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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A general view of atmosphere at the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A general view of atmosphere at the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway during the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Schaffer attend the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Get
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Chef David Chang and actor Aziz Ansari attend the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Saturday marked a first proper runway show for Band of Outsiders—and the brand's clothing definitely played second fiddle to the show's dizzying spectacle. It opened with enthusiastic applause as four males models dropped on cables from rafters above in almost-total darkness. From there, each of the label's three separate lines—the original men's line plus both womenswear collections—were featured in a series of highly choreographed interweaving runway segments amongst nearly-epileptic and often incredibly dim lighting effects. So daunting was the catwalk's serpentine floor plan and each model group's unique path that we watched several of the male models go off in the wrong direction, curse and correct themselves during the frenetic finale.
The assembled—which happened to include Anna Wintour and Bee Schaffer, Aziz Ansari, Kayne West, Kid Cudi, Kirsten Dunst and David Chang (who supplied a Meyer lemon Momofuko Milk Bar cookie as a favor)—ate it up; but did they see the clothes? We certainly needed an internet reminder as soon as we left. Turns out the clothing was, well, very Band of Outsiders—a fetishistic take on '70s Americana: Lots of layers, trim silhouettes, scarves and capes and ponchos and stoles, sweet prints, muted color. It was all very après-ski—sprinkled with Nordic pattern, flooded by winter white and featuring boy clothes or billowing Love Story frocks for the ladies. · All Fashion Week Coverage [Racked] · Band of Outsiders [Official Site]