MAC alice + olivia Q&A with alice + olivia designer Stacey Bendet.

alice + olivia started out being known for its awesome pants. How does a girl evolve from bell-bottoms to getting involved with the ultimate topper, makeup?
Well, to me it’s all about colour, whether it’s a crazy pair of striped bell-bottoms or the perfect purple nail polish. It’s about a girl having a great time when she dresses up; and who dresses up without makeup?

As a line, a+o is known for its playful, fun use of colour and textures. How does this translate in terms of your new collection with M·A·C?
We wanted the makeup to be fun and playful; for me clothing and cosmetics should be whimsical, they should both make you smile and feel flirtatious. With that in mind, I wanted our packaging and our colours to be like candy. Everyone loves candy.

You’re known to rock some pretty megacosmetics yourself. Can you describe your ultimate beauty look?
I am known for wearing really dark, defined eye makeup, bright fun nail polish and pale glossy lip gloss; It was kind of amazing getting to translate my signature look into a M·A·C collection!

Who is your beauty icon?
My daughter Eloise. I mean, she wakes up and looks perfect. She even looks perfect with peanut butter and jelly smeared across her face and strawberry smoothie in her hair. I am so jealous.

What’s always in your makeup bag?
I always have a little bit of body glitter, a black M·A·C Liquidlast Liner and some sort of cream blush. And my secret for a dewy look is a touch of organic body oil on the cheeks.

How is designing a colour cosmetics collection different (or similar) compared to designing clothes?
Designing clothes is more stream of consciousness. When we’re working on a season, it’s months and months of designing pieces and then creating a story out of them. With cosmetics, it was more like saying to M·A·C Product Development, “Here is our story, now what products and colours work into that?” They really brought it to life. But I think both clothing and makeup are very much about colour and texture and what each piece and product represents for the woman.

Any products in the line that you’re hopelessly obsessed with?
All of them, obviously! (Especially the nail polishes!)