I've been trying to find one of these for years. I had one with short sleeves that I fixed up to look exactly like an AVG bush jacket. I even had a really good set of repro Chinese pilot's wings on it. Now, I can't find a decent jacket.
I've been trying to find one of these for years. I had one with short sleeves that I fixed up to look exactly like an AVG bush jacket. I even had a really good set of repro Chinese pilot's wings on it. Now, I can't find a decent jacket.
I bought a jacket like AlanC's in 1987 in L.A. I wore it a lot but most of the use it got was as a blanket for my daughter after she was born in 1989. Until she was about 10 wherever we went she would somehow end up wrapped up in that jacket.
About a month ago I told my wife its the only thing we lost in Hurricane Katrina I really regret not having anymore (which in the big picture means we were pretty lucky).
Hi
I agree with the guy who said that Banana Republic wasn't REALLY an outfitter, just a store that got lucky when Raiders came out. I agree, but what happened to BR was bad. They sold comfortable clothing.
What happened to Abercrombie and Fitch was an absolute TRADEGY.A&F really was an outfitter who sold safari clothing, camping equipment, and even rifles in their stores. If memory serves, they were Teddy Roosevelt's outfitter for his post-Presidential African Safari.
Later
Mike
Groucho Marx said it best:
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying all the wrong remedies.”
Lots of memories from this thread. In about 1988, I lost my job at the railroad and my sister suggested I move to Missouri and get a college degree at MU in Columbia. All I owned was dirty work clothes. So, with a big credit card, I went to some mall in eastern Pennsylvania (King of Prussia, maybe). There was a Banana Republic store there, everything marked down as they said the store was "changing" or something. I walked out of there with a ton of stuff. Over the years, some has gotten lost, some destroyed.
Ended up with a Journalism degree. Still have the photo vest (and the big F3 Nikon with the loud autowinder) and one of their canvas camera bags. But, all the other stuff went with my ex-wife.
I have found a lot of replacements right here in the FL classifieds. On the other subject of real outfitters, I don't know of any who do clothing. But, a neat site is drake dot net. Lewis Drake sells rifles, furniture and other stuff. I still have a leather bag from them that has just been beat to pieces and is still going.
Every so often Banana Republic re-creates some of their older styles. I've a 5 year old leather jacket that has the old Travel and Savanna tag. It's the heaviest leather jacket I've ever seen at a normal mall and I think of it as my gateway drug to my first Aero.
I think the leather is likely steer and would be a mid-weight at Aero. The color is nice and deep with the only problem being that they spent no time or money on the buttons.
A&F was THE outfitter store for not only the well to do and Stars but everyone that was really going on Safari or an expedition anywhere in the world. You could book your Safari, purchase your gun and gear at one place.
I worked in Chicago in the early 1970's and spent many a day drooling over the guns and bamboo fly rods in the Chicago store. A&F sold the best British guns pre-War along with American doubles. I finally was able to purchase a Brit pre-War double, branded and sold by A&F a few years ago. After the War, A&F held its own until about the 1980's when they started to import less expensive guns and gear. Of course when the Brand Name changed hands, everything changed and it became a trendy retailer of clothing to the younger set.
Banana Republic was never where anyone who was going hunting anywhere in the world would go to get clothes or gear of any kind.
Today, I get my gear from Filson on eBay and that will shortly change as Filson is gradually moving production off shore but keeping the same prices, instant improvment on the bottom line.
I don't miss Banana Republic but I sure do miss A&F.-Dick
Tadite - I had that same jacket, was very nice... and also the exact jacket Bruce Willis wore in Live Free or Die Hard.
There was a time when about 80% of my wardrobe was from Banana Republic. I had a leather flight jacket, dozens of slacks and ghurka shorts, many Expedition Cloth shirts, a 3/4 length tan duster that was really cool, two photojournalist vests, and at one time, one of these safari jackets. Problem is that I grew out of all that stuff and gave it to Goodwill or friends, including the safari jacket. Too bad, as it was in "as new" shape. I was cleaning out my garage this weekend and found an old pair of navy blue Banana Republic slacks, still heavily starched, four sizes too small, that had been following me since about 1985 or so. Some less fortunate person has a snappy pair of pants now. As for Cabela's, something happened in the last few years to the quality of a lot of their clothing, shirts in particular. All the heavyweight garment-dyed t-shirts I bought from them 8 years or more ago are still functioning, but getting pretty worn out. The ones I bought to replace them unravelled or shrunk, or just wore out within weeks. I talked to them about this, and they seemed pretty unconcerned with keeping my business. This is sad, because I have always bought clothing and shoes from them, and will spend my $$ elsewhere now. I do miss those old Banana Republic catalogs.
Has anyone scans of old catalogues? That would be very helpful and an amazing resource. I must try Google!
I still have and wear my Banana Republic safari shirt that I purchased back in 1986 or so at the Scottsdale location. Wearing that with a fedora and khakis definitely gives me the Indy look.
As some have said though, I don't think Banana Republic was ever a real outfitter type store the way Abercrombie & Fitch was or Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop are today. Banana Republic was basically a mall store that catered to the trend of safari clothes made popular by the Indiana Jones movies. Some may recall that even Magnum PI wore a safari shirt when he wasn't wearing his traditional red hawaiian one.
Also, every BR store I ever visited had either the plane or the jeep inside and some had both. During the 80's I know I went to BRs in Arizona, Detroit (Birmingham), Chicago, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. They all had the props and played swing music that was supposed to sound like it was coming over an old tube radio.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
