Under the sparkling constellation ceiling of Grand Central Terminal, Andrea Lieberman invited friends to the station’s beloved Oyster Bar to kick off New York Fashion Week. The evening felt like a love letter to a city always in motion (and a chance to slow down for a minute) as the A.L.C founder and creative director celebrated Spring 2026 and her label’s penchant for dressing women both from 9-5—and 5-9.
“A very core part of what we do is workwear. We thought what better way to celebrate workwear than to celebrate the art of the commute,” Lieberman told Vogue. “There’s nothing more iconic for me than the Oyster Bar and Grand Central Station.”
The choice of venue underscored the brand’s enduring focus on modern, elevated essentials designed for real life—pieces that move seamlessly from morning meetings to evening plans, much like the city itself. “I am all about real life, and I’m all about our clothes working for real women in real life,” Lieberman noted.
As the terminal’s oldest restaurant buzzed with the steady rhythm of those arriving and departing, guests tucked into an array of hors d’oeuvres, including crab cake bites, fried calamari, and crispy french fries served in custom A.L.C. pouches. In place of traditional Champagne, an extra-dirty martini tower became the evening’s focal point, complete with an abundance of olives. The cocktail menu also featured thoughtful nods to the brand’s 15-year history, including The Express—a mix of bourbon, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and orange peel—and The California Grown; the A.L.C. take on a mezcal cocktail with orange and lime juice finished with persimmon syrup.
Around the bar, trays displayed weighty gold lighters, take-home party favors, custom engraved with the brand’s initials alongside cheeky phrases like “Delays Expected.” Guests including Leandra Medine, Ashley Harris, Amrit Tietz, and Jennifer Fisher soaked up the bustling atmosphere while toasting to the Spring 2026 collection before comparing notes about what train they would hop on to make their way to one of the many pre-NYFW celebrations happening across the city. The evening served as a reminder that the most compelling fashion moments often happen in the spaces where real life unfolds: stylish, unscripted, and unmistakably New York.