Band of Outsiders (clothing brand)

Band of Outsiders is a Los Angeles based clothing label founded by Scott Sternberg in January 2004. The first collection consisted only of men’s button-down shirts and neckties made from vintage fabrics. In 2008, Sternberg launched his menswear-inspired women’s line, Boy. by Band of Outsiders.

Know for its “modern, rebellious take on American style”, providing “classics-with-a-twist”,[1] the brand has developed a cult following and is known for its “shrunken schoolboy blazers, narrow oxford-cloth shirts, and impeccably cut trousers”.[2] Sternberg's designs draw from a “strong, personal sense of nostalgia for American classics”.[3]

On June 15, 2015, Sternberg announced he is leaving the brand via Instagram and that he cannot comment on the future of the brand as it is out of his hands.[4]

Menswear

Band of Outsiders started as a line of men’s shirts and ties inspired by Sternberg’s youth. Originally, all of Band of Outsider's button downs were made in Los Angeles, but as of February 8, 2014, button downs made in China were included in the web catalogues. The suits are handmade in Brooklyn, USA at Martin Greenfield Clothiers. In 2009, Sternberg introduced a line of polo shirts under the brand “This is not a Polo Shirt.”, a play on Rene Magritte’s painting Ceci n’est pas une pipe.[2] The collection developed into a full line of casual men’s clothing, taking inspiration from heritage sports.

Womenswear

Boy. by Band of Outsiders is the company's first womenswear brand. Launched in 2007, it took direction and inspiration directly from the brand’s menswear line. Boy has been described as a "well-tailored line, rooted in the basic idea of 'boys' clothes for girls."[5] Girl. by Band of Outsiders launched in 2010 as a counterpart to Boy. Girl presented more feminine designs and a slightly lower price point than Boy, and has been described as “a natural evolution from tomboy to woman."[6] In 2013, Sternberg decided to merge the two lines into one, taking the simple namesake brand Band of Outsiders.[7]

Polaroid Campaigns

Sternberg photographs Band of Outsiders seasonal campaigns himself on Polaroid 600 film. He first chose the medium for its flexibility, accessibility, and ease. It quickly became a signature of the brand. Each season a different celebrity is cast and photographed for a few hours in different looks from the collection at an iconic Los Angeles location.

Subjects have included: Frank Ocean, Josh Brolin, Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, Ed Ruscha, Jason Schwartzman, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Elena Anaya, James Marsden, Donald Glover, Dave Franco, Leslie Mann, Franka Potente, Marisa Tomei, Bobby Birdman, Sarah Silverman, Max Minghella, Charles Hamilton, Paul Jasmin, John Dewis, and Matt Dallas.

Locations have included: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Sheats Goldstein Residence, the Sunset Ranch, Chinatown, the Autry National Center, the Los Angeles Times building, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Huntington Library, Chateau Marmont, and Canter’s.

Fashion Shows

Pitti Uomo

On June 15, 2011, Band of Outsiders debuted its Spring 2012 menswear collection and Resort 2012 womenswear collection at Pitti Uomo 80.[8] The West Side Story and Singin’ in the Rain inspired collection was shown at Manifattura Tabacchi, an abandoned cigar factory in Florence, Italy. The Spring 12 Men’s and Women’s Resort collections were shown on runway models and professional dancers. The models walked and dancers danced to West Side Story’s “America,” choreographed by Fatima Robinson.

The Longest Show Ever

From June 27, 2012 through June 29, 2012, Band of Outsiders held the “Longest Show Ever”, a 60-hour presentation to debut their Spring 2013 collection in Paris, France. Model Brendan Ruck lived inside a compartment built from cardboard boxes and wood plants, adjacent to the window of a gallery. Visible through a window on the street, the presentation was also streamed live online through NowFashion. The model would leave the compartment every 90 minutes to change and be photographed in the next look from the collection. The live stream was viewed in over ninety countries across the world and had over 300,000 streams. The collection was inspired by “the idea of protest, and counterculture images from 1950s and ‘60s photographers like Wallace Berman and Dennis Stock.”[9]

