When the Banana Republic design team looked for inspiration for their fall collection, they turned to one place: France.

"We really were cultural tourists and took tons of photographs," Michael Anderson, senior vice president of design said. "We went to these old vintage places. We went to these old mills and these old print houses. We took a wealth of knowledge back to the studio with us."

That wealth of knowledge translated into classic pieces for men and women filled with pops of color including orange, red, maroon and blue. Those brightly colore pieces are meant to be layered with neutral palettes which are a Banana staple.

Imagine a long, flowing dress taking center stage next to turtleneck sweaters, peacoats, plus leather gloves and jackets.

"We were looking at how French men and women dress," Anderson explained. "There is a certain style they have: casual and tailored, high and low. Ultimately it's just beautifully feminine. We wanted to celebrate that beautiful feminine look."

The budget-friendly looks were styled in a way that seemed effortlessly chic, which is exactly what the brand intended.

"The sweet spot is to have a beautiful versatile product that you can wear day in and day out," Anderson said.

-Alicia Quarles