The 3 Style Secrets Band of Boys Designer Susan Vaz Lives By
How to Style The “Band of Boys” Look
Kiwi #bossbabe and mumtrepreneur Susan Vaz “gets” boys. Inspired by her own free-spirited sons, the designer decided to fill “an obvious gap” in the kids’ fashion market back in 2013 with her own range of edgy, urban boys’ threads. After five years of hustle, her brand Band of Boys is now stocked in 60 stores across Australasia, and loved by free range boys everywhere.
Susan is one of our fave designer mamas here at Stitchfox. She’s passionate about boys’ fashion, she knows that bambinos are full of “ceaseless energy and buckets of courage”, and she works damn hard to give fashion-forward mums something to get excited about.
Today, we’ve brought Susan Vaz here to explain how she styles the Band of Boys “look”.
Enjoy, Mamas! x
Band of Boys Tip #1: Comfort is King
Ask yourself a question. Can your boy run, climb, bend over, sit, or do a handstand in his clothes? If not, the clothes aren’t practical. At Band of Boys, we’re into comfort. When styling boys, we look out for:
Soft cotton fabrics — Boys like to move, run around, and jump off things. That’s why we style boys in soft, comfortable fabrics like cotton jersey, french terry, and GOTS certified 100% organic cotton. With winter around the corner, we’re also pretty keen on mid-weight, fleece-lined jumpers, which are cozy and really comfortable as well.
Well-tailored garments — Boys move better in simple, relaxed shapes. We try to bring that concept through in our long-line tees, slouch pants, and oversized crews. We’ve noticed that kids’ jeans are quite restrictive, so we’ve just released a pair of super-stretch skinny jeans (that boys can climb trees in!) to mix that up a bit.
Band of Boys Tip #2: Layer. It. Up.
Whether you’re big or little, layers add complexity to your outfit. They also keep you warm as the weather cools down - total win win. Here’s how we mix and match different wardrobe items for boys:
Start with a base — Pick a long-fit tee in a neutral colour. Put that on first, ‘cause it’s going to peek out from underneath whatever you put on top.
Werk those oversized items — Next, pop on a slouchy jumper - maybe something with a touch of colour.
Go the extra mile — For a really textured look, throw a sleeveless hoodie or bomber jacket on top. Finally, top everything off with a cap or beanie.
Band of Boys Tip #3: Have fun!
Boys are free-spirited and totally awesome. When you’re styling boys, relax. Feel free to make bold choices, and just have fun. At Band of Boys, we’re down for:
Patterns, baby, patterns — For a edgy vibe, play with different-sized patterns, mix a dominant print with an accent, or pair mixed prints with neutrals in same colour family.
Bright pops of colour — We love our cool blues, greys, and blacks. But throwing in an embroidered patch, a sweet graphic tee, or a beautiful statement jumper to accentuate can make your boy’s outfit look really cool.
Letting them decide — Boys’ fashion is really all about having fun, expressing yourself, and being playful. Let your boy pick out a crazy outfit of his own while you relax, enjoy the moment, and have a giggle.
X
Find more Band of Boys inspo on INSTAGRAM // FACEBOOK // WEBSITE // STITCHFOX