My Critique of Some Popular Clothing Stores
Just a note: Yesterday Dustin and I went shopping at a large mall in the plex. It was fun but I did not buy hardly anything -- although I was very tempted. Unlike many females, I think I possess the power to control that "temptation" to buy (sometimes I like this control but other times, after I get back from the mall, I think "I should have just broken loose!"). I enjoy shopping -- but only if I already know what it is that I am looking for. I don't care much for "browsing" (unless I am really, really bored) -- mostly because walking that much kills my feet! ha ha. So anyway, I want provide everyone with my review of a few popular clothing stores. The clothing lines I speak of generally pertain to young women's lines...
EXPRESS: I give its women's clothing line high praise (I don't know much about the men's line though). Although this store is pricey, it is the price one should expect to pay these days for durable, quality clothing. The clothing line at the Express is very sleek and sophisticate. I have always been particularly impressed with their dress pants. Aside from having a variety of patterns to choose from, their general line of fashionable dress pants are very durable and seemingly well made. Many department stores such as JcPenney's and Dillard's sell cute (cute as in cute for young people) "dress pants" for around $30 or so -- but, from my observations, these are normally poorly made (easily "snagged") and the materials are very flimsy (and more likely to show panty lines -- for women who wear panties!). <-- Then again, does fashion really need to be durable? After all, it is always changing! Express, at least right now, offers cute, quality dress shirts -- many non-iron -- that can be worn for numerous occasions. All in all, the Express is where you'd want to go to find something to wear for an event that wasn't casual but wasn't too formal either. A very nice store indeed!
AMERICAN EAGLE (AE): This store has always been one of my favorites. I have many items of clothing from this store. I am not so sure about the "durability" of their clothes, but I don't care -- I love their clothes! At this store, both men and women alike can purchase totally hip, in-style casual clothing. On any lazy day, I can throw their clothes on when I get out of bed and feel good knowing that, although I'm wearing casual clothes, I at least look somewhat decent! Also, I love their men's clothing line -- it would be hard for a man not to look nice in their clothing. I really like how AE is an advocate for the "layering" of clothing in both women and men. Some people probably don't like that, but I seem to like that "just threw somethin' on" look. I am not always happy with their prices, however. AE's clothing line reminds me a lot of that of Abercrombie & Fitch -- and so do their prices (though I think AE is, generally, a little less expensive). A lot of their stuff, although cute, I could have most likely picked up at a thrift store for half the price. Whatever the case, I still love the store!
THE GAP: I used to be a big fan of this store and I still shop there occasionally. However, it seems that in recent years their variety of selection has significantly deplinished. I now know to go there only if I want a t-shirt that says something like "GAP" on it or if I want a plain old, usually solid colored, sweater or blouse. Wanting those things isn't bad at all -- they have some cute stuff. However, it seems like that is all they ever have these days. Also, I don't know much about their men's line either. Another negative thing is that, to me, they seem a bit pricey -- but they have always seemed pricey. For the most part, The GAP is still a nice store.
OLD NAVY: After posting this, one of my readers, Nathan, asked about Old Navy. I had completely forgotten about it. Thanks Nathan! So, about Old Navy -- I really wish it was called "Old Marines"... just kidding! I have shopped at this store off and on for many years. The thing that really stands out, to me, are their reasonable prices. Their jeans, shirts, flip flops, gloves, coats, etc. are usually available at a decent price. From personal experience, all of the Old Navy jeans and sweaters that I have owned have held up quite well. Their signature fleece sweaters are very comfy in the winter and seem to be fairly durable throughout the years. I had a few Old Navy fleece sweaters that lasted me for a few years up until they got stolen during my sophomore year of college. The type of clothes this store carries kind of seems like a mixture between The GAP and American Eagle. I don't know how else to explain it. I don't have anything really bad to say about this store except for the fact that it is often located right outside of malls (there are several stores, typically found in malls, that are this way) -- which can be an inconvenience if one plans a shopping trip to a mall yet the Old Navy is located down the street. I suppose it is just a matter of driving one's lazy butt down the street! I suppose it is better to at least have an Old Navy down the street than none at all. Whatever the case, I like this store.
