When Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard struts out on stage to perform, she can’t help but make a statement. And that’s not only due to her indisputable rockstar presence, but might have a little something to do with the bold and colorful cape dresses she’s been rocking of late. Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O is just as well known for her inimitable energy and howl as she is for her outlandish stage wear that can include everything from tuffs of fur and tinsel to a headdress made of handprints, peculiar shapes and prints and just about anything else unexpected.

The woman behind these ensembles is New York-based costume designer Christian Joy. When it comes to quirky, colorful and eye-catching, Joy has it down to a science, screen-printing and scheming up new fanciful designs on the regular. She's very quick to call herself a costume designer as opposed to a fashion designer, so we checked in with her to find out the difference, talk color, why her collaborations with musicians work so well and what’s next.

What if the difference between costume design and fashion design?

With costume design, you're helping to create a character or persona. Fashion design is for mass consumption and everyday wear. 

What appeals to you about making one-off pieces?

I get to be way more creative. 

How did you begin your collaboration with Brittany Howard?

I got an email from a friend of mine who is a publicist asking if I knew any stylists who would be interested in working with Brittany. I don't style often, so I began writing her a list of names and then I thought, Oh, I should check her out first. I had never heard their music. I watched one video on YouTube and was completely blown away! So I wrote back saying I would do it. 

What was it like watching the Grammys?

I was backstage, so I didn't really get the chance to watch it until the next morning. It was thrilling. The band [is] so great and Brittany's such an epic performer. It was exciting to see her rock her cape and dress. It was definitely a magic moment!

Why do you think what you create works so well with musicians?

I feel like it comes from being a fan and standing in the audience and knowing what makes me really excited. I love color and shape and movement and I think that it's something that happens to work well with performers. 

What role do you think color plays in your stuff? Can you imagine ever going completely monochrome?

For me, it doesn't feel the same. I just like that excitement that color brings to the table. Also, I think there's this automatic response to color that people have had over the centuries since the beginning of the world, so it's sort of like, how does green make you feel? It makes you feel calm. How does red make you feel? If I put Karen in a red suit or in something red, there's this feeling of power on stage. It's just sort of a way of communicating ideas I find and also if you're in something colorful onstage and you're in the back row at Glastonbury, you're going to see the colorful thing much more than you're going to see the black, big shoulder thing. For me, it doesn't do anything and I like things a little most whimsical and humorous than something that is maybe more serious. That's kind of why I like using color a lot, and it's just fun. It's exciting when you walk into a room.

How did you begin crafting costumes in the first place? What caught your fancy and how did you start?

I started when I first moved to NY in around 1999. I began by creating one of a kind t-shirts and then prom dresses. I think I really became a costume designer, however, when I began working with Karen O. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs began to get a lot of press, and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right clothes. It definitely developed through that. 

How do you decide/figure out how colors will work together?

I think it's something you just know. I do a lot of research as well. I like knowing how colors are meant to affect people and what they communicate. 

Tips on being more daring? Is there a key to being bold in how one presents oneself?

You just have to go for it. Start small—maybe a bright lipstick or crazy earrings—and then build up. It can be really scary at first, and people might bully you but then they end up liking it and admiring you for it. In the end they end up copying your look!

Where do you draw inspiration from?

The filmmaker John Waters is my biggest inspiration. I love the absurd. It makes me laugh and does weird things to my brain. My mom, who is also creative with an absurd sense of humor. I love history and learning how people made things in the past and the stories behind the creations. 

What are you working on now/next?

I'm working with the band Lucius, creating their tour looks as well as Esperanza Spalding. It's amazing to work with so many truly talented gals! I have some other stuff coming up as well, but I can't talk about it yet. It's exciting though!