Band of Rebels
Band of Rebels: Brody Hudson Schaffer
- Photography
- by @citygirlgonemom and @bossbabybrody
How did you first discover Brody’s love for fashion and dance?
Brody and his older sister Dylan, when they were younger, were dancing everywhere. I mean, everywhere. In the grocery aisles, in school, in the kitchen, in the car, you name it, they were dancing. That was all they wanted to do! Brody was doing pirouettes and practicing his pliés before he even knew what they were.
When it came to fashion, he followed in his sister’s footsteps again! From the time Brody was able to walk and talk, his mission was to get everyone on the dance floor. Oftentimes, he insisted on wearing his sister’s dance costumes, and he would demand his favorite soundtrack by screaming “ALEXA! Play Anna and Elsa.” (Hence, the nickname Boss Baby Brody.)
My husband and I have never had an issue with Brody’s fascination over all things “girly” and fancy. His confidence shines through when he’s dancing alongside his sister, and as parents, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your children grow together over shared passions.
How does Brody feel about being the face of Maisonette’s Band of Rebels Campaign?
What I love most about Brody is how authentically he lives his life. You don’t see any five-year-olds trying to be something they’re not—that’s the beauty of kids! They’re real! No masks, no filters…just them, doing their thing, whatever that may be. With this campaign, Brody is free to express himself and be himself through his style! Their clothing is pretty gender neutral, and it’s suited for Brody perfectly; he loves rainbows (and so many are found in the collection) and can show who he is through the clothing.
Brody’s alphabet series on Instagram is so fun! Where do you get the ideas for each letter?
Honestly we just play the music and he chooses the artist! We let Brody be in charge when it comes to choosing what he likes and what he wants to pick. Of course, Bobby and I have influenced our kids with our generation of music and some good classic rock, so he might pick Justin Bieber or Fleetwood Mac!
"You don’t have to be big to make a big impact. You don’t have to be rich and famous to reach thousands of people. You just have to be you, to love yourself as you are, to find what you’re passionate about and give it your all..."
Brody is going into kindergarten with millions of fans across social media; not many 5-year-olds can say that! How does Brody feel about it all? If Brody had one message for his fan, what would it be?
It’s been a tough freaking year. You’ve got to hold onto what’s pure. And that’s videos of kittens, puppies, and Brody’s dancing. (At least, for me.) I think what impacted me most as a mother was seeing the wonderful response from people in regards to his viral video. Strangers, friends, even celebrities all finding joy from his joy and feeling his happiness through a screen. That’s some serious magic!
I think the biggest takeaway from Brody’s corner of the world is that you don’t have to be big to make a big impact. You don’t have to be rich and famous to reach thousands of people. You just have to be you, to love yourself as you are, to find what you’re passionate about and give it your all, and to not take life so dang seriously!
This school year might look different, once again, but what will Brody’s “back to school” fashion look like? What are his favorite Neon Rebels pieces and what is he most excited about starting kindergarten?
These school days are completely different from anything we’ve done before so give your kids (and yourself!) a little extra patience and kindness. And if letting them wear piles of mismatched pieces or rainbow pieces and tutus makes them happy and excited for school, so be it!
At the Schaffer house we all live by one unspoken rule: always extra, never boring. We integrate this rule into every aspect of our lives from how we present ourselves to the clothes we wear. And since your style is an extension of your personality (ours being super extra), we love clothing brands that capture that same expressive style.
As a mom of four, how do you make sure each of your children can freely express themselves?
Bobby and I have always taught our children to support, respect and love one another, and to embrace each other’s individuality. Figure out what your kids are passionate about and make it a family affair. When it’s time for Jackson’s games, we’re all there on the sidelines cheering him on. When Dylan has a dance competition, you better believe we’re all counting down the minutes until her team goes on.
Encourage your kids to show interest in each other’s passions, to practice listening skills instead of turning the conversation on themselves and to cheer each other on through every hardship and success in life. And remember nothing is perfect…instead of being so hard on ourselves when we fail, we teach our kids to pick each other up.