CHARLOTTE RUSSE: I have only recently become familiar with this store but, I have to say, "so far so good." The prices are usually decent and they have some of the cutest, hippest stuff on the market. However, I am not sure how durable a lot of their clothing is. Their general "Charolette Russe" line does not "look" too bad -- but the store also sells general clothing brands that I have seen in other stores -- and some of those brands, I know from experience, can put out some quite crappily made clothes. For the most part, though, I would recommend shopping at this store -- it's a hip, hot, and fun place to go!
THE WET SEAL: I am not the biggest fan of this store but they do have some cute things in it. This store has some good clothes for someone looking to find something cool to wear "clubbing." I have purchased things from here, back in the days, for that reason (though I don't really care much for clubbing, myself, not that it's bad either). One thing -- I am a pretty skinny girl (though pretty tall) and, still, many of their clothes my size don't even fit me. I know that might seem shocking but it's true. One has to be quite tiny to shop at this store.
FOREVER 21: I have not shopped here in a while and am not sure if this store even exists anymore -- but I wanted to talk about it anyway. I don't have too much to say about this store except this -- about a year ago I bought three different items of clothing from there and ALL of them had a defect (i.e., messed up seams, tiny hidden holes) -- I did not notice this until I had gotten home. Though they weren't terrible looking defects, I did feel I was somewhat cheated out of my money.
Department Store Spotlight:
JCPENNEY: I love this store! Although, like I mentioned earlier, many of their young women's clothes are not always durable (if you care about durability) but, all around, it seems to be a pretty good place to shop as they have a little bit of everything to choose from. I, personally, love to buy my jeans from JcPenney -- they have such a selection to choose from and they are always the latest styles. I do buy some of their dress pants but, usually no matter what brand it is, they snag or fall apart sooner than I think they should -- maybe I am just rough on them -- but I don't wear dress pants that often! Here's my observation/opinion: If the jeans or dress pants come with a cheap, many times weird-looking, belt attached to them -- they're probably not going to last too long (nor the belt -- I normally just throw those belts now anyway). Overall, I would recommend JcPenney to anyone and their dog because they have just a little bit of everything one needs in the area of clothing.
EXPRESS: I give its women's clothing line high praise (I don't know much about the men's line though). Although this store is pricey, it is the price one should expect to pay these days for durable, quality clothing. The clothing line at the Express is very sleek and sophisticate. I have always been particularly impressed with their dress pants. Aside from having a variety of patterns to choose from, their general line of fashionable dress pants are very durable and seemingly well made. Many department stores such as JcPenney's and Dillard's sell cute (cute as in cute for young people) "dress pants" for around $30 or so -- but, from my observations, these are normally poorly made (easily "snagged") and the materials are very flimsy (and more likely to show panty lines -- for women who wear panties!). <-- Then again, does fashion really need to be durable? After all, it is always changing! Express, at least right now, offers cute, quality dress shirts -- many non-iron -- that can be worn for numerous occasions. All in all, the Express is where you'd want to go to find something to wear for an event that wasn't casual but wasn't too formal either. A very nice store indeed!
AMERICAN EAGLE (AE): This store has always been one of my favorites. I have many items of clothing from this store. I am not so sure about the "durability" of their clothes, but I don't care -- I love their clothes! At this store, both men and women alike can purchase totally hip, in-style casual clothing. On any lazy day, I can throw their clothes on when I get out of bed and feel good knowing that, although I'm wearing casual clothes, I at least look somewhat decent! Also, I love their men's clothing line -- it would be hard for a man not to look nice in their clothing. I really like how AE is an advocate for the "layering" of clothing in both women and men. Some people probably don't like that, but I seem to like that "just threw somethin' on" look. I am not always happy with their prices, however. AE's clothing line reminds me a lot of that of Abercrombie & Fitch -- and so do their prices (though I think AE is, generally, a little less expensive). A lot of their stuff, although cute, I could have most likely picked up at a thrift store for half the price. Whatever the case, I still love the store!
