University student Griffin Maxwell Brooks is a fashion icon both on and off campus.

In The Know by Yahoo
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Griffin Maxwell Brooks is a TikTok sensation, a diver at Princeton University, and a fashion icon. Their closet is packed with exaggerated, eclectic pieces from neon cowboy boots to a dress made entirely out of MetroCards.

Video Transcript

GRIFFEN MAXWELL BROOKS: Cowboys are just so gay. And I love that. Hello, my name is Griffin Maxwell Brooks. And welcome to my coveted closet.

[SEEINGSTVRS, "MINISKIRT"] Miniskirt on, dip my body in glitter. Platform sneakers, all the boys want a picture.

I live in Princeton, New Jersey and soon to be New York City. Living in Princeton doesn't really influence my style much. It more so encourages me to stand out and be different. New York City, on the other hand, influences me a lot. I'm really inspired by the '90s Club Kids and just over-the-top nightlife, glitzy fashion.

As for my fashion inspirations, the first one was probably Lady Gaga. She is the queen of over-the-top, ridiculous looks. And that was just the first time that I was exposed to that. I think of my body as a canvas. I really want my style to be an extension of me. I'm gender fluid. I'm all about things eccentric, campy, and over-the-top. Every time I said the word "camp," Twitter goes into fight or flight. But I'm OK with that.

I would describe my style as eclectic, exaggerated, and eccentric. I love this outfit so much. So I've got the Marc Jacobs Kinky Boots, this skirt that I thrifted, the STUDIOCULT Binder Clip purse, this Emilia only sleeves moment, my Bernard Willhelm Steve Lacy glasses.

This MetroCard dress, which, funny enough, I got because a fan of mine emailed me a photo of it and was like, hey, I made this. I feel like you would look good in it. And I was like, I would love to wear it. So here we are. And we'll have to return it at some point. I love how this outfit came together. I think it's flashy and chic, but also sort of ridiculous. I want people to always do a double take when they look at me.

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I've got a lot of fun pieces in here-- some Halloween costumes, some sets. This is a favorite of mine. I reuse this outfit all the time. A "Kill Bill" costume that I modified, got to make it a little more yass-ified. This is one of my favorites. I thrifted this big, faux fur coat for Aspen Gay Ski Week. People kept thinking that I killed a bunch of animals to make it, so I spray painted the word "faux" on the back of it just to clarify.

These sero disco tile shoes are one of my favorites. I've got my Oakley Over the Tops, definitely a staple. I spent way too much money on them, so they need to be on display at all times for it to feel like it was worth it. I think were in "Spy Kids Game Over."

This button down I thrifted has a lovely lady and it says "Choose me" across the front of it. Really fits my, like, bimbo-- I was going to say alter ego, but it is kind of just me. I have so many trench coats. I constantly need to look like a "Matrix" character. This one is super fun. It's pink suede. And I got it for $1.18 at Goodwill. Probably one of my best finds ever.

Behind all the trench coats is just a landfill of sparkly cowboy boots. I have so many of them. These are a personal favorite. I love a shiny flame moment.

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I sometimes avoid pieces that match distinctly from the get-go. When I'm first starting an outfit, mix matching things that don't necessarily go together. It doesn't always have to work out in the end. But it helps mix things up, keeps me on my toes. I love taking conventional things and using them unconventionally.

This is a brooch that I'm using as a bolo right now. Every article of clothing has infinite possibilities. You don't have to wear one thing one way. Mix it up. Button things behind you. Wear pants as a shirt. Do whatever you got to do. But don't let the confines of a garment and the way the model is wearing it guide you all the time.

I feel like aesthetic minimalism is the death of art. Don't get me wrong. From time to time, I love a minimal, very clean-cut, monochromatic look. I have no hate to that. But I think that sometimes people are really caught up in looking chic and stripped down and clean, that they are afraid to be over the top and excessive and eclectic. I think people worry a lot about others being alarmed if the outfit is too outrageous.

Don't be afraid to stand out. It's the best thing you can do. With this fit in particular, I wanted it to be like the cowboy of today if they got plopped in the middle of a Vivienne Westwood store. So I'm adorned in pearls. And I've got bling going on. But it still stays true to the Western aesthetic.

I buy a lot of my clothes secondhand. I upcycle a lot of clothing. I give things to my friends. I keep things. I try not to be wasteful with my fashion.

It's a process understanding how you can be expressive and over the top without falling victim to this classic case of overconsumption. You don't have to be perfect, but you've got to be mindful. If you're feeling afraid to be yourself and you're struggling to go out into the world without worrying about what people think of you, I think that there are two parts to being confident. One is loving yourself. And one is not caring what people have to say. And sometimes you just have to let go.

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