Trying New Brands: Banana Republic

BR goes up to XXL, who knew?

Let me preface this by saying that Banana Republic obviously isn’t foreign to me. It’s just new to me as a plus-size shopper. I grew up with Banana, but BR never spoke to me, a chubby Black girl from The Bronx who absolutely was not yachting or galavanting through Europe every summer break lol.

This discovery is mostly just my realization the brand now expands up to XXL/20 in sizing, and my making an effort to acquaint myself with it. As we all know, every brand has its own way of cutting silhouettes, grading up, and manipulating fabrics so the formula for shopping has to be just right.

Wait, let me take a step back….

Last year, I started exploring shopping from a different lens. With the economy changing and Hollywood’s strike, I was sort of backed into a corner of re-evaluation. My relationship with shopping - especially as a Stylist - felt like it was hinged on the validation I received (and felt) when I shopped Designer. I was a “proper” fashion girl if I spent a certain amount, I thought (in retrospect I am not proud of said thought). As income changed, I had to dig deep to find what my true connection to shopping was.

While supporting Black designers is always the crux of my conscious shopping, I’ve been revisiting the brands that shaped me. I’ve been browsing through the clothing sections of Target while I’m on a run. I just bought a jumpsuit from Lane Bryant because it looked so comfortable. I’ve gotten so many pieces from Amazon, they should give me a The Drop collection at this point.

With so many of our Plus brands closing down and designers pulling extended sizing from the stores (and sites) so frequently lately, finding somewhere to shop consistently has really been a task. So I’ve decided to casually try out some brands and give some honest feedback/shopping tips to make things easier for all of us.

Now on to Banana Republic.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to the new Banana Republic store in Soho and oh my God this store is an experience. The amount of textural elements in one space? My brain could not keep up with my eyes. I also learned that they do tailoring on-site, which is rare.

What an amazing source of inspiration - I absolutely recommend visiting if you’re in the neighborhood.

What stuck with me the most from this visit was the sheer amount of pieces that were available in my size. I actually plan to visit again juuust to make sure, lol.

Now on to the good stuff…pieces I have tried and recommend and some of my tips for shopping Banana Republic, specifically as a Plus consumer.

Yellow Maxi | Ikat Dress | White Gown

tips: The cut of the yellow dress REALLY works for me, and a XXL is perfect and roomy. The flow of that piece is insane. // I actually had to size down to an XL in the ikat dress, there is lots of stretch and plenty of room. I love, love, love that piece. The white gown has no stretch but is stunning. I would have loved some more room in the hips, so I recommend the XXL for someone who is narrower in the hips or a proper 18 (I’m leaning more of a 20 these days). But the gold hardware on the neck is GORGEOUS.

Red Top | Cashmere Shoulder Top | Fringe Sweater Tank

tips: Stretch is the best answer, always. You can size down in the red top if you’re looking for a tighter fit. I sized down to an XL. I LOVE this cashmere padded shoulder top, it looks so chic with a pair of wide-leg pants. It comes in a rainbow of colors, and is one of the softest things I own. The padding in the shoulder gives this just the right amount of edge. And you can’t go wrong with this fringe sweater tank. The layering it’s just so interesting, and this top actually accentuates my waist. Love it.

Denim Shirt | White Dress | Suede Moto Jacket

Every denim shirt I own from Banana, I LOVE. They just get it right. This one is a bit softer than the other oversized one I have, but it hits just the same. Definitely a closet staple that is true to size. No stretch here or the white poplin dress. The dress is such a staple though, I would pair this with a sweater vest and a moto jacket and suede boots in the Fall, or you can do a wrap sandal right now. Great for running errands and looking effortless. And the suede moto jacket was the real shock to me…I actually had to size down in this! The XL fits me perfectly, and this jacket is BUTTER soft. A bit higher price tag than most of the site but definitely worth the money for a real coat.

Re: sizing…I’ve spoken with the team at Banana Republic, and they have assured me they are working on fit as they expand the size range. A lot of my shopping with the brand has been trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t, but it’s been nice to discover that a lot of the brand DOES work for me.

Are any of you Banana Republic shoppers? What has been your experience?