After trying on dresses at J. Crew and Abercrombie, I get why the latter's having an amazing comeback right now (2024)

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I started my shopping trip at J. Crew.

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.

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I found J. Crew’s layout a little confusing.

When I walked in to try on the best-selling Claudia dress in linen, I didn't love the store's layout. I expected all of the dresses in this style to be on one rack, but they were scattered throughout the store.

After locating a few different options, I ended up trying on the dress in both white and red.

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I loved the design of the dress.

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.

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However, the sizing seemed off.

I tried on my usual size, but the dress was baggy and looked a bit frumpy on me. The thin straps weren't adjustable and hung off my shoulders. I'd have to get it tailored in order to wear it, which I wouldn't be willing to do for a dress that costs almost $200.

If the dress had fit well, I'd maybe consider splurging. I also saw it on sale on J. Crew's website for almost 50% off — but I'd recommend ordering a size down.

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Next, I went to Abercrombie & Fitch.

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.

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The store was a little different than I'd remembered it.

I hadn't shopped at Abercrombie since my teen years, but I finally stepped back into the store to try on the Mara linen-blend vest mini dress.

The first difference I noticed was that the store no longer had a strong cologne scent. The layout was relatively easy to navigate, with trending seasonal styles at the front and basics and denim grouped at the back.

The location I visited only carried my size in beige, but if the store had it in another color, I might have bought it — personally, I feel beige washes out my skin tone.

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I felt confident in the Abercrombie dress.

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.

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The dress from Abercrombie was my favorite.

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.