One of my most-saved outfit posts over the years is a simple but timeless one, featuring high waisted, floor length tan trousers and a white crossover drape top. Similar pieces have been surprisingly hard to come by, so these pants from Banana Republic immediately caught my eye, and more so when I read all the positive reviews. The cut is just as I had hoped – a flattering high rise with a lightweight fluid material and slight bootcut. However note that the length is long, even in petite sizing, and they do not have back pockets which I usually like. I’m 5′ tall wearing the petite sizing with 4″ heels, so some ladies may need to get these hemmed. Measurements of these pants in 00 petite: 12.5″ across the waist, 9″ rise, 31″ inseam.
To further recreate the reader-favorite outfit, I was also happy to find a similar crossover top in several colors! This one is very lightweight and soft against the skin, and incorporates a more eco-friendly fabric (it was interesting learning about Lenzing fabrics in general). You can think of this as an elevated knit tee that pairs with jeans, skirts, and workwear. The white color is a little sheer unless you wear a skin-toned bra (I usually size up on white knit tops too so it’s not tight), so I’d recommend one of the darker colors. I thought this was very sleek and flattering in black and will share a fit photo soon. See BR’s entire Threadsoft line that uses Lenzing modal.
After petting and trying on a whole bunch of sweaters this visit, there were two that stood out to me in terms of quality and fit. Fabric-wise, I look for ones that are not too fluffy (to minimize shedding), not too loose in the weave (snag-prone), and good pliability so that it’s easy to style and tuck / half tuck. Fit wise, a lot of the BR sweaters I’ve tried on recently have run short (including the two below), so are best paired with higher rise jeans and bottoms or you can try a size up for a more casual fit.
- Merino blend turtleneck sweater. This caught my attention as it was the softest one I came across in store, and is a good medium weight for wearing across 3 seasons. You’ll notice the reviews under regular sizing are positive, but several under the petite tab say it’s too short. I wear a lot of higher-waisted bottoms so the petites works for me (I did size up to XS petite for a casual fit), but I also tried on an XS regular and it fits me like a normal sweater. The “oatmeal” is a blend of cream, beige, and grays closer up, and I’d also recommend the dark olive green which I saw in-person. For merino blend sweaters, I machine wash in the delicates cycle in a mesh bag and then lay them flat to try on a mesh rack (similar to how I wash silk).
- Cotton blend balloon sleeve sweater. A stylish little sweater in a substantial, medium to thicker weight knit. This has textural details all over the sleeves, nice wide ribbing, and a tight weave with smooth finish that doesn’t look like it would pill or snag easily. Runs short as well and my usual petite sizing hits right at my waist line (will share a fit pic soon).
Lastly they are having extra 60% off sale items, and a few coats I reviewed last year are on major sale left in select sizes:
- Faux suede jacket in olive petite xs for under $40 (originally $180). Great quality – see on me in tan.
- Houndstooth coat in petite xs, s for $80 (originally $270). Beautiful longer coat. See on me – coat #1.
- Black faux fur coat in petite xs, s for $74 (originally $250). Very soft material. See on me – coat #3.
Thank you to Banana Republic for partnering on this post.
