Today in Retro Fashion: Banana Republic

It's hard to imagine this now, but once upon a time—before it became the purveyor of prettily sleek, on-trend clothes it is today—Banana Republic was a store that sold clothes for world travelers, specifically people who were going on safari. It competed with the J. Peterman catalog and its retail locations were filled with Jeeps covered in branches and tons of "exotic" items like mosquito nets. The Gap bought Banana Republic in 1983 and changed its vision, but even when I was kid I can remember BR feeling outdoorsy and super-preppy, like what a good-looking early-'80s anthropologist would wear when traveling. I found a handful of vintage BR pieces on eBay today—like this woven belt, tie-waist jacket, and

long khaki skirt (perfect with a tucked-in white button-down and tie-up boots!)—and they all have a certain sexy professorial allure. Check it out.