BONUS: Power Stylists Wayman and Micah on Dressing Colman Domingo (and Others) for the 2025 Met Gala, Their Harlem Roots, and the Significance of Black Dandyism

Summary

The Who What Wear Podcast: Styling the 2025 Met Gala with Wayman and Micah

In this special bonus episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, host Mackenzie Green engages in an insightful conversation with renowned power stylists Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald. The duo shares their experiences and expertise in preparing high-profile clients, including Colman Domingo, for the prestigious 2025 Met Gala. This episode delves deep into their Harlem roots, the significance of Black Dandyism, and the dynamic of their successful collaboration.

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1. Introduction to Wayman and Micah

Mackenzie opens the discussion by highlighting the impending Met Gala and introduces Wayman and Micah as the stylists behind the looks of notable attendees like Lizzo, Tessa Thompson, and Jody Turner Smith. She likens them to "the Avengers of styling," underscoring their influential presence in the fashion industry.

Notable Quote:

"I would say the Avengers of styling, perhaps giving Captain America and Iron Man a run for their money."
— Mackenzie Green [02:35]

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2. The Initial Collaboration and Building Trust

Wayman and Micah recount their first collaboration with Colman Domingo, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and understanding in forging strong professional relationships.

Highlights:

• Colman Domingo's Unique Approach: Colman's ability to keep styling details under wraps added an extra layer of excitement and challenge for the stylists.
• Seamless Partnership: Their longstanding friendship and shared vision made the collaboration effortless and productive.

Notable Quote:

"From that point on, we made the magic and we even impressed ourselves of what we could do in Trendsend."
— Wayman Bannerman [06:14]

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3. Harlem Roots and Black Dandyism

Delving into their heritage, Wayman and Micah discuss how growing up in Harlem influenced their aesthetic and professional ethos. They highlight Black Dandyism as a form of cultural expression and reclamation, transforming a historically oppressive stereotype into a powerful statement of identity and pride.

Highlights:

• Cultural Reclamation: Turning the concept of the dandy from a tool of mockery into a celebration of Black excellence and style.
• Influence of Family and Community: Drawing inspiration from their parents and the Harlem community, shaping their approach to fashion.

Notable Quote:

"This journey even starting back then in Harlem, meeting each other in Harlem, dreaming together."
— Wayman Bannerman [07:31]

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4. Crafting Iconic Looks for High-Profile Clients

The conversation shifts to their methodology in styling clients, focusing on personalized storytelling through fashion. They emphasize understanding each client's unique personality and vision to create looks that resonate both personally and culturally.

Highlights:

• Collaborative Process: Working closely with clients like Tessa Thompson and Lizzo to blend personal style with innovative trends.
• Empowerment Through Fashion: Using fashion as a medium to express confidence and individuality, encouraging clients to embrace bold choices.

Notable Quote:

"It's about making themselves the best version of that. It's all about taste and execution and creativity and being bold."
— Micah McDonald [29:36]

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5. Navigating Challenges and Learning from Clients

Wayman and Micah share anecdotes about challenging clients, such as their initial fitting with Regina King. These experiences taught them resilience and adaptability, ultimately strengthening their business acumen and client relations.

Highlights:

• Regina King's Impact: Despite initial nerves and setbacks, Regina King's positive feedback reinforced their confidence and approach.
• Growth Through Challenges: Difficult interactions served as valuable lessons, enhancing their ability to handle diverse client needs.

Notable Quote:

"The hardest clients are often the best teachers. They made us better."
— Micah McDonald [22:23]

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6. The Power of Vision Boards and Manifestation

Reflecting on their early days, Wayman and Micah discuss the role of vision boards in shaping their career trajectories. This practice of setting clear goals and visualizing success was instrumental in their rise within the fashion industry.

Highlights:

• Strategic Planning: Vision boards helped them align their professional goals with their creative aspirations.
• Manifesting Success: The practice of visualization reinforced their dedication and commitment to their craft.

Notable Quote:

"This vision board was just so instrumental to what we did and what happened in our careers..."
— Wayman Bannerman [15:56]

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7. Legacy and Future Aspirations

As the episode draws to a close, Wayman and Micah reflect on the legacy they aim to leave in the fashion world. They express a desire to be remembered as trailblazers who opened doors for future generations and continuously pushed the boundaries of style and expression.

Highlights:

• Trailblazing Impact: Striving to set new standards and inspire upcoming stylists and designers.
• Cultural Influence: Intentional invocation of culture and heritage in their work, ensuring lasting relevance and impact.

Notable Quote:

"People who really saw our heart. They saw two great people who became excellent at these things and really put their all into it."
— Micah McDonald [33:23]

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8. Final Thoughts and Reflections

Mackenzie Green wraps up the episode by expressing admiration for Wayman and Micah's contributions to the fashion industry. She anticipates the impactful looks they have created for the Met Gala and looks forward to their continued influence on future fashion narratives.

