For Autumn/Winter the audience at Boy/Band of Outsiders was once again taken on a sartorial journey – this time to the romantic wild, wild west. Designer Scott Sternberg, whose background in the Hollywood film industry has been undeniably worn on his sleeve each season, more than hinted at cinema for Autumn/Winter 2012 with a collection shown against a rising and setting sun over rocky desert terrain, set to a dramatic old-school Western movie soundtrack. While the inspired set created a stirring atmosphere, Sternberg needs little fanfare to impress his many devotees – he achieves that with his impeccable collections of up-scale basics in the tradition of American sportswear alone. In fact, if there is one burgeoning designer truly following in the footsteps of grand-master of American Sportswear Ralph Lauren, it has to be Sternberg, whose designs so flawlessly embody the spirit of radiant good-old-American youth.

This season, the palette was earthy and subdued in keeping with the western theme – ochres, rusts, ivory and sandy tones reigned throughout, punctuated by black in the form of dramatic duster coats for both men and women. For the girls, the look was modern prairie – silhouettes lithe and lean, hemlines long and flattering, hair and make-up subtly bronzed and unkempt. The boys’ got a little more rugged in beanies and work boots to compliment double-breasted wool blazers, sand-hued chinos and stand-out Cowichan pullovers and hoodies, while covetable tan suede shearling jackets proved the winning outerwear for both sexes. As the Western-themed soundtrack drew to a close, and ‘The End’ was projected onto the stage-like catwalk, the audience reaction was unanimous – to put it mildly, the show was a hit.

Report by Indigo Clarke on 11 February 2012.