THE GAP: I used to be a big fan of this store and I still shop there occasionally. However, it seems that in recent years their variety of selection has significantly deplinished. I now know to go there only if I want a t-shirt that says something like "GAP" on it or if I want a plain old, usually solid colored, sweater or blouse. Wanting those things isn't bad at all -- they have some cute stuff. However, it seems like that is all they ever have these days. Also, I don't know much about their men's line either. Another negative thing is that, to me, they seem a bit pricey -- but they have always seemed pricey. For the most part, The GAP is still a nice store.
OLD NAVY: After posting this, one of my readers, Nathan, asked about Old Navy. I had completely forgotten about it. Thanks Nathan! So, about Old Navy -- I really wish it was called "Old Marines"... just kidding! I have shopped at this store off and on for many years. The thing that really stands out, to me, are their reasonable prices. Their jeans, shirts, flip flops, gloves, coats, etc. are usually available at a decent price. From personal experience, all of the Old Navy jeans and sweaters that I have owned have held up quite well. Their signature fleece sweaters are very comfy in the winter and seem to be fairly durable throughout the years. I had a few Old Navy fleece sweaters that lasted me for a few years up until they got stolen during my sophomore year of college. The type of clothes this store carries kind of seems like a mixture between The GAP and American Eagle. I don't know how else to explain it. I don't have anything really bad to say about this store except for the fact that it is often located right outside of malls (there are several stores, typically found in malls, that are this way) -- which can be an inconvenience if one plans a shopping trip to a mall yet the Old Navy is located down the street. I suppose it is just a matter of driving one's lazy butt down the street! I suppose it is better to at least have an Old Navy down the street than none at all. Whatever the case, I like this store.
CHARLOTTE RUSSE: I have only recently become familiar with this store but, I have to say, "so far so good." The prices are usually decent and they have some of the cutest, hippest stuff on the market. However, I am not sure how durable a lot of their clothing is. Their general "Charolette Russe" line does not "look" too bad -- but the store also sells general clothing brands that I have seen in other stores -- and some of those brands, I know from experience, can put out some quite crappily made clothes. For the most part, though, I would recommend shopping at this store -- it's a hip, hot, and fun place to go!
THE WET SEAL: I am not the biggest fan of this store but they do have some cute things in it. This store has some good clothes for someone looking to find something cool to wear "clubbing." I have purchased things from here, back in the days, for that reason (though I don't really care much for clubbing, myself, not that it's bad either). One thing -- I am a pretty skinny girl (though pretty tall) and, still, many of their clothes my size don't even fit me. I know that might seem shocking but it's true. One has to be quite tiny to shop at this store.
FOREVER 21: I have not shopped here in a while and am not sure if this store even exists anymore -- but I wanted to talk about it anyway. I don't have too much to say about this store except this -- about a year ago I bought three different items of clothing from there and ALL of them had a defect (i.e., messed up seams, tiny hidden holes) -- I did not notice this until I had gotten home. Though they weren't terrible looking defects, I did feel I was somewhat cheated out of my money.
Department Store Spotlight:
JCPENNEY: I love this store! Although, like I mentioned earlier, many of their young women's clothes are not always durable (if you care about durability) but, all around, it seems to be a pretty good place to shop as they have a little bit of everything to choose from. I, personally, love to buy my jeans from JcPenney -- they have such a selection to choose from and they are always the latest styles. I do buy some of their dress pants but, usually no matter what brand it is, they snag or fall apart sooner than I think they should -- maybe I am just rough on them -- but I don't wear dress pants that often! Here's my observation/opinion: If the jeans or dress pants come with a cheap, many times weird-looking, belt attached to them -- they're probably not going to last too long (nor the belt -- I normally just throw those belts now anyway). Overall, I would recommend JcPenney to anyone and their dog because they have just a little bit of everything one needs in the area of clothing.
posted by Holly at 11:47 AM
2 Comments:
What about Old Navy?
Oh yeah -- that would have been a good one! They have some cool stuff! Thanks Nathan!
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