Brandon Maxwell Takes on an Unexpected Fashion Assignment

This week it was announced that Brandon Maxwell has taken on the role of Creative Director of Walmart’s elevated brands Scoop and Free Assembly. This interesting and somewhat unlikely pairing may come as a bit of a surprise given the fashion clout Maxwell has amassed since launching his eponymous womenswear label in 2015.

The Texas-born designer worked as a stylist before landing the role of fashion director for none other than Lady Gaga. His styling prowess earned him a spot on The Hollywood Reporters’ list of top 25 stylists of 2015, after which he debuted his ready-to-wear collection.

He has quickly risen through the fashion ranks, having won the AAFA Designer of the Year Award in 2020 and Womenswear Designer of the Year at the CFDA Fashion Awards in 2019. Maxwell quickly established himself as a red-carpet favourite, with a legion of A-list fans including Blake Lively, Helen Mirren, Megan Markle, Jennifer Aniston and Michelle Obama.

So, what prompted the collaboration with the multinational retail giant Walmart? In a statement made on his Instagram page, Maxwell said that “Closing the gap between the world that I’ve come to know and the world that I come from has long been a dream of mine, and to be able to do it at the store that served so many of my needs growing up is all the more special.”

The appointment of Maxwell is a significant win for Denise Incandela, executive VP of apparel and private brands for Walmart, who was tasked with expanding the elevated clothing branch of the business and ultimately making high-quality fashion accessible to the masses.

This is something that clearly resonated with Maxwell, who “always believed that everyone in those communities deserves to have access to the joy, love, and happiness that fashion can bringHis Instagram post also confirmed that in addition to his new role, he would continue to build the Brandon Maxwell brand with the support of his team in New York City. Ahead of Maxwell starting his part-time gig at Walmart, we thought we would round up 3 of his most iconic red carpet looks:

Brandon Maxwell’s Best Red Carpet Looks

Lady Gaga

Nowhere are the fashion stakes higher than at the exclusive Met Gala. In 2019, Lady Gaga—in what can only be described as a fashion moment—pulled off not one but four dramatic outfit changes at the high-profile event.

She began in a billowing hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown with cascading train and oversized bow, which, when peeled off, revealed an all-black dress ensemble complete with a black umbrella. This was followed by a figure-hugging hot pink gown before finally stripping down to her final look for the night: A bra, fishnets, and underwear.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson wore this bridal-inspired two-piece at the 2019 Governors Award in LA. The 50 Shades of Grey star was an instant showstopper in a white satin crop top and voluminous skirt, part of the designer’s spring/summer 2020 collection.

Mandy Moore

This bold, clashing red and pink ensemble was worn by This is Us star Mandy Moore at the 2019 Emmy Awards. The two-piece outfit was composed of a pink off-the-shoulder blouse with puffed sleeves and a fire red skirt with daring thigh-high slit.