Introducing Maceo

 “I should probably have a Bless This Mess doormat or something”, Maceo Paisley jokes as he opens the door to us. Not because he’s messy – he isn’t, not at all – but just because there is so much to take in visually. Everything you see has been intuitively placed, however, either right where he can reach it or right where he left it. Looking around the kitchen at the glass jars of granola and cereal and multicolored liquids, he explains to us that he doesn’t have any brand packaging on display unless he loves it; even if he buys a bottle of lotion and it comes in plastic, he’ll transfer it to his own glass pump. “I don’t want anything in my eyeline that isn’t inspiring”.

The 35-year-old describes his own design aesthetic as “post-modern vintage” - a shag rug, a funky brown textured couch - but he is careful to have left space for each piece to breathe and compliment each other. It’s the perfect balance of “minimalism and pattern”. He splits his time between living in Detroit - where he works as an art curator in the Museum of Contemporary Art and a management consultant that helps creative businesses optimize their company culture and team dynamics – and California in the Winter.

We sat down to talk to him about his fascination with cultural movements, nerdoms, fandoms, cults, and just the margins of pop culture and how subcultures form, his previous career as a dancer (something he mostly only does now for fun), and the books he’s reading: HERE, a graphic novel about one room across time, The Outsider by Albert Camus, and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, which he always picks up and refers back to. “I like the fact that he can explain the whole cosmos in 300 pages”, he laughs. “That’s wild to me and it's fun to quench my inner geek with all the science knowledge”.

Let’s start with having you explain your style to us, Maceo...

Ironically, this is actually pretty simple for me. I am entirely post-prep vintage, military/boy scout, moonlighting as a monk. You’ll see me in designer work wear from Japan or Americana with some fly sneakers and a Dad hat. I keep up with trends but I am not governed by them. Sure I have my Crocs, and I am not going to be as early to adopt them as the people that hop on the bandwagon, because I need some context. Who are the other people rocking this style? What does it mean to express my self this way? What am I “saying” with this look?

Would your friends describe your style any differently do you think?

Now this is where it gets interesting! The people that know me very well would say that I am arguably one of the most creatively dressed people they know (when I try). But I have been told I am inconsistent. HAHAHA. Yes but this is because I am not afraid to take risks which means every outfit is not going to be a hit. What I lose in consistency, I make up for with my constant progress. When I find myself in an outfit that doesn’t work, it’s a lesson. So my style is increasingly expansive, while continuing to hold true to a core. Those who know me less will liken me to somewhere between Tyler, The Creator and Andre 3000 but that is only at a glance. Sure they are influences but since they have access to high design and limited edition goods, I am making things work with a high/low mix of things. Funnily enough, I have met them both and have received compliments on what I was wearing at the time. That’s neither here not there, but just a humble brag lol.

Thinking of your friends, what’s your ‘style/fashion role’ in the group?

I am NOT the leader. Luckily I have a wide range of friends who dress so differently that there really isn’t a leader. I mean it's almost competitive but we love it. There were times pre-pandemic that we would actually critique and rate each other’s outfits and crack jokes. It was all in good fun but we would not spare any punches. Since I work as a curator, I get to play with fashion a lot more, but still need to express that I have a proposition and am here to get things done. 

Who inspires you style-wise?

My biggest style inspiration right now is my brother. He is soo bohemian, it's giving me all kinds of new vocabulary as far as proportion and texture go. I wasn’t into tie dye for example, but I borrowed one of his shirts on laundry day and now I am hooked. There is definitely a time and place but he really helps me push myself towards the vintage look.

If you could ‘steal’ one person [in the public eye’s] closet, whose closet would you steal and why?

Nigel Cabourn. He has a timeless style that works for an old guy but is clearly elevated Osh Kosh Gosh! I love it.

Where are the other places you’re getting style/fashion influence from?

James Dean T-shirts.  Korean Dance scene for proportions. Construction workers.

Where are your three favorite stores to shop in for clothing/apparel?

The most fun store is Opening Ceremony. BODEGA. CB2

What is it about these stores that make them your favorite/preferred place to shop?

