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Max Vernon | songwriter, artist, DIY costumer
“Anyone who doesn’t like Prince is not someone I want to be friends with.” Max Vernon
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Max is an accomplished singer, songwriter, artist, and gender theory student at NYU. He has an upcoming show on April 5th at Joe's Pub. Shoes from A Regular Choice -
“I watched this movie on The Cockettes, these [who were] acid-taking, gender-bending hippies. That was what introduced the kimonos into my wardrobe [when I was in high school].” Painting by Max -
On painting: “I just kind of let images pour out of me and I try not to analyze it while it’s going on." This painting is by Max. Pants from Salvation Army, Top from Redress, and Shoes from Trash and Vaudeville -
Jacket from Fille de Joie, Vintage Christian Lacroix Sweater, Trash and Vaudeville Jeans and Cloak Boots -
"Most recently, I've been inspired by Patti Smith's autobiography, Just Kids. It really renewed my faith that the universe conspires to connect artists together." Shoes from Trash and Vaudeville -
Right now I'm working on a series of drawings inspired by my favorite Patti Smith record, Easter, and Mapplethorpe's S&M photos." Top from Redress -
"[My drawings] are tied in with my music, because when I release a single, I’ll also have art that is specific to the song that inspired the music.” Drawing by Max -
Brett Westfall Sweater, Trash and Vaudeville Jeans, Shoes from A Regular Choice -
Max's favorite people on StyleLikeU are Coco and Breezy, because "they have fearless style, organic artistry, and a totally non-pretentious positive energy about them. I would love to collaborate with them or even just get drinks and hang out." Cloak Boots -
“[For me, dressing] is an extension of [my music]. At the end of the day I just want to dress myself so that I’m happy, and I feel good about myself. I definitely like putting together stuff for when I’m going to perform." Thrift Brooks Brothers Jacket (Max added the googly-eye detail), Jeans and Shoes from Trash and Vaudeville -
Recently, Max did sketches with drag performer Vaginal Davis for her PME reunion show at Santos Party House. Drawing by Max -
Jacket from Fille de Joie, Vintage Christian Lacroix Sweater, Trash and Vaudeville Jeans and Cloak Boots -
Painting by Max -
Vest from Salvation Army, which Max sewed the black hair onto for sleeves, Necklace from Fille de Joie, Jeans from Trash and Vaudeville -
"Apathy sucks. Get your fight back." Jacket studded by Max -
On Facebook and texting: “Connectivity is always good. The thing I worry about is the quality of the meeting. We know everybody, but we know everybody tangentially now, and we don’t know anyone deeply, and that’s what I think is potentially lost.” Pants from Salvation Army, Top from Redress, and Shoes from Trash and Vaudeville -
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Jacket from Fille de Joie, Vintage Christian Lacroix Sweater, Trash and Vaudeville Jeans, Cloak Boots -
Thrift Brooks Brothers Jacket (Max added the googly-eye detail), Jeans from Trash and Vaudeville -
“I think people should be open-minded and represent themselves in a way that makes them happy.” Pants from Salvation Army, Top from Redress -
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"I think we all have the power to help shape society in a progressive way, and we can't be afraid to ruffle a few feathers." Necklace from Fille de Joie
Max Vernon from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.
Dorky is the new sexy when it comes to Max Vernon. If being talented, committed, deep-thinking, hard-working, silly, and handsome is nerdy, then who would ever want to be “cool” again? At the ripe old age of twenty-one, Max is an accomplished pianist and musician – he records, arranges, mixes, and co-produces his own music, all of which is accompanied by outrageously crafted drawings that in and of themselves would be enough of a feather under one’s cap. Best for me, however, is how he fully comprehends the importance of connectivity when it comes to the journey of being an artist, and as a musician, treating style as an equally important method of communicating one’s message to an audience (“I do think that fashion effects the kind of music you make in ways that you can not expect. Have you ever seen a person dress in all black clothing with gothic eyeliner tell you that his favorite music is reggae?”). When it comes to style, Max has lots of it, but what I love is how he doesn’t take any of it too seriously. One of his favorite subjects (and his major) at NYU is gender theory (which he does take seriously), and on that note, there aren’t many men who can make all hearts pound in a “reject” iceskater’s outfit, a lady’s church ensemble (with a large woman’s necklace and Margiela-esque fur sleeves that he added), or a tuxedo with children’s googly eyes glued all over it. Despite how self-deprecating Max is about his wardrobe, the way he wears a plus-size women’s beaded blouse tucked into high-waisted pleated trousers, to me, is brilliant. So I’ll have to forgive him if he really did “kill” Prince for his purple blazer with studded lapel.
You can find Max’s music on YouTube, Facebook, or MySpace. If you like Max, you might also enjoy Rachel Lena Esterline and Wilson Standish.
. It is both refereshing and comforting to watch the videos on this website and connect with people halfway around the globe to me (I’m in Australia), thankyou you stylelikeu 
