Hello, Framboise!: Banana Republic

Showing posts with label Banana Republic. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Rosy Red

J Crew Carrie Cami + Banana Sloan Pants + Red Patent Pumps

Jacket: Arden B. | Cami: J.Crew | Bag: Reed Krakoff
Pants: Banana Republic (note: mine are the old Sloan fit and were altered to slim the waist and seat)
Shoes: L.K. Bennett (red is out of stock on their site, but available on sale right now at Gilt Groupe)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lariat: Gorjana via Rocksbox c/o

Well, it's a bit late to be posting my outfit from Valentine's Day, but even with the holiday on Monday, work has been crazy this week, and when I spend 12 hours a day lawyering, it's hard to get up the gumption to do more "work" when I get home. When I get home really late, all I can handle is dinner, a relaxing shower, and maybe a little TV before bed. Anyone else with a full-time job feel that way?

Sean and I had a low-key Valentine's Day, which was perfect for us given our hectic weekday schedules lately. We saw Hail Caesar and ate a cute little restaurant that had a yummy special tasting menu for the holiday.

J Crew Petite Carrie Cami + Slim Beige Blazer

J Crew Petite Carrie Cami + Slim Beige Blazer

The weather in Denver has been so phenomenal lately that I was able to wear this outfit with no coat for a walk around downtown and out to dinner. For the last two weeks, we've been having highs in the sixties and seventies. It feels like I brought the Phoenix weather home with me when I returned from my weekend in Arizona!

The silk cami I'm wearing is a new addition to my closet via J.Crew's sale, and although it turned out to be much too low-cut to wear under a blazer for work, it's pretty and breezy for an evening out. (Pro tip: a little fashion tape goes a long way in preventing any wardrobe malfunctions with a low, looser top like this one.)

J Crew Petite Carrie Cami + Banana Sloan Pants + Red Patent Pumps

J Crew Petite Carrie Cami + Banana Sloan Pants + Red Patent Pumps

Hope you've had a wonderful week!

x, Tam

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Work Outfit: Red + Navy + the Madewell Transport Tote

J Crew No 2 Pencil Skirt + LK Bennett Heels

I realized I haven't posted a work outfit in ages! Winter is a tough season for work outfit photo shoots since I'm usually out of the house not long after sunrise on weekdays, and I return well after dark. I was inspired by Tara's recent #WorkDoesntMeanBoring Challenge to share this cheery and colorful look today.

J.Crew's workwear line has been a longtime favorite of mine with its extensive petites collection. I have been loving the addition of the Petite 000 size to many of J.Crew's work-friendly pieces; it meant that I didn't have to have this pencil skirt or blazer altered at all. In many items, the 000P is too small for me, but in these two pieces that are known to run large, it's a nice option to have.

I recently jumped on the bandwagon and added the Madewell Transport Tote to my closet, and I've been testing it out as a work bag. Several other women in my office swear by theirs, but I think I'm still partial to my Longchamp Le Pliage Neo. Although the Longchamp doesn't have the same buttery-soft, pretty leather as the Madewell tote, it is such a workhorse. I carry a ton of stuff to court and meetings every day, so my work bag is always heavy and full (I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I often schlep around a rolling briefcase in addition to a tote bag). My Longchamp has survived some serious abuse with next to no signs of wear, and I don't have any concerns about setting it on the floor or exposing it to rain, snow, or the occasional leaky pen--I just wish it were a teeny bit bigger. I'm planning to treat the Madewell tote to make it a little tougher, but I'm not sure I'll make it my full-time work bag.

Do you have a favorite stylish carryall that holds all your work necessities? Let me know if you have any suggestions for me to try out!

Happy Tuesday!

x, Tam

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Winter White

White denim for winter // Hello, Framboise

Givenchy Small Antigona // Hello, Framboise

A recent mild winter day made me want to break out this springy navy-and-white look (and honestly, I try to wear these white jeans as much as I can since they're so comfy!). I added a darker-toned coat and shoes to make the outfit a little more winter-appropriate. Being able to have bare ankles in January is such a treat!

