Who Is Brandon Maxwell? The Designer, the Label and What to Buy Now
Who Is Brandon Maxwell? The Designer, the Label and What to Buy Now
Brandon Maxwell is an American fashion designer and the founder and creative director of Brandon Maxwell, the New York luxury womenswear label he launched in 2015. Born in Longview, Texas in 1984, he worked as a stylist and then as Lady Gaga’s fashion director before starting his own collection. He won the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear in 2016 and was named Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards.
By Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Luxury Shoes .
That is the short answer. The longer one explains why a designer who once dressed one of the most theatrical pop stars in the world became known for something much quieter: clothes that fit perfectly, cut with the discipline of a tailor and the ease of American sportswear.
Brandon Maxwell at a glance
- Born: 18 September 1984, Longview, Texas
- Label founded: 2015, New York, debuted at Mr. Chow
- Before the label: stylist, then Lady Gaga’s fashion director from 2012
- Awards: CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear 2016, CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year 2019
- Television: judge on Project Runway from 2019 to 2023
- Other roles: creative director of the Walmart labels Free Assembly and Scoop since 2021
- Known for: draped eveningwear, sharp tailoring, clean American sportswear
From Longview to New York
Maxwell grew up in East Texas. His grandmother, Louise Johnson, was a buyer for a boutique in Longview, and it was there that he first saw how clothes were chosen, bought and worn. As a teenager he put outfits together and photographed his friends in them, an early sign of the two disciplines, styling and image making, that still run through his work.
He moved to New York in 2002 to study painting at Marymount Manhattan College, then finished his degree in photocommunications at St. Edward’s University in Austin. Back in New York he started assisting stylists, first Deborah Afshani in 2009, then Edward Enninful, then Nicola Formichetti from 2010. Through Formichetti he met Lady Gaga.
The Lady Gaga years
In 2012 Maxwell became Lady Gaga’s fashion director. The role taught him how a garment behaves under pressure: on a stage, on a red carpet, in front of hundreds of cameras. It also put him in front of every major fashion house, and by 2016 The Hollywood Reporter ranked him thirteenth on its list of the most powerful stylists in Hollywood.
The working relationship continued after he launched his own line. Maxwell designed the fuchsia gown Gaga wore on arrival at the 2019 Met Gala, the first of four looks she revealed on the steps that night.
The Brandon Maxwell label
Maxwell showed his first collection in 2015 at Mr. Chow in New York. From the start he built clothes by draping on the body instead of sketching, so the fit is decided before anything else. That method explains the house look: columns that skim, jackets with a clean, defined shoulder, trousers that fall in one straight line.
Recognition came fast. In August 2016 Michelle Obama wore an ivory Brandon Maxwell gown to the White House state dinner for the prime minister of Singapore. The same year he won the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear, and in 2019 the CFDA named him Womenswear Designer of the Year. His clients have included Michelle Obama, Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively, Karlie Kloss and Queen Rania of Jordan.
The label turned ten in 2025. That year he released his first home collection, with Pottery Barn, and staged an anniversary show for Spring 2026. For Fall 2026 he skipped the runway altogether and presented the collection through a film made with his longtime collaborator Jessy Price.
Project Runway and Walmart
Many people first met Maxwell on television. He joined the panel of the relaunched Project Runway on Bravo in 2019 and judged four seasons alongside Nina Garcia and Elaine Welteroth, through the all stars season that premiered in June 2023. When the show moved to Freeform it arrived with a new panel.
Since 2021 he has also been creative director of two Walmart apparel brands, Free Assembly and Scoop, overseeing four collections a year. That is why searches for Brandon Maxwell at Walmart are common. Those pieces are a separate, affordable line; the Brandon Maxwell label itself is luxury ready to wear, designed in New York and made in Italy, Portugal, the United States and other specialist workshops.
