Banana Republic Fall 2006

[Luxx]

I think Banana's stuff is good for what it is. Its very moderately priced, accessible and long lasting. I agree that the company is trying to etch out a new place for itself as a more luxurious and fashionable line but is having a hard go at it. This collection looks like a step in the right direction though. As for fit, I think that, at least for me buying a size smaller can usually remedy that problem, or taking things in. Granted it is an annoyance but with the wide variance in sizing across the fashion board I've gotten used to taking things in or altering them to suit my physique. I find with many things from Banana or Gap I have to do this. Especially with pants. I am 5'6 which I think is a fairly average height but I constantly have to have my pants / jeans from Gap or Banana shortened a couple of inches. It makes no sense to me given that I thought that the average woman was fairly petite height wise. I wonder how they come up with their size charts...

That said I most certainly want a few things from this collection and look forward to next week when they'll be online and in stores.

I plan on getting:

- The Grey Tweed Capelet
- The Grey Tweed Coat w/h Bell Sleeves (I think this will look divine with a mustard yellow scarf and YSL's polka dot gloves)
- Assorted Blazers & Cardigans
- Wide Leg Trousers

I'm sure I'll pick up a few other things as well but I need to see them in person first I also think I'll be changing the buttons on the capelet and coat, for some reason I see them both looking amazing with thick vintage buttons.

 

[stilettogirl84]

totally agree. the fit is terrible. I stopped shopping at BR two years ago. I can't buy things from BR and run to my tailor to spend more than what I just did on the garment.

I think for a lot of people, (at least in the midwest) Banana's price range is average, or even above average. So if their quality/fit is no good then where are we supposed to shop?

Most people I know shop at stores like Old Navy, Gap and Target, and don't shop at BR or even JCrew, because they're "too expensive". So if their quality and fit is bad- well what other options are there at a similar price?

I like mall type stores like Banana, Jcrew, and Ann Taylor because they have more stylish/quality stuff than Target or old navy. But I'm not sure if I'm willing, or able to spend more. I'm willing to save up for absurdly overpriced shoes, or bags- but I don't have the means to go buying all my clothes from Prada or something- and they probably wouldn't have my size anyway.

 

[writergal28]

I like Banana as it has petite sizes that actually appeal to people in my age group. I'm in Canada, and Ann Taylor/ATL doesn't exist up here. I also don't want to pay the cross-border prices that I need to for J.Crew. If only other companies actually *LISTEN* and *MAKE* clothes that fit petites. I'm very well-proportioned with a very constant weight and I am willing to offer to be a fit model for petite sizes for very little pay (meals would be good though).

 

[UneVieEnOr]

When I was in junior/early prep school I would love to dress in the Banana Republic style.I love their color and outfit comos.But I looked awful in their horrid fat american cuts (i'm model skinny).That was before i started wearing real designer stuff...They do have potential though..

 

[bedtimestorynyc]

i work at banana... doing visuals (windows and mannequins)... i wanna say while appreciating the fact that the company is dumping a whole lot of money, the styling and the clothes themselves (for a big part) leave a lot to be desired! The fit is not for everybody, if you don't have a big butt, the pants will look baggy on you all the way through (talk about men's clothes). the shoulder width is disproportional to the body width... at least for me and I am a normally slim male.... let alone they never have my waist size (29) and jacket size (36) in the store!!!!
onto the styling.... they are conveniently trying to stay true to their older audience by making old-fashioned stuff for grampas but are trying to style it differently on mannequins and models - looks ridiculous!

 

[electricladyland]

almost bought this bag over the weekend...it looks cuter in person...

 

[Diorling]

.... they are conveniently trying to stay true to their older audience by making old-fashioned stuff for grampas but are trying to style it differently on mannequins and models - looks ridiculous!

I was wondering what thier explanation was for the cardigan over the blazer over the waistcoat

Banana's cutting is far more consistent than Gap, where I can run the gamut of sizes ON THE SAME ITEM, like I took two crewneck tees, same size, same shirt, one was too tight, one was like a tent...

I do like a few of thier things, a washed lambskin blazer, gorgeous, the shoulders weren't perfect (and I love shoulders).

 

[Bluestar07]

I'm going to look so deprived but we're only getting BR and GAP this December (although KL already have them). I'm loving almost everything I see on the BR site but now having read this thread, I'm kind of wary of the cut and fit. Amazing ... because they hang so well on the models! I'm going to give it a go though and I'll come back here to post on what I think.

 

[UneVieEnOr]

i work at banana... doing visuals (windows and mannequins)... i wanna say while appreciating the fact that the company is dumping a whole lot of money, the styling and the clothes themselves (for a big part) leave a lot to be desired! The fit is not for everybody, if you don't have a big butt, the pants will look baggy on you all the way through (talk about men's clothes). the shoulder width is disproportional to the body width... at least for me and I am a normally slim male.... let alone they never have my waist size (29) and jacket size (36) in the store!!!!
onto the styling.... they are conveniently trying to stay true to their older audience by making old-fashioned stuff for grampas but are trying to style it differently on mannequins and models - looks ridiculous!

We have the same dilemma Which one do you work in?

 

[Luxx]

When I was in junior/early prep school I would love to dress in the Banana Republic style.I love their color and outfit comos.But I looked awful in their horrid fat american cuts (i'm model skinny).

I would fall into the "horrid fat American" category and Banana Republic's clothing still has issues with not being fitted enough. I don't feel this is an issue of a company catering to a set audience, I feel this is an issue of a company basing its sizing on statistics rather than real people be they small or large.

