In lieu of a runway show or presentation during New York Fashion Week, Brandon Maxwell got back behind the camera to create his fall collection video with Jack Shanahan, Jessy Price, Image Partnership and more.
“It allows me to sort of more accurately express how I see the clothes,” Maxwell told WWD. Over the last few seasons, the designer has been revisiting the foundational codes of his 10-year-old brand. For fall, he evolved these ideas into a more mature lineup with moments of sexiness, edge and ample sartorial wardrobing for the everyday. For example, his first collection’s focus on cumberbunds was turned into rectangular scarf-like panels on tuxedo shirts, while cashmere knits had peek-a-boo backs that mimicked fall’s strapless black mantle gown.
“When I was starting this, I really took it as a good moment for myself to think about the next 10 years forward for me. What I want for the brand and what I want for myself. I very much enjoy the quiet, private time of making the clothes,” he said. “I’m at a place in my life where I’m very interested in the dart on a cashmere jacket’s shoulder that will fit her beautifully and make her feel great. Doing it this way feels representative of where I am — it shows working quietly allows me to express more clearly than I do in the loudness.”
His collection was filled with these quiet yet powerful moments that required a closer look, as seen through his striking bonded velvet jacket or alluring over printed and pleated viscose satin gown that would look great on any red carpet.
Maxwell said he wanted to play with textures to build on those foundations, as seen through paillette-accented viscose and jersey dressing and swishy skirts with laser-cut leather panels or artisanal strings of thousands of hand-placed beads. He took the latter idea one step further by weaving five different yarns together to create his green and red marled knit dressing — cementing his focus on strong pieces for every occasion.
