Lady Gaga’s Texas BFF Brings the Drama to New York Fashion Week: Inside the Theatrics of a Brandon Maxwell Show

By Clifford Pugh // Feb 13, 2018

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Brandon Maxwell crystal-studded long skirt and black bell-sleeve hoodie jacket. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell jeweled high-waist evening trousers and long-sleeved crop top sweater. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Samantha's selection: Brandon Maxwell satin skirt and T-shirt top. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Samantha's selection: Brandon Maxwell yellow jumpsuit. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Models gathered together at the end of the Brandon Maxwell show during New York Fashion Week. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell jeweled shoulder-baring gown. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

At the end of his runway show, Brandon Maxwell came out to salute the audience and his design team. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell pink satin halter top and red trousers. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell red short sleeved gown. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Model Karlie Kloss in Brandon Maxwell athletic jumpsuit. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell red jeweled long skirt, white blouse and red jacket. Photo courtesy of Brandon Maxwell.

NEW YORK — Brandon Maxwell grew up in East Texas but he has a New York sense of drama. To showcase his fall ’18 collection, the 33-year-old Longview native chose a dramatic amphitheater with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking New York City’s Columbus Circle to unveil a collection of “relaxed glamour.”

Models walked through clouds of fog before crisscrossing through the audience to the top of The Appel Room, a home for jazz at Lincoln Center, and out the front door. They returned at the end with Maxwell, who brought out his entire design team to take a bow.

Maxwell, whose looks are a favorite of his good friend Lady Gaga, is known for bold monochromatic colors — neon yellows, bright reds, sharp shades of white — with hardly any embellishment. That’s the tone of this collection, although it’s much more casual. Ball skirts are paired with hoodies or T-shirt tops while jumpsuits are cut to show off toned arms and shoulders.

Maxwell added a touch of sparkle to the collection in looks ranging from a black sequined little black dress to a shimmery blue-gray gown with a thigh-high slit. And a pair of glittery high-waisted slacks and cropped sweater are as glamorous as any evening gown and provide the adventurous woman looking for a different style of nighttime dressing a new opportunity.

Harkening to his boyhood past, Maxwell created tiny Swarovski crystal purses and earrings in the shape of a pineapple. “Pineapples were on my mom’s stationery growing up,” he told Vogue.com.

And Miguel’s “Pineapple Skies” was part of the soundtrack.

In Houston, the Brandon Maxwell collection is available at Elizabeth Anthony.