I still have vague recollections of quirky little stores with merch sourced from military surplus stores in dubious places (no, you can't have that), travel accessories you'd never need (corduroy canteen cover, anyone?), and a kid's sense of the open road, the romantic, the faraway, the possible...Banana Republic grew up to be a mall chain selling repetitious office clothes, and I grew up to be, well, me. A nearby branch closed not too long ago, the one with the plaque commemorating Nathan Hale click here to learn more, and I wouldn't have given it a second thought - the plaque is still there, after all - except that I needed a white jacket for what promises to be a tropical heat wave. "Tropical" still makes me think Banana Republic. However, BR stores abroad are staffed by people who want to help you find things, but here in the home of mercantile capitalism, the staff is trained more in an earlier European tradition of wanting you to leave. Fast. Now.
And so my recent BR experiences have been electronic. Not that that's a bad thing, because BR has nothing but sales and markdowns and weird events. Like the 3-hour 30% off everything that happened yesterday. I'm so used to this kind of thing by now that I didn't even open the email, I had to run get my library card renewed before the doors closed. Now those people are helpful. I love the staff at my branch library. I have the shameful feeling that if I had come across any of these kids while they were in high school, "library" is a word that might not have come to mind, but there they are, knowledgeable, helpful, courteous, nose in book when the desk's not busy, and if anybody stops-and-frisks any of them on the way home from work he will have to answer to ME.
I wanted a very lightweight white cotton jacket, one that could be tossed over anything without looking overly cute.
This one. Lists for $130, after the promos du jour, it was $78.00, free shipping, no tax. It's 100% cotton, white piqué, plain white edging, fits like a dream. The lining is poly but it's striped, so I forgive it. The jacket is white-white, it's just the camera angle that's making the detail shots look ivory.
And after having faffed around looking at chambray and denim shirts, I'm keeping this one.
I joyfully note the absence of sleeve straps. Also 100% cotton, true-to-size fit, just fitted enough but not so much that it looks like it forgot where it came from. It's a lovely, deeper, bluer blue than is showing up on my screen. No stupid doodads, just a nice comfortable shirt.
Readying self and friend to go out into the
Brutal Market and Find Things...
Your first pic reminds me of the old school J. Peterman Company catalogs I used to receive. I wasn't really into fashion then but the sketches and descriptions made me dream of out-of-the-way adventures, safaris, trips to India during British rule - yes, everything that Seinfeld eventually made fun of that brand for doing. I know, I know, this is supposed to be about BR ...
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa, I first came in contact with J.Peterman when they were advertising that long pale beige men's linen coat with all the clips, toggles and buckles (for swashing) in the New Yorker. For years, couldn't imagine who'd wear it, and then interviewed an architect, who, coming down in findings, clips and accessories, told me his "ethos" was "streamlining." Right.
DeleteEarly BR was dreamy, too, but in a way that made you think maybe you could just...
I thought exactly the same ... J.Peterman! I fall for all the dreams clothing can offer and wanted every item in those catalogs, lol. Of course I always believe when a menu item is described as "world famous" or "just like mom's."
DeleteI'm old enough to have shopped in Banana Republics with straw embedded in the concrete, a Jeep parked in the middle of the sales floor, and a lovely corner filled with shelves of travel guides.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have a vintage BR dusty coral silk hack jacket that Jenna Lyons would shank me for.
Ah, yes, the travel guides... I bought a "safari dress" from BR for my first trip to China, in the days when you could only go with an approved group. Showed up for breakfast on first day in-country, guess what? Two other women were (each) wearing the dress. Chatting, I learned that both worked for IBM. Well, southwestern China didn't have a fashion industry in those days and so I spent the next 20 days in and out of a conformist-approved get up, alternating with clothes whose individuality I was also beginning to doubt.
DeleteSo weird I was just thinking about what BR used to be like. Raina, I totally remember that straw and jeep. Is this a real memory? Because I also see a pith helmet.