Matt (VS) Miles

On February 7, 2013, Band of Outsiders staged an interactive scavenger hunt across New York City. Models, Matt Hitt and Miles Garber, were given 10 clues that lead them to various destinations across the city. Hitt and Garber returned to Game Control, a roaming, transparent vehicle, after every clue was solved to change into the next look of 20 from the Fall 2013 collection.[10] The presentation was streamed live online and concluded with a celebratory party at the Monkey Bar inside Hotel Elysee, hosted by comedian Aziz Ansari. The collection was inspired by “notions of urban utopia, maps, globes and architect Oscar Niemeyer’s Brasilia”.[11]

Collaborations

Glenmac

In 2007, Sternberg traveled to the Scottish highlands to visit an old cashmere mill to produce his sweaters. He released a collection of knitwear under the heritage brand Glenmac.

Sperry Top-sider

In 2008 Sternberg began collaborating with Sperry Top-sider. He created re-interpreted and re-constructed versions of the classic boat shoe, using materials such as grosgrain, canvas, suede, sweatshirt, linen, nylon, corduroy, shearling, and fur. The shoes became part of the Band of Outsiders men’s collection until Spring 2012.

Manolo Blahnik

Sternberg began collaborating with Manolo Blahnik in 2009, creating women’s shoes for his runway shows and presentations. He felt that Manolo Blahniks were “such a serious shoe”, that “would be fun to tone … down and make… more approachable” by using materials such as suspenders, shoelaces, metal and plastic watchbands and patent leather.

Barneys New York

In 2009 Sternberg began designing an exclusive line for Barneys New York called “No Bunk! No Junk!,” a nod to Barneys original slogan when it was founded in 1923. The capsule collection is available every year exclusively at Barneys stores.[12]

Leroy Grannis

In 2011, Sternberg released three polo shirts featuring 360-degree prints of iconic surf imagery by photographer Leroy Grannis.[13]

Opening Ceremony

For the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sternberg created limited edition tanks and tote bags inspired by the Games. They were sold exclusively at Opening Ceremony stores around the world.[14]

CFDA, Neiman Marcus, and Target

In 2012, Sternberg was selected as one of 24 designers from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to participate in Neiman Marcus and Target Corporation’s holiday collection. For the collection he designed a custom set of cookie cutters, shaped like menswear items, and “Best” “Friends” knit beanies.[15] The collection sold poorly and was placed on clearance almost immediately by Target, with discounts eventually reaching 75% off.

Atari

Sternberg collaborated with Atari in 2013, bringing classic prints and characters to his womenswear Fall 2013 runway show.[16] Games such as Asteroids 7800, Warlords, Air-Sea Battle, Haunted House, and Combat were incorporated onto tops, skirts, dresses, pants, sweaters, and gowns.[17] Sternberg is collaborating with Atari again for a menswear collection.

Sam Durant

In 2013, Sternberg released a series of t-shirts featuring globe artwork by artist Sam Durant.[18]

Special Projects

LEGO

In July 2008, with the support of LEGO and Lego master building Gary Mcintyrne, Sternberg designed a shop-in-shop at Opening Ceremony’s Los Angeles store. The room is made entirely out of Lego pieces. For the 30th anniversary of the Lego minifigure Sternberg designed a minifigure in his own likeness.[19]

Academy Awards

Band of Outsiders sent select 84th Academy Awards nominees gift packages with a clip-on bow tie and custom fortune cookie. The fortune inside said, “He who wears Band of Outsiders bow tie wins important award.”[20]

Momofuku Milk Bar

Band of Outsiders works closely with pastry chef Christina Tosi and the Momofuku Milk Bar. Tosi creates a custom cookie for every Band of Outsiders runway show and presentation, inspired by the collection.[21] Flavors have included: Thai Tea Cookie, Gold Gilt Gangster, Lemon Tree Hugger, Black Sesame Cookie, Mexican Wedding Cookie, Smoked Oat - Maple Hokey Pokey, Lady Day, Man-Hide, and Cookie Noir.

