How I Get Dressed: Brandon Blackwood

“The way we get dressed every morning is as personal as it gets. There are outfit repeaters, vintage treasure hunters, and even emotional dressers. But while everyone loves a good fashion trend, here at InStyle, we’re interested in the deeper stuff, too: the way jewelry makes us feel, the way a beloved coat can spark joy on a cold day, the way a pair of shoes can pull a whole look together. How I Get Dressed unpacks fashion routines, rituals, and go-tos—straight from the fashion tastemakers we love.“

Surviving ten years in any business, especially one as fickle as fashion, is no joke.

With new luxury lines coming and going quicker than the turn of a season, breaking through the noise and withstanding the ever-churning trend cycles is more difficult than ever for an independent fashion label. But somehow, Jamaican and Chinese designer Brandon Blackwood has figured it out—all while staying true to his brand ethos.

Not only is the self-made talent celebrating a decade since he first launched his collection of insanely popular handbags, which has since been carried by the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Oprah, and Taylor Swift, but over the years he has expanded his reach with saucy shoes, a line of affordable yet chic ready-to-wear, and even custom red carpet dresses.

Blackwood’s momentum can be credited to his unwavering commitment to his devoted customer base, who he lovingly refers to as his “cousins.” He provides them with a slew of endlessly chic options and actively listens to their every want and need (frequently expressed in the comment section).

A quick scroll through the brand’s Instagram account reveals just how invested his fans are in Blackwood and how excited they get for every fresh drop. His latest offering for spring, a collection titled “New Species,” is no exception. “Everyone brings out their really loud pieces more so in the spring,” Blackwood tells InStyle. “So with the latest collection, we are offering pieces that are sophisticated but still young and fresh.”

If you’re wondering what the It Bag from “New Species” will be, the designer has a hunch. “The Jordi bag. That’s the one I think is going to be a hit with us,” says Blackwood. “She’s small but big enough for your phone and everything else. We are offering a bunch of different colorways.” The collection features deliciously rich colors like olive oil greens, burnt oranges, chocolatey brown, and zesty zebra prints for those wanting to lean into their wild sides.

To celebrate the release of his spring collection, InStyle spoke with the designer about everything from his first couture purchase to staying inspired—and tips for those in a style rut. Ahead Brandon Blackwood’s How I Get Dressed. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

His Style in Three Words

New York, clean, cool.

His Fashion Muses

The women in my family, especially my mom. She had me pretty young, and I got to grow up watching her work a corporate job, while never dressing boring. She would wear a purple pencil skirt with a little cropped blazer to the office, and I was always in awe of her. I’d even try on some of her stuff when she wasn’t home.

Also, my grandmother was extremely stylish, especially when she was going to church. My aunt Camille was also a muse for me growing up. She was definitely the black sheep of the group and she always had the giant door knocker earrings. Everything she wore was Tommy Hilfiger.

How He Styles His Outfits

I used to be really out there and try a lot of different things. I’ve learned over time that I like to look chic, but I also love comfort. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older, but I’ve been loving a really tight shirt, a leather pant, and a boot. I feel like I always look clean.

I’ve been doing a lot of Canadian tuxedos lately, like a cropped denim jacket with a pant. At home, I’m lazy. It’s just going to always be like a little sweatsuit matching sweat moment. I just love being cozy at home.

His First Fashion Splurge

I bought a Santos de Cartier watch that I’ve always wanted for my 30th. That was my big boy purchase.

How He Fell in Love With Couture

I was in Paris, and I was like, “Oh, Schiaparelli doesn’t have a store in New York, so they have to have one here.” I basically just Googled Schiaparelli, but my Google Translate was French, so I’m not reading it. I was like, “Oh shit, it’s like two blocks away.” I walk there, I go and say, “I’m here to shop.”

The girls looked at me like, “Um, do you have an appointment?” Not knowing that their atelier and everything are in this building, they still let me go in. I ended up being there for hours, and lots of champagne later, I actually left with a couple of things. Then, two days later, they invited me to my first couture show. It was a happy accident, you could say.

Where He Shops

I love Essx in New York. They carry brands like Martine Rose, Will Bond, and really niche ones, too. Also, I’m always at Dover Street Market—shout out to Hanako at Dover Street. They always really take care of me.

I spend lots of time on The Real Real, and I am not shy to admit that if something pops up on my Instagram that I like or I’ve never heard of, I’m not afraid to buy it. I’m the person they make those ads for because I’m the first one to say, “Let me try it on.” That’s how I found a brand that I’m currently really into called Salt Murphy.

Why He’s Not Afraid of Trends

Everyone has their own aesthetic. Everyone wants to do their own thing. And if you like it, I love it. I’m never gonna yuck someone’s yum, per se. But I would say I think if you’re classic all the time, where’s the fun in that? Trends happen for a reason, you know? It’s the time; it’s what we’re doing.

You don’t want to be too trendy. You don’t want to be too classic. I like me somewhere in the middle.

The Piece He Always Wears

I love all of my jewelry, especially my nameplate necklace. It’s kind of become the thing that I always wear. And then there’s all of my Anthony Lent jewelry. He’s a jeweler in New York, and his designs are really cool and almost pseudo-Gothic. I also have lots of custom Bernard James pieces.

His Style Advice

If you’re in a style rut I would say start simple. I think the easiest thing to do is find a pair of pants that fits you really well. Then just style and rotate the top.

Then, once you feel comfortable, start rotating the outfit. I think you’ll see that it’s easier to find your style when you have a go-to piece, and you can start choosing and picking things to accompany it. I always say that a good fitting pair of pants will do wonders, and it makes such a difference when you’re looking at the overall look.

His Fashion Ick

Neon Colors. Like really, really bright neon clothing. I can’t do it; it’s my one thing.

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