Crisis in Denim

I was going through my mail the other day, when I opened my Banana Republic bill, and found this inside:

Yes You Did. It was on a little card attached to $30 worth of gift cards I’d earned by sprucing up my work wardrobe at Banana Republic, and charging it all to my Banana Republic Luxe Card.

The next morning I was driving down my street and saw an Obama bumper sticker that read “Yes We Did!”

Three simple words, but I realized something. President Barack Obama’s election-night speech has so infused our culture in this last year, that everyone, even Banana Republic, is quoting it.

But it seemed a bit of a stretch. Were these gift cards, with their little “Yes You Did” notice, supposed to inspire the same swell of pride that President Barack Obama’s speech did, before that hushed Chicago crowd, just one year ago? I’m not sure I did very much to warrant channeling the president. I mean, what would the president’s acceptance speech sound like if you applied it to shopping at Banana Republic?

You. You selected the three best pairs of wool trousers out of a dozen styles and sizes. Yes You Did.

You tried them on with low heels and high heels, jackets and sweaters, to create the perfect outfit. Yes You Did.

You browsed the sale racks, searching for marked-down basics like shells and t-shirts, to fill out your wardrobe. Yes You Did.

You shopped strategically, passing up things you knew wouldn’t fit or that you didn’t need, asking the salesperson to show you the latest stock. Yes You Did.

Later, you helped your boyfriend find the perfect cranberry-colored sweater and wool trousers, then charged it to your BR card so he could get another 25 percent off and you would get the points. Yes You Did.

Actually, I am getting a bit misty-eyed just thinking of how much shopping I have accomplished. Thanks BR. You’ve inspired me. Still, I know I can’t grow complacent. To paraphrase that same election night speech: “There is so much more [shopping] to do!”

Dear Banana Republic,

You and I have been the bosom-est of buddies for more than two decades. Back in the 1980’s when I was maybe 15, and my Denim Crises were relatively minor, it was a treat to visit your safari-themed store in downtown Boston.

I loved that the decor included steamer trunks, and typewriters that appeared to hail from British colonial East Africa (yes, it romanticized British colonial East Africa, which is extremely problematic, I realize). It was like being on a safari– except you were shopping instead of being chased by wild animals.

Remember these t-shirts? I totally had at least two. Anyone else?

Not long after you ditched the safari theme in favor of sleek and modern fare, I graduated from college and became a working girl — in New York City!–and found myself regularly trolling the racks at your Lexingon Avenue store for proper working girl duds.

Yes, Banana. For years, you have diligently and patiently solved many of my crises– denim and otherwise. That’s why I felt so very betrayed this weekend when Read the rest of this entry »