Banana Republic s Spring M.O.? Gray, blush, denim, and playful layering, where its women s offering was concerned. Vice president of women’s design, Melloney Birkett, embraced a sportier-than-usual aesthetic this season. A biker jacket in neoprene came with a bonded knit exterior that peeked through at the seams. Also nice was a cream moto style with a subtle cocoon silhouette. Tops and skirts alike featured softly scooped hemlines echoing those often seen on athletic shorts. Tougher (a navy Perfecto-style number) and more utilitarian (a parka) pieces were tempered by feminine ones, like blush-hued button-downs or short-sleeve sweaters.
Menswear strayed less from Banana s established approach, but had plenty of strong propositions nonetheless. Vice president of men s design, Michael Anderson, honed in on indigo. One of the strongest pieces between both sexes was a denim peacoat that had the pleasing heft of a pricier item or, even more covetable, a prized vintage find.
Since taking over as Banana Republic s creative director this past April, Marissa Webb has been doing her part to recast the brand in an edgier, more fashion-forward light. Some of the items here even had a certain kinship to those she showed in her eponymous label s Spring collection. Only time will tell whether these pieces will have the same resounding success as J.Crew s under Jenna Lyons (Webb herself is an alum of that institution), but the clothes felt like a prudent, savvy step in the right direction.
