The Republic: Banana Republic from the Inside Out

We recently opened our first store in Paris on the famed Avenue des Champs Élysées, no less. Of course, we threw a magnificent fete with full-on red carpet to celebrate our French debut. Ooh la la!

The most fashionable Parisians, including the mayor, top fashion editors and celebrities, toasted our arrival, enjoyed a Banana Republic fashion show and shopped the night away. By closing time, 5200 people had walked through the doors … having thoroughly enjoyed the latest fashions — from America with style.

1. Ribbon cutting 2. Singer, Elodie Frégé 3. François Lebel, Mayor of the 8th district of Paris 4. Store interior 5. BR brand ambassadors, Antoine de Caunes and Daphné Roulier with actress and producer Julie Gayet 6. Queue to enter 7. Fabulous hat 8. To the next level 9. Shoppers delight

While catching up with a favorite film this weekend — the Hitchcock classic, To Catch a Thief — we couldn’t help but notice how great those nautical stripes look on Mr. Grant (and how on trend they are for spring)!

We got to wondering what other classic icons we could find wearing this timeless look. Here are a few images we came across. If inspiration were a crime, we’d gladly be behind bars to follow this trend.

1. Coco Chanel 2. Bridget Bardot 3. James Dean 4. Jackie Kennedy 5. Audrey Hepburn

(Jackie Kennedy photo via Life.com)

While this post has been going around for a bit, it’s always nice to have a refresher in good manners, gentlemen (especially if, like us, you plan on cutting loose this weekend)!

Tom Ford’s five easy lessons on how to be a modern gentleman:

1. You should put on the best version of yourself when you go out in the world because that is a show of respect to the other people around you.

2. A gentleman today has to work. People who do not work are so boring and are usually bored. You have to be passionate, you have to be engaged and you have to be contributing to the world.

3. Manners are very important and actually knowing when things are appropriate. I always open doors for women, I carry their coat, I make sure that they’re walking on the inside of the street. Stand up when people arrive at and leave the dinner table.

4. Don’t be pretentious or racist or sexist or judge people by their background.

5. A man should never wear shorts in the city. Flip-flops and shorts in the city are never appropriate. Shorts should only be worn on the tennis court or on the beach.

Good advice never goes out of style.

Running out of motivation on those New Year’s resolutions? (Us too.) So when we came across this charming solution via A Pair & A Spare on how to conquer that mess of tangled earrings, chains and bracelets that winds up on our nightstands every week, we were thrilled. The best part? It’s DIY!

Think bowls, cake stands, simple corkboard and more. We love the idea of your favorite jewelry serving double duty, not only styling up your favorite outfit, but also your dressing area. Curate your collection for daily enjoyment daily and easy access.

See more images and examples at A Pair & A Spare.

All this week our team has been painstakingly putting together the hottest summer ever during the cold New York winter (we’re from California — 42º is chilly to us!)

Of course, we wouldn’t leave you guessing. Take a peek at what went on behind the scenes and let the countdown to summer style begin.

1. Photographer Andreas bends over backwards to get the shot. 2. Anouck is gorgeous — our stylist, hair and makeup team agree. 3. Stay golden. 4. You can’t call these colors flat. 5. Anouck in hair, giant rollers abound. 6. It’s a jungle in here. 7. Creative team on the prowl.