alice + olivia Style Numbers: A Guide

What a style number does

A style number is a short identifier that a brand assigns to a specific dress design. On an alice + olivia dress, the number is printed on the sewn-in care label, usually alongside the fabric content and the washing instructions. The number exists so a retailer, a tailor, or a buyer can refer to the exact garment without describing the silhouette, the print, and the length every time.

Think of it as a catalog reference. Two dresses in the same print but different silhouettes carry different numbers, and two identical dresses in different sizes carry the same number. Knowing the number helps you confirm which design you own or are considering, especially when you shop secondhand or compare listings side by side. For a layperson, it turns a vague description into a precise lookup key.

Where the number lives on the tag

Look at the inside of the dress near the side seam or the neckline. On most alice + olivia styles, the main care label is sewn into the side seam a few inches above the hem, and the style number is printed on that label in dark ink. The fabric content appears on the same label, usually one line below or beside the number. The hang tag repeats the number, but the hang tag is often removed before you try the dress on.

Hold the care label flat to read it. The style number is typically on its own line, separated from the washing symbols, which are grouped lower on the label. If the ink has faded, a phone camera with a magnifier will usually recover it. Photograph the label before you wash the dress, because washing can wear down the print of lighter-colored labels over time.

Collection cues in the number

Brands reuse numbering in different ways. Some assign a running sequence within a season, others add a prefix for the collection name or a suffix for the year or the fabric group. On alice + olivia labels, the number works best as a lookup key: compare it against the brand's current listings or a style archive to identify which season the design came from. If the number matches nothing current, it almost always means the style belongs to an older collection.

You do not need to memorize a code. The practical move is to treat the number as the dress's ID and search it alongside a silhouette word such as "fit and flare" or "slip". This works for resale and for verifying that the dress you received matches the one you ordered. When a number is ambiguous, the fabric content line and the silhouette together will usually narrow the design to one collection. For a broader view of how the brand organizes its releases, see our overview of alice + olivia collections.

Fabric clues on the same label

The care label carries the fabric content on the same tag as the style number, and this is where you learn what the dress is actually made of. The style number does not state the fiber; the content line does. alice + olivia uses cotton, silk, viscose, polyester, and blends across its collections, and the percentage on the label tells you how the dress will drape, breathe, and hold its shape.

Cotton is a natural fiber that the CottonWorks program describes as offering heat and moisture regulation, which is worth remembering when you choose between a cotton and a synthetic blend for warmer months. Ongoing agricultural research through the USDA's Agricultural Research Service supports sustainable systems for producing natural fibers. Silk and viscose drape more fluidly, while a polyester blend tends to hold a sharper silhouette. For a fuller look at what content percentages mean, see our article on fabric content meaning.

When the number does not match anything

If you look up an alice + olivia style number and find no result, check the fabric content and the silhouette first. The number may belong to a discontinued collection, or the listing you are comparing against may use a different catalog reference. Asking the brand's customer service is the most reliable route, because the brand keeps the internal records that link a number to a season and a fabric.

The EPA's data on textiles shows that a large share of what enters municipal waste is discarded clothing, which is one reason to consider buying a previously owned dress and to record the style number before you sell or hand it down. When you buy secondhand, the style number is the most durable detail you can save to identify the exact design later. It outlives the hang tag and stays with the garment through many owners.

What to pick

Once you have the style number and the fabric content, the buying decision comes down to fit and occasion. For a day look, a cotton or viscose blend feels comfortable and breathes well. For evening, silk or a crepe with a little stretch holds a cleaner line and drapes closer to the body. For the office, a sheath or a fit-and-flare in a synthetic blend resists wrinkles through a long day, which makes it a strong work dress option.

Use the silhouette to guide your choice, then confirm the fabric against your care preferences. If you prefer machine washing, lean toward cotton or polyester blends; if you are willing to dry clean, silk and viscose become viable. The best alice + olivia dresses guide rounds up current styles across collections, and our dress care label guide explains how to read the washing symbols that sit right below the style number.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Where is the style number on an alice + olivia dress?

It is printed on the sewn-in care label, usually in the side seam a few inches above the hem. The fabric content and washing symbols sit on the same label.

Does the style number tell me the fabric?

No. The style number identifies the design, and the fabric content is a separate line on the same label. Read both together to know what the dress is made of.

Can I look up an alice + olivia style number online?

Yes. Compare it against current listings on resale platforms or the brand's own site, and if nothing matches, ask the brand's customer service, since the brand keeps the internal records.

Do older styles keep their style numbers?

Yes. The style number stays with the design. If it matches nothing in the current catalog, it usually means the style is from an earlier collection.

Is the number the same across dress sizes?

Yes. The style number is identical for every size of the same design. The size you need is a separate field on the label and on the hang tag.