Banana Republic

Blog

Forum

Finds

minivanmom

Active Member

I am looking at ordering a few of their pants to try on. How do their sizes run?

17 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Their pants fit fairly true to size, MVM. Just be careful with how much stretch they have. In general, I've only been happy with the pants that contain wool. The other pants seem to stretch a lot in the seat and not equally in the waist. I am actually consigning several pair today that give me the elephant bum.
PS: If you look at my closet clean out parts 1 and 2 there's several photos of BR pants, and you can see the difference.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I find they run on the generous side. In most stores I can get away with wearing a small if x-small is sold out, and usually an x-small is too small anyway...but in BR, a small is just too big all over. I only own one pair of BR jeans in my usual size, and they are skinnies. For everything else, I have to go down a size. For one of my jeans, I actually had to buy a 0 and take in the waist a bit (though I've filled out since then). If you saw me you would never guess I would wear a 0.

it never really helps me to ask people if clothes run true to size in my experience. Everyone's idea of "true to size" will differ. I've given up.

17 years ago

Taffy

Active Member

Pay attention to the style of pant too. I'm a pear, and I need the curvier Jackson cut. I'm a 12 in that style, but a 14 in Martin, which has a straighter hip. I can get the Martin to fit, but it just doesn't look as good. Also, they're pants are pretty long, just as a heads up. I think their regular is a 34" length (flats for me, but not most people).

17 years ago

Becky

Veteran

I'm with Maya. BR seems to run a bit large.

17 years ago

Kyle

Veteran

I think BR (and Ann Taylor Loft) both run large. Usually at least one size for me, especially in pants and skirts.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I find it runs slightly big, but not as much as ATL for example. I usually need size 2 for pants at BR, while often at ATL even 0 is a bit too loose.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Taffy has a point about fit. I am by no means straight and boyish, but I can't wear their curvy pants. ATL is just wacky. Not since high school have I had the need to try on a 00, except at that store.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Huh, interesting!

I find that BR is the MOST consistent in their sizing of any other brand. I am quite confident ordering a 0p Martin and I know it will fit exactly like the pair of 0p Martin's I bought before. The only exception is their jeans: their jean sizing is completely unpredictable and totally whacky. I don't care for any of their jeans. But slacks and jackets and tops - I am a very loyal customer precisely because their sizing is very consistent.

ATL: their sizing has been morphing this past year, and I think also they are using different mfr's for different items, so it has been confusing and it takes a lot of trying on. I do not trust ordering ATL online at all, having a bad experience in which I ordered a duplicate of something I bought in the store, and what arrived looked like a cheap knock-off and fit poorly, despite it supposedly being the exact same thing. Their jeans: I can't wear them. They fit awful on me - but look adorable on my DD.

Ann Taylor... I've never ordered online from them, but their sizing is fairly consistent for tops, jackets, coats.... however the cut of their pants just don't work for me. I think they are intended more for pear shapes.

Jcrew.... I've had awful experiences ordering petites online. I don't think their petite sizing is consistent at all. Maybe they've fixed that - admittedly it's been a long while since I last tried, after getting fed up with all the dang return charges. But, in store is a little better. I can wear some of their 0's and xs's depending on cut. Unfortunately since the stores don't carry petites, I have to do a lot of trying on.

Maya, have you tried BR petites? I find about 95% of BR's regular sized clothing is wayyyyyy too big on me. I swim in them. I need their petites.

If you know what size you wear at the Gap, it's very likely the same at BR. (That includes Gap's new petite sizes available only online). Same company.

It's my impression that ever since BR and Gap came out with petites, they've made their regular clothing larger.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I am with you on BR's consistency, Shiny. The only time I have ever bought a different size than usual is for a pair of skinny (really straight leg) jeans because I knew they were supposed to fit a bit more snug. I always know I'll be a 0 in pants, XS regular or petite small in tops. Once you know your size there, you can order online with a lot of peace of mind.

I've tried their petite pants but it was a disappointment. The jeans were the perfect length when I was in the store, but after washing them (without even popping them in the dryer), they shrunk to the point of being unwearable. They were so tight and short it felt a full size smaller. I've had that happen a few times now...enough to know that I need to just avoid their petite sizes. Same goes for the Gap. I don't normally swim in their clothes, just the curvy fit. I think you need to be very hourglassy or pearish to fill those out nicely. You're smaller than me and I'm a 0 so I can see why their regular clothes would be too big for you.

Their short length is perfect for me, but it's only available online. As for tops, their regular sizes are usually wayyy too long, so unless I need the length for whatever reason, I usually go with a petite small. I just bought a white shirt from there for my interviews in a regular because I ended up tucking it in to my skirt...the first time I ever tried that and it actually looked good. I figured it would also come in handy when I start layering for winter and I need the bottom to peek out a bit.

ATL: The skirt I wore to my first interview was an ATL skirt that I got at a thrift store. Scoff if you will, but it was a terrific find. It fit like it was made for me and it's pretty cute. Brown tweed with a little bow. Anyway, it's a size 2 regular. I imagine it must go back quite a few years because there is no way I would be able to wear a size 2 there now. The pants I just got from them are a 0 and they fit perfectly. It's amazing that the more weight I gain, the smaller my size gets!

17 years ago

Category