BRSAVE35 = 35% off at BananaRepublic.com
The noteworthy exclusions: Monogram, Heritage, Leather Apparel, select shoes and boots, and new arrivals.
It’s not spring. Not even close. Yet some retailers (*cough* UNIQLO) look like they’re laying Easter Eggs out of their keisters. (For example: This guy. That’s the satisfied look one beams after expelling a football-sized pastel butt bomb.) What we need, is some transitional stuff. A Brooklyn, but for your closet. B.R. to the rescue… kinda.
Unlike all of the clearance sales, the code BRSAVE35 isn’t limited to just sale items. But there are plenty of exclusions. “New arrivals” are excluded. And there’s plenty of those sprinkled throughout the site. Just when you think you’ve found a basic, you add it to your art, try to apply the code and… nothin’. But their regular suiting and blazers are a go (as long as they aren’t a new arrival). Picks that the code can be applied to are as followed, and all could be worn now and well into the spring.
UPDATE: Looks like BRSAVE40 is working for most if not all for 40% off, which is pretty stellar. Many thanks to Redford in the comments with the catch. Updated prices shown below the items.
Tailored Taupe Cotton Blazer – $128.70
($198)
A total steal at this price. Sometimes BR cotton blazers get to the $225 price point and you can feel a difference in the fabric. This one feels like one of those higher priced versions, only it’s less expensive. Fit is going to be nails for some off the rack. Color is starting to lean just a bit to the grey side, and looks great with jeans.
BRSAVE40 = $118.80
Vintage Straight Fit 5-Pocket Pant – $51.67
($79.50)
Still a bit of an investment, but this should trip the triggers of all those jeans addicts who just flat don’t like the feel and fit of most chinos. 5-pocket styling, a great Levi’s 514 (slim straight) type of fit, and the fabric has a bit of a thicker, canvas or denim like weave. Size shown above is a 32×30.
BRSAVE40 = $47.70
Essential Belted Trench – $146.25
($225)
The fit seems to be a little more generous on this spring’s version of BR’s classic trench, but the quality is the best they’ve ever cranked out. Hard to believe this isn’t from their upgraded Heritage line. The color is a little darker in person, but it’s nothing too out of the ordinary. Exterior is 100% cotton but it has a bit of a treated, water repellent feel to it (not sure if it actually is). And the construction is something else. Interior detachable vest/lining is a partially quilted part wool thing. It’s thick enough that unless you’re fighting off sub 20’s temps with regularity, you might be able to get away with this being a year round coat.
BRSAVE40 = $135.00
Tailored Birdseye Blazer – $146.25 ($225)
Back in stock and now, correctly identified as a 3-button blazer on Banana Republic’s website. But it’s a 3/2 roll and pretty well executed at that. Not a super-dark true navy. So this one or the J. Crew Factory Thompson?
BRSAVE40 = $135.00
Extra Fine Merino V-Neck – $38.68 ($59.50)
One of the best sweaters available, now under $40 shipped (the free shipping at $50 kicks in pre-code, which is real nice). Four colors available, with three having decent sizes. These late winter doldrums aren’t a bad time to inject some brighter, but not pastel color into your wardrobe. Extra-fine merino fabric makes em’ easy to layer.
BRSAVE40 = $35.70
Soft-Wash slim fit twill shirt – $38.68 ($59.50)
Haven’t seen this in person, but that looks like it might have a chambray like look to it? BR’s soft wash slim fit shirts are great basics, and a darker chambray shirt like this that still has a little polish (and hasn’t gone full blown workwear) is a nice thing to have on hand. It’s dark, but the chambray keeps it from drifting too far into “going out shirt” territory. Plenty nice to layer under a sweater too.
BRSAVE40 = $35.70
Tailored charcoal Italian wool jacket & matching pant – $328.25
($505)
This is the sweet spot for the guys who can’t drop the extra $140 for a SuitSupply, but want something with not a lot of shoulder padding, decently high armholes, and a tapered off the rack jacket. Yes, it’s fused, but this is as good as a fused suit gets (you hear that? Snobs just somewhere snorted… let em’). One of their Italian Fabric models that feels great and wears surprisingly well.