What Brandon Maxwell is known for
Three things define the house. First, eveningwear that feels effortless: floor length columns, draped one shoulder dresses and gowns with a single sculptural detail. Second, tailoring cut close to the body, from velvet jackets to high rise trousers. Third, a very American ease, with polo knits, denim and white shirting treated with the same care as a gown.
For Fall 2026 that means pieces like the Bex Gown in silver sequins, the Farren velvet column dress with its sculpted collar, and the Alora bonded velvet jacket. The collection also brings the house leather goods into focus: the Vance Weekender, the Maxwell frame bag and the Louise Pochette, all handcrafted in Italy.
What to buy first
- A column dress for evening: the Bex Gown in black and green is pure Maxwell, a clean line with one dramatic detail at the neck.
- A shirt that does the work: the Ceci button down in white cotton poplin, shaped at the waist.
- Tailoring: the Irving Pant, a high rise straight leg in Italian crepe.
- A bag for every day: the Louise Pochette in espresso leather.
For fit, see the Brandon Maxwell size guide. For the full collection story, see the Fall Winter 2026 edit.
How Brandon Maxwell compares with other American designers
Maxwell belongs to a generation of American designers who mix eveningwear with sportswear. Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera share his love of a gown but are more romantic; Khaite shares his leather and knitwear but is more minimal; Sergio Hudson and LaQuan Smith share his sharp tailoring and glamour. For a fuller list see brands like Brandon Maxwell, and for a direct comparison of gowns see LaPointe vs Brandon Maxwell.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Brandon Maxwell?
Brandon Maxwell is an American fashion designer, born in Longview, Texas in 1984, who founded his New York womenswear label in 2015 after working as Lady Gaga’s fashion director.
What is Brandon Maxwell known for?
Brandon Maxwell is known for draped eveningwear, precise tailoring and clean American sportswear, built by draping on the body for a close, flattering fit.
Did Brandon Maxwell win a CFDA award?
Yes. Brandon Maxwell won the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear in 2016 and was named Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards.
Was Brandon Maxwell on Project Runway?
Yes. Brandon Maxwell was a judge on Project Runway from the 2019 relaunch on Bravo through the all stars season that premiered in June 2023.
What happened to Brandon Maxwell on Project Runway?
Nothing dramatic. Brandon Maxwell judged four seasons of the relaunched Project Runway on Bravo, from 2019 through the all stars season in 2023. When the show moved to Freeform for its twenty first season it came with a new host and a new panel of judges.
What celebrities wear Brandon Maxwell?
Brandon Maxwell has dressed Michelle Obama, Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively, Karlie Kloss, Queen Rania of Jordan and Lady Gaga, who wore his fuchsia gown to the 2019 Met Gala.
Is Brandon Maxwell a luxury brand?
Yes. Brandon Maxwell is a luxury womenswear label, designed in New York and made in specialist workshops in Italy, Portugal, the United States and elsewhere, sold through luxury retailers.
What is Brandon Maxwell doing now?
Brandon Maxwell continues to design his own label, presenting Fall 2026 as a film, and remains creative director of the Walmart lines Free Assembly and Scoop. In 2025 he also launched a home collection with Pottery Barn.
Is Brandon Maxwell the designer for Walmart?
Since 2021 Brandon Maxwell has been creative director of the Walmart labels Free Assembly and Scoop. Those are separate, affordable lines; the Brandon Maxwell label is luxury ready to wear.
Where can I buy Brandon Maxwell?
Luxury Handbags carries the Brandon Maxwell collection online, including Fall Winter 2026 ready to wear, bags and jewellery, with authenticity guaranteed and worldwide shipping.
Shop the full Brandon Maxwell edit at Luxury Shoes , with authenticity guaranteed and express worldwide shipping.
Read next: the Brandon Maxwell dresses guide, Brandon Maxwell bags explained, brands like Brandon Maxwell.
