Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet’s ‘Camp Pride’ Event Creates Summer Camp Experience
In true Alice + Olivia fashion, Stacey Bendet hosted an over-the-top fifth annual Pride event Wednesday night with a “Camp Pride” theme. Combining Pride Month with kids going off to summer camp, Alice + Olivia created bunk bed cabins; a camp canteen full of Nilla wafers, Lays potato chips, T-shirts, hoodies and Barnum’s animal crackers; an oversize canoe filled with flowers, and camp-themed activations such as friendship bracelet making, tetherball and cornhole.
And, what you’d probably never find at a reputable summer camp, bars that looked like camp lifeguard stations, serving Astral Tequila cocktails.
More from WWD
“This is our fifth year and it’s gotten bigger and more fun every year,” said Stacey Bendet, founder and creative director of Alice + Olivia, noting last year’s theme was “Pride Prom.”
“We always like a theme that’s colorful and fun and happy and decided ‘let’s do summer camp,’ and make it art and activities and letter writing. And the letters are all going to the kids at the Ali Forney Center,” said Bendet, who attended Camp Emerson as a child. The party was held at the Close East Lawn in Chelsea and featured a live performance by Kenzie and DJ Ty Sunderland, situated on a giant rainbow stage.
The event benefits the Ali Forney Center, which is the largest LGBTQ community center helping LGBTQ homeless youth.
Among the guests were Katie Holmes, Ariana DeBose, Dylan Mulvaney, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Maddie Ziegler, Alexandra Richards, Brooks Nader and Cuba Gooding Jr.
“As a designer, a CEO and a mother, I believe it’s not just our responsibility, but our privilege to actively participate in Pride and celebrate inclusivity, diversity and love in all forms,” said Bendet.
In honor of Pride, all Alice + Olivia stores and e-commerce are offering a 20 percent discount on purchases when shoppers donate to Ali Forney Center’s Amazon registry through Sunday. The registry provides basic necessities to LGBTQ homeless youth that find themselves at the Ali Forney Center.
Best of WWD
