Stacey Bendet

Stacey Bendet

Bendet at the 2012 premiere of What to Expect When You're Expecting
Born Stacey B. Wiener
Nationality United States
Occupation Designer
Spouse(s) Eric Eisner (m. 2008–present)
Children Eloise Breckenridge Eisner
Scarlet Haven Eisner
Parent(s) Olivia Bendet
Joseph Daniel Wiener

Stacey Bendet Eisner is the CEO & Creative Director of Alice + Olivia[1] a New York, New York based contemporary clothing company.

Early life and education

Bendet was born to Olivia (née Bendet) Wiener and Joseph Daniel Wiener.[2][3][4] Bendet is of Jewish heritage[5] and had a bat mitzvah celebration.[6] Bendet's father ran a textile importing business.[7] She indicates that she was always interested in fashion and clothing.[7][8] Bendet graduated from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York and studied International Relations and French at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.[9]

Career

In 2002, Bendet and her University of Pennsylvania classmate Rebecca Matchett founded Alice + Olivia.[10][11][8] The brand was named after her mother Olivia, and her partner's mother Alice.[11][8] Bendet's desire to make "a trouser sexy" and "the focus of an outfit" led to her modifying a pair of jeans that were cut slim at the hip to create the illusion of elongated legs and a lean silhouette.[12] By happenstance, designer Lisa Kline noticed her walking by and on-the-spot, ordered twenty sets of the same outfit[7] which provided the opportunity for Bendet to launch a 20-item collection based around that concept at the Russian Tea Room.[12] Soon after the department store Barneys New York placed an order and the man who developed the Theory fashion line, Andrew Rosen, offered to finance the new business[7] after her partnership with Matchett dissolved in 2003.[10] (Matchett went on to co-found another clothing company called Rebecca & Drew).[11]

The main inspiration for the brand was Stacey's love of music, art, culture, and vintage fashion, and from the women around her. The brand has since grown to a full lifestyle brand collection including ready-to-wear, gowns, shoes, tech accessories and a newly launched collection of handbags.[13] The brand has 13 freestanding boutiques in New York, California, Chicago and Connecticut and 7 international free-standing stores in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Dubai and Kuwait.[14] All the boutiques are designed by Bendet herself. The brand can also be found at over 800 select department and specialty stores worldwide, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Hankyu, Harvey Nichols and Harrods, as well as prominent web retailers including Net-a- Porter and Shopbop.

Personal life

She married film producer Eric Eisner, the son of Disney executive Michael Eisner, on the Caribbean island of Anguilla in 2008.[7] The couple has two children: Eloise [15] and Scarlet Haven.[16] Stacey splits her time between New York and Los Angeles.[17]

Bendet practices Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.[18][19]

She is a member CFDA, of the board of trustees of NY-based Baby Buggy, a foundation who provides essentials for children of families in need, and she also supports Ronald McDonald House, which offers assistance to the families of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. She is also a member of the board of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, her alma mater.[20]

Bendet has been on the Vanity Fair Best Dressed list for two years in a row.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Market Wired: "alice + olivia and ImagineX Partner for Greater China Expansion" May 15, 2013
  2. ↑ Salt Lake Tribune: "Just like the rest of us, designers look to mom and dad for inspiration, advice" by Francine Parnes September 10, 2007
  3. ↑ Jewcy: "Stacey Bendet on Clothes, Ashtanga, and Trying to Blow Up Soho House" by Deb Schoeneman March 16, 2007
  4. ↑ Gawker: "Before They Were Sorta Famous: Stacey Bendet" by Doree Shafir January 8, 2007
  5. ↑ Jewish Exponent: "The Luxe Starts Here" by Mimi James August 16, 2012
  6. ↑ Adrianne Pasquarelli (2011). "Stacey Bendet, 33". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Elle: "Alice + Olivia Designer Stacey Bendet Eisner's New Pad - Being a grown-up doesn't mean you have to forsake fun" by Miranda Purves March 31, 2010
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Philadelphia Inquirer: "A connected collection The skinny on designer Stacey Bendet? She's fast-forward fashion with the slim and tiny pants, shoes up next, and well-heeled friends" by Elizabeth Wellington July 29, 2007
  9. ↑ Sarah Bernard (February 23, 2004). "Flash Pants". New York Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sun Sentinel: "Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet comes to Saks in South Florida" by Rod Hagwood December 7, 2011
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 AOL Small Business News: "Meet the New Young Millionaires - Forget Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The founders of Facebook, YouTube, and other upstart companies are shaking up the business world -- and making millions along the way" By Geoff Williams May 27, 2010
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Interview Magazine: "Introducing: Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia" retrieved May 13, 2014
  13. ↑ http://www.luxandconcord.com/alice-olivia-new-handbag-line/
  14. ↑ http://www.aliceandolivia.com
  15. ↑ Staff writer (May 6, 2008). "Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet expecting first child". People. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ Sarah Michaud (April 10, 2011). "Stacey Bendet Welcomes Daughter Scarlet Haven". People. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  17. ↑ http://www.elle.com/life-love/entertaining-design/alice-olivia-designer-stacey-bendet-eisners-new-pad-439138
  18. ↑ Staff writer (May 23, 2011). "From 9 to 5: Stacey Bendet". Elle. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  19. ↑ Shanelle Rein-Olowokere and Asher Fogle Paul (February 16, 2011). "Alice + Olivia’s Stacey Bendet Debuts Bump at Fashion Week". People. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  20. ↑ http://cfda.com/members#!stacey-bendet
  21. ↑ "Amy Fine Collins Stands Out Amid the Met Gala’s Couture Creations". Vanity Fair. May 3, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.

External links