Is it just us or is the Banana Republic Spring 2009 collection as chic (if not more so) than some of the Spring 09 collections we saw in the tents this year? The gliding silks, the rolled up sleeves, the  jumpsuits, the color palette of mint, ice blue, nude, and white--it's all too much to handle! As Simon Kneen first full collection for for the brand, we are now prepared to belive that Banana Republic will be the chicest new style destination in the contemporary price bracket. Which makes us wonder if Kneen has been at the helm since January (even if this is his first full collection) have they been achieving this level of chic for months now? We've just been distracted by their sale section (which is so unsightly!) or the fact that the closest one to us is on Broadway which is the Bermuda Triangle of tourist shopping. As a penance, we will be making a stop at their store this weekend...if Spring is this fantastic there must be something to tide us over from the Fall collection.

 

 

Last Fall we were being hit over the head with trend reports and runway galleries of nude: the 'pop' color for Spring 08. But did it ever manifest? Sure, we've seen the florals (the runner up to nudes as far as Spring 08 trends go) and the pleated trousers. We've seen the newest incarnations of gladiator sandals, the patent thick-strap heels we were expecting all along. Basically, the only trend that hasn't delivered is the nude, the one we were most excited about! We've two theories about the disappearance of this 'supposed' big-time trend. First, it's the nature of nude to blend in. Stark, natural tones like these tend to disappear once you put on those bright red sandals and that pair of electric blue sunglasses. Nudes, all along, were editorialized with pops of color and perhaps this trend has hit the streets and we just don't notice it, because, in the end, life isn't like it is in the magazines. The other possibility, the one we're most sure of, is that people aren't wearing enough nude. If you're wearing one garment that touches on the trend, well, you're just wearing a color. To really establish itself, there need be a few daring fashionistas willing to do the Claire Huxtable and dress in nude from head to toe. We're going to do it, and if you're with us, a spread of possibilities is below.