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 DÔEN. Long story short, they remain as much the classic-but-cool-girl brand today that they were in the 90s.
1. This Sculpting “cool Girl” Dress
WHAT: Denim Seamed Corset Maxi Dress*
The dress you want to slip on every spring and summer day. It’s made of the butteriest denim and has the most flattering fit.
Price: $115
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: $44
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: $47
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: $34
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 Spring Top
WHAT: Crochet Cropped Sweater Vest*
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 whilst making it 17x better.
Price: $100
6. This Curve-Complementing Dress You Will Smolder In
WHAT: Silk Cowl-Neck Gown*
The answer to getting our lumpy, bumpy bodies to look smooth, and stunning and lithe in a dress like this is ruching. This dress also has the added benefit of making us look 6ft tall.
Price: $225
7. The Single Most Skimming Sweater In Existence
WHAT: Cotton-Silk Flare-Sleeve 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: $85 - $140
8. The Trousers We Feel Our Best In
WHAT: Archive Reissue Touring Culottes*
A throwback to BR’s culottes of spring 1988. We wear these with all out fitted tops and tanks to give us our loveliest hourglass silhouette.
Price: $120
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 going-out tops.
9. The Most Useful And Flattering Going Out Top
WHAT: Long-Sleeve Asymmetrical Wrap Bodysuit*
This off-shoulder bodysuit got loads of attention after being seen on-screen in Nobody Wants This (a wardrobe we found in its entirety by the way HERE). With dark jeans and a belt, it’s become our staying out post 8pm uniform.
Price: $35
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 Pair Of Shorts We Don’t Hate Our Legs In
WHAT: Curve Love High Rise Loose Short*
These are the shorts we are ALWAYS looking for. The A-line cut and the fact that they’re that ideal length that covers your butt and thighs but isn’t so long we look like our grandpa on safari makes them the most flattering of any shorts. They are made for curves, and you will feel it instantly.
Price: $60
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 Perfect Hat*: The quiet luxury one that looks good on everyone. Truly.
This Show-Stopping Necklace*: Show. Stopping.
This Leopard Belt*: So we can wear boring black and denim and still excite.
This Tote Bag*: A staple for summer.
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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