My personal theory is that this was Patricia Ziegler’s favorite belt. Featured from 1984 through 1986 as an item and on numerous illustrations of other items of clothing. As the catalogue says, it’s a true classic. From the catalogue: “A terrific hip belt with heavy sweaters, a waist cincher with pants or safari dresses. Three […]
The Correspondent’s Dress is the fair companion to the Correspondent’s Jacket, made of the same material and possessing the same details. The belted dress came in Ivory and Pewter and is easily distinguished from the Safari Dress by its angled lower pockets. From the catalogue: “She won’t reveal her sources, but her dress speaks for […]
From the catalogue: “Most “travel raincoats” are sorry affairs that cling uselessly to one’s limbs. Ours weighs just 26 ounces and folds into a compact envelope, yet springs out looking like the dashing, authoritative garment it is. Like the U.S. Marine corps, we chose a nylon fabric that’s sturdy without being heavy, and discourages rain, […]
The Women’s Ticking Shirt differs significantly from the men’s, tapered in all the right places and with very full sleeves. From the catalogue: “As clothing archaeologists, we like to discover wearable artifacts. Our latest fiend: authentic mattress ticking, pre-washed for softness and woven with more warp than filling yarns for extra strength. We think it […]
Featured in Fall 1986 through Spring 1987 in black and khaki. From the catalogue: “Italian cotton knit is one of our favorite fabrics for travel: reasonless, wrinkle-shedding, flatteringly drape, it looks as fresh over a midnight grappa as it does over morning cappuccino. Our Traveler’s Dress has side slits to liberate your legs, deep side-seam […]
These Banana Republic Beaded Belts come in a wide variety of colors and are the most commonly seen early pre-GAP item on eBay. They were sold into 1984 (top image is from an order form centerfold) but were first seen in 1982. Advertised as “an American Indian condiment for your khakis”, they remind me of […]
Khaki version This version seems more Olive Drab than “Black Olive“.
The Ventilated Shirt was a staple of the catalog from Spring 1983 until 1988. The Ventilated Tropical Dress debuted at the same time but was discontinued in 1985. From the catalog: “A civilized way to survive in a scorching desert, a steamy jungle, even a humid metropolis. We can attest to this because our short-sleeved […]
These outback shorts were usually sold in traditional khaki, pewter or ivory. Later they added more colors like this Navy pair from 1988.
From the catalog: “In the 16th century two Portuguese brothers introduced seven cows and a bull to South America. Within 100 years, cattle had so overrun the pampas that legions of caballeros had to be recruited to round them up. At the vaqueria-as these expeditions were called-a young man could gain proficiency with lasso and […]
This elegant and stylish jacket was only offered in Fall 1985 and came as a suit with a skirt (not pictured). From the catalogue: “Elegant and romantic as the gaslight era, yet bold as its dauntless horsewomen, the Equestrienne Suit was inspired by a turn-of-the-century riding outfit. We took this thoroughbred of a design and […]
This interesting sweater just showed up on eBay. Kind of a fun challenge to identify! Going through the sweater category on the Abandoned Republic website turns up the Shetland Writer’s Sweater in the 1983 Christmas catalog, but without color to guide us. Is this brown sweater “russet” colored? The leather buttons, side pockets and collar […]
Up for current auction, a beautiful pair of Women’s Leather Ranch Boots. From the catalog: “We modified the classic Western boot for women who pound pavements rather than punch cows. The insole is tenderly padded and the outsole covered in rubber, making the boots as luxurious to walk in as they are to look at, […]
From the catalog: “Cotton fleece is so comfortable it begs to be used for something other than sweats. When we made the All-Night Flightsuit, our idea was to give the intercontinental traveler a cozy yet stylish alternative to tight waistbands, jabbing buttons, and rumpled clothing at journey’s end. Perfect for the redeye: the elastic and […]
New Auction: These amazing mint condition Pedestrienne Boots in a fabulous BR boot box. “….I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” -Robert Louis Stevenson Produced for Fall and Christmas 1987. From the catalog: “The English equestrienne boot is both elegant and pragmatic […]
“For the cat person of conscience” comes the Save-The-Tiger belt. An essential accessory that pulls many a BR outfit together with a bit of an edge. I think it’s a beautiful belt that would be shocking were it to have an actual tiger tooth, certainly, but it feels like a missed opportunity not to donate […]
I always thought these leather and linen Traveling Boots were way cool. The leather cuff, the floppy linen shaft contained by criss-crossed leather straps. So class and perfect with everything. The leather and linen combination made for some great looking bags as well. Page from Spring 1987. The boots were featured from Spring 1985 to […]
I love the Yukon shirt. Ubiquitous in the catalogs, lined up in a wonderful array of colors like candies in a bowl. It came in a short-sleeved version, but to me the proper Yukon shirt is the long sleeve variety that will keep you cozy on a crisp fall day. It was introduced in summer […]
From the catalog: “It wasn’t fashion that inspired the World War II uniform known as battledress; it was economy. Because there simply wasn’t enough fabric around to make the customary kidney-covering tunics, wartime tailors whipped up a waist-length version instead. Ike liked it, and so did a lot of enlisted men-women too, who especially appreciated […]
Finding a packaged set of Banana Republic Ribbed Cotton Tights was a minor miracle! I love the unique camel artwork on the wrapper.
As advertised: “Patterned after a turn-of-the-century riding habit, our 100% Egyptian Cotton Safari Skirt is equally at home sidesaddle or astride (simply unbutton the front buttons for more legroom). Smoothly tapered over the hips, the skirt flares gently into a wide, mid-calf A line that’s ample yet not voluminous, a practical choice whether sitting or […]
From the Spring/Summer 1986 catalogue: “Not to be confused with Ginger Rogers’ madcap costume for the Carioca scene in Flying Down to Rio, our version is a logical (yet also playful) extension of our extremely popular Carioca Shirt. Same slithery-cool fabric, same mischievous stripes; same extroverted spirit. Not the same: the length, (just below the […]
This is a nice piece of authentic military surplus that was not featured in the catalog, presumably due to more limited quantities. A beautiful wool with silk lining women’s uniform jacket from the RCAC-Royal Canadian Army Cadets, a youth ROTC-type program of the Canadian Army. Complete with price tag and “Discovered By Banana Republic” tag, […]
Such a classic look from BR, this women’s Touring Jacket paired with a matching long skirt, the fabulous money belt and the famous Traveling Boots. The jacket differs from the classic safari jacket in the lack of breast pockets and a more tailored, elegant look. A khaki twist on the Amelia Earhart style. From the […]
This attractive and practical english leather wallet and keychain belt is so perfectly Banana Republic Travel and Safari I’m surprised it wasn’t a staple of the catalogs for years. Instead this was only seen Summer 1986, Fall and Holiday, and Spring 1987. From the catalogue: “A liberating alternative to the cumbersome handbag-cum-wallet system: and inch-wide […]
Newly Updated! 1985-1988 Available.
