“As I’ve gone back to work, I’ve been shopping more with Banana Republic online,” said Ms. Diaz, who works at a nonprofit in Santa Fe, N.M., and left the store without making a purchase.
While some shoppers and even Ms. Stangl see the term “work wear” as passe, Banana Republic still has a dedicated section on its website called “The Workwear Edit.”
Angela Branch, a 39-year-old working at a university in Chicago, was also drawn to Banana Republic’s online store. She said she had always thought of its clothes as “business business” but bought a lightweight cashmere sweater and utility pants because they worked well for both the office and weekend brunch.
Before the pandemic, she used to have a section in her closet dedicated to work wear, and she frequently added to it. But now her clothes need to be more versatile, she said, and concerns about the economy have curbed her spending even more.
“I’ve definitely slowed up a lot because I don’t really need anything,” Ms. Branch said.
But Banana Republic’s nascent home décor line, she said, could make her want to keep spending there.
Eric Ford, a 30-year-old working in marketing in New York, echoed that sentiment. His mother introduced him to Banana Republic when he was younger, but until recently, the brand had felt irrelevant to him. The push to sell décor and furniture comes at a time in his life and career when he’s ready to put money toward those kinds of purchases.
“I literally told myself 30 is the time where, like, all my money is going to my closet, my home and me traveling,” Mr. Ford, who lives in Brooklyn, said.
For all the latest business News Click Here
