New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Band of Outsiders

"Go West, young man," the bit of Manifest Destiny advice attributed to Horace Greeley, seemed to be resonating with Band of Outsiders creative director Scott Sternberg whose collection headed due West -- and jogged South across the border -- for Fall and Winter 2012.

"Yes, it's the Great Plains and the great West, and a little bit of Mexico City," Sternberg said post-show. "So it's kind of spaghetti western. For the men, especially, it was definitely time to go to that sort of western place."

And go there he did, mixing degradé hickory stripe denim trousers, zip-front hoodies with Cowichan style patterns and cotton and leather duster coats and leather work boots in with the more prep-inspired Oxford shirts, corduroy trousers, double-breasted sweater blazers and peacoats.

The two women's collections, Boy by Band of Outsiders and Girl by Band of Outsiders stayed with that theme albeit a shade more subtly. For Girl that meant filling the runway with prairie-appropriate wool gauze dresses, boiled wool blanket coats and silk chiffon blouses covered in various rosebud prints, with a feather print cropping up several denim pieces and silk blouses as well.

Although the Boy collection seemed more content to stay back in the big city and play dress up, it actually managed to move into new territory by offering a selection of evening wear -- an area the women's side of the brand hasn't explored as much. 

Memorable pieces included elegant fox fur scarves and vests, silk crepe de chine and silk satin shawl collared dresses and jumpsuits and the suspender halter-top silk crepe de chine dress (paired with leather work boots) that closed the show.

Both the men's and women's collections included several versions of the one-piece work suit -- versions of which seem to pop up on the runways every once in awhile. Sternberg's take, some in the aforementioned hickory stripe denim, others in feather-print denim managed to actually look wearable. In fact Sternberg himself was wearing one when we caught up with him after the show. 

"It's so comfortable I never want to get out of it," he told us, before explaining that the inspiration for the one-piece came from his research. "It's a traditional work suit I saw in photographs by Sebastião Salgado -- a photographer who took pictures of all those workers and who always seemed to come up [in my research]. And I just felt it was part of my cowboy."

We couldn't agree more.

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-- Adam Tschorn in New York

Photos: Looks from the Band of Outsiders and Boy by Band of Outsiders runway collection, shown on February 11, 2012, during New York Fashion Week. Credit: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

 

New York Fashion Week: Band of Outsiders

Judging from the first few days of runway shows, the spring 2012 fashion season is shaping up to be a face-off between the jocks and the romantics.  L.A.-based Band of Outsiders, designed by Scott Sternberg, fell into the latter camp with a collection of sweeping skirts and duster coats in washed and faded toile du jouy, delicate floral georgette garden party dresses, lace patchwork T-shirts and dip-dyed shorts as sweet as a country picnic.

Not that there weren’t things for the city, too -- a crisp white cotton shirt dress with a black leather collar and a black leather bandage skirt with a white cotton bib shirt raised the collection’s age- appropriateness a good 10 years. And a red striped linen blazer and matching overalls was a quirky chic take on a suit, as was a khaki blazer with short-sleeves turned up, and wide-legged pants with a striped waistband.

Sternberg usually shows his men’s and women’s collections together. But this summer, he was invited to show men’s at the Pitti Uomo trade show in Florence, Italy. So it was just the girls in New York on a no-frills concrete runway underneath New York’s High Line, with Solange Knowles and “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy in the front row. (Though as reported by the Fug Girls, Murphy was relegated to the second row before the PR folks wised up.)

It was a rare experience to get a really close look at the women’s clothes and Sternberg’s vision for the season, without the song and dance of some of his more theatrical presentations. The collection held up, and proved that as unlikely as it might seem, this former Hollywood talent agent really is leading the fashion pack in redefining classic, preppy dressing for the next generation.   

--Booth Moore, reporting from New York

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Photos: Looks from the Band of Outsiders spring 2012 runway collection shown during New York Fashion Week. Credit: Band of Outsiders.