Notable Quote:

"I cannot wait to see every single one of those people come down the carpet."
— Mackenzie Green [34:11]

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Key Takeaways

• Cultural Heritage: Wayman and Micah's Harlem roots deeply influence their styling philosophy, blending tradition with contemporary fashion.
• Collaborative Excellence: Their seamless partnership and mutual respect are foundational to their success in high-pressure environments like the Met Gala.
• Empowerment Through Fashion: They prioritize empowering clients to express their true selves, fostering confidence and individuality through personalized styling.
• Resilience and Growth: Challenges with clients have been pivotal in refining their approach and strengthening their business model.
• Vision and Legacy: Their commitment to vision-led planning and leaving a lasting impact positions them as influential figures in the fashion industry.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Who What Wear Podcast offers an in-depth look into the minds of two of fashion's most influential stylists. Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald provide valuable insights into their creative processes, the importance of cultural identity in fashion, and the dynamics of working with high-profile clients. Their journey from Harlem to the Met Gala serves as an inspiring testament to passion, resilience, and the transformative power of style.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mackenzie Green:
  "I would say the Avengers of styling, perhaps giving Captain America and Iron Man a run for their money."
  — [02:35]

• Wayman Bannerman:
  "From that point on, we made the magic and we even impressed ourselves of what we could do in Trendsend."
  — [06:14]

• Wayman Bannerman:
  "This journey even starting back then in Harlem, meeting each other in Harlem, dreaming together."
  — [07:31]

• Micah McDonald:
  "It's about making themselves the best version of that. It's all about taste and execution and creativity and being bold."
  — [29:36]

• Micah McDonald:
  "The hardest clients are often the best teachers. They made us better."
  — [22:23]

• Wayman Bannerman:
  "This vision board was just so instrumental to what we did and what happened in our careers..."
  — [15:56]

• Micah McDonald:
  "People who really saw our heart. They saw two great people who became excellent at these things and really put their all into it."
  — [33:23]

• Mackenzie Green:
  "I cannot wait to see every single one of those people come down the carpet."
  — [34:11]

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of Wayman and Micah's influence in the fashion industry, their dedication to cultural expression, and their unwavering commitment to empowering clients through personalized styling. Whether you're a fashion enthusiast or someone new to their work, this episode offers valuable insights into the art and impact of high-profile styling.

Transcript

[Mackenzie Green]

We all have that piece. You know the one, the thing that's so you. You've basically become known for it. And if you don't have yours yet, you'll find it on ebay. Let me put you on who whatware listeners. Ebay is where you'll find those. One of a kind. Can't stop researching. Stay up dreaming about pieces again and again. I'm talking that Miu Miu off the Runway red leather bomber, that, that custo Barcelona top with a cowboy on it, or that Patagonia fleece in the 2017 colorway. All these finds are on ebay and they even offer millions of main character pieces backed by authenticity guarantee. Ebay is the place for pre loved and vintage fashion. Ebay, things people love. Welcome to the who what Wear? Podcast, your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors and tastemakers who are shaping the ever evolving world of fashion. I'm who what Wear? Vice president of Social, Mackenzie Green. And today we've got a special bonus episode for you. Last night was the 2025 Met Gala where the theme was super fine tailoring, black style, and my goodness, what an amazing night it was. We wanted to get a behind the scenes look at a stylish preparation for fashion's biggest night. So of course, we had to turn to the power styling duo of Wayman and Micah. Last week, I sat down with the duo who styled nine people for last night's gala, from Lizzo and Tessa Thompson to Jody Turner Smith and of course, Gala co chair Colman Domingo. Today on the show, we're getting into how they felt when they first heard this year's theme and the references they pulled for inspiration. Plus, we'll hear details on their styling relationships with their clients who attended, and the feedback they got from the legendary Anna Wintour. It's all coming up on who what Where. I am joined by the dynamic duo, I would say the avengers of styling, perhaps giving Captain America and Iron Man a run for their money. Waymond and Micah. So we are close to the Met Gala. How are you guys doing?

[Wayman Bannerman]

We're doing good, thank you. Very excited about it, very anxious. But, you know, we're really ready to dive into it and really make it amazing and make it impactful, make a statement, make a splash and create some amazing moments.

[Mackenzie Green]

So I've always been curious with something like the Met Gala, what does that feel like when you get the call and not just that you're styling someone, but someone that has such a important part of the evening.

[Micah McDonald]

I mean, it always feels Great to get the call. You know those Met Gala invites coming for our clients because they're so excited, which fuels our excitement. But this one in particular was just extra special. Coleman did so well not telling us anything. He's like, I wanted to call you right away, but he did so well at telling us anything and just made the whole moment so special.

