Mention Brandon Maxwell’s name and Lady Gaga’s multiple outfit changes at the 2019 Met Gala immediately come to mind. Maxwell cherishes his relationship with the superstar — he also dressed her at that year’s Oscars — as well as with the many other celebs he’s crafted over the years. But he wanted to set the record straight. He didn’t get into fashion to make event dresses, but because he loved tailoring. Red carpet minimalism is minimalist at heart.
Maxwell showcased his tailoring with this pre-fall collection, which he’s crafted as a modular collection. The sequined minidress that adorned a strapless zip-front dress and cropped pants in Look 1 reappeared elsewhere: paired with a sequined tank dress and on its own with a silk cashmere knit and lapel jacket. The same mix-and-match approach works for button-down cuts with lots of volume in the back. It can be worn as a third piece in a trouser suit or as a shirt dress. Versatile, too: A tunic tank dress can be transformed into a cocktail dress with a sheer base layer. Lookbook is a user-friendly how-to.
Bringing up his new morning tennis routine, and the rigors of managing not only this label but his Walmart collection and his job as Judge on Project Runway, Maxwell says, “I’m looking for consistency.” He bets his clients are too. Modeled after the trousers he wore at the spring show in September, these raw denim smock-front cargo pocket pants look great with a sleeveless ribbed tee and a matching denim blazer with an inverted lapel.
