Back in June, Brandon Maxwell described his vibrant, happy resort collection as a precursor to spring, adding that more and more, he believes the brand is becoming a playground to express himself.
“I’ve done a lot of the night. I’m older and more mature and put a lot of focus into making my life healthy and balanced, definitely in the last year. I wanted this very tranquil space,” he said of the lavender-hued setting inside of Christie’s New York. “I think that lavender is a very tranquil color, it doesn’t have a sense of urgency to it; I think that’s what I’ve been seeing in my life. I’ve moved out of the city and into land — I need the peace and the quiet, and I think in the peace and quiet, I was able to have a lot of involuntary — or triggered — memories of that quieter time in my life, where there was not a lot going on. I was just watching fashion TV, reading magazines and dreaming about what it could be like.”
Spending time outdoors has benefited the designer — resort riffed on his time spent in California while spring referenced both his youth in Texas and his more recent move out of the city.
“The most important thing in my life now is that 5 to 7 a.m. time, where I sit and can literally see the deer walking across the street and hear the sounds of nature. It’s very restorative for me and something I’ve needed for a long time. It’s brought a lot of focus and clarity in my work,” he added.
Maxwell said his memories were reflected within spring’s silhouettes, like fresh, luxe takes on overalls — great in black leather, white ribbed tanks and tailored utility dressing layered with chic minimalist layers and signature sportswear. His collection seemingly wasn’t about strictly one idea — there was a delightful wink to ‘90s minimalism and nod to Y2K sparkle — but rather a study in breaking down signature dress codes and modernizing them in a manner that was both serene and confident.
The designer modernized casual daywear with a directional glam lens — combining sparkling sequined and square disco-ball paillette-emblazoned tanks (some of which boasted adorable fauna and nature scenes) with classic tailored trousers and utility pocket blazers. There was also silky shirt dressing with tone-on-tone repeating logos; sleek utility pants with strapless bustiers, and asymmetric, fluid dresses with abdomen-revealing cuts.
Party-worthy, sequined floral minidresses and skirts with scalloped hems — and their evening counterparts: a puddled, floor-length skirt or unfussy evening gowns — nicely continued the idea with simple ribbed white tank layers while an equally enticing, blurred holographic floral print fittingly extended into day (an elongated tank dress) and night (a strapless gown). A happy balance indeed.