Fashion News: Potter pair model for Band, Lagerfeld hits Macy's

Rupert Grint and Tom Felton -- better known as their respective "Harry Potter" alter-egos Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy -- have been tapped by Band of Outsiders' Scott Sternberg to appear in the brand's fall and winter 2011 ad campaign. The pictures of the Potter pair, dressed in looks from the current season, were taken on vintage Polaroid film and shot against the backdrop of the appropriately Hogwartsian Magic Castle in Hollywood. [Band of Outsiders]

Ralph Lauren scion David Lauren (son of Ralph) and model-preneur with a political pedigree Lauren Bush (niece of George W. and granddaughter of George H.W.) are set to wed Sunday at Ralph Lauren's 22,000-acre Colorado ranch. We don't know what the dress code is but we expect plenty of fancy boots, western wear and style by the mile at the nuptial rodeo (yes, there will be one!). [Denver Post]

The Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse collection had its big reveal Tuesday night at the Beverly Center Macy's store. Our fashion critic was first in line -- so she could offer her take on Kaiser Karl's latest brand extension. [All The Rage]

We're trying to figure out which part of the new Kohl's ad campaign is funniest, Jennifer Lopez pretending to be a 9-to-5er schlepping into to the office to design her clothing line or the security guard at the front desk pretending he doesn't recognize Jenny from the Block. Lopez's and estranged hubby Marc Anthony's efforts to one-up/out-funny each other -- in separate adsfor their separate collections -- is celebrity theater of the absurd at its best. [Daily Mail] 

Vermont was one of the states hardest hit by Hurricane Irene (well, technically Tropical Storm Irene by the time it reached the Green Mountain State) over the weekend, and while it'll take a long time to rebuild the devastated infrastructure, it didn't take long at all for a charity T-shirt to hit the Internet. Available for pre-order by Tuesday, all of the profits from Independent Vermont Clothing Company's "I'm With VT" T-shirt will go to Red Cross efforts aiding Vermont victims of the disaster. [All The Rage]

-- Booth Moore and Adam Tschorn

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Photos: Band of Outsiders' fall and winter 2011 ad campaign features "Harry Potter" actors Tom Felton, left, and Rupert Grint; a piece from the Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse Only at Macy's collection that was unveiled at the Beverly Center Macy's Tuesday night. Credits: Scott Sternberg; Macy's

Band of Outsiders presents spring 2012 collections in Florence

Los Angeles-based Band of Outsiders put on a Hollywood-style show when it presented its spring 2012 men's and resort women's collections in Florence, Italy, at Pitti Uomo 80, Europe's largest apparel trade show.

To showcase the new collections, brand designer Scott Sternberg put on a complete production that combined cinema, stage and fashion. Dancers dressed in the brand's new line took the stage to perform alongside the models. Inspired by the films "West Side Story" and "Singin' in the Rain," the collection retains the brand's signature '80s, sporty chic edge mixed with pieces like neon varsity jackets and nylon windbreakers. 

For a look at the entire Band of Outsiders men's and resort women's collections, check out a photo gallery here.

Band of Outsiders and Rodarte were the only two L.A. brands invited to the prestigious event, with Rodarte showing a couture collection at Pitti W, the trade show for women.

--Jenn Harris

Twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

PHOTOS: Band of Outsiders spring / summer 2012 men's and resort women's collection photo gallery

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Photo: Dancers and models create a musical scene during the Band of Outsiders presentation in Florence. Credit: Lecca.

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Vanessa Hudgens stars in Candie's ads. Carolina Herrera designs 'Twilight' wedding gown. And Kim Kardashian plans ahead.

Stop the presses! Carolina Herrera has been confirmed as the gown designer for Bella Swan's wedding to Edward Cullen in "Twilight: Breaking Dawn." I guess there's been almost as much speculation about this dress as there was in the run-up to Kate Middleton's wedding to Prince William. [Fashionista]

Vanessa Hudgens stars in Candie's' new ad campaign, and fans have a chance to vote on which version of the commercial should run on national TV. That's Vanessa at left in a behind-the-scenes shot from one of the ads, which are themed around "Candie's-isms," such as "Candie's girls believe you can do anything in heels" -- like ironing, for instance. I bet this shot won't show up, since it's too hard to see her Candie's-shod feet. From now through June 22, people can go to www.facebook.com/candies to vote on their favorite commercial, which will begin airing in late July. Ads in magazines and on billboards are scheduled to start in August. [People]

Kim Kardashian is busy planning her wedding to Kris Humphries, which includes setting up her gift registry. Make that registries. At Williams Sonoma and Geary's in Beverly Hills. Her choices are certainly drool-worthy: a Baccarat Cosmos extra-large vase ($7,500), Hermés presentation plates ($304 each), ice tongs ($195), a Tourbillon black vase ($6,500), Havana ashtrays ($840 each). I guess I could afford one of the $46 martini glasses on the list. If I was invited. [Los Angeles Times]

The secretive Tom Ford has finally released a video look book of his fall/winter 2011 collection, shown four months ago during London Fashion Week to only a select few, who were sworn to secrecy. It's completely in keeping with his flout-the-system, build-the-buzz M.O.  But the long-sleeved lace-bodied dresses, snakeskin coats, satin jackets, chiffon devoré dresses and feathered clutches feature the kind of texture that also showed up in fall/winter collections from other designers, such as Prada and Gucci. [Telegraph]

Band of Outsiders put on its catwalk show in a former cigar factory Wednesday night at the Pitti Immagine Uomo trade show in Florence, Italy. It's one of two Los Angeles-based design companies invited to show at the prestigious event. (The other is Rodarte.) [WWD] (Subscription required.)

