After seasons of casting contests and themed window displays, Banana Republic is taking its alliance with AMC juggernaut Mad Men to the next level with a full-fledged clothing collection slated to hit stores and online August 11.
Excitingly, the line is designed in collaboration with the show’s crack costume designer Janie Bryant, the Emmy Award-winner responsible for Don Draper's skinny two-button suits, Joan Holloway’s slinky shifts, and Betty Draper’s passive-aggressive party dresses. As you'd expect, the Banana Republic spin will include tailored suits (including a tux!) from $450, slim trousers, and knit sweaters for men, and A-line and shift dresses, flared skirts, cropped pants, silk tie-neck blouses, and a coy animal print trench ($198) for women. On the accessories end, guys can look forward to $10 cotton pocket squares, silk ties for $59.50, tie bars, money clips, and fedoras; ladies to print scarves ($39.50) and leopard-print pumps that will pop well with just about everything on the apparel side.
In a statement, Bryant said the collection will allow fans to channel their own Mad Men style and take home fashionable items that are modern, not costume.
The late summer release was originally timed with the show’s fifth season premiere. The only hitch? Due to a contract impasse between AMC and show creator Matthew Weiner, the fifth season now won't be premiering till early next year.
But, reports a New York Times piece published last night, the Banana higher-ups aren't worried:
"At the consumer level, it still has a lot of legs,” Mr. Julian said. “People know what you mean when you say ‘the Mad Men look’: a two-button, trim suit, a crisp shirt and a pocket square, the mod look of the ’60s."
Expect AMC and Banana Republic to reprise its Mad Men Casting Call (the spoils: a walk-on role and $1,000 to spend at the store). The chain’s Facebook fans will get first dibs on the collection, with a pre-sale of the full collection happening on its page August 10.