College-Style

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Banana Republic madness Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT By: AJ of University of Georgia. Follow me @arrrcher. The 1960s gave us civil rights, space exploration and The Beatles. In a more fashionable and indirect way, the 1960s also gave us today's hit period drama Mad Men. The AMC show — which has won many awards including three consecutive Primetime Emmy awards for Outstanding Drama Series — began running promotions with Banana Republic, a unit of Gap Inc. The promotions have since transitioned to a full-fledged Mad Men product line. When I first read about the line on The New York Times I was quite intrigued. Save the hippie movement, 1960s designers started gearing their clothes towards young professionals — think Jackie Kennedy. All I can say is this: Banana Republic delivered in a big way. The designers on the Mad Men team captured the chic, sophisticated look emulated in the show — which has also received critical acclaim for its historical accuracy — and has given it to the public, which will hopefully bring the fashion community back to a classier time. The line is available for purchase in stores and at bananarepublic.com beginning August 11 of this year. All images courtesy of The Cut and Banana Republic The Foxy Chick I chose the first look because I love the various shades of red mixing liberally with the gray. The color is further accentuated by the addition of red lipstick — a simple fix that really adds that extra burst of color. The high heels would have been a little off color, but the pale skin tone brings all of the colors together. The cut of the dress is really spectacular as well. The way the fabric pulls tightly around the shoulders and chest then gathers under the bust line reminds me of an Empire dress, but the way the dress bubbles out and stops right above the knee keeps it fun while maintaining a professional look. The look could easily be added to and made unique with a matching pearl earring and necklace set. The second look is less dramatic in terms of color, but it brings a whole new dimension to the line — sex appeal. Unlike almost every other look in the Mad Men line, the blouse shows some chest and leads the eye down the chest. While some people consider "classy" to be synonymous with "prudish," this shows that sophisticated looks can still be spicy. I like the shade of purple and the way it plays off the other colors — which seem to be a deep charcoal gray rather than black. I also enjoy the subtle polka dots on the tights leading down to the currently stylish ankle boots. I'm not sure if it's just the way the model is standing, but for some reason this look strikes me as super intense. The look itself is well put together — the shift under the trench coat gives a nice layered effect, especially with the large collar flaring out. The color schemes helps too, as the creamy ivory under the small leopard print looks very clean and presentable — also, it’s not likely that every woman dressed modestly, so the leopard print adds that fierce aspect that some of the women undoubtedly decided to rock. The look is slimmed down with a belt that matches the black pumps, which are a nice mix between flat and shiny black. As far as accessories go, that little splash of color makes a comeback again with the red lipstick and the sunglasses add that extra bit of authority to the look's persona. The Cool Cat The first look reminds me a lot of a fall 2011 Todd Snyder look, in which I've already expressed interest. I absolutely love the style of this jacket with a collar much like the ladies' leopard trench. I like the use of the bow tie in this look — I think it balances the more modern jacket with an older style, keeping with the collection's 1960s roots. If the look is still too modern for you, add a waistcoat to set it back a little farther. Cardigans are one of the pieces I use to make a potentially boring outfit a little more stylish, so I had to pick this look. I love the thickness of the cardigan and the way the neck of it folds down, making it look more meticulous rather than looking like it was thrown on as an afterthought. Though the cardigan is gray, I like how the designers used a blue shirt rather than sticking with a traditional white, and the attention to detail with the tie matching the cardigan's inside trim really pulls the look together. The final look is just superbly classic — it screams 1960s. The fedora, along with its black ribbon, sets the tone for the look, and the three-piece suit wholly delivers the sophistication. The lighter, vertical pinstripes add something extra to the suit's otherwise plain color, as do the tie and small, flat pocket square. Three piece suits are a necessity in every man's wardrobe — for those moments in life that require the utmost taste — and this particular one would be more than welcome to find its home in my closet. I must also add that I am a personal fan of the pleat front pants, though I would have to go with square-toe shoes for myself. Thoughts? What do you think of Banana Republic's Mad Men inspired looks? Is it something you'll want to go out and buy in August? Let us know!

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