Spring found many designers rejecting "heritage" (the buzzword of early 2010) for a more freewheeling approach. But not Simon Kneen at Banana Republic, who s sticking with the winsome, utilitarian look he s established at the retail chain these last few years. Yesterday s runway show took us on a cross-continental safari. Backstage, he described the inspirational journey as "starting out in the dry deserts of Africa and ending up in a tropical rain forest, picking up exotic pieces along the way and mixing them with what you already have."
That meant tossing a drab anorak over a punchy, floribunda-patterned maxi dress à la Dries Van Noten, or pairing a denim Mao jacket with sweatpants. Kneen kept the pants silhouette relaxed, showing silk cargos and comfortable slub leggings. And eclectic accessories like burnished pendants and colorful market scarves added a bit of flair to updated standbys like a stone leather trench. The collection hit on some of Spring s biggest trends—below-the-knee hems; head-to-toe, airy white looks—while offering wardrobe foundations that are refreshingly accessible.
On the men s side, the story was the same. Lots of chinos and safari jackets in that same military drab palette, and in place of oversize florals, bold madras plaids.
