3 Mall Brands We Stopped Shopping 20 Years Ago Are Suddenly Great Again
We’re back baby.
by The Candidly Team
Nothing will ever replace the mall. At least not in its heyday when we easily strode our 10,000 steps just looking for a first date top.
That said, I think we all noticed for several years (errrr … decades) that the mall and many of the heartbeat stores in it started to lose some of their shine.
But a few things have changed of late. So rather than wax poetic about how we spent the 90s buying up all the denim shirts Janeane Garofalo folded at The Gap in Reality Bites, we’ll just run through what’s gone on recently.
Zac Posen took over as creative director at Gap. And well, things are happening.
Abercrombie (yes, Abercrombie) started making some of the best jeans for the curves of 40+ women that we haven’t stopped writing about.
After seeing no fewer than 2 dozen ads online for pieces we desperately wanted from Banana Republic, we walked into a their bricks and mortar and found it so chic we thought we’d taken the door to a designer boutique. Or a time capsule to the Banana stores of yore. I mean:
Interior to Banana Republic
The dressing rooms … by God!
All of these mall brands are, of course, online now and so is their full incredible stock of flattering, interesting, lustworthy items that we are, once again, ogling.
Here are the 3 brands that are really and truly back, and a shortlist of some of our favorite items from them:
1. GAP
Ever since Zac Posen started at Gap, they’ve been producing designer-looking, staple items at Gap prices. There’s smart tailoring, loads of creativity, and collabs that sell out in seconds like THIS ONE* they did with Victoria Beckham. Long story short, they remain as much the classic-but-cool-girl brand today that they were in the 90s.
1. This Sculpting Fall Dress
WHAT: V-Neck Ruffle Hem Maxi Dress*
The dress you want to slip on every crisp autumn day. It’s fitted in all the right places and skimming in all the others.
Price: $59
2. These Viral jean sweatpants they can’t keep in stock
WHAT: Heavyweight Easy Baggy Sweatpant Jeans*
We don’t question the wizardry behind making a literal sweat pant look like a classic pair of jeans, but we will be buying them in every color (whenever we see our size back in stock that is).
Price: $79
3. This Soft Button-Down
WHAT: Organic Cotton Denim Classic Shirt*
Anytime you wear a soft, denim button-down, you’re already styled. And obviously Gap is gonna get it right.
Price: $35
4. This Gorj Top
WHAT: Lace-Trim Peplum Top*
This is the kind of top we can pair with anything at all and look perfectly styled. The cut is ultra flattering, not too tight but nice and skimming. We love it in white for the day and black for dressing up at night.
Price: $55
2. BANANA REPUBLIC
For years and years, Banana was the “nice” store we saved and saved to buy a dress or bag from. They curated beautifully and the quality was chef’s kiss. This is exactly how it is today. There are so many smart, lifetime pieces, not to mention some of our favorite, flattering dresses.
5. This Perfect White Top
WHAT: Ribbed Stretch-Cotton Scoop-Neck T-Shirt*
Having a top that does all the work for us and makes us look cute and styled is a rarity. This one matches everything we own. The scoop-neck is so flattering thickest the long sleeve covers the fleshiest part of the arm.
Price: $55
6. The Best Event Dress To Cover A Belly Pooch
WHAT: Aurelia Italian Satin Sleeveless Trapeze Dress*
The answer to getting our lumpy, bumpy bodies to look elegant and sleek but feel like we’re still home in a sleep dress.
Price: $180
7. The Most Skimming Sweater In Existence
WHAT: Larkspur Cotton-Silk Mock-Neck Cardigan*
Wearing a tailored sweater as a top is like the instant noodles of chicness. This one is gives us a stunning hourglass. Consequently, we want it in every color.
Price: $148
8. The Cotton Pants We Feel Our Best In
WHAT: Mid-Rise Barrel Cotton Poplin Pant*
A throwback to BR’s explorer pants of 1988. We wear these with all out fitted tops and tanks to give us our loveliest hourglass silhouette.
Price: $95
3. ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
We can still smell the perfumed entrance of an Abercrombie storefront just typing out the word, but Abercrombie has seemingly matured right along with us. They now make some of the most flattering jeans for curvy women and have gorgeous-fitting and affordable knits.
9. The Coziest Fall Sweater
WHAT: Merino Wool-Blend Slash Sweater*
Abercrombie makes seriously cute sweaters. The off-shoulder on this one adds a smidge of allure to the endless coziness. Comes in lots of colors and a stripe!
Price: $75
10. These Jeans That Are Heaven On Curves
WHAT: Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Jeans*
There are far too many Abercrombie jeans we could write about here, including THIS ankle pair we always talk about that ALWAYS sells out. But this pair has the perfect, classic 90s fit that looks great with everything. They’re made for curves, gliding over hips, thighs, and butts WITHOUT leaving a dreaded waist gap.
Price: $90
11. This Romantic Dress You Don’t need A Bra Under
WHAT: 100% Cotton A&F Bra-Free Dylan Midi Dress*
What the designers call “cottagecore.” But at a far lower price.
Price: $120
12. This Smooth Tank With A Working Built-In Bra
WHAT: Bra-Free Rib Scoopneck Tank*
The notion that we don’t have to worry about bra straps while wearing a tank. Bliss!
Price: $25
Bonus: The Accessories
This Silk Scarf*: The quiet luxury one.
This Perfect Everyday Chain*: Remember how good the jewelry was? Well, it’s good again.
This Leopard Belt*: So we can wear boring black and denim and still excite.
This Tote Bag*: Matches everything you wear in autumn.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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