Olivia Vella '22
After a year and a half of not going out, fashion designer Maisie Schloss’s clothes are ready to party! Emerging from a pandemic, Schloss namesake label, Maisie Wilen has been able to authenticate itself amongst fashion’s elite.
The LA-based fashion designer has always felt a deeply woven connection to fashion. The Parson’s graduate moved to Los Angeles where she landed a job as an assistant at Kanye West’s Yeezy. Schloss quickly found herself adapting to the unconventional environment at Yeezy and finding unique ways to contribute. Shortly after being given the position of womenswear designer, West had offered Schloss an opportunity to create her own brand. In 2019, she became the first recipient of Kanye’s incubator grant.
Maisie Wilen has become synonymous with Instagrams’ most coveted party wear. The clingy, colorful garments have been photographed on A-list celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Lorde, and Kim Kardashian. The fashion line’s graphic designs and party aesthetics have become omnipresent thanks to influencers. Schloss faced a common struggle among many designers: How do you top a viral item? After garnering an abundance of attention, many wonder what’s next?
But little did Schloss know she would face an extra level of complications when creating her next collection. The pandemic temporarily ended nightlife, leaving everyone at home and in pajamas. She would have to transform her party after dark brand into a casual daytime comfort collection.
Maisie Wilen held its Spring 2022 show at Boom Boom Room. The designer took her brand in a new direction steering away from the party vibes of previous collections. Instead, Schloss rode with an equestrian theme, combining her love of Derby-style embellishments with rider's styled attire. Backstage Schloss told Vogue Runway, "The patterns and colors reflect the racehorse's owner, and [each one] is registered. Like our prints, it's a signature. I wanted to combine that with romance and my work's technical futuristic themes.”
The 27-year old designer has already made an impressive impression in the fashion world and she is not stopping now. Schloss has just been nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2021 Fashion Awards as an American Emerging Designer of the Year. Maisie is optimistic about the post-pandemic future, both in socializing and brand-building. As the world begins to slowly open back up, her brand has a fresh new perspective.
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