A.L.C. comes to Manila
If you’ve spent time in New York, then you may have come across the stylish boutiques of A.L.C. in the Upper East Side and Soho. But if you’re in the know, then you know that A.L.C. stands for celebrity stylist Andrea Lieberman, who grew up in Manhattan, studied at Parsons School of Design and famously put Jennifer Lopez in that risqué green Versace dress. She now designs some of the chicest dresses on the planet, and she has just made her Asian debut at Rustan’s Department Store.
Traveling often for her celebrity clients, Andrea needed easy-to-wear but beautifully made pieces that she could put in her carry-on luggage and style in endless ways. Unable to find those smart, versatile staples, she decided to design her own line in 2008.
The pieces blend New York edge with Los Angeles ease. They are known for scene-stealing event dresses with sleek silhouettes, in statement sweaters and tailoring, and accessories that boast luxurious functionality. Softly draped and figure-flattering dresses, pastel-colored jackets, blouses of French lace, asymmetrical tees, and electric-pleated pieces can now be found at Rustan’s Makati.
It just so happened that Nikki Huang, Rustan’s director of business development, is the number one fan of the brand.
She says, “A.L.C. is one of my all-time favorite brands. I discovered it when I went to the States for college, and I’ve been shopping from them since 2018. They were amazing because for all of my fashion events, they would send me clothes that I could wear anywhere, and I could just shop from my house. Eventually, I had a really good relationship with the team, and they said, ‘Oh wait, we’ve never expanded to Asia’ and I said, ‘Would you like us to be your first Asian market?’”
Nikki shows off the sleeveless black dress she’s wearing, accented with buttons.
“What I love about this is that you can fold it, you can sit on it, and it doesn’t wrinkle. They are at a higher price than our other brands, but I think it’s worth it. A.L.C. is an LA-based brand, but it has a very New York identity. I have loved this brand genuinely from the bottom of my heart. I’m so happy we’re their first Asian door!”
“We exist to make women feel confident, strong, sexy, and elegant, and believe in the inherent style and power of women,” goes a statement by A.L.C.
They also believe that, “Women are multi-faceted and so are their journeys. As a brand, we believe that our role of supporting women should go beyond simply helping them look and feel their best. We partner with a range of female-led organizations—from charities to artisan collectives to factories—that empower and enable women to achieve their fullest potential.”
The philosophy is working because you can find countless celebrities wearing the brand, from Nicole Kidman to Halle Berry to Megan Markle. We’re sure it won’t be long before our own local celebrities discover the stylish, versatile, and figure-flattering silhouettes of A.L.C.
