Los Angeles-based stylist Marquise Miller has been fitting the culture’s flyest since 2018—and if he’s not on your radar yet, he should be. From Joey Badass to Daniel Kaluuya, Miller knows how to craft effortless cool while taking the art of dressing to the next level.
Originally a vintage reseller from Hawthorne, California, Miller turned his booth at the Melrose Trading Post into a styling rolodex that shakes the room. So when it came time to dress NBA superstar Anthony Edwards for our February cover, the choice was obvious—and the result was a certified moment.
Check out more of Marquise’s work in our Anthony Edwards cover story and “Hair Raising” shoot for Issue 2 of Complex Magazine. The Innovation Issue is now available for pre-order on Complex Shop.
How are you?
MARQUISE MILLER: Happy but busy.
Love it. I want to talk about how you styled Anthony Edwards for our February cover. What was the process?
There wasn’t a dull moment. I was always on my feet. Anthony was full of energy. I would say it was a lot of research. I pulled Acne [Studios]. I had Loewe; I used Pro Club. I wanted to make sure that his measurements and proportions were accurate and give him things that would flow with a nice silhouette, especially since he’s so tall. Ultimately, we landed on the Acne look.
Is styling athletic talent different from the typical clients you work with in the music industry?
Yes, I love them. They’re a lot more experimental, and I definitely feel like this is the direction in which myself and my styling partner, [Aaron Christmon], will be going in for 2025, 2026—styling more athletes. Styling that cover, for me, opened so many doors in my world because it let people know that we have the chops to do someone who is 6’5″, 6’6″, and also, currently, one of the most sought after athletes in the world.
Walk me through how you began styling and how your upbringing has impacted your artistry.
I got into styling by selling and sourcing vintage. I also have [my store], The Miller’s Room, which played a big part. I was selling at the Melrose Trading Post for years, and then I got my big break in 2018. I’ve been working as a stylist ever since.
Do you feel like how you grew up on the West Coast has influenced you and your expression?
Most definitely. I grew up in Hawthorne, California, so fashion was a tool for me. If I wore cool clothes, people wouldn’t hurt me or bully me. I’ve always been unique. I’ve always been different; I’ve always been other. I didn’t really know how to articulate that. So I used clothes to save my life. A lot of my styling draws references from LA, which is why I brought Pro Club and a lot of those vibes to our shoot with Anthony. We used some 2000s references. That’s my era. I wanted to bring a lot of LA street style to our shoot.
I want to talk about some of your other clients; many of them are notable male artists in music or film—Khalid, Joey Badass, and Daniel Kaluya come to mind. How do you incorporate play and innovation into styling menswear for these clients?
My partner, Aaron [Christmon], and I are very innovative. We’re constantly trying to innovate with colors, textures, fabrics, and silhouettes. We also want to go off of who people are. We’re not trying to change anybody. We want your vibe.
Recently, we did [Amaa]Rae in custom Luar for when she performed at Coachella. Aaron and I were heavily involved in the design. She’s our first woman that we’re putting in menswear, and I’m loving it.
So you’ve mentioned that Amaarae’s your first client as a duo that you’re putting in menswear, but I know that you’ve also done styling work with Syd and Mickaline Thomas. How are you approaching androgyny and styling masc looks with female clients? How is gender and its expression influencing these decisions?
It’s acknowledging that they are female, but also, they have this delicious dominance about them. My job is to bring out that fierce masculine side in [their] fashion. There is a lot of duality with all the girls who wear menswear.
What excites you about where fashion is heading today?
There’s so much newness going on. There’s so many new creative directors, new styles, and new silhouettes. The collections are getting better. There’s so many talented designers that we get to explore that are doing so well.
There’s just endless opportunities for stylists and creators like myself. We just did something with you guys and Walmart. Aaron and I dropped the AC Miller [Modern Dandy] collection, which is retailing at Walmart. It was centered around the Met. I’m most excited about people being aware of all the cool things that have come before our time.
So, what do you feel is next for you?
I want to be in Walmart. I want to be in Target. I want to be in all these major department stores. I feel like this [cover] really gave me the confidence that I needed. I’ve been saying I want more basketball players and athletes, and that’s what happened here. Right now, I also do Brittany Griner, which has been so great. Overall, I really want to style more cultural shifters and leaders. Styling, design, and products. That’s what’s next.
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