Opening Ceremony is like walking though a museum gift shop. (that is also my favorite place to shop). You want to touch everything, and luckily you CAN! It’s a blast to be visually stimulated by the micro shops and so much color and texture.

BODEGA both in LA and Boston have those iconic secret entrances.

CB2 is easy because it’s a furniture store and you can sit on things. 

Does the experience of those stores matter to you too?

I feel like if you are going to do retail then it should be experiential. That doesn’t necessarily mean maximalist but it should be about more than just showing the clothes. It’s gotta inspire people.

Going a little more specific, what are your top five favorite brands?

NIKE - they just never stop. I see them slide a little bit, then they come back really strong. Usually brands with a strong hold on pole position are risk averse but they have really stretched with their collaborations in the past few years since the OFF-WHITE releases, it has been really refreshing to see them come back.

PLAY  by CDG - This is a super fun brand that is modern but not always minimalist. I actually don’t own a lot of their stuff but I do like what I have.

LEVI’s they are one heritage brand, that has 100 lives, they keep coming back with new washes but I think their vintages are still the best things they have ever produces. Still their comms are really good and the collaborations there are also strong. I feel like they could actually be a little tighter on who they let engage with their brand or intentional but the core is so good they can afford some misses.

What are your top priorities when it comes to buying new items of clothing?

Statement

Lifestyle Match

Comfort

Price/Wears

Fit

And why do those things matter to you in the order they do?

Statement – I always think, “What kind of person buys/wears this?” and if I am that kind of person then I usually do. If I am not or I want to be then I wait on it. There are a lot of times I let something pass me by because It’s not communicating something I want to say.

Lifestyle match – I keep a pretty mellow life and I drive a truck, so it just doesn’t make sense for me to spend $800 on sneakers because the places I go, there isn’t really a need for that, or even a community of people who know what they are usually. I also don’t buy too many delicate things because they take time to care for and I don’t want to be overly concerned with stains, smudges, or scuffs.

Comfort – there is only a rare case when I will sacrifice comfort for style and that’s when breaking in new shows or generally wearing un lined leather.

Price/wears – I don’t think so much about “can I afford this” but more so, is this going to be worth it for me to buy and wear once or do I need to get a few wears out of it to feel like I am getting the value.

Fit – there is a fine line between something that’s “too big” and “intentionally oversized” so things don’t have to meet strict tailoring guidelines but they have to lay on my body in a way that serves myself and the garment.

How many pairs of shoes, any shoes, do you own?

I have about 15 pairs of shoes (and counting. I am always removing /adding).

If you had to split them up into categories and write a percentage next to them [what, math!] what would that look like?

I use my shoes across aesthetics, I wear sneakers with suits. I wear loafers with jeans. That seems pretty contemporary. That said, I would say I have about 20% “dress shoes” and 75% casual shoes, within that I would say it’s split between sandals/clogs and slip ons, then “kicks” like Nike’s and Converse, Vans including shoes I use for sport.  And about 5% boots of various kinds.

What type of shoe would we typically find you in, if you there is a ‘typical shoe’ for you?

No typical shoes. I actually try and make sure I spread them out so they last longer!

What are the most important things for you when it comes to buying your favorite kind of shoe?

For shoes I look for durability, and not that they will look new forever, but I look for signs that they will age well.  After that I think about diversity of wear. If it is a sports shoe then I probably will just wear it for that sport, but I still would like the option to put it with a pair of jeans so that when I travel I don’t have to double pack.

What about your favorite brands for shoes? Who do you always end up going to?

Nike

Converse

Why are these your favorite brands do you think? 

Nike – Nike has changed A LOT but I feel like they have held true to their staples in a way that lets them explore.

Converse – If I had wear one shoe for the rest of my life it would be Chucks. (with cushion insoles) They are versatile timeless, and inexpensive.

What about your favorite shoe stores, again - on or offline? What makes them your favorite stores?

As I said, before BODEGA both in LA and Boston have those iconic secret entrances. They also have great staff that have their own style and can help you find options along with what you are already looking for.