ReplyDeleteI had that weird sale event email yesterday too, every day it seems it is something else.
Your library sounds nice. Mine is literally 2 doors away but most of the people are cranky.
I remember the pith helmets! and the travel guides! and the strange netting belts that didn't come in anyone's size... Ah, yes, the days when shopping was fun, and retailers made it enjoyable, instead of a blood sport.
DeleteEmail me the snap mon guru, I'm still laughing about the tennis playing blancmange!
ReplyDeletebourbonandpearls@btinternet.com
Ta!
I've only been into BR twice , on holiday in LA -so not qualified to comment.
working on it!
DeleteNice stuff you got! And that's my favourite denim shirt this year. I haven't seen one I liked as much from other retailers.
ReplyDeleteI heard the shirt calling my name, Rose. Both shirts, actually.
DeleteSo BR was a military surplus store before it was part of Gap brands? That seems really odd to me but I suppose in retail anything can happen. Your jacket is lovely and I do like that black and white blouse. Black and white is so classic and the silk looks light as air.
ReplyDeleteHi, xoxo, not really a surplus store, but among surplus popped up quite often in the early years. BR described itself as a "Travel and Adventure Store." Among the more whimsical things I remember: West German army cold-weather jumpsuit ("boiler suit" as Mr. Churchill would say) with quilted lining, a lot of military shirts for men and women, and an "Israeli Defense Force Paratrooper Briefcase", green heavy-duty twill with woven straps and lots of slots for pens and pencils. These would be hanging next to navy wool blazers and tweed slacks. I also fondly remember a pair of mid-heel ALL LEATHER pull-on boots that I wore to death. And occasionally someone who didn't take himself to seriously would put something goofy like the Corduroy Canteen Cover out on the selling floor.
ReplyDeleteThe silk is not see-through, has a nice texture.
I am typing on an iPad and its slippery keyboard and I have not yet achieved a rapprochement. Its latest strategies are to drop small words and add ms and ns. So please add to the first sentence - after the word "among" - 'other merch'. And in the last sentence that should of course be "too".
DeleteWow, old BR sounds like a wacky place. I would have loved to poke around in there, even if just for giggles.
DeleteI recall the year " Out of Africa" came out, a bonanza for BR (the Mozart clarinet...) I had a rather sweeping khaki skirt I wish I still had. I don't really check out BR much these days either, but I did find a plain cardigan with matte gold buttons in a weighty cotton knit in navy that I am throwing on a lot. I just don't like the mall so I don't go often.
ReplyDeleteOoh, my Old School BR sensor went off - I swooned at those stores. I had a pair of black silk safari-style pants I wore until they were so thread-bare I was mistaken for easy prey. So much more unique than the cookie-cutter clothes found there now. Even maybe 10 years ago I liked BR - I remember a catalogue (back when they still did those) with an Alaskan sled dog on the cover - inside was a delight of tweeds, cashmere & suede. Oh for a little originality.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lane, I check the website because I don't like the stores these days. I find myself thinking that - as to pre-Gap and pre-you-know-who, for all the silly stuff, BR had style. if Ingrid Bergman had had to travel without an invisible army of starching, steaming and ironing pixies, she would have gratefully worn BR to that bar.
ReplyDeleteHi, Barbabelle, when I'm not missing old-school J.Crew, I'm missing old-school BR. And when I'm not missing old-school BR, I'm missing old-school JC. My BR suede pants are still wonderful with an ivory silk shirt.
ReplyDeleteI also remember the days of BR with the Jeep in the middle of the store...I really liked it a lot better back then, too. Much more so than I do now. You did get some good deals recently there though wellfedfred, and the silk blouse is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, FFM, I j ust got back from a board meeting to which I wore the white jacket, it was light to carry and perfect to throw on in an air conditioned room. I am hoping that with Tracy back at the Gap, some of the old character will return to BR.
ReplyDelete