[Mackenzie Green]

I mean, of course we'll get into, like, the full client roster and the style. But I think the reason I was so excited is that viral tweet that's like, things you can count on. Death, taxes, and Colman Domingo having that shit on. Like, how are we like, yes, I get it. He didn't tell you anything. But y'all know the bar you have set. Not just the bar you set for him, but what the theme itself represents as well, through him. Like, how did that happen? How did y'all come together? I would love to know that story.

[Micah McDonald]

Well, we were at the night before Oscar party, like, years ago. Cause we always just had, like, mutual friends. And, like, some of our clients who became friendly with were, like, his friends. And we had just sat at the night before party and had the longest conversation about style and, like, what he loves and what we love and our inspiration and so forth. And then he was just, at the end of the conversation, just like, okay, great seeing you guys. I was like, well, you're not going. We're not working together. What's going on here?

[Mackenzie Green]

I wouldn't have done all this talking.

[Micah McDonald]

I wouldn't got another cocktail. I'm trying to win these prizes. But then I think, wait a minute. Did he reach out via email?

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah, he reached out via email. And he's like, I'd love to have lunch with you all. We had lunch at soho Warehouse, downtown la. We talked for about an hour and a half. He was just like, I have some things coming up. And I've been watching you guys work. I love your energy. I love your vibe. I love what you do. And at the time, we didn't really have men on our roster, so he was just seeing what we were doing for the ladies. And that's very special to see, like, how he can identify what we can do for ladies and how it can transcend to a man. He saw that and he's like, well, I want to do the same. I want to have some moments, so let's do something.

[Mackenzie Green]

What was that first carpet with him like? Do you remember that first moment he stepped out in, like, a Waymond and Micah moment?

[Micah McDonald]

I don't remember the very first look. But what I do remember. Oh, God. Is his first Oscars. Before he goes into the fitting, we get a call from his publicist, and she was like, you know, I just really want him to look like classic clean leading man. That strong tux, black bow tie. The whole run of that mill that you see a ubiquitous leading man in. And we're in the fitting, and it's like all these black suits, black suits, black suits. And then just a fuchsia Versace three piece suit. And I'm nervous shying away from it. And then he puts it on and it's just like, oh, this is the look, the look. And I'm still fidgeting behind him. And Waymond looked at me and said, all conversations aside, which is the best look in this fitting? I said, well, Colman, you call your team and you tell them, and it's funny. He was then best dressed on all the women's list. All of the list. And the publicist called us and she said, I did not see that coming. And you all were right.

[Wayman Bannerman]

From that point on, we made the magic and we even impressed ourselves of what we could do in trendsend. Like, the response every time we collaborated was mind blowing. And just to have this moment now where he's in superfine tailoring, met gala host for this May stage, is so impeccable.

[Micah McDonald]

And it's kind of like kismet. Manifestation, in a way. When we were recapping last year, which was just his very first met, we're like, that went so well. You should host next year. Yeah, call me now, Ms. Cleo.

[Eliza]

Yeah.

[Wayman Bannerman]

We always have these moments of, like, you know, banter going back and forth that turn into reality, that manifestation is very prominent.

[Mackenzie Green]

Yeah. And I think the beauty, at least for me as a fan of Yalls work, like, y'all met at a house party in Harlem.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah.

[Mackenzie Green]

This theme itself has its roots in Harlem in subversion of what was meant to embarrass us. Honestly, that idea of the dandy was meant to make black folks a joke, you know, put these slaves in beautiful clothes. Isn't that funny to watch what folks in Harlem did with reclamation? When you guys think to yourselves, 2008 in Harlem, where your minds were and where you are now, like, what would you say to that person? What does that journey felt like? Is this going to feel like a real celebration?

[Wayman Bannerman]

This journey even starting back then in Harlem, meeting each other in Harlem, dreaming together. Once we became friends in Harlem, I always knew it would be something, but I never knew exactly what it was. And Now I see what it has been. So my older self is screaming at my younger self to hold fast. You are on the right path. You are in your journey. You are in your alignment. Micah is in alignment with you. Waymond's in alignment with Micah. You guys are meant to transcend this industry together. Ten years later, plus killing it, how do you feel?

[Mackenzie Green]

Because I'm 1 35th in Lennox. I was 1 35th in Lennox for six years. And I'm curious, like, how much of those roots sat in your research in preparing not just Colman's look, but Tessa Thompson, maybe Alizzo, like other people within that ethos of the Waymond and Micah style cinematic universe, how did that research process look like?

