Today I am joining my pal Jennifer from A Well Styled Life for our Over 50 Style Edit. Jennifer thought it would be a good idea to check out what the factory stores have available for women our age. I purchased three pieces at the Banana Republic Factory store, and I have styled them each two ways. Let’s take a look at The Best Factory Store Separates you can Wear Now.
Be a little creative with your closet, have some fun, and you can create six new outfits with three inexpensive items. I began my hunt at Banana Republic, because I have really been impressed with the quality of their items. As an added bonus, they are offering 50% off clearance and an extra 15% off everything. Of the three items I purchased, this Embroidered A-line Dress (tunic in my book) is the clear winner. It is lightweight, has pretty embroidery down the front and sleeves, has a flattering fit, and is lined.
Here I dressed it up a bit (summer style) for the evening. I am wearing it with lightweight cotton leggings, leopard mules (old Madewell you can find on eBay here, or similar ones linked below the pic), and inexpensive earrings and bracelets that you read about in my post Inexpensive Over 50 Summer Accessories here.
SHOP THE ALL BLACK BR FACTORY LOOK
For a more casual daytime look, I paired the tunic with the scalloped Lysee leggings (you have seen here a million times before), a necklace from Paula Carvalho, and my favorite Olukai flip-flops.
SHOP BLACK AND WHITE BR FACTORY LOOK
I know many of you love the CP Shades Lily Skirt but don’t like the price. This eyelet skirt from BP Factory is a less pricey alternative and just as versatile. It also comes in black. Here I am wearing it with a casual denim shirt, inexpensive summer accessories, and some older sandals. I linked similar below.
SHOP BR FACTORY CASUAL EYELET LOOK
In this photo, I am wearing the eyelet skirt with the Cynthia Ashby Mesh Tee (which I own in many colors). You can find the Cynthia Ashby tee on Artful Home here. I sometimes find them on eBay and Poshmark as well. I am wearing it with a favorite necklace from Parham and Company Studio, the earrings are super cheap from Amazon, and laidbacklondon sandals.
SHOP THE BR FACTORY HI-LOW LOOK
I do not wear brown for the most part but thought I would take one for the brown team with this Knit Midi Dress From Banana Republic Factory. The quality is amazing with a great price point. I ordered the medium because I am overweight right now. I think the small would have been better. I accessorized it with the not-so-price-friendly but amazing Helen Kaminski hat (these hats last for years and this one has a wire around the brim to prevent flopping), Paula Carvalho necklace, and ankle-tie sandals also from BP Factory. I don’t normally wear sleeveless. I am flexing to take up the surplus skin on the arms!
SHOP BR FACTORY RIB KNIT MIDI LOOK
I have my arms covered here. The eyelet is so lightweight. I tied an eyelet shirt from J Crew (last year) at the waist with my Superga sneaks and Wallaroo UPF50 hat. There are a few eyelet shirts on Ebay here. I linked a couple similar ones below the picture.
SHOP FACTORY BR KNIT DRESS & EYELET LOOK
So now we have six outfits from three great pieces from the Banana Republic Factory.
If you have been reading my blog for long you know that I am a big fan of the Sundance Outlet. I often feature items from there on my outfit of the week on Sunday. I am also a big fan of Nordstrom Rack but you have to check it regularly because they often sell out of favorite items. If you like Eileen Fisher, they are a great source for Eileen Fisher items. Don’t discount the Gap Factory Outlet either. Remember the great jacket I featured in my post Best Utility Jackets for Women over 50. I love mine.
Do you shop at the factory stores? Have you had good luck? If you have a favorite please share it in the comments. Thanks for reading The Best Factory Store Separates you can Wear Now. Now pop over and see what Jennifer found. We don’t share so it is always fun to see what we both come up with. Click on the link below.
A WELL-STYLED LIFE
Cindy, I’ve not shopped at Banana factory, I will have to check it out! All of your outfits look beautiful and stylish as always. My favorite pice is the tunic/dress. I know that you mentioned you don’t like brown but the dress does look beautiful on you.
The post shows that you do not have to spend a lot to look fashionable, thank you for sharing less expensive options.
Cindy,
I really like each outfit. The eyelet skirt is so pretty and looks like it would be cool to wear on the warmest of summer days. I have purchased quite a bit from J.Crew Factory and have always been happy with the quality. I will have to do more shopping on BR and Sundance Factory. Thanks for the fun fashion post.
Karen B.
Loved all the outfits – especially your styling. The tunic (dress) is so great, and the brown midi looks like it was made for you! Thanks for all the great ideas!
Hi Barb
I am keeping the tunic dress. The brown is not that great on me. I should have ordered a small and brown is not my color. The quality of that dress is excellent, however. I wish it were gray!
Great post. I am checking out a couple of things to think about, but the eyelet skirt is the winner for me. I’m not sure I have enough confience for the brown dress, but it looks terrific on you.
