The glitz and glamour of entertainment is nothing without the people who dress today’s biggest stars. For “Who’s Behind the Clothes,” HuffPost spotlights stylists and costume designers who have delivered some of our favorite celebrities’ or characters’ most memorable looks.
Fashion has never been a spectator sport for celebrity stylist Courtney Mays. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mays is the daughter of a former NFL athlete. Mays’ father subconsciously instilled in her the value of showing up as your best self, and today, she dons his signature Omega watch, pinky ring and tie bar. While football was king in her household, she gravitated toward basketball, foreshadowing her 16-year styling career.
“I’m six feet tall, so lengths and widths of pants and not being able to have cool things that are quality fabric is something I’ve struggled with my whole life,” said Mays, who specializes largely in menswear. “I hope that there’s a space where I can become the go-to person who can say, ‘Yes, come to me, for the guys that are not sample size. And we’re gonna figure this out.’”
Mays’ clientele consists primarily of athletes, from Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Breanna Stewart and, namely, former Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird. Bird, the now-retired WNBA legend and all-time assists leader, made a name for her good looks off the court during her final season with the help of Mays. Bird’s androgynous tunnel style — tinted shades, various patterns and prints and structured blazers — would land her on numerous best-dressed lists.
“I played basketball in high school, so I love that right now, my career is very much driven by the convergence of sports and style. Working with Sue was such an amazing project,” said Mays. “I’m a huge supporter of women in sports and have been a huge fan of Sue for a long time.”
Before Mays, 39, was a stylist to the stars, she attended the University of Michigan, where she studied African American…
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