[Micah McDonald]

Oh, gosh. I mean, we took it from so many points. Our Harlem roots, and really before Harlem, the way we grew up in both of our households, Easter Sunday was a thing. Your Sunday's best was a thing, like dandyism. And, you know, putting that shit on is just something that is so rooted in not only our culture, but the fabric of who we are. Our work, our art that we put out into the world is a reflection of where we come from. This is just really the pinnacle of that expression. So it's just. It derives from so much. We were at no shortage of references.

[Mackenzie Green]

To your point, like, from looking at Sunday's best, whether it's dope boys on the corner, wearing the suits, like, all of that. When you have so much reference to pull from, is it hard to almost pare down to a singular story, a singular reference point for each person in the roster to have their own voice and tone come through their sartorial choices?

[Wayman Bannerman]

I think there are so many avenues to pursue, and that's the beauty of it all, when it's just innate in our lives and our culture is natural for us to pull from these references, and we are able to capitalize on these moments, to not just show one era, but show multiple moments and multiple eras and the moments of our culture. Micah and I used to even go to church together in Harlem at fcbc, and there we saw dandyism and its earlier stage in the 2000s, you know, so. And we also have a reference of when we were growing up, from our mothers, our grandmothers, our grandfathers, our. Our fathers, of what that Danism meant to them and how that pride they took in that Danism. So to see it all just come together, this is storylines that really manifest into a journey of what Danism can really mean to people, in addition to.

[Mackenzie Green]

What it looks like, obviously, like we said, he puts that shit on Mr. Colman Domingo himself. But I think another person that's in your roster of clients, Jody Turner, is somebody that I see as a very intentional smart. She gets her references are those clients that come to you, and similar to you having, like, a story you want to tell, they're like, hey, so before you get going, I have some notes I'd like to show you. All of, like, things I was thinking of, like, what does that collaboration process look like with somebody like her?

[Wayman Bannerman]

Working with Jodi is always a gang of fun. She's fearless, she's bold. She always has references as well. She's like, here are my thoughts. I'm putting it in the hands of you. She gives us a playing ground to play from. And then she's like, take it and run with it. And she always allows us to run to the finish line, which is exciting.

[Micah McDonald]

Sprint. It's exciting for us to, like, approach her. Because you come with the reference.

[Mackenzie Green]

Yes.

[Micah McDonald]

And it's like, you show me mine, I'll show you yours. But it's an exciting collaboration with her. We love to apply intention to it on all things. And with her, it's very nice because it's smart and meticulous, and that's always a joy.

[Mackenzie Green]

Was there anybody who you're preparing for the night that was like, I have no ideas. I have no references. Like, I serve myself up to y'all and your ideas completely because I don't know what I want to do.

[Micah McDonald]

The ones who did, funny enough, everybody who's like, I'm not sure exactly what I want to do. Like, a few of them said, just make me the female Colman Domingo. I'll be fine with that.

[Mackenzie Green]

You know what? That is also a thing I say to myself every day. I really ask myself, what would Colman Domingo do? And then we just go from there.

[Micah McDonald]

Just revert to that.

[Mackenzie Green]

Also the other part within that is, what is it like going through the Anna of it all? Because obviously there's a bit of a FUBU thing where we get the references, we know the things. We know a crown on a Sunday morning. We know Logomania. We know what all that means. Now you've got to translate it to somebody else that you're like, hi, I need to put many footnotes on the thing you're about to see. Like, what was that process, collaborating with an Anna, walking her through the reasoning, the references that you luckily to us.

[Wayman Bannerman]

From the feedback from our sketches, we got no notes.

[Mackenzie Green]

Okay, okay.

[Micah McDonald]

And she let me just be able to Come to the barbecue. She had all of her points. She really understood where we were coming from. She had already familiarized herself with the topics before we even approached them. And I really, really appreciated that. I really appreciate a forever student. No matter where you are in life, always be a sponge. And that's what we got from her. And it was just smiles and nods.

[Mackenzie Green]

You know what I think is beautiful about that, and I appreciate you guys sharing that, is because I think when you hear a theme like this, a lot of us, especially black folks that love fashion, we kind of held our breath a little bit. Like, this could either go really beautifully or this could feel like people doing caricature. And I think that's a really special thing. Like, did you guys even have that kind of moment where you heard it and you thought, okay, this might be a little bit bigger than the styling people? Like, this is a love letter to those folks, to a young Waymond and Micah that are gonna look at those photos in 10 plus years, saying, like, hey, remember, we saw that image on a red carpet. Like, what did that feel like in your body? Just that moment.

[Wayman Bannerman]

It was definitely a celebration for us instantly. I think for us, it was a love letter to our childhood, to our journey, also to our ancestors, to our family. And we are the first of our kind as a, you know, black male duo. So we are also very excited and breathing this moment because this moment is very special to us to set this tone for a fashion innovators, stylists, you know, designers that look like us, that want to be like us, that never knew they had an outlet to be like us, to see us.

