Coral Tones, Tree Prints, and Gingham — Behold The Timo Weiland For Banana Republic Collection

Just days ago, Banana Republic unveiled its Timo Weiland-designed capsule collection, a playful array of pieces consisting of matching crop tops and fitted skirt ensembles, as well as fanciful day dresses with artful prints. Timo Weiland, a six-year-old, New-York-based brand launched by designers Alan Eckstein, Timo Weiland, and Donna Kang, is known for its distinctive spin on American sportswear, how it fuses together urban and preppy elements, adding whimsical touches for a truly adventurous yet wearable result. The Timo Weiland for Banana Republic capsule collection rings true to the brand’s DNA thanks to the inclusion of traditional textiles like lightweight linens, as well as spring-y gingham prints and slightly retro, pin-up worthy tie-front tops.

There’s an all-American feel to gingham — it is, after all, the pattern of the dress Dorothy wore while exploring Oz, the print of the button-down shirt Jane Fonda donned (along with brown trousers and a classic cowboy hat) in The Balled of Cat Ballou,the print of Katharine Hepburn’s dress (particularly, of the frock’s collar and its tiered and ruffled skirt) in The Philadelphia Story. These examples should help to crystallize the many ways in which gingham has been used to convey different sentiments and themes — in the case of Fonda’s Cat Ballou character, gingham was essential to her renegade Western gunslinger ensemble, whereas in The Philadelphia Story, the print was elevated to exude the glamour associated with Hepburn’s socialite character.  Perhaps the pop culture image that we most closely associate with gingham, however, is that of Dawn Welles as Mary Ann Summers in Gilligan’s Island donning a checkered dress with ruffled short sleeves and a square neckline.

All of these references, then, seem to inform the design of the Timo Weiland Collection Gingham Tie-Front Top ($128 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com), a sleeveless shell with a traditional crew neck, distinguished by a dark blue fringe trim, two large patch pockets at the chest, and a tie-front hemline. This top conveys a sense of ease, a playful flirtatiousness, but the well-tailored quality adds a sophistication and neatness to the design.  And, since match-y match-y outfits continue to be in vogue, a corresponding skirt is included in the collection: the Timo Weiland Collection Gingham Skirt ($148 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com), which hits at the knee and has a close but not body-hugging fit. Featuring a banded waistline, the skirt’s hemline has three tiers of dark navy blue fringe trim.

There’s another tie-front top and skirt combo in the collection, one that boasts a near identical silhouette, but its mood is entirely different. The Timo Weiland Collection Linen Tie-Front Top (at BananaRepublic.Gap.com) and the Timo Weiland Collection Linen Skirt ($128 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com). Both of these pieces hit at the same spot in the body (the top at the high hip, the skirt at the knee), both feature the same embellishments (the three-tiered fringe on the skirt and the patch pockets on the shirt), but the somber navy color of the linen material makes this top-and-skirt ensemble feel more appropriate for the workplace and more conservative settings.

Now, the tie-front top and skirt ensembles weren’t designed to reveal any midriff. Yes, the bow detail at the hemline of each self-tie top adds a feminine touch, but the bow still falls at the high hip. Those, then, who want to show off a little skin can turn to the  Timo Weiland Collection Coral Crop Top ($118 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com), an 80% cotton and 20% silk top with a V-shaped neckline, spaghetti straps, and midriff-baring fit. In addition to its perky color, this top is distinguished by the textural juxtapositions created by the fabric, the band of shiny silk demarcating the “V” neckline and the second patch of silk creating a triangular patch above the hemline. The Timo Weiland Collection Coral Full Skirt ($178 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com), meanwhile, perfectly balances the streamlined fit of the top due to its voluminous nature. The banded skirt features deep pleats, side pockets, and a sheer silk panel creating a broad horizontal band above the knee.
The show-stopper within the collection is the Timo Weiland Collection Tree Print Dress ($298 at BananaRepublic.Gap.com), a 100% silk, powder blue frock with a full skirt, a strapless bodice with a soft V-shaped neckline and spaghetti straps, and a seamed waist. A colorful tree print is emblazoned along the bodice, with branches stretching downward below the waistline, as well as along the hemline, with the print primarily adorning the strips of fabric in between thee semi-sheer silk insets along the lower third of the skirt. The placement of the print is, of course, what makes this dress so ingenious. The pale blue color of the fabric seems fitting for spring and the mainly bare branches along the bodice, adorned with just a few red blooms, captures the seasonal transition. As your gaze moves down and you begin to notice the print along the hemline, you’ll notice the colors are richer and much saturated, with lush green, poppy, and tangerine shades surfacing, perhaps to convey a journey deeper into the season.

Some of the pieces in the collection (not shown here) have already sold out, so act quick if you want to snap these up!