A decade ago, Ivy Coco Maurice had no desire to become a stylist. However, at 28, she has emerged as the creative mind behind her mother, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s highly praised red carpet appearances. Her work earned Ralph a place on the New York Times’ Most Stylish People list. In her earlier days, Maurice would sketch designs at home or explore the Jet Rag store on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles.
As a teenager during the 2008 recession, Maurice faced financial difficulties. Her mother would leave her with limited money for the weekend, often around $20 to $40. During this time, she turned to thrifting, particularly at Jet Rag, which had a $1 sale on Sundays. This became a way for her to find stylish outfits.
While she didn’t initially envision herself as a stylist, her family has a strong connection to fashion. Maurice, whose full name is Ivy Victoria Julia Maurice, was named after her maternal grandmother, Ivy Ralph.
Ivy Ralph operated a fashion atelier called The House of Ivy in Kingston, Jamaica, during the 1970s. During her summers in Jamaica, Maurice learned from her grandmother, who dressed prominent politicians like former prime ministers Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson, according to HuffPost.
Maurice strongly embraced her Jamaican heritage, considering it an essential part of her identity. She felt deeply connected to it, especially after her grandmother’s admonishment for her to take care of her mother. In her current role as a stylist, she sees it as a way to honor her cultural roots and make her mother shine, carrying forward the gift of fashion passed down from her grandmother.
Besides her work as Ralph’s stylist, Maurice is a creative entrepreneur, and vice president of a nonprofit called WalkGood, and describes herself as “a West Indian, West African from West L.A.” She manages a bi-coastal life between Los Angeles and Miami. Her journey into styling her mother began when Ralph needed outfits for a press tour related to “Abbott Elementary,” and it’s a role she is grateful for, seeing it as a matter of divine timing.
Maurice acknowledges the importance of timing in her mother’s career momentum. She believes that if her mom had gained this level of success a decade or so ago, she and her brother wouldn’t have been able to contribute their energy and creativity to her success in the same way.
She emphasized that their involvement has turned it into a family business, with both her and her brother adding their unique contributions to support their mother’s success.
Maurice’s journey from being her grandmother’s apprentice to becoming an influential stylist is inspiring and a testament to resilience. It brings her joy to dress her mother and generate a buzz around what Ralph wears.
“And she’s been winning – I’ve been on every best-dressed list, including the New York Times, and I thank my child,” Ralph told E!