BRSAVE40 = $303.00
Edward Work Bag – $68.25 ($150)
Already on sale and one of the few times that bags haven’t been excluded from a code north of 30%. Is it a Saddleback? Absolutely not. But it looks awfully sleek for under $70. Nylon exterior with a good amount of room for a laptop, extra papers, newspaper, cell, etc. Matte silver hardware which is key for lots of us. Shape starts to get a little mushy over time, but doesn’t totally collapse on itself. It’s not the last case you’re gonna buy, but it should treat you fine for seventy bucks.
BRSAVE40 = $63.59
Landen Chukka – $102.70 ($158)
Make no mistake. BR shoes can be a risk. But sometimes they hold up well (like these… still hangin’ in there and seen some use). Looks like it could be a suit worthy chukka for some limited “I need a shoe to beat up in this weather” / “I’m chasing someone through a Turkish Market” duty.
BRSAVE40 = $94.80
Cotton Cashmere V-Neck Sweater – $59.50 (new arrival, so no discount)
This one’s a new arrival, so it’s not up for the discount, but worth a mention for future sales. It’s labeled as a plain ol’ “cotton v-neck pullover” online, but the description correctly says it’s 10% cashmere. And somehow, someway, that actually has made a big difference this time around. Most of the time, cotton/cashmere sweaters (from any brand) feel hardly any different from a plain ol’ cotton sweater. These feel much, much softer, and the collars are nice and substantial. Worth keeping an eye on.
The 35% off code BRSAVE35 expires at the end of today, 1/29/13. Same goes for BRSAVE40
Supposedly BRSAVE40 works for 40% off. Also 514s are just called straight fit by Levis now.
Three cheers for the taupe cotton blazer. I picked that up a couple of weeks ago, and it is already a staple for me. Great tailored fit from the box. At 5’11” 180lbs the 42R fit about as well as any blazer ever has.
Just tested it and it does indeed work. Thanks, Redford.
Taupe blazer sold out of 36R as expected…disappointed they still don’t sell that size in stores.
Just my luck… the charcoal button-down isn’t in tall sizes. Otherwise, looks like I might be buying more BR. Shocker, haha.
Patience. It will likely come back. I recently purchased the herringbone and navy birdseye blazers in 36R. They were not in stock for several weeks, and then they just reappeared.
Interesting. Tested and it’s working for me to. Updated above. BR was running this email promo to their list the last couple days, where if you clicked through you could use a 1-time use code to get either 30, 35, or 40% off (depending on what factors? Who knows.) Thought it was weird that they dropped this public 35% off coupon in the middle of that thing. And now the extra nice 40% off. Great catch and many thanks.
Glad you like it. I was real impressed with the fabric and the fit too. Usually I have to size up to a 40R and then get it tailored down a bit, but a 38R hit my frame just right.
On the top taupe blazer, those are called kissing buttons, right? Last time I was looking for a suit, all the jackets had that, and I thought they were all poorly made.
Makes me wanna try BRSAVE90. Why not?
BRSAVE110. I got money comin’ to me.
GAP35 is running today, too, just fyi.
I will attest to the trench coat. Stiffer and darker (which I prefer) then last year’s spring trench that joe featured. I actually like this one better.
Grey suede chukkas are sweet. Picked them up a couple months ago.
I have had awful luck with the fit on BR’s shirts. They just fit me really awkwardly. The shoulders are just a bit too wide, the sleeves a bit too shorts, and the collar a bit too loose. It all adds up and ends up looking pretty bad on me. Wondering about that grey blazer though…
If you didn’t have a blazer and wanted to add one, would a taupe be a good play or should you stick with a classic like the navy?
TWINSIES! Except I bought both in 36S.
JCF’s is a suit jacket, and BR’s is a blazer. I’ve got both and BR’s is easier to pull off casually (chinos, jeans) while JCF’s is a little too nice to wear with chinos.