Hope you're all getting some sunshine today!

x, Tam

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Neutral + Edge

Quick mid-week outfit post today! Hope you're having a great day!

x, Tam

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Work Outfit: Coral and Black Dots

The last time I posted about this polka-dot top from Banana Republic, I talked about how easy it was to style it casually, as I did in my previous post, or for work. After a reader encouraged me, I decided to show you how made this top appropriate for work as well. I think it'll be a great transition piece for layering into fall, so I'm looking forward to wearing it several more times before the cooler weather takes over.

Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

A Pop of Yellow

Top: Banana Republic | Shorts: Crewcuts (on sale, also available in women's sizing) | Shoes: Steve Madden (similar here on sale) | Bag: Mansur Gavriel (mine is the Mini Bucket--if their site is out of stock, with some luck, you may be able to pre-order one via Steven Alan, Bergdorf's, or Barney's) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklaces: Brian Gavin, Teresa Mink, Banana Republic | Bracelets: Ann Taylor, H&M c/o | Earrings: purchased in Turkey | Watch: Michael Kors

I love when I find pieces like this Banana Republic blouse that transition easily between work and casual looks. Last week, I wore it with a black pencil skirt and coral blazer, and over the weekend, I paired it with these sunny yellow shorts for a casual brunch date at Lucile's Creole Cafe (a favorite Denver brunch spot).

Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Monday, June 30, 2014

Work Outfit: Bright Accessories for Summer (with a Manolo Blahnik BB Pump Review)

Jacket: Arden B. (old) | Skirt: Banana Republic (old, but similar style here in my favorite Sloan Fit) | Blouse: Ann Taylor Factory (recent, and with a lovely flutter sleeve detail) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bag: kate spade new york | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps (available via Saks or Nordstrom) | Lips: NARS 'Yu'

I'd been regretting missing my opportunity to take home a pair of Manolo BB Pumps when they were last on sale after Christmas (although I did end up grabbing the Carolyne Sling-Backs, which I love and have been wearing a ton). When they were back on sale at Saks recently, I decided on a suede pair in a fun aqua color for summer. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make them work for the office, but as long as I keep the rest of my palette fairly neutral, I think a bold, summery color fit right into my seasonal work wardrobe.

The Manolo BB's, named after screen siren Brigitte Bardot, are an incredibly flattering shoe, and I found them to be surprisingly comfortable, especially for shoes that are narrower (my feet are not narrow!). Most of the higher-end department stores sell them in a wide variety of colors, heel heights, and materials. You can also design your own BB Pumps at Neiman Marcus. So far, I've stuck to purchasing most of my higher-end shoes on sale, but it's hard to tune out the siren call of the customizable BB's!

Note: I normally wear a 35-35.5 in this shoe brand. I was told to size down despite my wide feet, and the 35 ended up being the better size for me as this style seems to run a little long in the footbed.

Although I generally try to stay away from accessories that are too "matchy," I loved how this turquoise bag and shoes looked together. With gray and beige in my suiting separates, and my subtly-printed blouse with its hints of turquoise, coal, and lavender, I thought the shoes and bag took the look up a notch.

One word of caution: when opting for bright accessories at the office, make sure the design of those accessories is clean and simple, like I did here with a sleek pump and classic structured satchel bag.

Work Outfit--Pops of Turquoise + Manolo Blahnik BB Review

I'm very excited it's a short week this week! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that my fellow Americans have fun plans coming up for the Fourth!

x, Tam

Monday, February 10, 2014

Banana Republic Review: Sloan-Fit Ankle Pants

Petite Sloan-Fit Ankle Pants by Banana Republic

I'm trying another piece from the Banana Republic slim-fitting Sloan line today--these ankle-zip pants in black. A 00P fit me pretty well--the inseam and the fit down my legs were both perfect, but I did experience some gapping at the waist in the back, which resulted in a little bagginess through the seat. I'm planning to have them taken in at the waist and possibly in the seat to get them to a perfect fit.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am really liking the Sloan fabric. The extra thickness and stretch makes for a flattering and comfortable fit. I'm definitely considering adding a few more of these pieces to my workwear wardrobe.

