Whatever reluctance capital-S Summer showed to enter the chat initially has dissipated. By now, your wardrobe is presumably being tested at every turn, and despite the daylight pendulum swinging back in the wrong direction, there’s a whole lotta season left. The good news? The summer assortment from Banana Republic is, once again, great: a wonderfully-edited mix of breezy pants, porous polos, easy-AF shirts, and more, all ready to fill the gaps in your (scorchingly) warm weather wardrobe.
And while we do know we’ve spent plenty of time talking about the Banana bounce-back, it’s as warranted as ever. Because the brand keeps making new things, and those things are, as mentioned earlier, perfectly suited for our current climate. Whether you need a couple upgrades, a full overhaul, a 90s Heartthrob Starter Pack, or just a little something to look forward to on a mid-summer vacation, Banana Republic will deliver.
For instance—as our secret shopper recently learned—if you’re in need of a featherweight knit to break the button-up boredom, BR’s summer sweater selection happens to be world-class. On the suiting side, they’ve not only beefed up their silhouette slate, but they’ve continued to incorporate some of the coolest fabrics you’ll see on ready-to-wear options. And if you’re looking for some linen pants, there might not be a better selection out there right now, regardless of price—a sentiment that means a lot more when that price comes in under $200.
So, while summer might be a fleeting proposition, Banana Republic isn’t. But because the selection can be a daunting one, we figured we’d parse it for you and pull out some of our favorites. So, check out what we’re into below, or head on over to the Banana Republic site to check it all out for yourself.
Banana Republic’s Best Menswear, by Category
In This Guide
Luxe and Lively Linens
Linens are, by their nature, luxurious. Genetically suited for warm weather (they’re naturally temperature-regulating, antimicrobial, and quick-drying) the fabrics have made a name for themselves as a vacation staple, and rarely come cheap. But here’s the thing: it’s warm pretty much everywhere in the summertime, those heat-defying properties hold true at home, too, and you really can get yourself decked out in linen without breaking the bank. Just go to BR’s killer linen selection, which will allow you to wear it head-to-toe in whatever context, all for a fraction of the price you’d expect.
Swishy Summer Trousers
Banana Republic’s voluminous trousers have earned a lot of love recently, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their pant selection isn’t equally dialed. Quite the opposite, actually. The Straight-leg Traveler Pant is a difference-splitting, wind-welcoming wonder. The Herringbone Cotton-Linen Relaxed Suit Pant is indeed relaxed, but not in a way that shouts about it. And the TENCEL™-Linen Pleated Cropped Pant might as well be air-conditioned. In other words, your summer pants await.
Pitch-Perfect Polos
We’ve witnessed a few sartorial comebacks in the past few years, but the polo resurgence—particularly the knit variety—was something else altogether. And few brands, regardless of size, do those better than Banana Republic. Johnny Collars, two-buttons, button-throughs… you name it, BR does it well, and probably in whatever fabric you’re looking for. (I wore a linen-cotton button-through religiously until it was seasonally inappropriate to do so, and then continued wearing it for roughly three weeks after that.)
Button-Optional Shirts
As an unabashed knit fiend, I deal with the occasional button-up blind-spot. But when it comes to keeping cool, even I will occasionally eschew a knit for the right kind of (minimally-buttoned) shirt. And Banana Republic’s button-up assortment is the right kind—the kind you can build an entire summer wardrobe around. Lest you think it’s all suiting fare and workhorse Oxfords, they’re currently offering some of the bounciest linens and performance-minded mesh fabrics too, to make summer a literal breeze.
Low-Profile Jackets
You might not have light jackets on your mind, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good time to nab and rock one. It might even be a great time, once you consider BR’s collection of nubuck truckers, cotton-linen workwear staples and other late-summer-evening wonders. And if you’re worried about utility—a worthy concern when you’re familiar with the term “heat index”—know that we’re sadly a couple months away from that not being a concern.
No-Sweat Summer Suiting
In no world is $600 “inexpensive” or “cheap,” but when it comes to suiting options, Banana Republic’s feel—and wear—like those well into four-digit territory, particularly when it comes to fabric selection. This summer, for instance, Banana is using a super breathable Cotton-Linen Herringbone fabric, and a TENCEL™-Linen fabric so light it could be measured by ply count on a host of silhouettes, every suit designed to be split up without much hesitation.
Surefire Shorts
You all have been subjected to no shortage of inseam debates over the past few years, and while we all have our preferences, it’s safe(ish, this is the internet) to say that, while there are some that live up to present-day standards more than others, there is no Right Inseam. As such, it’s time to celebrate the Big Shorts, the short ones, the classic Bermudas and maybe even some jorts—all of them the wider the better, at least in my opinion, regardless of length. Regardless, lucky for the shorts-lovers among us, BR does a whole of ’em incredibly well.
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