Fresh off of the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) runway, designer and celebrity stylist Brandon Maxwell continues to shine in the fashion world while exclusively focusing on women’s empowerment.
His womenswear brand, which he named after himself, was launched in New York City back in 2015. According to his website, the label was “born out of the desire to make women feel beautiful, sophisticated and powerful, with timeless garments that are impeccably tailored.”
All of his garments are made with that philosophy in mind. Maxwell’s design process is a collaboration between himself and the woman wearing the piece. By doing so, he is able to create garments that not only capture the natural and unique beauty of a woman’s body, but make her feel empowered.
His inspiration for the ready-to-wear label were the women he grew up around. Having been surrounded by women balancing many responsibilities –– motherhood, work, and philanthropy –– Maxwell was motivated to create classic garments that were suitable for both day and night. At the same time, he wanted to ensure that when women wore his clothes, they felt “like a million dollars.”
Maxwell’s interest in fashion was sparked in childhood, when visits to his grandmother’s boutique in Texas often exposed him to well-dressed women. After studying photography in college, he became an assistant to many celebrity stylists. He eventually made his way up the food chain and became Lady Gaga’s fashion director in 2012.
Despite being established less than five years ago, Maxwell has certainly made his mark in the world of high fashion.
Maxwell’s brand recently made waves when he styled Lady Gaga for the 2019 Met Gala back in May. He and Lady Gaga indulged in the “camp” theme and fit four outfits into one showstopping entrance. In what some called “performance art,” Maxwell’s well-crafted and creative designs were all the talk of the Met Gala reviews.
Besides Lady Gaga, his clothing has been seen on many influential women, including Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, and Michelle Obama.
“We are dedicated to making women feel beautiful and powerful. Every collection begins with developing an ideal wardrobe for the independent woman. Each garment is a valentine tailored to her needs and desires. Inspired by friends and family, we strive to create clothing that celebrates the diversity of womankind,” the brand writes.
Featured Image by Mother Design, Christian Cervantes, George Lavender on Bēhance
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