Hi Maeve
The eyelet skirt is wonderful, but I have a white lily skirt, so it is going back. It is fully lined FYI and great quality, I just do not need it!
That embroidered dress looks like it need to be in my closet! Loose, fun sleeves and black 🙂
Going to order!
Hi Lauren
That dress is totally you. You will love it. It is prettier in person. You can’t see the embroidery in the photos.
Have shopped factory stores for grand children’s clothes with luck.hey are always having sales which helps as he kids grow so fast! Almost every store has an outlet, factory store or a sale page. They all have constant sales going,so it is hard not to find what one is looking for.
Hi Susan
I agree…the outlets are great for grandchildren, for the reasons you mentioned. They are not going to be wearing anything long enough to wear it out!
Cindy, you look absolutely gorgeous and I love all of your outfits. Thanks for sharing these great finds, I will have to “go shopping” online today!
Hi Gail
Great to hear from you! It was our hope that we could find some price-friendly items. We all enjoy a bargain, right?
Being a long time retail girl the factory stores carry clothing that has been made for them they do not come from the real stores except Nordstrom‘s rack from what I know.
I thought the blacktop on you was terrific I have a similar one and white I think I got It at ZARA a couple years ago.
Now off to Jennifer‘s post to see what she has found!!!
Hi Elizabeth
You are absolutely right “factory” stores for the most part are now “lesser labels” of most brands. I think there are still several that are still real factory stores. I think several of the handbag outlets are true outlets, as well as Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th etc. It is all about marketing. As Jennifer said in regards to the sweaters, they were identical to ones she picked up at the regular store a couple years ago. I guess you just have to be a smart shopper. That was the point of this post. We wanted to provide some price-friendly alternatives for those who would appreciate them..
The outfits you put together here look great! However, we have to be careful with factory stores. I love Banana Republic and many Banana Republic Outlet items. However, sometimes the outlet items are inferior quality. This year, the outlet store had a take on a dress I got and loved last year at a full-price store. Online, it looked identical to what I had from last year. So I ordered it in 2 different prints. Sadly, the quality and fit were not even close to the dress I got at the full-price store. This is not the first time this has happened with an outlet purchase. However, other times I have found excellent quality and value at the Banana Republic Outlets. It is just hit-and-miss sometimes. It is much easier when one can shop in person and see the quality and fit.
Hi Barbara
You are right it is totally hit and miss. We decided to do this post in order to offer those who are on a budget a more price-friendly alternative. I ordered two shirts that looked lovely but I didn’t personally care for and did not feature. However, I will say the quality was fine. Most factory stores now are not really factory stores (even though they call them that) but a second line that is less expensive.
You look amazing! I love how you put things together and combine accessories! Always so artistic. You look so fabulous in the sleeveless dress and not overweight at all. This was so fun. Glad we tried the outlets. Funny that we both zeroed in on BR Factory. I love their quality.
Hi Jennifer
It is funny that we both zeroed in on Banana but chose completely different items! That’s what makes this collaboration fun! Those colors are dynamite on you.
You have such a way with clothes. I love all combinations. The white eyelet blouse with the tank dress and simple white runners is very cute. I would not have thought to do that.
Hi Joanna
That dress is great, I wish it were gray. Brown is not very becoming on me. You would love that dress. It is really good quality if you can wear brown.
I’m a big fan of Banana Republic Outlet stores and online. I like their quality and style and pricing: sales are terrific. I think you look fabulous in all of these outfits; you have a wonderful flare and your setting shows you off beautifully.
Hi Pam
Thank you so much. I was very impressed with what I ordered. There were a couple of shirts that were not winners for me, but the quality was good.
You look fabulous in all these looks Cynthia, thanks so much for giving us some great ideas!
Hi Kerry Lou
So nice to hear from you. I love your makeup videos!
You look fab in all the outfits and your home backdrop is not lost on me.
Interested in the Cynthia Ashby tee!
Great post as usual and Happy Wednesday from VA – the humidity capital of the East Coast….🫠
Cindy, I Love all of your stylish and creative looks! Gray, the Cynthia Ashby’s mesh tees are on sale right now!
Hi Ginger
Yes, they are and I love those tees. I would have one in every color if I could. They cover the arms but are not hot. A win for the bingo arms!!
Gray
You would love those tees. They are on sale at Artful Home. They wash beautifully and hold their shape and color, unlike most tees.
I LOVE all these outfit but esp that tunic/dress – WOW a must have
I think you look fantastic in the brown Banana Republic dress!
The brown knit midi looks fabulous on you!
Hi Cindy, another fabulous post. Just wanted to tell you I got the buffalo horn jewelry from Vietnam you recommended from ETSY a few weeks ago. Absolutely fabulous bangle bracelets and earrings. They were very inexpensive and came quickly and of great quality. Thank you!