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I was introduced to Banana Republic (BR) a few years ago as I began my professional career and was in need of work attire suitable for a 20-something.  I frequented Banana Republic in search of staples such as well fitted pants (I’m partial to the Sloan fit), button down shirts, tweed skirts, sheath dresses and the like.  Although I could always find a few items suited for my needs, I’ve found that in recent years, my trips to this mall staple have decreased and the amount of items purchased during said trips have declined in kind.

So I was pleasantly surprised when the brand introduced Marissa Webb, the former head of womenswear at J.Crew, as the new Creative Director and Executive Vice President of Design this past April (Webb stepped into this role on April 28th, a very important day as it’s my birthday!).  Admittedly, I was not too familiar with Webb’s eponymous label, sold at Gap Inc.’s Intermix stores, but I was excited to see the direction in which a new lead would take the brand.

This Monday, Webb’s debut collection for BR was introduced at Milk Studios and from the looks of it, the Summer 2015 collection is meant to draw a younger clientele without alienating their core consumers.  The garments are more vibrant and a bit edgier (leather vest + Banana republic = color me surprised!) as evidenced by the styling seen on Monday.  For long time Banana Republic fans such as myself, this slight shift in design is a welcomed upgrade.  I’m excited to see the new pieces at my local BR.  From the looks of it, these garments look great together but can certainly stand on their own.

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Note:  Although it would be great to bring you posts sponsored by a brand I know and love, this little gem of a blog is just not quite big enough…yet.