"We just want something different," says Christine Stout, who with her husband, George, is proprietor of Outpost Trading Company. "We keep expanding our inventory, so we can be a whole lot of different things. We think people come to the Valley to relax, and our mission is that when ladies come to the Valley, if they want to dress up, that's ok. We feel women should not be afraid to get out of their jeans and dress up."

Getting out of their jeans and doing something different is what Christine, and her long-time associates Charlotte Marz, Joleigh Stribling, and Brandon Bessey do regularly as they represent Outpost Trading Company in the wildly popular, self-created photo ads that grace the back covers of Inside the Santa Ynez Valley Magazine.

The lively, full page ads, in which well-dressed staff and friends pose in a variety of dramatic scenes, often resemble frames snipped from a movie reel. Their radiant smiles betray an unbridled sense of fun as they appear to be wrangling miniature horses, lounging in a western lodge, or staging a shotgun wedding.

Photographer José Villa, a graduate of Brooks Institute, has been shooting these distinctive ads for two years, and says he appreciates the element of surprise Outpost Trading Company strives to maintain with their ad. "They have the backdrop ideas&emdash; they tell me the subject right when they ask me to photograph it," José says. "I think they want it to be a surprise so customers will say 'This is cool, I wonder what they'll do next?'"

"They usually organize everybody," he continues. "Sometimes they have dogs and, horses. We're dealing with a lot of things in these shoots."

José recalls one of his toughest photo shoots, at the miniature horse farm. "The lighting was bad and these miniature horses were tugging on us, biting on the clothing," José says with a chuckle. "At one point we even tried a shot of a miniature horse in a convertible, but that didn't work out."

Brandon Bessey, wildlife artist, Outpost Trading Company staffer, and the man in the middle of most of the shots, takes his role as the masculine presence among so many women in stride.

"I'm used to it," he says evenly. "These are the women I work with every day&emdash;I'm part of the store family."

George and Christine Stout go the extra distance to bring in unusual items for their customers at Outpost, traveling across the states, and around the world, to locate fine art, pottery, leather goods, rugs, and all manner of fashionable, western-themed clothing.

Local artists, such as Robert Osterloh, Don Vernon, and Lorrie Beck, create a rich variety of western-themed acrylics, oils, and detailed pencil drawings for Outpost Trading Company, while furniture-maker John Brigham builds "rustic, yet sophisticated" pieces from recycled materials, and sculptor Jeff Wolf casts an array of stately bronzes. Dedicated customers know to check the store often, for the shelves are always loaded with new treasures.

"Our mission statement," Christine emphasizes, is 'If you can dream it, we can have it made.' The Outpost is a lot more than just western wear. We love input from our customers and if there's something they're not seeing, they can tell us because we're always on the lookout."

"My husband says the only things we don't have are tobacco and jelly beans, but you never know..."

The back cover photo on this issue of ISYV Magazine was taken at the recent "Glitz and Glamour" fundraiser held for Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, where Christine and her models represented an exciting new line of clothing designed especially for Outpost by couturier David Tupaz. In this photo Christine, on right, and on left, Loretta Asmus, former professional model and owner of Looks Ltd., (an image consulting company with a full service salon and cosmetics line), are both wearing couture clothing from designer David Tupaz, in center.

"David was with Oscar de la Renta, when we discovered him in Las Vegas, last February." says Christine. Although Outpost Trading Company clothing is predominately high-end western, "We want people to know we are more than Western." Outpost now carries a bridal line and custom clothing by Tupaz, and will also offer a limited number of Tupaz rack items.

For a look at some of the stunning clothing, couture, and accessories, as well as art and handcrafted items available at Outpost Trading Company drop by the store in downtown Santa Ynez. Website: www.outposttrading.com