I tried the Trench on in the store and I agree with what you said about it. Its a bit heavy with the lining but the sale guy had me try it on without it and now Im kicking myself for not buying it because it is out of stock in M & L online.
I have those soft-wash twills in white and light blue. IMO, they are incredibly soft, yet with very substantial collars. Great shirts, when you can get the deal on them. I snagged mine a couple weeks back with the 40% two full priced items. Worn them both twice each since. Great shirts! I just might get me another one today with the 40% off deals. That charcoal might be the one that gets the nod. Nice!
Looking at the size chart it looks like Banana Republic does not stock anything in 42L. I’ve been wanting a blazer, but I don’t trust 42R until I can try one on myself. Anyone know the other measurements for the R length blazers (arm measurement in particular)?
It’s nice that this one included their blazers. The in-store 40% off of two full-priced items does NOT. Dannnnnnnnnnnnng, duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude! I had my eye on that birdseye.
My (confidently wearable) blazer wardrobe, consists solely of the unstructured Merona Kensington (Target) in both navy and khaki/tan. I have worn the navy one several/numerous times since getting it. The tan on… not once yet.
Don’t let that be your deciding factor though, as I think skin tone, hair color, etc may play a role in that choice. Blue shirts/jackets just look better on me than beige ones.
Plus the navy contrasts so much nicer with a clean white dress shirt (button-up).
I’m 6’0″ and 187# (at least this morning I was – still working on losing a few holiday added lbs), and the 42R (which I wear in most other suit jackets/blazers) was TIGHT on me. Not stylishly tight. Just too damn tight. I think I’ll wait until I’m about 180. Then I’ll drop some dough on one of their blazers. They look and feel awesome!
Went for a stroll to the local BR this evening. The in-store 40% off two regular priced items does NOT allow blazers. Buuuhh–mmmmmerrrrr!
Anyway, I hit the clearance racks again, and lo and behold they had *one* of those light beige cotton-cashmere v-neck sweaters. *One*. It was a M, and I usually wear L in their shirts/sweaters/jackets. I gave it a try, and it fits really good (IMO). Best part is that it was on sale to begin with. It was marked down to $39, and 40% off already marked down items. So $23 or so for a good one to add to my mix.
So…. check the clearance section. Even though as Joe said it’s a new arrival, it was in there at this local spot. Oh, and I didn’t see anything wrong with (defect/mark/etc) to be reason for it to be there. Didn’t see another one in the whole store either. Maybe an online purchase returned to the store?
Oh, and I did snag that charcoal soft-wash twill. Not sure if I’m going to keep it, as I have a few of the others in the line already (white, light blue, black/white gingham), but the mid-grey might be nice to have in the mix too. Again, these things wear and feel smooooooooooooooooooooooooooove.
LOL – We’ve broken the code!
I also went to the store, since the trench Joe mentioned wasn’t available in M online. It was in stock at the store. I was worried it may be excluded from the sale for some reason, but it turned out to be included. So, since sizes are pretty limited online, check the store next time (they seem to do these weekly on Wednesdays now).
I have several blazers, and I get the most use of my navy. It just goes with so much more. And I like the look of a lighter shirt under a dark jacket. Also, I tried on both the 3 button navy and the 2 button taupe blazers at BR right now, and I like the fit of the navy better. Even though they’re both the “tailored fit”, the taupe feels a little boxier.
I tried the new trench on too, but passed on it. I just can’t seem to feel right in any of the tan/ khaki ones. I know it’s silly, but I can’t get away from the whole Inspector Gadget thing. Other folks look great in them, including the damn model posted all over the place, wearing it. But when I don it, I can’t help but hear that theme song.
BTW, they handed me a new page of coupons for mid-Feb – March last night when I checked out at the register. Not sure if they will be doing the same overriding Wed promotions in store again, but just in case, it’s nice to have those little cardboard coupons.
Just got the tailored charcoal suit in .. The jacket was great but the slim pants were terrible. Size 38R jacket, 30 x 32 pants. The problem is that the thighs hugged like crazy. Way too much for a formal occasion. I’ll see if there is a regular fit option but I’m thinking this is going back. Bummer.