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Banana Republic Order Came Today

Anonymous

I ordered three knit tops and one pair of pants from Banana Republic.

I am keeping the navy and fuchsia knit tops. They are a nice weight, perfectly shaped and fitting. They are silk with a touch of cashmere. I have the slightest fear that the addition of cashmere might make this top too warm for me to wear during Summer months.

I am returning the stripe (colors too warm). I thought I was ordering the linen stripe shown below, but evidentially I ordered the silk. If at all possible, I am going to exchange it at the store for the linen (cooler colors).

The pants fit ... perhaps a bit too long by Angie's standards. I really want to add this color to my wardrobe so I have to make sure I don't compromise myself. I have the slightest misgiving about sitting in them all day long. I am going to put them on and watch some TV this evening. IF they are comfortable, I'm keeping them as well.

If you ignore the accidental ordering of the the stripe sweater, this was an extremely successful order.

Banana Republic

Ryan-Fit Sateen Pant

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Banana Republic

Stripe Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Banana Republic

Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Banana Republic

Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Banana Republic

Stripe Italian Linen Short-Sleeve Pullover

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Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Great! Love successful orders

Shame about the sweater, I hope they have it at your local store. I guess you can always reorder if not.

I was wondering about those silk/cashmere sweaters... they look lovely. I think I will go and look at them next time I am near my BR.

Let us know how you make out with the pants!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So glad you are adding some fuchsia! That's a lovely sweater.

I have not been on the forum for a few days but wanted you to know that I read and enjoyed your thread about sparking joy. Very interesting observations and comments. I am with Angie -- your closet needs a few "statement for Sterling" type items to mix in with the uniform.

We have some similarities in this regard, I think -- before YLF, I tended always to buy essentials and very few (to no) statements. Being on YLF has helped me identify and buy statements that work for me. My wardrobe is still "essentials" heavy (except for my going out capsule); and in reality, I wear the essentials far, far more than the statements, even given a choice. It seems that for everyday wear, I actually like a kind of uniform.

At the same time, I also need the fun of a different shape, a fun shoe, a bright scarf or bag or jacket. And I loved your reasoning about the Vince Camuto outfit -- it's in the shape of your essentials but in a happy colour. That kind of thing tends to work very well for me as a statement also.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Can you explain your thought about the pants/sitting? Is your concern about stretching out, or about snug fit? I am having a terrible time buying pants because they all seem to stretch out WAAAY more than I'd anticipated or hoped. I just bought two pair of pants at J.Jill that I wore once and they seemed to grow two sizes and got very, very saggy in the butt. Worn and washed, they are not now returnable. And, today I bought some pants at BR (Avery fit sateen crops--near twin to yours?) Fingers crossed for a good result, but I did worry when the sales associate started talking about stretch and bagginess. (Although I think she was trying to say that it was less of an issue with these pants than with the other pair I was holding at the time.)

Cute knits! I do prefer the linen stripe.

Anonymous

These BR elbow length tops are my faves! I've never tried the silk ones. I really hope they're not too hot for you because I think they are quite a step up from cotton or viscose tshirts (or at least, the merino versions are).

viva

Veteran

I really like the Elbow length tops too, and the fuchsia seem like it could almost be a "statement essential" if there is such a thing.

Pant length is baffling for me right now. I bought a pair of slim black trousers from the Loft that fit great but hit just at the ankle and I may take them up an inch. I don't really want them short but I think they might be just a wee bit too long. The whole cropped explosion has ruined my eye.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

You've got a nice selection of items here. I really like the Ryan fit pants - that's my favorite pant at BR. I have a pair in denim, which look and fit like a dressy denim trouser. Hopefully they will pass your sit test!

Anonymous

Suz!!! So nice to hear from you. Your voice is always missed when you get busy. I do have very high hopes for that Vince Camuto ensemble. But I have to admit I was looking at the picture of it today and I felt a bit less brave about it than I did yesterday. Still I would prefer to show up at a wedding wearing that than what I wore last year. Sigh. I just can't get weddings right.

