Choosing a gown to walk down the aisle in is a carefully considered process. Choosing something to wear moments before putting it on, not so much.
Well, Stacey Bendet thinks that’s an oversight, which is why she’s launched a bridal capsule for Big Feelings, the sleep and loungewear arm of Alice + Olivia centered around mental health advocacy. “With Alice + Olivia, we were dressing brides for so many elements of the wedding, but we were missing one crucial part, the time you spend getting ready,” she said.
Eloping herself in 2008, Bendet didn’t make a whole to-do out of pre-aisle glam, but noticed it was becoming an event in its own right after designing custom looks for Paris Hilton’s nuptials last year, when Big Feelings was cofounded with retail executive Andrew Rosen.
It’s the lower-key moments sipping bubbly in the bridal suite that end up making the most precious memories for a bride and her bridesmaids, the designer added, aiming for the line to aid in the groups looking cute, being comfortable and creating “the best photos,” she said.
The Big Feelings bridal capsule.
Courtesy of Big Feelings
The 18 styles range in price from $110 to $228 and include robes and sets in signature colors like Pretty Pink, Serene Cream, Soothing Blue, Sleepy Grey and Calming Lavender. Champagne was added as well for its prominence in most wedding palettes, and while the bulk of the collection is made from Big Feelings’ temperature-regulating cottons, Bendet is partial to those in silk. “They’re chic, soft and you can wash them unlike other kinds of lingerie,” she said.
Big Feelings was recently integrated into Alice + Olivia’s e-commerce site where brides can make their selection and take advantage of the concierge service, which will assist with customization and in-store party planning.
One percent of the proceeds will go to charitable organizations such as Project Healthy Minds, a Millennial and Gen Z-driven tech start-up democratizing access to mental health services.