Related Posts
Fear of God Essentials Sets: How to Build the Perfect Matching Tracksuit
A Fear of God Essentials set is simply a hoodie and sweatpants, a track jacket and track pants, a sweatshirt and shorts, in the same colour and the same fabric. Essentials makes every core style in matching colourways each season, so building a set is easy. Here are the best pairs from the Fear...
Fear of God Fall Winter 2026: The Edit
Fear of God Essentials for Fall Winter 2026 brings a new colour, Night Sea, a deep teal, alongside the usual blacks and heathers, plus nylon ripstop track pieces, suede fleece with piping and two new Classic hoodies. Here are the pieces we would buy first from the Fear of God collection at Luxury Shoes .
Where to Buy Fear of God Essentials (and How to Avoid Fakes)
Buy Fear of God Essentials from the brand, its authorised stockists and retailers that authenticate what they sell. Luxury Handbags stocks the current Essentials and main collection pieces in the Fear of God collection , and every piece is checked before it ships worldwide.
The Fear of God Main Collection: Tailoring, Denim, Leather and Fleece
The main Fear of God collection is where Jerry Lorenzo works with tailoring, denim and leather. Pieces are made in small runs in Italy, Japan, the USA and Portugal, in fabrics like double weave virgin wool, wool cashmere and Japanese denim. This guide covers the key categories in the Fear of God...
Brands Like Fear of God: 8 Labels With the Same Relaxed Luxury
Brands like Fear of God share a few things: relaxed proportions, muted colours, heavy fabrics and a mix of sportswear and tailoring. Some are Los Angeles labels with the same streetwear roots; others are European houses with a quieter, more tailored take. Here are eight to know, starting with...
Fear of God Outfits: 10 Ways to Wear Fear of God and Essentials
A good Fear of God outfit is built on three rules: keep the colours in one family, let the proportions be long and relaxed, and mix one structured piece with the soft ones. These ten looks show how, using pieces from the Fear of God collection at Luxury Shoes .
Fear of God Essentials x NFL, MLB and NBA: The Sports Collections
Fear of God Essentials makes official, licensed collections with the NFL, MLB and NBA. They take the Essentials shapes, like the Sport Hoodie, the 90s Hoodie and the boxy Merch Tee, and add team graphics in a vintage athletic style. Luxury Handbags carries a large selection in the Fear of God collection .
Fear of God Size Guide: Does Essentials Run Big?
Fear of God Essentials runs big because it is designed to. Every piece is cut relaxed, with a dropped shoulder, a long body and room through the leg, so most people should take their usual size and let the shape do the work. This guide explains each fit family the brand uses, the size runs and...
Fear of God Essentials T-Shirts: Classic, 90s, Merch and Tank Fits
The Fear of God Essentials T-shirt is cut longer and wider than a standard tee, in heavy cotton jersey with a small rubber logo. There are now four main fits: the Classic, the 90s, the boxy Merch Tee with 3/4 sleeves, and the sleeveless tanks and cut-offs. Shop the full range in men's T-shirts...
Fear of God Essentials Shorts: Sweatshorts, Gym Shorts and More
Fear of God Essentials shorts follow the same idea as the sweatpants: relaxed, long and in the same muted colours as the hoodies and tees. There are fleece sweatshorts, heavy jersey shorts, nylon gym shorts and cotton twill drawstring shorts, plus a few from the main collection. Shop them all in...
Fear of God Essentials Sweatpants: Every Fit Explained
Fear of God Essentials sweatpants come in more shapes than most people realise. The Classic is the everyday jogger with an elastic hem; the Slouchy and Lounge styles are wider and straighter; the Flare kicks out at the ankle; and the track pants come in nylon and tricot. This guide explains each...
Fear of God vs Fear of God Essentials: What Is the Difference?
Fear of God and Fear of God Essentials come from the same designer, Jerry Lorenzo, and share the same muted colours and long, relaxed proportions. The difference is in the fabrics, the makers and the price. The main collection is made in small runs in the USA, Italy, Japan and Portugal....