The Met Gala is one of fashion’s most prestigious and highly anticipated events. The invitation-only fundraising spectacle draws the biggest names in entertainment to showcase the most daring, fresh-off-the-runway designs. Fashion enthusiasts worldwide tune in to watch their favorite celebrities take the red carpet to dazzle or flop. This year’s coverage bringing in 444 million total multi-platform engagements across linear TV, digital and social views.
While celebrities are the center of attention at the Met Gala, the night also serves as a unique opportunity for fashion stylists. The right choice can help a stylist jumpstart or redefine their careers under the industry’s brightest lights. Fashion Industry Essentials contributor Brandon Maxwell worked as Lady Gaga’s creative director for seven years before emerging as a fashion superstar after he and the singer broke the internet during 2019’s Met Gala.
Early Fashion Career
Maxwell graduated with a degree in photo communications from St. Edward’s University in Austin. He got his start in fashion in 2009, working as an intern for Deborah Afshani. Shortly after, Maxwell served as an assistant for Edward Enninful. In 2010, he began working as an assistant for Nicola Formichetti, Lady Gaga’s fashion director. After two years in a support role, Maxwell took over full-time as Lady Gaga’s creative director.
Brandon Maxwell, the Label
Maxwell did editorial styling for several magazines between projects for Lady Gaga, including Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and Teen Vogue. He oversaw fashion advertising campaigns for Barneys New York and Uniqlo. In 2015, Maxwell debuted his women’s ready-to-wear label, Brandon Maxwell, in New York at Mr. Chow. That year, The Hollywood Reporter named Maxwell one of the top 25 stylists of the year.
In 2016, Maxwell teamed up with longtime collaborator, Jessy Price, to direct their first commercial short film together for the Brandon Maxwell Fall/Winter 2016 campaign. Following the project’s success, Lady Gaga tapped them to produce an Apple Music commercial for “A-Yo,” the second promotional single from her 2016 album, Joanne. Maxwell finished the year winning the 2016 Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for Womenswear and the 2016 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear, and was named a finalist for the 2016 LVMH Prize.
Gaga and the Met
In 2019, Lady Gaga was announced as one of the Met Gala’s co-chairs for the year. As part of the gala’s tradition, co-chairs make the biggest splash on the red carpet to support the evening’s theme. Under the guidance of the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Maxwell walked the red carpet alongside Lady Gaga to unveil four iconic looks.
Gaga’s first look was a bright magenta cape dress with a 25-foot train. That dress peeled away to reveal a dramatic corseted black dress. A hot pink, form-fitting gown accessorized with a 1980s-style mobile phone purse followed. She capped off the evening by stripping down to black underwear, fishnets, and glitter-covered platform heels. Gaga’s red carpet theatrics were the talk of the evening and became one of the most talked and debated about fashion moments for years to come.
Present Day
Shortly after the Met Gala, Maxwell made his television debut as a judge on Project Runway. Over his time in the industry, he has worked with Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, and Queen Rania of Jordan. His work has garnered critical acclaim.
Maxwell was named the 2019 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award for Womenswear and the 2020 American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Designer of the Year. He’s currently collaborating with Walmart on two upcoming fashion lines. He will serve as creative director for both.
If you’d like to learn about opportunities in the fashion industry, download Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Fashion Career Guide for more information on pursuing a career in fashion styling.
