Laurel DeWitt - The Queen of Chain & Metal

By every definition, Laurel DeWitt is an artist. Sculpting elaborate crowns and headdresses is her passion. Laurel has been commissioned to design and create one-of-a kind art installations for Macy’s Herald Square, and performance pieces for Jennifer Lopez Latin Billboard Awards as well as for her Las Vegas residence. 

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but LA-based fashion designer Laurel DeWitt’s rhinestone cowboy-themed fashion show at OSU proved that shimmering chains and metals make for a bolder accessory. The student-modeled fashion show boasted tones of silver and gold, black flair pants, fringe metal tops, Egyptian-style head pieces, bejeweled cowboy hats, and more. 

From Madonna to Lady Gaga, Dewitt has created pieces for some of Hollywood’s most beloved celebrities. Although DeWitt has a rap sheet that would make just about anyone feel satisfied, the designer keeps a humble and hungry approach. “When Beyoncé first wore a crown that I designed in 2017, I felt like it made my career explode,” she says. “But I don’t feel like I have fully made it as a designer, because as an artist, you constantly want to progress and evolve.” 

Here, DeWitt chats at the post-show Q&A about getting started as a creative, the designing process, and her hopes for a future museum exhibit. 

Kiana Moridi: Who have you designed pieces for in the entertainment industry? 

Laurel DeWitt: Beyoncé, Jay Z, Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Nikki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Amber Rose, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Madonna, and more. 

KM: What’s your favorite piece from the OSU fashion show? 

LD: I made a gold cowboy hat, which I modeled after a hat I designed for hip hop artist, Cardi B. 

KM: What does your design process look like? 

LD: If I have a client who has a deadline, sometimes I’ll get a call to make a piece overnight. I’ll do my sourcing in downtown LA and I’ll attack the project. But to build a collection, I first think of a starting point and theme of a show. From that point, I’ll go on Pinterest and find different photos that go with the concept and I put it together on a big board on Adobe Illustrator. 

KM: How long does it take you to design a piece? 

LD: It can take anywhere from a few hours to a month - a couple of days is average. Usually, my average workday is about 20 hours.