The biannual (or more) "fashion weeks" in major cities around the world typically don't last for a week. Now the folks behind London Fashion Week (five days) want more time. Officials of the British Fashion Council won't say exactly how much more time, but they are discussing the concept with their counterparts in Milan, Paris and New York. [The Cut]

"Jersey Shore's" Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi -- or as I like to think of her, the poor man's Kim Kardashian -- is adding flip-flops to her line of stuff, after signing a new licensing agreement. [WWD]  (Subscription required.) 

GQ plans to team with new e-commerce site Park & Bond to offer merchandise from the pages of the magazine selected by the magazine's creative director Jim Moore and the magazine's fashion editors. The deal is to start in September. [WWD] (Subscription required.)   

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Vanessa Hudgens in a behind-the-scenes shot for advertising campaign. Credit: Candie's

 

New York Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2011: Band on the run(way)

Sitting in the front row before Band of Outsiders' first full-fledged runway show at New York Fashion Week, Kanye West obligingly sat through a gazillion flashbulb pops. But when a photographer asked the rapper if he could "show his grill" to the camera, West made it clear he wasn't going to strike a pose.

After the show, when he went backstage to congratulate creative director Scott Sternberg, another photographer tried to manufacture a photo op with the two raising their glasses in a posed toast. Once again, West let it be known he wasn't about to manufacture a Kodak moment for anyone.

So it's pretty safe to assume that when he turned back to Sternberg to share his opinion of the fall-winter 2011 collection he'd just seen, the style-loving rapper was being full-on, unfettered Kanye West-honest. "That show was dope," West said. "And that purple fur cape was dope." 

Which pretty much sums up a show that began with male models in mountain climbing harnesses being lowered on ropes to the runway to the strains of the Doors' "This Is the End," and ended 52 looks later with guests filing out of the studio space to the sound of the 1953 animated movie-theater concession clip "Let's All Go the Lobby."

Dopeness aside -- and there were a couple of unfortunate lighting cue glitches that left some looks wholly in the dark -- one shouldn't read too much into Sternberg's decision to mount a runway show instead of the static tableaux he usually presents. When I ran into him at a GQ event the night before, he told me it was simply a matter of expediency.

"I've got 52 looks, the men's line and two women's lines, so I decided to do a runway show. Who knows, I'll probably go back to doing a presentation next season," he told me.

Band of Outsiders debuts new digs

The apparel offerings aren't the only thing expanding at Band of Outsiders these days, a fact that was more than obvious to the friends, business associates and celebrities seated at a 100-foot table for a candlelit dinner at Scott Sternberg's expansive new Los Angeles headquarters the week before Thanksgiving.

Located on North Beachwood, barely a tibia's toss across Santa Monica Boulevard from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the 7,000-square-foot, third-floor, loft-like space feels a lot like the kinds of venues Sternberg uses to present his collections during New York Fashion Week -- uncluttered, wide-open spaces with high ceilings, painted brick walls and wooden floors.

In addition to actors Dave Franco, Donald Glover, Andrew Garfield and Marisa Tomei (all of whom have

New York Fashion Week: Boy meets Girl at Band of Outsiders

As more designers are riffing on the preppy aesthetic the way Scott Sternberg has (most notably this week, Tommy Hilfiger, with his grosgrain dresses and cropped navy blazers for women), the Band of Outsiders designer is moving on.

He's not abandoning that world, though, as much as he is expanding it, and for spring-summer 2011, he's making room for the Girl -- with a capital "G."

Girl is what Sternberg's dubbed his newest collection, which is much more feminine than Boy -- the first line for the ladies that hewed closer to the original Band of Outsiders look ("boys clothes for girls," is the way Sternberg described it to us at the time).

Sternberg described the new offerings as "sugar and spice everything nice," and that's a pretty apt description of the handful of pieces on hand -- silk georgette dresses, cotton patchwork bloomers, cropped crewneck sweaters, all in shades of nude and white with the occasional faded floral pattern.

