The Republic: Banana Republic from the Inside Out

We’re beyond smitten with Coco Rocha. She’s one of our favorite models and the star of our Summer 2012 and Banana Republic Trina Turk Collection campaigns. When she recently gave us a shout out on her popular tumblr, we thought it the perfect time to catch up.

Banana Republic: Are you still shocked/excited when you see yourself on a billboard?
Coco: It’s still a really unique and bizarre feeling to see myself—or even any of my friends—on a billboard. When a campaign first comes out, I’ll usually do the obligatory “picture in front of the picture” tweet and that gets really awkward when people on the street realize I’m posing in front of my own campaign. That happened the other week in San Francisco with the Trina Turk for Banana Republic ads. I ended up having to pose for some passersby, as well!

BR: You were amazing in our Summer 2012 campaign. What are your top 5 summer essentials?
Coco: 1. A good book for a lazy day by the pool. Right now I’m reading “North And South” by Elizabeth Gaskel. I’ve watched the movie every year of my life but never read the book before.
2. Sunscreen, especially for pasty white girls like me! If I even look at the sun, I break out in freckles.
3. A barbecue! I actually just bought my first for my new house and grilled up a bunch of amazing veggies and steak last week. A BBQ meal always lets you (and your jealous neighbors) know it’s summer.
4. A colored lip! Summer is THE time for some color in your life. Bubblegum pink and candy orange are my current favorites.
5. Margaritas! My new favorite drink. When done right there is nothing better on a hot summer day.

BR: Describe your style in 3 words?
Coco: Romantic. Quirky. Bold.

Keep up with Coco by following her on tumblr.

Photo via Coco Rocha

Looking for help navigating the new Banana Republic Trina Turk Collection? Look no further. Check out our lookbook below to see all five fabulous patterns with a little note from Trina herself.

“The best thing about the collaboration with Banana Republic? Mixing my favorite signature prints and their famously clean lines. The result is a happy wardrobe that makes a colorful splash for summer. Enjoy!”

The Pisces Print
Repeating scallop patterns reminiscent of fish scales. In two tonal shades — pink and turquoise — both outlined in mustard.

The Swirl Print
The hand-drawn looseness of the print evokes the pattern and randomness of forms found in nature. In aqua and pink colorways.

The Coachella Print
The multi-colored movement of the print reflects the energy of Southern California—bright and bohemian.

The Crazy Botanical Print
An organic line drawing of fantastical plant and sea life in crazy colors.  One of the best-selling Trina Turk prints ever.

The Zazzy Zebra Print
An artful take on the classic animal print with the verve of a brushstroke, for spontaneity and motion.

The Banana Republic Trina Turk Collection is available in stores and online.

In case you missed it (and with bold, colorful prints like these how could you?) our Banana Republic Trina Turk Collection launched in stores and online today.

5 signature prints. 60 modern pieces. 100% summertime chic.
Our new collection created exclusively in collaboration with designer Trina Turk is a match made in summer—where colorful prints and clean lines come together in one covet-worthy wardrobe of dresses, swimwear, shorts and accessories.

Click read more below to see the entire campaign with model Coco Rocha. Photographed by Carter Smith.

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Our new men’s fragrance Wildblue is seriously cool (and hot) for summer. To celebrate the launch of the refreshing marine–inspired scent, Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen and perfumer Jean Claude Delville of Drom co-hosted a fabulous launch party at The Standard East Village in NYC. 

To find out more about Wildblue, we chatted up merchandise manager JoEllen D. Check out the Q+A below along with photos from the event.

BR: How would you describe the scent of Wildblue?
JoEllen: Wildblue is fresh and spicy, with hints of marine notes.

Banana Republic: What is the inspiration for the scent? Main notes?
JoEllen: We worked with Jean-Claude Delville of Drom fragrances to develop Wildblue.  (He also created our iconic Classic scent.) In creating Wildblue, Jean-Claude was inspired by spending time under the bountiful skies near the Sea of Cortez, which he describes as “an unexpected moment of beauty and escape.”  The fragrance itself evokes Jean-Claude’s inspiration, including a blend of fresh desert air accord, rich sage, driftwood and masculine dewy-green vetiver.

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