Christian Benford has never followed the crowd, especially when it comes to fashion.
The cornerback from the Buffalo Bills shows up in tunnel walks and on Instagram in severely distressed jeans, graphic Ts and hoodies and skeleton-embossed sweatpants with grills on his teeth and lots of chains and crosses.
“I wear anything that looks good,” he said. “I might do black and darker colors, but I also like light colors, unique colors as well — nothing matchy-matchy. I’m really not too focused on what everybody else has to say.”
It’s that expression of individuality that he hopes to impart to kids through “Stylish Safari,” his first children’s book. The book will be published on Tuesday and features Benny the Bobcat and his schoolmates using fashion as a way to showcase their distinct style.
Benny the Bobcat
MadWorks Photography
As he writes in the beginning: “In a small house near the edge of the trees, lived Benny the Bobcat, as bold as you please. Not big, not fancy, but oh, so smart, he made his clothes like works of art.”
Benny combined buttons and fabrics from various sources to create patchwork hats, pants and colorful vests, which he paired with his favorite watch. The kids at school ridiculed him for his unconventional outfits, but Benny just laughed it off. “Fashion is fun,” he told them as he surrounded himself with others who were also unique dressers such as Ella the Elephant, who wore bright bows on her nose, and the funky Chloe the Chipmunk.
Things turned around on Benny’s birthday when his teacher asked the class to “wear something fun [and] bright.” Everyone did except Zack the Zebra, who wouldn’t budge from his drab gray suit.
But instead of turning the tables and making fun of Zack, Benny encouraged him to join in the fun. “Zack, man, fashion is about what’s within. Just mix it, match it.”
That’s just what he did, and from that day on, the whole class wore distinct outfits. “Be yourself,” Benford writes, “’cause being you is cool.”
“The reason I did a children’s book was because I’m big on impacting kids as best as possible,” said Benford, who survived a tough childhood growing up in Baltimore. “A lot of times I feel like kids get only one view of the world and I want to be able to spread love and teach them or rewire them.”
Chloe the Chipmunk
MadWorks Photography
He said when he was growing up, he was “big into fashion,” but that didn’t always go over well with the other kids and he was often questioned about his choices. “Stylish Safari” is his way of battling that peer pressure. “I just wanted to show kids that it’s OK to wear what you want without [worrying about] what everybody else has to say or what you see on Instagram. The new cool thing might not be your thing.”
He said he chose a bobcat because, much like his fashion choices, it’s an animal that is different and not as pervasive in children’s literature as elephants, lions or tigers. “Not many people talk about the bobcat, so I wanted to emphasize that.”
And Benny is a variation of his last name.
The book is a family affair, dedicated to his 6-year-old son and illustrated by his artist sister Jewell Benford. He hinted that it most likely won’t be his last. “I’m thinking of doing a series,” he said. “More adventures with Benny.”
