Alice + Olivia CEO and creative director Stacey Bendet thinks social media influencers are the new voice of fashion.
“It’s incredible how hugely [fashion influencers] have become such a big part of our business,” Bendet recently told Page Six Style at the Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Luncheon. “I mean, every time we’re doing an event, every time we’re even casting for an editorial shoot or a campaign shoot, it’s like constantly about influencers because they are who sells clothes now.”
The 40-year-old fashion guru believes that influencers may be taking the place of celebrities when it comes to selling a brand.
“You know, not that celebrities don’t sell clothes, but celebrities aren’t necessarily putting themselves out there every day the way influencers are, and I think people have become their own editors,” she told us. “It’s just been an incredible change.”
Bendet also thinks influencers can be more of a force than fashion publications.
“I think that the magazine industry, they still have a role, but I think that people are following influencers and people they look up to and aspire to be more and more for their fashion choices and fashion influence.”
Alice + Olivia will be debuting its fall 2019 collection in the coming weeks at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, and Bendet revealed to us that the theme will be “Fantasia.”
“It’s really kind of dark and sexy,” she shared. “The last few collections I did were so floral-y and light and bright, and this is a little more mysterious so it’ll be fun and I’m so excited about it.