Banana Republic cardigan and skirt // Bottega Veneta boots and bag // Gucci sunglasses
I’ll never forget my first Banana Republic t-shirt. It was classic 90’s – the safari era – a green logo outlined in gold. Back then was the heyday. A brand with the perfect mix of classic and contemporary, yet totally functional. Adventurous. Dare I say rugged chic.
This phenomenon rode a pretty great wave of success. And then, just like its counterparts from the era, it stopped. No more Depeche Mode Gap commercials, no more peak Jenna Lyons for J. Crew. And no more core DNA, classic Banana.
What happened?
Like any great wave of success, it’s bound to come down eventually. Mall culture shifted to e-commerce. Indie brands garnered cult followings thanks to social media and celebrities. And well, a lot of Banana’s customers simply grew up and on to different things.
From my perspective, I remember a period of time when the quality at Banana really went downhill. And so for years, I avoided it. Never stepped foot in a store I once use to frequent multiple times a week.
And then, late last year, I crossed that forgotten threshold. I stepped foot inside a Banana Republic. What I saw amazed me. The designer collaborations – like this one from Harbison – were GOOD. The fits were perfection. Suiting that made me feel like it was tailored to my body. Sumptuous, high-quality knits. Exciting color palettes. Banana is back.
If like me, you haven’t set foot inside a Banana Republic in ages, I urge you to return. Guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised.