswear house founded by Stacey Bendet in 2002, known for embellished party dresses, bold prints and slim tailoring.

New York CityOrigin
WomenswearFocus
Minimalist / ContemporaryStyle
$$$$Price

20 brands like Alice and Olivia like Milly, Self-Portrait, Retrofete →

A woman wearing Alice and Olivia patrica tiered ruffle maxi dress

What to know about Alice and Olivia

Founder still runs the whole thing

Stacey Bendet has designed and led the label as CEO since 2002, with Theory founder Andrew Rosen an early partner and Bendet keeping part ownership.

It started with a pant

The debut collection was slim, low-rise trousers sold at Barneys; dresses, blazers, denim, knitwear and accessories were built on top of that.

Decoration, not restraint

Despite the quiet-luxury price tier, the signatures are embellished party dresses, statement-collar blouses and printed separates — tops are the anchor category.

How Alice and Olivia fits

Overall fit

runs small

Shoppers generally find Alice + Olivia cut on the small, slim side of US contemporary sizing, with tight shoulders and busts and little stretch in structured pieces, so many take one size up from their usual.

Tip: Size up one, especially in blazers, fitted blouses and denim, unless you want a very snug contemporary fit.

runs smallsize uptight in the shouldersvery fitted/body-connarrow bust

Medium confidence · based on 14 sources

By category

CategoryRunsShapeSize advice
Shirts & overshirtsruns smallfitted blouse silhouette with statement collars and slim sleevesSize up if you are broader through the bust or upper arms, as button plackets can pull.
Trousers & pantsslightly smallslim to straight, waist-defined, with some wide-leg and high-rise optionsTake your usual size for wide-leg styles but consider sizing up in slim or leather-look pants.
Jeans & denimruns smallsnug through hip and thigh, contemporary skinny and straight blocksGo up a size in rigid or low-stretch denim; stretch skinnies can be taken true to size.
Jacketsruns smallstructured, nipped-waist blazer with narrow shouldersSize up for layering or if you have broader shoulders, since the shoulder seam is the tightest point.

Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.

A woman wearing Milly cobalt/black tahlia tulle embroidery dress88% match

Milly

$$$$Cocktail dressesNew York City, United States

Same NY colorful cocktail-dress contemporary lane

What changes: Narrower focus on dresses, less tailoring and denim

A woman wearing retrofete multicolor vesa one shoulder midi dress84% match

Retrofete

$$$$Sequin dressingNew York City, United States

Sequin and crystal party dressing, disco-leaning

What changes: Almost purely embellished going-out pieces, no tailoring

Alice and Olivia fit questions

Does Alice and Olivia run big or small?

Alice and Olivia runs small. Size up one, especially in blazers, fitted blouses and denim, unless you want a very snug contemporary fit. Shoppers generally find Alice + Olivia cut on the small, slim side of US contemporary sizing, with tight shoulders and busts and little stretch in structured pieces, so many take one size up from their usual.

How does Alice and Olivia fit?

Shoppers generally find Alice + Olivia cut on the small, slim side of US contemporary sizing, with tight shoulders and busts and little stretch in structured pieces, so many take one size up from their usual. Overall shape: slim, body-conscious with structured shoulders and a defined waist.

How do Alice and Olivia shirts & overshirts fit?

Alice and Olivia shirts & overshirts runs small. Size up if you are broader through the bust or upper arms, as button plackets can pull. Shape: fitted blouse silhouette with statement collars and slim sleeves.

How do Alice and Olivia trousers & pants fit?

Alice and Olivia trousers & pants fits slightly small. Take your usual size for wide-leg styles but consider sizing up in slim or leather-look pants. Shape: slim to straight, waist-defined, with some wide-leg and high-rise options.

How do Alice and Olivia jeans & denim fit?

Alice and Olivia jeans & denim runs small. Go up a size in rigid or low-stretch denim; stretch skinnies can be taken true to size. Shape: snug through hip and thigh, contemporary skinny and straight blocks.

Brand facts

Alice + Olivia is a New York contemporary womenswear label founded in 2002 by Stacey Bendet, who still leads it as designer and chief executive. It launched at Barneys with a slim, low-rise pant collection and now spans dresses, blazers, denim, knitwear and accessories, sold in more than fifty countries through department stores, boutiques and its own stores. Signature pieces include embellished party dresses, statement-collar blouses and printed separates. Theory founder Andrew Rosen joined early as a partner; Bendet retains partial ownership. The brand shows during New York Fashion Week.

Founded
2002
Origin
New York City, United States
Made in
USA, China, Italy
Price
$$$$
Focus
Womenswear
Facts checked
August 2026
Styles
Minimalist / Contemporary, Y2K, Quiet luxury

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