Standing against a steamy greenhouse wall, with damp hair and flushed cheeks, the models seemed like fresh and fragile hothouse flowers, a welcome baby sister to a family that now seems to be growing like kudzu.

It's a joy to watch Sternberg continue to populate his universe, and given his track record, you can expect this new offshoot to put down some serious roots.

-- Adam Tschorn in New York

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Photo: Looks from the Band of Outsiders new Girl collection. Credit: Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson / For The Times

New web-slinger is the face of fall for Band of Outsiders

For Band of Outsiders' fall/winter 2010 menswear ad campaign, Scott Sternberg has drawn a future Spider-Man into his web.

That would be 26-year-old British actor Andrew Garfield, who on July 1 was announced as the one chosen to step into Tobey Maguire's tights for a reboot of the "Spider-Man" franchise due out in 2012.

Five days later, Garfield donned pieces from Band's AW10 collection to scamper up trees, commandeer golf carts and generally goof around on the ski slopes of Mt. Baldy, looking like a bored college kid waiting for the winter, while Sternberg, the label's founder, creative director and designer, snapped away with his Polaroid camera.

The photos, recently posted on the label's website, follow in Sternberg's habit of tapping celebrity friends and clientele to model his wares against a California backdrop, including Sarah Silverman (at Canter's), Jason Schwartzman (on the streets of L.A.'s Chinatown), and, most recently, Dave Franco and Donald Glover on the docks of Marina Del Ray earlier this year.

Come to think of it, Spidey's other identity seems exactly like the kind of nerdy/cool/preppie guy who might show up at a science fair wearing Band of Outsiders.

I know it's a ways off, but when it comes to casting the AW12 campaign, perhaps Peter Parker would be the perfect pick?

My spider-sense is tingling already.

-- Adam Tschorn

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Photo: Actor Andrew Garfield in a look from Band of Outsiders fall/winter 2010 menswear advertising campaign shot on Mt. Baldy. Credit: Scott Sternberg

At Band of Outsiders, cabin fever never looked so good

You started to get an idea of what designer Scott Sternberg was up to for his fall/winter 2010 presentation the moment you stepped inside Milk Studios from the frigid Manhattan cityscape and heard Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" cranking at full blast.

If that subtle nudge didn't do it, maybe the vintage tanker desk and heap of discarded Corona typewriters clustered on the floor surrounded by crumpled balls of paper might.

But you couldn't miss it once you spotted the chap literally (and yes, I mean literally) swinging from a crystal chandelier in gray knit sweatpants, and another parked high atop a jumbled pile of wooden chairs, taking phone calls on a Swarovski-crystal-covered rotary telephone wearing a pair of golden yellow nylon ski pants with quilted kneepads.

What we have here folks is "The Shining" level, crazy-making cabin fever. But in this case, all work and no play seems to have made Jack a very stylish boy.

During the packed presentation (in which we also ran across Band of Outsiders fan and former look book star Jason Schwartzman -- who happened to be sporting a pencil-thin mustache that made him come off looking like a Hamish Bowles mini-me), Sternberg explained that a lot of the collection was filled out with the fruits of his recent labors.

"As we've been growing I've been able to add more employees," he told me. "And I've been working with some new factories in Italy so I've been able to do things I haven't been able to do before -- like the ski jackets -- those were inspired by old REI ski jackets -- I wasn't able to do that before." (Maybe it's just because the Olympics are underway in Vancouver, but I could see the U.S. snowboarding  team as prime candidates for Band's take on technical outerwear.)

Ditto for the black and white melange knit sweatpants that looked like the big brother of that favorite pair of warm wool winter socks.

The Boy by Band of Outsiders women's line had its cold-weather standouts as well; favorites included a colorful patchwork fur hooded vest and a gray wool cutaway blazer with a fox fur shawl collar.

If you have to suffer through a frigid February in New York City, that's the way to do it, and as I stepped back into the Manhattan night, I found myself thinking of a Pink Floyd song from "Dark Side of the Moon" I hadn't heard playing over Sternberg's ice capades:

"Money."

-- Adam Tschorn in New York

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Photos: Looks from the Band of Outsiders/Boy by Band of Outsiders fall/winter 2010 presentation included  (left) a two-tone blue wool/nylon parka and honey-colored corduroy trousers, (center) a gray wool melton sleeveless parka, patchwork suspender skirt, cashmere zipper crew neck sweater with navy and gold striped sleeves, (right) a navy blue worsted wool notch lapel blazer, corded cotton terry tailored trousers. Credit: Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson / For the Times.