Banana Republic was founded in San Francisco, and the new Spring lineup, entitled True California, took the brand back to its West Coast heritage. Instead of repackaging the season's major trends, this collection focused on classic American sportswear, which was the foundation of BR, and the result was authentically fresh. At the Spring presentation, acting head of women's design Melloney Birkett explained that she wanted to play up textures by working in a neutral color palette with "Sonoran desert shades—sand, oatmeal, and hints of grounding coral." A clean ivory bomber that combined nubby linen and cotton piqué was paired with a tonal basket-weave sweater and flattering fluted skirt. Meanwhile, a perforated white leather shift dress layered underneath a crisp trench looked modern and versatile. The pant silhouettes were easy and relaxed. Soft, borrowed-from-the-boyfriend chinos cuffed just above the ankle were well suited to both BR's signature safari jacket and a simple button-up. And styled with a casual navy V-neck pullover and accessorized with an on-trend bucket bag, braided bangle bracelet, and chic cognac leather ankle-strap sandals, a pair of wide-legged "framed" trousers in color-blocked tuxedo stripes stood out. On the menswear side, tailored khaki suits, light wash jeans, and sharp peacoats hit a similar note. Ultimately, uncomplicated wardrobe staples are what Banana Republic does best, and the label was smart to emphasize them here.