Thanks Karie. I have one other Ryan fit pant and they suit me very well. If anything they might be a bit large in the waist ban. That doesn't bother me. Restricted movement bothers me.

Viva -- I certainly am going to wear that fuchsia top as a statement piece.

I am not sure about the length of the pant either. They are definitely an odd length. I could go up or down them. Probably up.

Smittie -- I so agree. They are most definitely a step up from cotton or viscose. And the color is saturated. The navy is as rich as the fuchsia, just a different vibe. I need both in my wardrobe. Although they are statements, they are also essentials.

Emily K, I can explain. How to explain. In 2009 I lost a lot of weight. I started wearing my clothes kinda big because my brain did not keep pace with my weight loss. I kept buying and wearing clothes about a size too big. In time I got really comfortable wearing looser clothes. This was ok because fashion/style moved toward oversized and boyfriend styles. The problem is that now when I wear my true size I feel like the garment is constricting.

The Ryan pant is my true size and they fit great, but mentally I feel they are "tight." I worry about being able to sit and bend and move through life. This is a problem that I know I need to work on.

I'll wear the pant this evening and get back to you with specifics about stretching out. I hope the Avery fit sateen crops are perfect for you. Let us know your final decision.

Elizabeth P -- definitely stop by to look at the silk sweaters. They really are that nice. I have had a long lull when I just could not find anything I wanted to wear. Now I am seeing LOTS that inspire me.

Anonymous

Emily K -- I wore them for about half an hour. The color is fabulous. I do want this color in my wardrobe. The fabric felt great against the skin.

I read comments on the BR site while I was wearing them. A number of commenters said that the pants wrinkled and looked less appropriate for a work environment. These pants were slated to be part of my work capsule and I ran upstairs to check for wrinkles. I saw them.

I don't know if I would have seen wrinkles if I hadn't been reading the BR website. In my mind the pants became less appropriate for work. I decided to return them and keep looking for pants in this same color.

Good luck to you on your pants. Hopefully they fit and wrinkles/
stretching is not an issue.

Style Fan

Veteran

Too bad about the wrinkling of the pants Sterling. The elbow length tops are great. Perfect for a work environment. Love the colours too.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

What a thoughtful and complete answer, Sterling. I know all about gaining and losing a large amount of weight and some of the emotional baggage that goes with that. For myself, I've always enjoyed getting into smaller sizes and I feel like it's great motivation to notice the presence of the waistband. But I hung onto different issues Please do let me know if, for any reason, you feel the pants underperform.

Bonnie

Veteran

I, too, am a fan of elbow length sweaters. These look really nice.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Ah...I just saw your post. I had the page open for a long time and came back to it. Thank you for the info about the wrinkles. I plan to use the pants for casual wear, so I may not be as picky...but it is good to know.

karen13

Veteran

Very successful haul! I love the longer length sleeve shape - classic, yet new. I know what you mean about weight loss and wearing clothes that are too big. We have to retrain the eye and the body for what the new fit should be like, while still remaining comfortable and willing to be seen in public. DH frequently tells me "you should get a smaller size" - one of the reasons I am looking to YFL for confirmation.

Joy

Veteran

Those silk sweaters look gorgeous. I need to stop by a BR to see the colors and try on for size. So many knits are hard for a small busted person to wear because arm holes come too low and it is more obvious than with a woven fabric. The fabrics look like they would feel lux.

unfrumped

Veteran

So glad the sweaters worked. I really am enjoying your careful assessments for wardrobe additions.

Penny

Veteran

Beautiful, versatile sweaters! Too bad about the pants, but I think you made the right call for the intended use.

Anonymous

Yes, too bad about the pants but I think that it's great that you're being picky and not settling.

kkards

Veteran

bummer on the pants, but yay for the tops! love that you're adding your happy color back into your wardrobe

Anonymous

Great haul! I really like elbow sleeves. Perfect for a summer work environment - enough sleeve for air conditioning, but not enough to be unwearable outdoors for a brief period. That silk/cashmere blend sounds sumptuous. And of course, the colors are beautiful!
Bummer about the pants, but at least you have confirmed that an similar pair has a place in your wardrobe!
I think you are on a roll!