Aziz Ansari

Band of Outsiders created a custom suit for Aziz Ansari to wear on his Buried Alive tour. Ansari also wore Band of Outsiders on the cover of “Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening” and on his Dangerously Delicious tour.[22]

Grammy Awards</> At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Frank Ocean wore a custom Band of Outsiders tuxedo and shirt during his performance of “Forrest Gump”.[23]

Stores

Band of Outsiders is sold in over 225 stores worldwide, including Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Opening Ceremony, Saks Fifth Ave, Colette, Shopbop, Net-a-Porter, Mr. Porter, Matches and Lane Crawford.

Band of Outsiders will open their first retail store in Tokyo, Japan on October 12, 2013. The brand collaborated with architectural design studio LOT-EK on a new, three-story building in the Sendagaya neighborhood. The store covers the ground floor of the building, with showroom and offices to occupy the upper floors. The store is operated through the brand’s distribution partner in the region, Sazaby League. The store will offer the brand’s namesake women’s and men’s collection, as well as a wide range of exclusive products, including shoes made in collaboration with Vans Japan and penny loafers made with the Maine-based shoe manufacturer Rancourt and Co.

Awards

CFDA Menswear Designer of the year (Tie), 2010

CFDA Swarovski Award for New Menswear Designer of the Year, 2009

CFDA Vogue/Fashion Fund Nominee, 2008

Notes

  1. ↑ "Band of Outsiders at MR PORTER". Mr. Porter.
  2. 1 2 Fortini, Amanda. "Boy Meets Girl". ELLE.
  3. ↑ "Band of Outsiders and Rodarte: Upcoming Designers at the Pitti Duomo and Pitti W". The Florence Newspaper.
  4. ↑ Sternberg, Scott. "The proverbial Fat Lady sings". Instagram.
  5. ↑ Singer, Sally (July 2007). "Fall Forward". Vogue.
  6. ↑ Blanks, Tim. "Band of Outsiders Resort 2012". Style.com.
  7. ↑ Mau, Dhani. "Band of Outsiders Does Away with Confusing "Boy" "Girl" Labels". Fashionista.
  8. ↑ "Band of Outsiders". Pitti Immagine.
  9. ↑ Chan, Stephanie. "Band of Outsiders Designer Scott Sternberg on His Brand's New Frank Ocean Campaign". Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ↑ "Matt vs. Miles". Band of Outsiders.
  11. ↑ Ortved, John. "Scott Sternberg Sent Two Models on a Scavenger Hunt in NYC to Show Off His Fall Menswear Collection for Band of Outsiders and We Tagged Along". Fashionista.
  12. ↑ "Band of Outsiders' Scott Sternberg on No Bunk No Junk". The Window.Barneys.com.
  13. ↑ Davis, Peter. "Band of Outsiders x Leroy Grannis". Paper.
  14. ↑ Berlinger, Max. "Let the Games Begin". Vogue.
  15. ↑ "Target and Neiman Marcus Reveal Highly Anticipated Holiday Collection".
  16. ↑ Bishop, Jane Herman. "Band of Outsiders Fall RTW 2013 Review". Vogue.com.
  17. ↑ Singer, Maya. "Band of Outsiders Fall RTW Review". Style.com.
  18. ↑ Schneier, Matthew. "Band of Outsiders Fall 2013 Menswear Review". Style.com.
  19. ↑ Malred, Tina. "LEGO Style: Band of Outsiders' New Play-Time Installation at Opening Ceremony". Refinery29.
  20. ↑ Fischer, David. "Band of Outsiders for the Oscars - Bowties". Selectism.
  21. ↑ Harris, Taylor. "Front Row at Band of Outsiders". Women's Wear Daily.
  22. ↑ McKnight, Ren. "The GQ+A: Aziz Ansari on his Ideal Woman, Date-Night Style, and Kanye and Kim". GQ.com.
  23. ↑ Wilson, Julee (March 20, 2013). "Frank Ocean for Band of Outsiders: Singer Stars in Fashion Line's 2013 Campaign". The Huffington Post.
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