[Mackenzie Green]

I think to zoom it back. Then how did the professional meet cute happen? Like, how did y'all go? Like, that's my person I want to work with?

[Wayman Bannerman]

Well, I didn't at first, so.

[Micah McDonald]

I wore him down.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah, he warmed me down.

[Micah McDonald]

Well, no, initially, no. No, he didn't want to be my friend. Reluctant, Reluctant, but no. The working part of things, actually. So after I forced the friendship upon him, years later, we were doing our vision boards. We were opposite sides of Waymond's apartment. We just kept cutting out the same vision for our life. What work looked like and what we saw for ourselves and what we dreamt of. And I think that led to what's really been a seamless union. Everything around has been pure and utter hard work and chaos, but the union itself has been seamless.

[Mackenzie Green]

How did that conversation start of, like, hey, let's make vision boards. How did y'all even get to that conversation of like, hey, I believe in manifestation and vision boarding. You want to do it? I do it. And then we compare notes.

[Wayman Bannerman]

I think it was from church, right? We were going to church at FCBC and the pastor was speaking about vision boards and setting your goals and your dreams for the year, the up and coming season. It was one Sunday we came back to my apartment in Harlow and we started working on those vision boards after church. You know, sometimes we would go after church, we'd grab a bite to eat. Sometimes we would go to the IHOP on 135th and I would always wait.

[Micah McDonald]

Till the bill comes and be like, I know, I oh, I did it again. I don't have my wallet. There was just nothing in it.

[Wayman Bannerman]

So I would get stuck with the.

[Micah McDonald]

Bill, see why he didn't want to be my friend. I totally understand. I'm not negating that.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Well, it was just one of those Sundays after IHOP where we just went back to my apartment, started cutting out magazines that we collected from going to the fashion weeks daily front rows, the L's, the Vogues, the Harper's Bazaars, W's. That vision board was just so instrumental to what we did and what happened in our careers within those first four to five years. Even to this day, I remember what was on that vision board. Like, even words we cut out and it was just so meaningful to our careers, through our lives, through our journey. I'm still mind blown by it.

[Eliza]

This episode was brought to you by ebay. Hi everyone. I'm Eliza, a senior fashion editor here at who, what, where, which means I too am still analyzing all of the details from fashion's biggest night. With this year's theme being all about tailoring, I suspected the red carpet would be heavy on the watches, an accessory often tied to suiting and sophistication. And not just any watches. I'm talking hyper luxury timepieces by the likes of Rolex, Audemars, Piguet, Cartier, Richard Mille, and more. After all, what better time is there for the top names in fashion, Hollywood, the arts and sports to debut their premium watch collections than this? The first Monday in May, I decided to feed my own watch curiosity by shopping for timepieces on ebay, my number one source for new pre loved vintage and rare watches. When I shop on ebay, I always use the authenticity guarantee filter so that I know my pieces will will be authenticated by experts ahead of their arrival on my doorstep. I've curated my favorite finds, all of which are eligible for [e-mail] WhoWhatWear, so be sure to check them out. One specific style of watch I'm on the hunt for right now is a more masculine model that's still easy to wear, comfortable and fits in with my wardrobe. I hold a special place in my heart for IWC's Ingenieur Autumn Automatic 40, a timepiece I've tried out a number of times but haven't yet invested in. Somehow I found just the one I want. Silver with a black crosshatch dial on ebay. It's in brand new condition and comes with its original box and papers, something I always look for. It has that larger look that I'm going for, while at the same time being very chic and elegant. Audemars Piguet's iconic Royal Oak was designed by the same soldier Swiss watchmaker as the Ingenieur S.L. gerald Genta, who made a name for himself in the 1950s designing luxury sports watches for the industry's top houses. One thing I love about the Royal Oak is that it comes in a variety of different smaller dial sizes so I can achieve the same bold masculine look while still getting a watch that fits proportionally to my wrist size. For example, I found a beautiful white dial sterling silver option with a 33 millimeter case on eBay that I'm keen on buying. It's being sold by a jewelry seller with 98.9% positive feedback, another thing I regularly look at before making ebay purchases. Plus I chatted with a watch expert, a feature offered on ebay, and he gave me a ton of additional details about the Royal Oak that I would have never learned from a standard Internet search. Of course I'm a Libra so I'm always considering many things at once. While I am certainly eyeing larger watches, I also have my heart set on buying my first gold dainty watch that I can dress up or down wearing to the office as well as formal events. One such timepiece is the Cartier Benoit, a truly magnificent watch that's conveniently both timeless and very in this year though, you can certainly buy a new version at Cartier. There are countless gorgeous options on the pre loved market, including this 18 karat solid gold manual version with a brown leather strap that I found during a recent ebay search. It might not have its papers given how vintage it is. However, the seller, who has 100% positive feedback states in the description that it was recently serviced and is in complete working condition. That, combined with ebay authenticity guarantees stamp of approval gives me all the confidence I need to make a Smart investment. For more watches on my wish list, check out my curated collection of ebay [e-mail] WhoWhatWear. A gold mine of fashion finds you're guaranteed to get lost in.

