How Chase Infiniti's Stylists Crafted Her Looks for Award Season

      Welcome to The Who What Wear Podcast, your direct connection to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers influencing the fashion and beauty landscape. Subscribe to The Who What Wear Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

      How Wayman Bannerman & Micah McDonald Became Hollywood's Top Stylists | Who What Wear - YouTube

      In the world of celebrity styling, Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald believe that the changes in creative directors might actually benefit their clients during awards season. "I truly think this awards season will be improved because of that," Bannerman mentioned. The styling duo, known as Wayman and Micah, has an impressive lineup of clients, dressing some of the most sought-after stars in entertainment, including Chase Infiniti and Colman Domingo. In the latest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, they discuss their journey with Infiniti, the process of transforming sketches into reality, and more. For highlights from their conversation, scroll below.

      Can we take a moment to discuss your client Chase [Infiniti]? How did your collaboration begin?

      Micah McDonald: We recognized she was new, and we wanted to ensure she felt supported and cared for, instead of simply styled. We aimed to convey the intricacies of the industry with compassion and enthusiasm, rather than presenting it as a daunting process, saying things like "This is what you need to do, and if you don't go with us, you're going to be forgotten." The meeting went well; it was a Saturday afternoon. Later that day, we received a call from her publicist, who said, "She has never made a decision this easily." Chase got off the phone and declared, "I'm not meeting anyone else. It's definitely them."

      We often discuss custom pieces on this podcast, but we rarely see the actual sketches. So, let's start with the stunning Chase Infiniti at this year's Met Gala in a custom Thom Browne design.

      MM: This truly exemplifies the classic "what I ordered versus what I received" scenario—showcasing the entire journey of the design and every step of their additions and adjustments, while really listening to our "What if?" ideas.

      Wayman Bannerman: We drew inspiration for the color palette from a Jamaican artist named Tamara Madden, who plays with color in a way that highlights African American women and their heritage. We used this inspiration to communicate our vision to Thom Browne, who captured our ideas excellently in the sketch.

      Do you feel more optimistic now that most creative directors have settled in? It has been a complicated time for the industry, with many moving jobs. It might take a moment for them to adjust, but now it seems like "Okay, we've seen a collection or two, and people are finding their footing." Do you foresee this leading to an even better awards season?

      WB: I genuinely believe it will be an improved awards season for that reason. Now that they are acclimated, designers and creative directors are starting to grasp how award-season campaigns function. Coming from houses that don’t typically produce award-season pieces entails a learning curve regarding how quickly things can move and the accompanying pressure. They're figuring out how to manage that pressure and create work within tight timelines, something we may not have experienced from them last season. It will be exciting to see their outputs, and we always look forward to new collections. Observing designers in new environments, especially during the awards, could be very fulfilling for audiences who cherish these moments.

      MM: Furthermore, if you're in a house that isn’t accustomed to producing shows and capsule collections, the need to deliver multiple customs weekly must come with a steep learning curve. I can only imagine the amount of adjustment that has occurred. I'm looking forward to the smoothness of it all. I often say this—though I probably should refrain since it hasn’t happened yet—but Wayman and I like to have a sense of what our award season will look like before Thanksgiving. Perhaps this year will finally be that year.

      This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.