By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
The Royal Shakespeare Company has partnered with Alice + Olivia for a licensed apparel collection inspired by Shakespeare’s literary works.
The collection includes a wide range of items such as velvet party dresses, lace bodysuits, tweed skirt-and-blazer sets, denim jackets, leggings, corsets, a full-skirted dress, ball gowns and more.
Featuring elements from Shakespeare’s catalog of sonnets and theatrical works, the pieces include dramatic details like 16th-century silhouettes, lace collars, gold adornments and memorable Shakespearean quotations.
Literary quotations from the acclaimed writer’s poetry and plays are incorporated into the clothes through both prints and elaborate embroidery.
To create the collection, the Alice + Olivia design team travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit The Royal Shakespeare Company and access the Company’s theatrical archive and historical costume collections.
“The beauty of this collection exemplifies how we can learn so much from the past to create in the present,” said Alice + Olivia founder, Stacey Bendet.
Elaborate presentation sets inspired by famous plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Lady Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice were also created to showcase the fashion collection.
The sets were complemented by makeup from T Cooper, hairstyles by lead stylist Matthew Curtis and shimmering gold flake body cream from Kate Somerville.
The full Royal Shakespeare Company x Alice + Olivia clothing line is scheduled for launch during Fall 2025.
The partnership with Alice + Olivia was facilitated by Brandgenuity on behalf of The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Founded in 2002 by designer Stacey Bendet, Alice + Olivia is an American fashion label that specializes in creating high-quality, contemporary apparel and accessories.
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