So there’s this line called Band of Outsiders, right? I only just stumbled over them recently. Actually, it was more so a collision, if we’re taking the phrase literally (taking things literally makes life more fun). Because if I were a skier, and Band of Outsiders was a premature tree poking through the snow, it was the type of collision that would make chair-lift onlookers nudge each other to gape at the apparent snowball-human hybrid tumbling down the slope.
My cheeks burn a regrettable red from fashion ineptitude.
See, Band of Outsiders isn’t just a blip on peoples’ fashion radars. They have a dominant, well-respected place in the industry, with Karlie Kloss as recent arm candy for designer Scott Sternberg, and a whole fleet of A-lister names donning the label on polaroid film, on the red carpet, and on-the-daily. And I had no clue they existed. I had no clue that there was this whole line that embraced minimalist, tastefully flattering cuts without being boring or pretentious and certainly without being safe. Nor that the designer collaborated with Starbucks to launch these kick-ass ceramic mugs, adorning creative juices dripping down their sides. Not even that their website featured models with bunnies & kitties & jumping poses that made every outfit so much more inviting to wear than if they were doing the typical look-at-me-in-this-too-expensive-for-you-outfit-ha-ha-ha-you-suck pose.
So I have come to a radical conclusion, in light of my sudden fan-girling over Band of Outsiders. These are the kind of outsiders that you want to be a part of. Not the popular kids, but the cool kids who have that air of effortlessness that doesn’t come with a designer handbag or commercially-distressed jeans. Their Facebook feeds, if they even have one, are littered with posts (like this for mother’s day and this for father’s day) that make you think, “Damn, I should have thought of that.” And, of course, to top it off, they show up to any occasion with a genuine smile, a polaroid camera, and a cat named Atticus.
Forget being an insider. I wanna be an outsider.
Here are some goodies from their Summer/Spring 2014 season. Meow.


Aren’t they all so positively joyous? Don’t you want to reach out and say, hey, let’s go to some indie movie together with our bright yellow raincoats on and slowly sweat in our seats?
Here’s a peek at their upcoming Fall and Pre-Fall 2014 season. This cheery gal just makes me so happy (although I know I’d be just as chipper if I were wearing those clothes). Serious kudos to Band of Outsiders for single-handedly recruiting my now-favourite models to wear their stylin’ garments.

Among their devoted fans are some casual Hollywood nobility. In fact, the famed red shirt Joaquin Phoenix donned so regularly in “Her” is from Band of Outsiders’ 2005 season. Who woulda thunk? Apparently not me-from-three-days-ago! My favourite starlets (sorry to call you a “starlet”, Andrew Garfield) are shot in polaroid film, too, in true hipster fashion.

Have a lovely day, outsiders! (I’m assuming I’ve convinced you to become an outsider too. Let’s band together, folks.)
*m