[Mackenzie Green]

What was that first collaborative styling moment like? You were doing it together. Like, take us into what that moment felt like.

[Micah McDonald]

Even on top of us doing those vision boards prior to that, back to the forced friendship, we were focusing both on separate styling careers and had done so many shoots together and so many things that it was kind of like, always under our noses. So that by the time we decided to join formally, everything just like, well, our work, styles, work, everything, always made sense. We would always put things in the right places. We would go to set something up and then leave. Another person would have set it up the exact same way. By the time we decided to make it official, it was seamless.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah, seamless.

[Micah McDonald]

I wish I had another word besides seamless, but that's what it was.

[Mackenzie Green]

And I think that's really beautiful because the visual you just gave me of one of you setting something up, leaving, and the other one coming back almost like fairytale elves, where you're like, wait, that's the way I would have done this.

[Micah McDonald]

The spider man, right?

[Mackenzie Green]

Literally, yeah. Pointing at each other and being like, what am I missing here? What was that first celebrity client like? Does it feel like hearing your song on the radio? Because at the moment when you're like, ooh, okay, we did that.

[Wayman Bannerman]

I think that feeling, it kind of moved really fast. One of our first clients together was Forest Whitaker for the Butler. We were going into a major press tour, and he was on our vision board for that press tour. And then we found our way to get to him. We found the connects. You know, we was meeting people from second and third degrees. And then we met his wife at the time, and she was lovely. And they took us in as family instantaneously. And we started working on the tour for the butler. We were dressing him. Then we started dressing his wife, and we would just be over the house, eating, chilling out, hanging out, taking naps. We just became family. And it just kind of moved so quickly.

[Mackenzie Green]

What were, like, some of the lessons you learned from that experience with Forest Whitaker that have informed what you have done going forward?

[Micah McDonald]

I think it really started to shape how we ran our business. We call it front office and back office. Back office being logistics, scheduling, paperwork, things of that nature. Front office being like, who talks to which brands? We talk to all the brands about how you conduct yourself, what makes sense, what's Your cachet, What do you put forth, personality wise? And we learned a lot of that from Forrest. But you know what's funny is that the hardest clients are often the best teachers. A lot of small cues we picked up from some of those nightmares made us really good. I have to say, all in all, if I run into them and I don't run in the opposite direction, I will have to say, you made us better. Do not call, but you made us better.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah.

[Mackenzie Green]

Looking at your roster of clients, when I think of, like, a Mary J. Blige, that is somebody who had a style, voice, and tone that we know. We know Mary. To have that Auntie Swag with the tall boots, like how from a collaborative perspective of both of you with that person, do you respect the visual identity that they formed with their audience? And then what you can bring to them that feels fresh and also has your fingerprints on it?

[Micah McDonald]

I think that's one of the most exciting things. It's the honor and the opportunity to reimagine an icon. And she relishes in well executed, modernized versions of what she has done. And I love that. I think it's smart to have a reference for the past and also be able to apply that to the future culturally. Like, inside is such a moment for us. Waymond has a lyric for everything she puts on that she either sang or was a Kim feature. He'll be there right with the. The perfect thing to say at the time so you can tell growing up how much that shaped us and how to be able to be a part of it and move it forward is really special. It's really flexing that artistic muscle while really having a clear cut, intelligent understanding of the nostalgic factors.

[Mackenzie Green]

Another client is Regina King. How has fashion been armor for her with what she has been through? Maybe who she was before. What is that relationship like? And how are you guys able to almost provide therapy through how she gets to step into the world?

[Wayman Bannerman]

Regina King is just such a joy to our hearts. We grew up on Regina King, and to meet her, let alone work with her, is still mind blowing.

[Micah McDonald]

To meet our first was so funny.

[Wayman Bannerman]

It was so funny. We were also very nervous. We don't really get nervous, but you're meeting a Regina King, you know, an icon in our culture and our history and our heritage. In that first fitting, we were working for the Beale street press tour, and at the time, we were given three or four dates to fit her, but we knew from a publicist that she had 20 dates. We were walking her through the looks we probably tried on maybe two to three things, and then she stopped us. She's like, okay, hold on. And we both like, oh, shoot, did we mess up. We're fired.

[Micah McDonald]

Like, this has never. Oh, my God, she's about to stop this fitting. This has never happened to us. This is mortifying.

