During her first Paris Fashion Week, Doja Cat made headlines. She posed with designer Simon Porte Jacquemus outside of his Parisian boutique covered head-to-toe in gold body paint beneath her baggy jeans and white tee, and she sat front row at Vivienne Westwood in pirate-inspired attire. But who’s behind the pop star’s recent run of head-turning looks? Step forward creative director and stylist, Brett Alan Nelson.
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“Anything that is out of the ordinary and unexpected,” is how Nelson describes his personal aesthetic. “I grew up in the theatre, so I was always fascinated by how the clothing told a story, and that’s why I enjoy fantastical style.” The creative went from the Midwest – where he grew up idolising the likes of Salvador Dalí, Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen – to Los Angeles, where he worked his way up by assisting stylists before being recruited as Schön magazine’s fashion director. The job was the beginning of a 10 year-long collaboration with the renowned photographer David LaChapelle. “From that point, I got the opportunity to work with different creatives and celebrities, which opened the door to much larger possibilities,” he says.
When it comes to Nelson’s work with Doja, it’s all about experimenting and pushing sartorial boundaries. The pair first joined forces for the BET Awards in 2019, and have since gone on to create looks for music videos, album covers and Coachella earlier this year (or “Dojachella”, as her fans dubbed it on Twitter). “The creative synergy we share is magical – she’s not afraid to take a risk and I am obsessed with that,” he says of their working relationship.
In Paris, Doja wore a dramatic brown leather coat over an A.W.A.K.E Mode check suit (naturally while covered in gold body paint), and a drop-shoulder “tie” dress by Thom Browne with matching tights and lace-up platform boots (note the tie necklace, shades and fuzzy handbag). Then there was the daring Monôt cut-out dress with contrasting blue face paint, a look that swept social media. “She is open to everything – that’s what I love about her,” he says of Doja’s style. “We get to play with colours and textures, but most of all create costumes that no one else is brave enough to wear.”
According to Nelson, Doja’s fashion sense is as eclectic as her music. The artist chose a classic black off-the-shoulder, figure-hugging gown with a statement chain necklace and earrings, as well as square-frame sunglasses to attend the Balenciaga show. Doja maintained her gothic theme for the Givenchy show by wearing a black double-breasted blazer dress over a leather miniskirt and top combo, black knee-high Shark Lock boots and silver hardware jewellery. “We try to create looks with a balance of high and low pieces – we work with big fashion houses as well as emerging designers,” says Nelson. “I believe when there is no risk there is no reward, and [Doja] understands that.”
What advice would Nelson give to someone trying to break into the world of celebrity styling? “Treat every client differently and get to know them – if they are inspired by something, listen to them,” he declares with confidence. “You don’t work with a stylist to be a replica of someone else – you work with a stylist to truly bring out your own aesthetic.”