 

[vintagegurl]

I'm liking this one: (see attachment)
too bad we don't have BR shops here... I really like a similar cut from agnes b. but it's 500 euros or so oh well, it's an investment


source= video posted above and lots of screen prints ;-)

 

[bedtimestorynyc]

We have the same dilemma Which one do you work in?

can't say... what if someone official's watching this thread they'll fire the sh*t out of me, cuz i can go on about how much this place sucks as far as working and getting along with people... mostly managers! but let's not go on about it....

you want my HONEST(!) opinion????? Banana Republic is the poorman's Burberry!!!!

 

[UneVieEnOr]

can't say... what if someone official's watching this thread they'll fire the sh*t out of me, cuz i can go on about how much this place sucks as far as working and getting along with people... mostly managers! but let's not go on about it....

you want my HONEST(!) opinion????? Banana Republic is the poorman's Burberry!!!!

YOU'RE HILARIOUS

 

[softgrey]

funny so many people mentioned fit...

i was just thinking how the fit on the blue linen banana skirt i wore today left something to be desired...
but it's not major, i think...
i bet i could have it altered...
and then i would have an AMAZING skirt that was 'tailored' to fit..
for a bargain basement price...
cause it is REALLY a lovely skirt...
the linen is amazingly fluid and it is fully lined in super soft cotton...
it swirls softly around my legs as i walk......

i it...

 

[bedtimestorynyc]

well that's the funny thing about Banana... i do like the quality (of clothes not bags, yuck), the stuff is very durable, the colors don't fade and such. it's just the fit and the style that I have a problem with - i doesn't (!) fit everybody, it just doesn't.
and the style(or styling) is weird: it's originally set to a certain audience yet it's so unoriginal!!! like i was saying it's a "poorman's burberry" i wasn't joking, all the stuff u see, esp. womens, go to burberry.com and see what's available in their online store!

 

[Luxx]

I agree about the heavy, heavy Burberry influence. Especially those trench coats wich are almost carbon copies of Burberry. Though sometimes I can't help but think that Burberry is the poor mans Burberry

 

[J67X4]

I really like the stuff ive seen so far (pictures etc) its looks very comfy

 

[softgrey]

well that's the funny thing about Banana... i do like the quality (of clothes not bags, yuck), the stuff is very durable, the colors don't fade and such. it's just the fit and the style that I have a problem with - i doesn't (!) fit everybody, it just doesn't.

NOTHING fits EVERYBODY..
everybody is different...
how could one thing fit everybody...?
clearly that is not possible...

maybe it IS geared towards an 'older' customer...
one with a good job...
*one who can afford the slightly higher price...
and one who actually has curves-isn't necessarily fat!..
an adult, not a child...or teenager...
being over a size four does not qualify a person as fat...
and to say so is quite rude actually...imo...


mutterlein has made some excellent points in this thread about the fact that they probably ARE sizing according to statistics...


it's funny that saying that something looks like burberry would be deemed an insult...
there is some nice looking burberry out there...and if you ask me- it's ALL overpriced banana republic/j crew ......
i'd rather pay banana prices for basics than burberry's...



in terms of styling---it goes up and down imo...
most of it is still to 'stiff' for me since i don't work in an office or have that kind of lifestyle...
buut like i said..for basics...it's alright...

*of course i am speaking about the womenswear...
i'm not much interested in the menswear...
it's standard american office gear...nothing really special or really bad...
just boring...but i guess there are a lot of people who need that stuff for work..and outside of the big cities- i don't know that men really want more than that..in general...

the metrosexual is a METRO phenomenon and these stores are spread all over america...fashion forward is not exactly what they seek in middle america...

*that said- not really loving the way the pics are styled....
it's trying a bit too hard with the layering thing...maybe if it's pulled apart and you can actually seee the pieces...
i don't know- can't tell...

 

[Luxx]

NOTHING fits EVERYBODY..
everybody is different...
how could one thing fit everybody...?
clearly that is not possible...

maybe it IS geared towards an 'older' customer...
one with a good job...
*one who can afford the slightly higher price...
and one who actually has curves-isn't necessarily fat!..
an adult, not a child...or teenager...
being over a size four does not qualify a person as fat...
and to say so is quite rude actually...imo...


mutterlein has made some excellent points in this thread about the fact that they probably ARE sizing according to statistics...


it's funny that saying that something looks like burberry would be deemed an insult...
there is some nice looking burberry out there...and if you ask me- it's ALL overpriced banana republic/j crew ......
i'd rather pay banana prices for basics than burberry's...



in terms of styling---it goes up and down imo...
most of it is still to 'stiff' for me since i don't work in an office or have that kind of lifestyle...
buut like i said..for basics...it's alright...

*of course i am speaking about the womenswear...
i'm not much interested in the menswear...
it's standard american office gear...nothing really special or really bad...
just boring...but i guess there are a lot of people who need that stuff for work..and outside of the big cities- i don't know that men really want more than that..in general...

the metrosexual is a METRO phenomenon and these stores are spread all over america...fashion forward is not exactly what they seek in middle america...

*that said- not really loving the way the pics are styled....
it's trying a bit too hard with the layering thing...maybe if it's pulled apart and you can actually seee the pieces...
i don't know- can't tell...

EXCELLENT POINTS!

And I agree that Burberry has some great pieces (still in love with their gold brocade coats from a couple seasons ago) the only poor mans elements are those tacky chav tartan logo covered things they also seem to sell. Those are just past their prime.

BR is totally geared toward an older customer. Its very late twenties, thirties and fourties in its clothing, perfect for officewear basics.

 

[stilettogirl84]

I agree with everything you said softgrey

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