BAND OF OUTSIDERS

I think it’s safe to say that Scott Sternburg, the designer behind the brand 'Band of outsiders' impressed us all once again with this preppy, New York hipster style A/W 11 collection. It featured fur, checked trousers, cargo pants, heels inspired by hiking boots, duffel coats, corduroy and stripes! All of which I LOVE. 

I think it is Sternberg's laid back style that I like most about his collections; I like how everything seems to layer up, yet look so fitting together. Although it is laid back it still looks amazingly chic, the women look strong and powerful due to the androgynous styling and big presence of their fur coats and chunky hiking boot heels. As for the menswear, he has a knack for making them all look rather attractive. The layered knitwear and camel coloured cargos, teamed with boat shoes gives them an uber cool laid back style. 

It may be this that makes me distinguish such a distinct link between his clothes and the indie subculture, although probably more clean cut than the average ‘indie kid’ his collections offer everything they would ever want from a wardrobe. A preppy and somewhat vintage edge to the clothes, blazers, roll cuff trousers, polo shirts, deck shoes, check flannel shirts and baggy sweaters just to name a few key ‘indie’ items. I think the two go hand in hand, I can definitely imagine some of the indie people I know donning the band of outsiders brand. Especially the slim fitting tailored camel trousers for the summer; rolled up with a pair of deck shoes....oh I can’t wait for summer!

Not only are the clothes appealing to this subculture of individuals, the overall marketing of the company is just so fitting. For example their website, it has the feel of a blog, and has a mixture of things as well as fashion, so there is a whole lifestyle feature going on within their brand, which I feel relates to the indie lifestyle almost perfectly. The Polaroid’s on the website make it look quite vintage and also incorporates the idea that people buying their clothes will be interested in photography as they present the clothes in a cool photographic way. Oh and James Marsden is also modelling their clothes (oooooooffftttt) They also have members of bands from the indie scene modelling their clothes for example Brandon Flowers (the killers)

The name of the brand ‘Band of outsiders’ is also very fitting to the indie subculture, as there whole ideology is to be ‘individual’ and different, an outsider! The brand creates a whole lifestyle, which people like indie kids can buy in to, lets face it, and it is a pretty cool brand!

As for indie chicks, this brand doesn’t go far wrong, their women’s range entitled ‘boy’ offers everything for them, cute vintage style shirts and skirts, preppy style blazers, shorts, calf length pleats, metallic oxfords…adorable! The range is modelled by Kirsten Dunst, making it all the more appealing. (She’s so cute)  

The brand features in many magazines most of which are also associated with indie kids, meaning they will have access to the brand and it will appeal to them. A few magazines it has featured in are dazed and confused, nylon, w magazine and the fader. I think the overriding feature, making this brand so indie, is that the models used, look like what I would describe an indie kid! It couldn’t be any more obvious what the target market is here, there is definitely a specific type of person who buys this brand and indie kids are one of them! Its cool, fresh and preppy, I really like it.