Lisle Knit Turtleneck

This is a rare find! An early turtleneck with a very large BR tag. From the 1983 catalogue: “When we offer a classic, we go out of our way to make sure it’s the best of its kind on the market. With cotton turtlenecks, for instance, we don’t chintz on the fabric quality (we use 100% long-staple cotton lisle) or the cotton quantity (our shirt of two-ply, meaning double thick), nor do we stand over our seamstresses with stop watches. You might find cotton turtlenecks that look as good at first glance, but the truth comes out after one washing. Because of the long-staple cotton, our turtleneck easily holds its shape, and because we don’t skimp on workmanship, our turtleneck won’t begin to fray and fall apart. Shrinkage is only 4%, so order actual size. We suggest trying several colors–they’re terrific condiments to your khakis.”

The shirt came in Khaki, Natural, Burgundy, and Black (below). Photos courtesy Gary Pinkerton.

About The Author

Robyn Adams
Robyn’s fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying their clothing and giving her their catalogs. She loved the clothes, and as an artist, she was drawn to the illustrations. Robyn went on to study illustration at an art college in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco, CA, and she worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA and works as a graphic designer and illustrator. She has been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.