[Wayman Bannerman]

And I was like, oh, my gosh, we have all these clothes. We have to return them. She's like, well, I have so much going on. And we were like, woo.

[Micah McDonald]

She's like, I just want to see if y'all was good.

[Mackenzie Green]

Yeah, I like that she, like, tempered it. She went in, probably telling her team, just tell them they can only do three, because if I hate it, we're finding somebody else. But if I love it, it's so.

[Micah McDonald]

Funny because even when we were doing the walkthrough of each look, she was like, I was trying so bad to have a poker face. She's like, look after look, I just love them all.

[Wayman Bannerman]

So much good stuff here.

[Micah McDonald]

Because we had just had a couple local press events, and she was like, I mean, there's so much stuff here. She's like, I even think the Toronto Film Festival is here. We looked at each other, we looked at her, we said, oh, Toronto is not here.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah.

[Micah McDonald]

She's like, oh, excuse me.

[Mackenzie Green]

Are there ever, pinch me moments where y'all have. Where you're like, oh, we are on the phone with this designer that we've always admired.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah, right.

[Micah McDonald]

I think everybody in the room caught me and Donatella in real time. And it was so sweet because Waymond knows what she means to me. So he and his art sister Alex kind of just stood off to the corner as I just sat there and freaked out.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yes. That was special.

[Micah McDonald]

And she asked me my opinion on things. I said, yes, that's exactly what I was thinking. So there are some moments, but we're really like hindsight people because we're such workhorses that, yeah, well, this is exciting. Could you get that hem up one inch? So that's really how we are. But we try to swing back and be in the moment.

[Mackenzie Green]

Since you guys are hindsight folks, what has been the moment professionally where you've stepped back and been like, oh, damn, that really happened.

[Wayman Bannerman]

I think the first time I had that moment is when we had our first Oscar winner, Regina King. The second moment is when we dressed our second Oscar winner, Divine Joy Randolph. I was like, oh, okay. We're all right.

[Mackenzie Green]

Yeah.

[Wayman Bannerman]

All right.

[Micah McDonald]

We.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Not bad.

[Micah McDonald]

There's something to this. I think for me, it was Venice Film Festival. Where it was just a Tessa and Jody tennis match night after night. And I just remember being like, yeah, oh, sure, that looks good. Just I didn't go into bed. But then on that plane ride back to the States, like, wow.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yeah, that was impactful.

[Micah McDonald]

And they were faces of major Italian houses, so there was a lot of restrictions on what brands we could use. And to really back, even back then, bring black designers into the international stage, and they just stormed the stage was just so special. So special.

[Mackenzie Green]

It has to almost feel like a Motown artist versus Motown artist moment where you've got Jodie and Tessa going head to head on the carpet. Style wise, what does that feel like when you have to outdo yourself through your own people in a way?

[Micah McDonald]

Well, I mean, I feel like it's like an Aretha Diana, you know.

[Wayman Bannerman]

And also that beauty in that is that they are two distinct individuals. It's really nice to, like, collaborate with each of them separately and bring their own voices and unique style to their looks, into their aesthetic. That allows us to have different stories and narratives for them both. And they excel at it greatly and effortlessly. Kudos to them.

[Mackenzie Green]

I guess, within that, like, with a Tessa, she feels very. Actually, I would love to know from you guys, what does she feel like if you were to, like, give her style a story? What did she come to you with and what have you distilled it into?

[Wayman Bannerman]

Tessa's one that's definitely walked this earth before. Yeah, like, very intuitively in tuned with the universe, with people, with compassion, and she's able to articulate that through her movement, through her. Her voice, through her dialect, and through her fashion choices as well. She loves vintage, she loves antiques. She loves bringing the modernized element to those antique elements as well. She loves building a storyboard that feels a little bit obscure but still very interesting and intriguing enough for you to move forward and want to see more of it. There's something that's not always packaged. That's the joy in Tessa that when it comes together and packaged together, it all makes sense. She's able to make something make sense and it doesn't make sense, if you know what I'm saying.

[Micah McDonald]

Well, it's just such an effortless flair. She's a curator.

[Mackenzie Green]

Personally, when I think of what style and fashion is, it is the ability to look at all bodies, all kind of people, and see beauty and see a way of telling a style story. So within that, with a Divine, with a Lizzo, is there a different way you are thinking through styling them? Is there a conversation you have to have with them. Because obviously we're all still undoing, you know, culture of how we talk about things. Have to be flattering. They have to look a certain way. For those clients, how are you empowering them or working with them to show their pride in themselves and their bodies through what they're wearing?

