Ivy Coco Maurice had recently returned from a trip to Bali when we caught up over a video call. She expresses that the trip was inspiring and a fun experience. During this portion of our conversation, she spotted multiple Black women in Kai Collective, a brand she has been enjoying lately. One was wearing a white muscle T-shirt with the company’s logo in royal blue. Maurice says she enjoys seeing founders, including Fisayo Longe, receive vocal support from their customers, especially in Bali. This is indicative of what Maurice does not just in personal style but also in her styling work for her mother, the beloved actress Sheryl Lee Ralph: support Black designers. A few, including Sergio Hudson, Kaphill, and others, have been utilized for press moments in recent months.
Her parents are two inspirational forces in matters of personal style. Born in Los Angeles and raised partially in Jamaica, Ivy explains that although her fashion has evolved, her parents are fly and well-dressed. Since she spent much of her childhood in Jamaica, she says that time influences her current fashion decisions as an adult. Visiting her father during holidays in Paris lends her a uniform with chic items ideal for a capsule wardrobe, like a go-to trench coat and a favorite pair of denim jeans. “I feel like I have a very much of a chill, tropical chic style,” she mentions.
Her grandmother advocated for Ivy’s budding interest in fashion, which she had as a child. She taught her how to sew and the importance of wearing natural fabrics such as linen. Maurice gives credit to her older brother Etienne who introduced her to streetwear and leaning into a tomboy-esque style. “I have layers to me, but it’s rooted.[in individualism too].”
A blazer is an example of a piece she swears by to add polish to her outfits. Ivy says she always has a great pump and a sneaker, too. This is the duality of classy and comfortable, according to her. Neutral tones, her gold earrings, and her staple jewelry are her versions of chic dressing. Learning what has worked for her body type is also highly important to the stylist.
“I feel great about my style,” she shares. She mentions here that she’s always intentionally cleaned her closet. By doing so, she’s able to keep pieces she doesn’t regularly wear out of her daily rotation. “I am not one of those individuals that chooses to overconsume, but I feel like I now know the colors that work for me and my staples,” she adds. When we begin speaking about what she is most attracted to when it comes to clothing, she mentions that she most enjoys the realization that some clothing fits her properly. She says that she understands her body’s shape, so she is intentional about her purchases, especially in recent months.
With fashion becoming such an overcrowded lane for many, I tasked Ivy with explaining what she feels makes her different in this ever-changing landscape. Her answer: “I think [it’s] my ability to switch it up, the diversity of my style. For one minute, I can be very chic. I can wear on a trench and I can wear on a classic black trouser, and a collared shirt, and I feel very sophisticated,” she mentions.
Channeling different versions of herself is seen on her Instagram feed where she dons items by NA/KD, DISSH, Riot Swim, Zara, and newcomer Monvess. It’s an assortment of imagery that is intentional and curated wholly by Maurice. To me, it’s a visual diary that’s expressive and showcases the style moments where Ivy pours her lifelong fixation with fashion. To Ivy, this era is elevated and effortless, both terms I’d use to describe her Instagram feed, great minds think alike.
“I love a classic white pant because I feel it can make a look feel crisp and refreshing.”
Available at Locale European
“I love aviator-shaped glasses with a gold frame and I think I found the perfect pair.”
Available at Elisa Johnson
“There is nothing like a multi-purpose jumpsuit that sucks you in, in all the right places. When it gets cold, I love wearing it as a bodysuit and pairing it with my favorite black trousers or oversized jeans.”
Available at Kwame Adusei
“You can never go wrong with a classic trench coat in a neutral color to pair with fall and winter looks.”
Available at Kai Collective