Anonymous

The short sleeve sweaters indeed look great. I was fingering the navy/white striped one in the store yesterday , but doubted the fit for me. It's a pretty square cut, despite the sign beside it describing them as drapey . It's always interesting to see what sizes are already gone from a new display - that tells you a lot about the fit of something. There was only one L left, one M , and a ton of S's and XS's. That aside, I really liked the look of them and the colours were great too.

Joyce B

Veteran

Those are great finds, I think you will enjoy them.

Anonymous

I returned the pants and the stripped top yesterday. My Banana Republic store had one single linen stripped top. They couldn't find it and I didn't have time to wait. As LisaP commented, my store only had one in medium; one in large, and one in XL. LOTs and lots of small.

On the plus side, I am more convinced than ever that these two silk cashmere sweaters are prefect tops: saturated color; opaque; lightish-weight knits; well made; slightly fitted; nice length in the body; covers bra straps; coordinates seamlessly with my existing wardrobe; on the dressier side of a tee shit; and hand washable. If anyone is looking for this style of top, I am recommending them.

Banana Republic

Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Banana Republic

Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I loved this top in a stripe. It fit my client sooooo perfectly last week. The solids were quite nice too. Gorgeous weight, drape, lustre and sleeve fit.

I have to ask, Sterling - are these good for your climate? They seem too warm as you head into Spring and Summer. They are perfect for Seattle - but I thought you lived in the South?

Banana Republic

Stripe Silk Cashmere Elbow-Sleeve Pullover

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Anonymous

That does worry me, Angie. I have thought long and hard on it. I talked to a few of my friends that run hot (like me). We all agree that this top should work. Worst case scenario. I don't wear them during July and August.

Sigh. Now I am second guessing myself. Angie may very well be right.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

But surely you don't expect the tops to get through the ENTIRE Spring/summer do you? That's why I just spent hours shopping for full-length olive pants, because the pair I bought in June 2016( early winter) and wore 18 times last winter, was too thick to start wearing before June. I bought these new ones two weeks ago and have already worn 3 times. They are an essential for so many tops and will be worn through the next two months until it's cold enough to change to the others. If you can wear them until July, and then maybe again Sep/Oct, isn't that OK??

Anonymous

Yes Jenni -- You are of course right.

viva

Veteran

Also, regarding weather ... if you live where it is hot, isn't it cold inside? That's my experience, anyway, with travel. I was just in Florida for work, and it was near 90F outside and probably 60F inside. So, even if it was too warm outside for these tops it would have been perfect inside.

If you work indoors, for example, or were going out to eat indoors, I could definitely see wearing this top through the summer. Just not for outdoor activity.

(Oh, just saw you run hot. Never mind. I'm always so darn cold in A/C!!!)

Anonymous

Thanks Viva. I wish air conditioning in our building was cooler. It is a large building with lots of glass. Maintenance has a really hard time controlling the air so that it is consistent and comfortable throughout. Sadly, it is a losing battle for them. Building temps vary from day to day quite a bit. By afternoon I am always sweltering.

I still think I am going to keep the tops. I can always carry a tee shirt and change before I walk outside.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Sterling - I do love the tops and the pants you chose but understand the issue of the pants and wrinkling. I have a pair of dark olive green twill "jeans" that I never wore because of wrinkling. I missed the return window unfortunately but I do love the color.

Regarding the heat - I think silk/cashmere might be at least somewhat breathable. I don't know if you run hot always or just brief periods ;-). I have the latter and sometimes no matter what I'm wearing (or how many herbs I've taken lol) I will get hot but only for a minute or two. I've learned to fan myself or just excuse myself if necessary and go to the restroom and lift my top if necessary. Ha!

Interesting thing is that at least when it's full out summer here most everyone else is hot too so no one really notices.

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