[Micah McDonald]

I mean, I think a through line for us is nurture. People look alike. We are very keen on learning the human and then making themselves the best version of that. It's all about taste and execution and creativity and being bold. Don't be skittish. We don't do skittish. If you're feeling skittish, take it off right now because that will show up on the carpet. The looks you want to wear take confidence. And so we're big on really just great communication, really explaining and conveying our ideas, really listening to them and their ideas and really, really drilling it in their heads. Do not walk out of that door and do not tell us anything until you feel your best. It's important for us just to really dig into them on the human level and bring that out.

[Mackenzie Green]

You just made me hear my grandmother in my head because I remember being little and hearing her be like, now if you go and fidget with it, then obviously don't wear that.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Micah has a grandparent energy.

[Mackenzie Green]

I think the other person we talked about kind of within that first question is like, alizo. Now, I'm just going to say, I assume that a styling session with somebody like her just feels like a kiki. Like, is that the case?

[Wayman Bannerman]

So much fun.

[Micah McDonald]

It's so fun because she's so bold and daring, and we both love very opulent Shah, Shah, Kapoor. Bold statements in our own ways, Waymond and I. And she's a love child of that More is more. So it's fun.

[Mackenzie Green]

Has she ever asked for more? And you're like, girl, now give us a second. Let us catch up to where you are right now.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Not yet.

[Micah McDonald]

Yeah. I think we're all form with the shenanigans. Yeah, we bring her the shenanigans. So if you shenan once, she'll shenanigan with us. Exactly.

[Wayman Bannerman]

We just love her boldness, like, her confidence and her energy. So infectious. And we're excited to go on a journey with her as well.

[Mackenzie Green]

It makes me almost feel like what ballroom is, is this love where it's like, people think when the category is body, it is nothing but the real thin girls. And it's like, no, no. If body is the category, show up with a body.

[Micah McDonald]

Show up with A body.

[Wayman Bannerman]

There it is.

[Micah McDonald]

Exude that. I think that's the other thing. Exude it. You know, don't be shy. Don't fidget with it. Show up and really show out. And that's what's gonna be on display.

[Mackenzie Green]

I love that so much. When we think of both of you sitting on that floor, making that vision board where you are now, what would you say to those two people as they were making those vision boards?

[Micah McDonald]

I know some of the things you're cutting out feel a little far fetched right now, but I always reference that clip. The girl, you know, standing at the cliff and looking at fairy godmother, saying, oh, my God, fairy godmother, what if I fall? And fairy godmother looks at her and says, oh, but what if you fly? I would tell him, just keep doing it. Be great. Become excellent at it. Work very hard, Become undeniable, but just keep going. You will be so surprised.

[Mackenzie Green]

Maybe to the next Waymond and Micah that might listen to this, what would you tell them about finding your collaborator, but how to keep that relational bond intact as you work side by side?

[Wayman Bannerman]

First off, be able to learn from one another. Learn from your business partner, learn from your purpose partner. Allow yourself to hear, understand, listen first before speaking. And I think that's how relationships really coexist and grow. And sometimes listening is listening to the unspoken and being compassionate about the unspoken.

[Mackenzie Green]

And when all is said and done and it's time to retire your jerseys into the rafters of styling icons, what do you hope people remember y'all as or say when they speak about you? You know, what your impact has been on this industry?

[Micah McDonald]

Oh, icons, trailblazers, phenomenons. No, people who really, they saw our heart. They saw two great people who became excellent at these things and really put their all into it, changed the game, opened doorways for people who didn't think they could to it and really left a legacy behind them.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Yes.

[Mackenzie Green]

And I think my last question when Met Gala carpet closes and the press are writing up how they want to talk about that evening, to that same idea of legacy, what do you want them to say about what you guys are about to do when it comes to that first Monday in May, women.

[Wayman Bannerman]

And Micah consistently, intentionally invoke culture and heritage unapologetically, seamlessly.

[Micah McDonald]

Boom. Send that to the post.

[Mackenzie Green]

Perfect. Thank you both so much. This is truly an honor and a privilege. And I cannot wait to see every single one of those people come down the carpet. And I can't wait to once again wish that I was Colman. Domingo.

[Micah McDonald]

Let's see. You're on your way, Mackenzie. You're a good time. You're a good time.

[Mackenzie Green]

Thank you. I appreciate it, y'all.

[Wayman Bannerman]

Thank you, Mackenzie.

[Micah McDonald]

Thank you so much.

[Mackenzie Green]

A huge thank you to stylists Wayman bannerman and Micah McDonald. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd also be grateful if you'd rate and review us. If you have any guest suggestions or any other feedback, drop us a line at podcastoowhatware.com or find us on social at whowhatwear. See you next Wednesday on the who what, Where? Podcast. This episode was produced by Hilary Kerr, Summer Hammeris, and Natalie Thurman. Our production assistant is Claire Schmidt. Our editor is Ko Takasuki Chernovin. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio, and our music is by Jonathan Leahy.