Stacey Bendet’s father ran a textile importing business, so she was always interested in fashion and recalls wanting to make a trouser sexy. Designer Lisa Kline noticed her and, on-the-spot, ordered twenty sets of her same outfit, which launched a 20-item collection, caused Barneys to place an order and led to Andrew Rosen (of Theory) to finance Bendet’s new business, alice + olivia. Bendet is married to film producer Eric Eisner, the son of Disney executive Michael Eisner, with whom she has three children. She splits her time between New York and Los Angeles, practices Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, is a CFDA member, supports the Ronald McDonald House, is on the board of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and has been on the Vanity Fair Best Dressed List more than once. All this came from being discovered on the street — talk about good motivation to keep chasing your goals!
