Editors Test the Banana Republic x La Ligne Collaboration Full of "Classic, Not Boring" Wardrobe Staples

Christmas came early for celebrity New Yorkers like Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone: On September 9, La Ligne, their favorite NYC-based brand for everyday basics, and Banana Republic launched a cool-girl collaboration just in time for fall. Featuring "pieces that move with you through a five-things-before-lunch kind of day," La Ligne CEO Molly Howard tells Marie Claire, it also comes with a campaign starring Zoey Deutch.

Instead of celebrating the New York-based brand's tenth anniversary with balloons and a sheet cake, La Ligne blessed fans of its "distinct New York sense of ease" with the gift of a partnership with the go-to destination for wardrobe essentials. According to Meredith Melling, La Ligne co-founder, the two have a lot "in common... [including] a shared belief in quality basics that are classic without being boring."

With this in mind, the collection includes 36 pieces, ranging from outerwear and tailoring to sweaters and skirts, designed to showcase the label's "joyful approach to stripes, shirting, and modern wardrobe staples," per the press release.

"It was important that [the collaboration] read as a real conversation between two design languages, not us layering our aesthetic on top of theirs," La Ligne co-founder Meredith Melling says. "We also wanted our tailoring instincts to come through clearly [in] the nipped waist, the considered belt and buckle details—set against Banana Republic's strength in quality basics and archive-grade outerwear."

In true La Ligne style, stripes were the star of the show, moving from button-downs and T-shirts to sweaters, headscarves, and even scrunchies. In addition to a neutral-forward palette of browns and beige, the line also includes splashes of cobalt blue.

Surprisingly, no mood board was necessary for this fashion collaboration: Instead, a "genuine deep dive" through the beloved mall brand's past designs became the blueprint for La Ligne. "We spent time in Banana Republic's archives together, looking at the small stuff—an asymmetrical button on a shirt dress, the shape of a T-shirt collar—the kind of details that tell you what a brand believes in," Melling says.

From there, the labels "refined silhouettes" like crewneck cardigans, cotton poplin skirts, barn jackets, and trench coats, "until every piece felt like it could've come from either closet."

Much like the brand's signature (and Lawrence-approved) Colby pants or Ben Sweater, "nothing in this collection asks a woman to perform or become someone else to wear it—they fit seamlessly into your existing wardrobe," Melling says.

For co-founder Valerie Macaulay, the belted wrap coat is one of the collection's standout styles. "Outerwear is where Banana Republic's archive really shines—investment pieces built to last for years, not seasons—and the wrap silhouette and belt are pure La Ligne; that instinct to nip in a waist and make something feel considered," she says.

If Howard had to pick a few pieces to invest in, the same calf-length coat would be at the top of her list, too: "It does the work of a dozen other pieces and only gets better with age," she adds. Then, she'd prioritize the wool suit for "the days that move from a meeting to dinner without a pit stop home."

And because no La Ligne collection is complete without cashmere, Howard suggests shoppers treat themselves to a classic crewneck, "because New York asks you to layer constantly, and it needs to be something soft enough to live against your skin all day."

While the Banana Republic x La Ligne collaboration brings out the best of both brands, it also introduces new, soon-to-be heirlooms. "Keep an eye out, too, for where the 'number three' shows up throughout the collection: three-button cuffs, stripes, the buckle adjustment on that coat, a little wink to the three of us as founders," Macaulay says.

Retailing from $20 to $1,500, the Banana Republic x La Ligne collection is available online and in select Banana Republic stores. Don't wait to shop the line—it's only a matter of time before Lawrence recreates one of the looks.

How to Style the Banana Republic x La Ligne Collaboration

"I’ve been eager to find a pair of culottes to add to my autumn wardrobe, and thanks to the new Banana Republic x La Ligne collaboration, I just discovered my match. Stitched with heavyweight cotton in an earthy olive shade, these cropped bottoms have fall written all over them. I styled the look with a soft Banana Republic cardigan from my closet and layered it over the collection’s Slim Blazer, which offers the perfect amount of shape and structure. Grounded in heeled boots, this outfit embraces English country style in the best way possible."—Lauren Tappan, fashion editor

"I’m always looking for knits that can do the work of a jacket in early fall, and this one does. It’s chunky enough to give an outfit some shape, but the cropped length keeps it from feeling bulky. I’d wear it on its own now and layer it under a jacket once it gets colder."—Sara Holzman, style director

"Barn jackets are everywhere right now, and this is exactly how I want to wear one. It has some real weight to it without actually feeling heavy, and the slightly oversized fit gives it that slouch I’m always looking for. I also love the longer length with a really wide trouser. It feels less literal than your standard 'chore' coat."—Holzman

"At first, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the Boxy Cotton T-shirt being so, well, boxy; skintight baby tees are my signature. But it unleashed a storm of striped shirts in my fall wardrobe. I seriously ordered three more (from Banana Republic, of course) after giving the short-sleeve style's brown-and-ivory bands a go. Tucking it into something more fitted—the chestnut-colored Suede Wrap Midi Skirt—helped offset the top's oversized silhouette. Though, I'm interested to see how a free-flowing T-shirt would look with the same silky-suede skirt.

In the accessories department, my brown east-west bag added another neutral to the mix, while velvet Mary Janes provided as much texture as the skirt."—Meguire Hennes, staff writer, fashion

"I couldn't wait to test the day-to-night potential of the Banana Republic x La Ligne collaboration. Spoiler alert: It passed with flying colors. For a work day full of meetings, I wore the blue Cotton Poplin Tunic (featuring another set of It-girl stripes) with the Drapey Pointe Pull-On Pant, a.k.a. the softest trousers I've ever styled. They were a few shades darker than the Cape Trench Coat, in a delicious 'Ganache Brown' color.

One of my favorite parts about this office-friendly outfit? The stripes weren't limited to my Oxford shirt: the belted trench's interior boasted muted green bands, which made for a fun surprise when I rolled up the sleeves. Popping on chocolate brown loafers (which matched the trousers to a T), I created the coolest work co-ord in my closet."—Hennes

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