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.
