User:FarihaT/sandbox

Company History
alice + olivia is a contemporary clothing brand founded in 2002 and owned by former University of Pennsylvania classmates, Stacey Bendet and Rebecca Matchett. Stacey Bendet is also the designer of the brand and began her career as a web page designer for an apparel company. Her desire to make "a trouser sexy, or the focus of an outfit" pushed her to design. In 2002, Bendet launched a 20 item collection based around that concept at the Russian Tea Room. In 2003, Bendet split from Matchett and joined founder of Theory, Andrew Rosen, who invested in Stacey Bendet's ring business since her pants did well in sales at Barneys.

The company began with ready- to- wear women's clothing, but by 2004, alice + olivia designed for men and also created seasonal collections by 2005. The pieces were initially sold in department stores, but by 2006 alice + olivia opened boutiques in New York and Los Angeles. Collabarations with alice + olivia include a makeup line with MAC Cosmetics, a jewelry collection with Erickson Beamon, and shoe lines with both Payless and Keds. Celebrity fans of the brand include Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Dakota Fanning. Celebrities seen wearing alice + olivia clothing include Katharine McPhee, Heidi Klum, Anne Hathaway, Eva Longoria, Megan Fox and Hilary Duff. Today, there are 10 boutiques and the items are available in 800 stores worldwide, including Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue. alice + olivia is also available in Harrods in London and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. The company is worth $150 million and brings in $50 million a year.

Clothing Concept
The reason alice + olivia pants gained so much popularity was the concept behind them. The pants are all cut slim at the hips to create the illusion of elongated legs and a lean, straight body. The alice + olivia botiques are designed by Bendet herself and contain some of her favorite things along with her clothing including Dylan's Candy Bar candy, Erickson Beamon jewellery, The Lake & Stars lingerie, Malin-Goetz and DL & Co. The main inspiration for the brand was Stacey's love of music, art, culture and vintage fashion and from the women around her. Her clothing is meant to be chic and to be worn anywhere, from the workplace or for a casual day out. The general color palette for alice + olivia is black and white with "pops of bold color" and metallic accents.