Stacey Bendet’s fun and quirky alice + olivia collection set is captivating fashion followers around the world.

It follows in the footsteps of a retro-inspired Autumn/ Winter offering that paid homage to NYC’s late 1970s ‘downtown art scene’ where rock ’n’ roll edge met geek chic glamour with a touch of soul.

This year, Stacey finds inspiration for her Spring Summer 2017 line-up from a trip to Rome where she fell in love with the 16th-century Bomarzo Gardens, also known as Park of the Monsters or ‘Parco dei Mostri’.

She travelled to Italy with her friend Lola Schnabel who was working on an art project involving tarot cards.  Stacey was fascinated by the beauty of the cards and the artistry of the gardens and the two proved inspirational.

She said: “I kept thinking about how tarot cards are really about the power of interpretation, and so is clothing. I thought: ‘This place is so magical, I have to turn it into a show’.”

Stacey decided to combine the mysticism of the cards with the romance of Italy to create an elaborate fairy-tale about two girls who stumble upon cards in a vintage book store and each one took them to a different area of Bomarzo.

This story and her imagination and talent transformed into a range of flirty frocks and romantic gowns embroidered with garden scenes, as well as flowery dresses with blouson sleeves. The entire compilation has a definite summery feel with wraps, large round sunglasses, maxi skirts and dresses.

The collection is comprised of an eclectic mix of pieces and a sharp palette of rainbow tones amongst black, white and neutrals. Rainbow tones include pink, poppy, green, indigo and violet, contrasted by graphic black and white stripes.

The intricate details feature lace and embroidery, amid ribbon trims and some hints of 80’s inspired studs and gem embellishments. Beaded and printed birds illustrated by artist Elizabeth Graeber allude to the idea of letting oneself roam free while playing in the magical gardens.

Silhouettes range from classic evening dresses, wide leg pants including gaucho shapes, patchwork and studded bombers, one shoulder cuts and ‘night out’ tops, embroidered jackets, and jumpsuits that can be interpreted as a modern day gown.

Textured accessories show attention to detail in the ready-to-wear collection. Handbags range from tarot card printed oversized leather clutches, large structured colour blocked bowlers with brass detailing and wood combo box clutches.

There is also a playful assortment of eyewear. Stacey often decorates her dresses, skirts and other designs with a caricature of herself sporting red lips and round glasses, otherwise known as the ‘Stace Face’.

Now, shoppers can share her love for giant glasses as they have become a part of the spring line. Stacey also created a collection of ‘see now, buy now’ pieces, including several classic silhouettes such as a black jumpsuit and colour-blocked sweater.

She has introduced a ‘#LoveYourself’ capsule comprised of additional pieces with a fun twist such as a white button-down shirt and black leather jacket with phrases like ‘Love Yourself’ and ‘Always Right’ embroidered across the back.

There is also a variety of customisable denim that can be personalised with monogrammed phrases, names or initials. All of her ‘see now, buy now’ pieces can be purchased from www. aliceandolivia.com, at alice + olivia boutiques, and through retail partners.