A couple of you requested more try-ons from Banana Republic (since the brand is a good bridge between business & casual wear) and Im happy to oblige! Ive left out the less-than-stellar pieces I tried on and wanted to highlight some top recommendations amongst items #1 4. For those not looking to shop, this post still has some basic outfit pairing formulas that you can apply to pieces in your own closet!
Right: BR merino-blend sweater xs, wide-legged crop pant 00P, Karl by KL booties (similar)
1. Slim wide-legged crop pant: I was impressed by these! Click over to the regular sizing tab for many positive reviews. This fabric has a good quality feel to it, and is unlined but medium in weight so it doesnt show panty lines or lumps. The more subtle wide leg cut was very flattering, and the length was just right on me for this style. These wont drag on the floor with flats, and you can stay warm in the winter by wearing booties (and layering tights underneath if you get extra cold). With this type of pant I always recommend sock style booties which have a snug fitting ankle and higher shaft. I actually dont own a pair (theyve been on my wishlist forever!), but these boots can help you visualize. Fit-wise, my waist size has been fluctuating so please refer to measurements: 00 Petite is 13 across the waist, 10 rise, 23 inseam.
2. Merino-blend turtleneck sweater: See in cream in my recent post. As mentioned there, this is one of the softer sweaters Ive tried on recently in a versatile weight (not too thick for spring, not too thin for winter) and good quality overall. This runs a little shorter, so regular sizing fits me like a normal sweater and wasnt too long.
3. Pleated maxi dress (comes in petite, regular, tall) Every spring I get requests for wedding guest attire, and this is a piece that can be dressed up for a special occasion or dressed down for everyday wear (pair with flat sandals or wedges + a denim jacket). Its a simple, pleated silhouette in a beautiful, true kelly green color and is machine washable. Other features include: adjustable shoulder straps, short leg slit, and a straighter cut throughout the torso, so use a skinny belt or the string tie to add waist definition. Im 5 tall and the length of BR maxi dresses in petite sizing always work well on me even with lower or flat shoes. If you are in between sizes, I read older reviews on this dress to size down.
Right: threadsoft wrap top xs P, Marc Fisher pumps 5
The next few crossover-style tops are all nursing-friendly!
4. Threadsoft crossover top (top right): I mentioned this top in a recent post and also tried it on in white (see below). Preferred the black because its sleek, not sheer, and I can see it paired with a lot of different outfits. Scroll down to see it tucked into a pleated skirt.
5. Aire wool-blend cropped sweater (top left): In the above photos these two tops look very similar, but the cream one is a lightweight wool blend sweater, while the black top is more like a tee. See the bottom right photo for the full length of this sweater when untucked. I tried it on because of all the 5-star reviews under the regular sizing tab, and typically anything soft and wrap style is right up my alley. In person, the fit is good (and definitely cropped) however I thought the knit felt a little flimsy for the price point with a fuzzier finish.
Right: BR sweater xxs P, Everlane jeans 24 ankle (sale!), Gucci belt 70cm (sizing guide), Marc Fisher boots 5.5
In addition to the black Threadsoft crossover top above, below are a few other pieces I tried on in the same soft & stretchy lightweight material. Their Threadsoft line incorporates a more eco-friendly Lenzing modal fabric (not entirelybut small steps).
6. Threadsoft puff-sleeve striped tee (top left) A basic striped tee elevated by a slightly puffed shoulder. Black looks dark blue to me in person, and is also cute with white denim. Click on over to the Regular sizing tab to read a lot more reviews!
7. Threadsoft wrap-front bodysuit (bottom right) Bodysuits are the solution for keeping tops tucked in seamlessly, so Id love to see more petite bodysuits in general since thats a tough piece to fit on different heights! This one in my usual size fit well, but the white felt flimsy and slightly sheer, not polished enough for work wear. If you like the silhouette, Id try one of the darker colors.
Right: Threadsoft bodysuit xs petite in white, flare pant 00P, leopard pumps (old, similar)
8. Collarless tweed blazer: Beautiful jacket dampened by a partial lining. The material is a medium to thicker weight tweed with a classic mix of blues, cream, and just a hint of metallic grey. The cut is flattering and clean cut with a nipped in waistline, and real pockets (after purchasing you just need to snip the stitching that seals the pockets). The sleeves are fully lined but only the upper half of the back is lined, which makes no sense to me especially at this price point!
Right: High-rise flare pant 00P (12.5 across waist, 9 rise, 31 inseam), Madison pumps (old color)
9. High-rise straight-fit ankle jeans: A flattering alternative to skinny and boyfriend jeans. Compared to my Everlane high rise cheeky straight jeans (pictured above with the navy striped tee) in size 24 Ankle, these BR jeans in size 00 petite fit similarly at the waist, but are slimmer throughout the thigh and the length is shorter with a frayed hem.
10. High-rise flare pant: see my recent blog post for my review. 00 petite measures 12.5 across the waist, 9 rise, 31 inseam.
Right: BR Puff-sleeve sweater dress xxs petite
11. Leopard print sheer midi dress: I have an older leopard print midi/maxi dress from BR that I really love and wore much more than expected. Their current version has two layers, with a cami dress-style lining inside and a semi sheer overlay. Fit is TTS and Id change up the belt for a black leather one.
12. Puff-sleeve sweater dress: This dress comes in a beautiful cream and olive for regular sizing, but only this chocolate brown for petites which I was less than excited about. True to the reviews, though, this felt good quality in a medium to thicker weight knit with a smooth finish.
Right: merino-blend turtleneck sweater xxs, modern sloan washable pants 00P
13. Double-Breasted Blazer: Beautiful quality blazer (also comes in black in regular) with great reviews and a preppy-nautical feel. This style could be worn casually with jeans and a white tee, or for work with ankle pants. I dont know if this was a one-off issue, though, but the jacket I tried on nipped in at the waist then flared out a little too much below the waist.
14. Modern sloan skinny-fit washable pants I used to be a devoted Sloan pant advocate but fell out of love in recent years with the ever changing fit and fabrics. I gave the latest version a try, and found the legs to be a little slimmer but still with a waist gap. Also, Im personally retired from wearing lower rise bottoms!
15. Supersoft cotton crew neck sweater: I was excited to potentially find a petite crewneck in a staple camel color, but closer up, this material felt prone to pilling so Id pass on this. The two sweaters that Ive recommended (the merino blend turtleneck above and the balloon sleeve one below) felt much higher quality to me.
Right: sweater blazer xxs P, Threadsoft wrap top xs P, straight-fit ankle jean 24P, old BR pumps
16. Cotton-blend balloon-sleeved sweater: Nice quality, medium to thicker weight sweater that doesnt feel pilling prone. Nice mix of textures from the sleeves down to the wide ribbing. I found this sweater to run short as you can see, the hem hits at the waistline of high rise jeans.
17. Sweater blazer (clearance item): This is reminiscent of the popular J.Crew sweater blazer, but shorter thus feels a little boxier. The fabric also feels similar to the J.Crew one, but with a smooth finish and seemingly a little less pilling-prone.