Photograph-Illustration: by The Reduce; Photographs: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden, Retailers)
At the same time as an grownup, September at all times provides me back-to-school power. After months in swooshy summer season clothes and sandals, I need tailoring, I need cozy materials, I wish to costume someplace on the spectrum between Paul Newman and Lorelai Gilmore. Fortunate for me, launching September 9, simply two weeks earlier than the primary official day of fall, is a brand new collaboration between Banana Republic and New York label La Ligne.
Melding workwear inspiration pulled from Banana Republic’s archives with La Ligne’s downtown tackle classics (the model’s signature stripes included, after all), the 36-piece assortment ranges in worth from $20 to $1,500. Banana Republic, which partnered with The White Lotus in 2025 and New York Metropolis’s Explorer’s Membership earlier this yr, is increasing the vary of what “basic” dressing can imply. On this case, by way of the lens of La Ligne’s co-founders, Molly Howard, Valerie Macaulay, and Meredith Melling, the types really feel a bit simpler than anticipated, the form of dress-up-and-down staples a Tribeca mother may put on to Monday conferences and Saturday park hangs.
The collaboration from Banana Republic and La Ligne ranges from informal items like a basic striped tee (a classy fashion that’s popped up throughout many collections in 2025), to drapey suiting, to a calf-long suede coat that has the cozy, draped match of a bathrobe. Sizing runs from XXS to XL in most skews, with among the equipment, like hair ties and socks, provided in a single measurement.
“La Ligne has at all times stood for impeccable fashion and a distinctly New York sense of ease,” Meena Anvary, Banana Republic’s chief advertising and marketing officer, mentioned in a press launch. “With this collaboration, we stability our heritage and La Ligne’s sensibility, introduced collectively by way of a contemporary lens. The gathering is a celebration of our shared design codes and affords a wardrobe of basic items that can take you wherever.”
When you’re in want of some good fall work fundamentals, sure. In whole, I attempted on six types from the gathering:a suede skirt, a cotton chino, two cotton shirts, a button-down, and a nubuck barn coat, all of which I selected as a result of they felt just like the form of items I may pull proper out of the field and discover a option to put on with what’s already sitting in my closet. As somebody who works from residence with just a few weekly Zooms and occasional conferences, I’m not one to make use of up my restricted closet house on something overly company. Actually, during the last yr or two, I’ve actually culled my assortment of blazers and trousers right down to nearly nil.
Though they had been essentially the most primary gadgets in my order, the very first thing I gravitated towards was the tees, each of that are thick and slouchy, with a considerate, pieced-together collar that just about gave the phantasm of folded cloth. It’s one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than in a shirt. The striped tee feels just like the form of staple I’d instantly put into my rotation equally to how I styled it right here, with a skirt and heels, or dressed down with denims. The suede skirt is thick and heavy, with a diagonal slit for straightforward strolling, very fall-coded. It hangs a bit of bit decrease on the waist than I’d often choose, however I nonetheless assume it really works effectively with thick tees tucked into it.
Sporting the Relaxed Cotton Crew-neck T-shirt and the Suede Wrap Midi Skirt. From left: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Sporting the Relaxed Cotton Crew-neck T-shirt and the Suede Wrap Midi Skirt. From high: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madd… extra
Sporting the Relaxed Cotton Crew-neck T-shirt and the Suede Wrap Midi Skirt. From high: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
The white long-sleeve shirt is maybe essentially the most informal piece I attempted on. It’s cozy however not essentially memorable by itself. Oversize and long-sleeved with an off-white shade, I discovered it to be a pleasant impartial for layering, fairly than carrying solo. You’ll be able to go for the ’90s-inspired double-tee or do what I did and magnificence it beneath a button-down.
I like the texture of the nubuck coat. It’s tender and heavy-duty with out making me really feel like I’m trapped in a type of sauna blankets, or “sweat burritos” as I lovingly name them. Whereas I do know barn jackets have been within the dialog for a yr or two now, that is the kind of funding fashion I may see being a staple now and ten years down the road. It’s costly, nevertheless it’s additionally 100% suede. My small grievance is that the jacket has a little bit of a robust odor straight out of the bag, however a bit of airing out would remedy that drawback fairly rapidly.
Sporting the Suede Wrap Midi Skirt and the Nubuck Barn Coat. From left: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Sporting the Suede Wrap Midi Skirt and the Nubuck Barn Coat. From high: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
My final look was constructed across the off-white long-sleeve tee, a striped shirt, and chinos. I like the button-down. It has a high-low hemline on the underside, which I like for tucking in, although I feel it seems nice left open too. The chinos don’t match fairly proper. They had been a bit quick on me, and whereas I just like the looser lower of the leg, I don’t really feel like they did my physique any favors. On reflection, sizing up for a baggier look might have been the best way to go.
Sporting the Boxy Cotton T-shirt, the Cotton Poplin Tunic, and the Huge-leg Cotton Chino. From left: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Sporting the Boxy Cotton T-shirt, the Cotton Poplin Tunic, and the Huge-leg Cotton Chino. From high: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of… extra
Sporting the Boxy Cotton T-shirt, the Cotton Poplin Tunic, and the Huge-leg Cotton Chino. From high: Photograph: Courtesy of Aemilia MaddenPhotograph: Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
The gathering launches on September 9 at choose Banana Republic shops and at bananarepublic.hole.com.
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