economie

After trying on dresses at J. Crew and Abercrombie, I get why the latter’s having an amazing comeback right now

July 25, 20240
J. Crew has 113 stores in the United States.

Chloe Caldwell

J. Crew is known for its timeless styles, including elevated-casual clothing and classic workwear.

There are 113 J. Crew stores across the United States, and I knew that the preppy brand would likely have exactly what I was looking for.

I’ve browsed through J. Crew stores before, but I’ve never bought anything.

I found J. Crew’s layout a little confusing.
The dress at J. Crew was classy yet casual.

Chloe Caldwell

I felt drawn to the overall design of the dress — the front buttons, relaxed fit, and side pockets made it look classy yet casual. I loved that the material was 100% linen (hence the $168 price tag) and felt high-quality, lightweight, and comfortable.

I also appreciated how vibrant and crisp the red hue was.

However, the sizing seemed off.
I visited my local Abercrombie & Fitch store.

Chloe Caldwell

Again, Abercrombie has recently had an epic revival.

After years of turmoil, the brand returned with a 285% rise on the stock market in 2023 and $4.03 billion in revenue that same fiscal year.

What used to be an unapproachable, cool-kids-only atmosphere is now catered to a more elevated audience, supplying timeless basics and comfortable athleisure. The brand has more than 750 stores worldwide.

The store was a little different than I’d remembered it.
I loved the fit and length of the dress.

Chloe Caldwell

The fit and length made me feel confident and feminine while still maintaining that laid-back, effortless look.

The thick straps were comfortable, but I wished the material was 100% linen. Instead, it’s made of a blend of 53% linen and 47% cotton (with a 100% cotton lining), which was nice but not worth $90 to me.

The fabric looked extremely wrinkly and would likely need to be steamed or ironed before every wear.

The dress from Abercrombie was my favorite.
I tried on similar dresses at J. Crew and Abercrombie.

Chloe Caldwell

Abercrombie’s dress was the winner. The silhouette skimmed my curves nicely, the material felt high-quality and comfortable, and the overall design was simultaneously timeless and on-trend. Putting it on gave me a little boost of confidence in my neutral-wearing journey.

Although I didn’t leave with the dress I came to the mall for, I bought two T-shirts, denim shorts, and a skirt from Abercrombie. I hadn’t planned on making any other purchases, but these pieces were too good not to take home with me.

I was surprised by how much Abercrombie has evolved not only as a brand but also in its style. Goodbye, logo-branded T-shirts — hello, elevated casual essentials.