Hope everyone at NYFW right now is staying warm and having a great time! Wish I were there!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Hello, Framboise x Banana Republic Hello Sloan

New York Fashion Week has begun! I've teamed up with Banana Republic to feature a couple pieces from their Sloan-fit line here. When I initially looked at this pink dress online, I thought it was pretty cute, but I was very impressed with the fit and quality once I put it on. The fabric is nice and thick, so it holds its shape nicely and glides smoothly over curves. The bonus: it has quite a bit of stretch to it, so your movement isn't restricted--great for me whether I'm on my feet in court all day or going out in the evening (or both).

For me, a 00P was a good--although slightly snug--fit compared to other 00P pieces I have from Banana. With a blazer or more conservative cardigan, I think this dress is definitely work-appropriate. If you usually fit well into a particular Banana size, you might want to consider ordering one size up just to make sure the fit is comfortable on you. The only thing I'm planning to alter on this dress is the hemline, probably raising it an inch or two so it's just above my knee, which seems to be the best compromise between work-appropriate and flattering for me.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Work Outfit: Seasonless Tweed

While other bloggers were enjoying Fashion Week in New York this week, I have been enjoying Law Week here in Denver (teensy bit of sarcasm there). Admittedly, pretty much every week is Law Week for me, but this week, I was attending a continuing legal education conference, which is kind of a much-less-stylish version of Fashion Week for the legal community in which I practice. I thought it fitting that I share a work outfit today.

I found this dress over Labor Day Weekend at the Banana Republic Factory Outlet, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit. It's a lighter tweed that feels both cool enough for warmer weather and warm enough to wear with tights and layers in the winter. Soon after purchasing this dress, I read Jean's post reviewing it, and she seemed to be impressed with the fit, too. All told, I was pleased by the selection and fit the BR Factory store had to offer, and their frequent sales are great for building a budget-friendly work wardrobe.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Banana Republic x Trina Turk: "Crazy Botanical" (Part Two)

As promised, here's a quick and simple restyle of the Banana Republic x Trina Turk dress I wore in yesterday's post. This look is actually the "before" picture--my fun platform heels and coral purse are hiding in my trusty Longchamp tote, waiting for the workday to end!

While this isn't an outfit I would wear to court or in a more formal business setting, it was perfect for a summer day in the office. This Zara pique blazer (a great petite-friendly find) kept me from getting too chilly in my air-conditioned office, and my nude wedges offset the bright colors in the rest of my ensemble.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Banana Republic x Trina Turk: "Crazy Botanical" (Part One)

As a longtime fan of Trina Turk's famously fabulous prints, I was excited to have the opportunity to style a piece from the the Banana Republic Trina Turk Collection for Summer 2012. Per Trina, this capsule collection was "inspired by Palm Springs, pop prints and mid-century design" and created exclusively in collaboration with Banana Republic. The best part? All of the pieces come in petite sizing.

This collection hit stores on June 7, 2012--while I was in Turkey--so I unfortunately didn't get to see the launch in person. I was thrilled, however, to have this piece, the Crazy Botanical Twist-Strap Dress, waiting for me when I returned home. This dress runs a little small, so a size up (0P) from my normal Banana Republic Petites size was a touch roomy, but ultimately very comfortable since the 100% silk doesn't stretch at all.

In these photos, I've styled the dress for a summer evening out, adding my favorite turquoise cardigan for possibly cooler nighttime weather. Tune in tomorrow to see me style this dress for work! Want to see more ways to style the versatile Crazy Botanical Print? Check it out on fellow petites Jean, Wendy, and Khatu.

Readers, did you pick up any pieces from the Banana Republic x Trina Turk collaboration?