I love this concept of comparing similar items. I much prefer shopping online than in store. Just recently I got a ton of linen blend sundresses from Old Navy, and a couple of cotton sweaters and these were all on sale and I was impressed with the quality given the price. I would like to add a few more higher quality pieces from a store like BR . Your videos have taught me so much when looking at any item of clothing . I have a much more critical eye now and demand more as a consumer!
As a reseller there is no comparison between Anthro- Free P. Anthro a quality wins hands down and has more sophisticated styles. FP are just oversized loose non structured, slapped together and fall apart quickly. I would take a Maeve anything over FP
I've seen in winter/holiday seasons past almost exactly identical plaid tartan dresses at both Madewell and J.crew but the price point was different. Usually the Madewell quality and fiber content is inferior to J.crew but usually I much prefer the Madewell style more. So I just wait for clearance sales and only buy the higher quality natural fiber pieces from Madewell. Anthropologie is generally better quality but once in a while all of their brands (including Urban Outfitters) will sell a version of the same thing, like the mesh shirts in a floral pattern. In that case, mesh is mesh so long as it was sewed well enough. So I opted for the lower priced FP version instead of Anthro. Massimo Dutti is much higher quality. Incomparable. It's also geared towards a completely different demographic. Massimo Dutti is like the elegant European version of Eileen Fisher whereas Zara is the fun fashionable young woman. I love my Cos and &OS pieces. They're really good quality for the price point. Honestly, in all of these brands, you're still going to find both high and low quality items. It's about having a critical eye, taking a moment to assess the overall fit and construction of each garment and taking care of (especially in how you wash or store your clothes) that will prolong the life of these things. Generally speaking in these family of brands, the higher priced sister brand is the better one but that doesn't mean you can't find bad pieces in these stores. Or conversely, that you can't find good pieces in the lower priced brands. I shop at all of them.
Anthro is awful. In in the last ten years they've increased acrylic in their garments more and more. $100 for a holey acrylic shirt or sweater, no thank you
I work at Banana Republic, so glad its getting some more recognition, love where they're going with the brand! And yes the clearance section has some amazing deals! One time we had a trench coat originally $400 and was marked way down to around $80 since it was a bit older and during the summer season.
I agree! I am a longtime Gap brands customer (I worked at the Gap as a teenager in the 90s) and felt they had lost their way for a while, but lately they’ve been making some great stuff.
@@harlempixie338 when I worked at the gap in the mid-90s, there were no sales! Only regular markdowns on Wednesdays. Those in the know made sure to check the markdown rack on Wednesdays. Things sure have changed since then!!
I love BR - it's in its comeback era for sure. I bought a navy suit recently and the tailored pieces are very well done. On sale BR feels very reasonably priced for the quality. I've also shopped at GAP recently - linen and cotton shirts and short - and again the quality for their sale prices is often insanely good compared to places like A&F
The various Gap brands target different customers: Old Navy was created as an alternative to the Gap Outlets, with a focus on fast fashion, cheaper materials and production quality. The Gap has always been about staples of American style (it was founded as a denim and records store) targeted at the youth (the gap was a reference to the generation gap). Banana Republic started out as quasi-safari wear, but then Gap bought it and reoriented it around polished pieces for working professionals. So a Gap shirt will be more of a basic style while a BR shirt might have an interesting design feature or use higher quality materials or techniques. Lately I’ve been buying a lot of Gap and Banana Republic pieces from around y2K secondhand on eBay or other sites. The quality is fantastic (often you can find 100% cotton or wool, unlike so many other brands that use synthetic blends) and the prices are generally good. I have 100% wool Gap sweaters I bought 20 years ago that still look great.
I agree the ‘90’s and early 2000’s Gap, BR were their best. The quality and style hasn’t been seen since. Old Navy used to have great clothing too. I have an Old Navy jean jacket that’s about 20 years old. A sales associate in Old Navy even said Old Navy isn’t what it used to be.
@@robynwells8249 agreed! I constantly get compliments on my three pairs of Old Navy workout leggings that are probably 20 years old and still in excellent shape. I can’t replace them because they’re such better quality than anything I could get there now.
Something to consider with fast fashion linen is the softeners used when they go out to the stores. On the rack they may have a very nice hand-feel but after a wash will turn very rough.
I'd love to see a video comparing the Banana Republic Factory clothes to the regular Banana Republic store (although not sure if Canada has the outlet/factory stores).
Ugh. Not a fan of factory stores. Most of them are synthetic fibers and the blends with natural fibers feels cheaper. I do own some factory brand clothes, but mostly I avoid. They look and feel cheap. You can find some gems of course.
I recently visited a BR outlet store in Vegas… YIKES. Yes there are deep discounts but the construction was messy and the clothes didn’t even look nice in the hanger. I hadn’t visited BR for some years so didn’t know if this was unique to the outlet or this is the quality of the regular stores.
@@strangepickles Ok so the outlet factory stores DO NOT carry the same product as the regular Banana Republic stores! The BR factory store has product made specifically for it at a lower price point! So they will take items from BR's line as inspiration and remake them for the factory store eliminating expensive design details and using less expensive fabrics. They don't even use the same factories to make the clothes as the regular BR store! The regular BR has materials like leather, shearling, silk, Italian wool and cashmere and the factory outlets do not, and if they have a leather piece it's usually slightly lower quality or is very simple to keep cost low (that's why it's so affordable). If you'd like BR's quality at a lower price point, I recommend waiting for sales or go to their clearance racks! They regularly have friends and family sales that are 40% off and the clearance can be up to 85% off!!! Problem is you have to hope pieces make it to clearance because the great stuff sells out super fast. I have several beautiful and well made pieces from them that I adore (including a gorgeous fluffy calf length shearling coat I got on sale for $1200!!🎉)
If you want a high quality, absolutely not see through white tshirt go for LL Bean's Pima cotton version. The finishing and stitching around the collar is impeccable and after a solid year of wear and washing it's held its shape as new. It hasn't yellowed and the surface texture is absolutely smooth - no hint of pilling or even puffing of the fibres. Totally worth it investment tshirt that's available in a wide variety of colours (that also stay quite vibrant if you don't wash in too-warm water) and in v-neck or crew, long or short sleeved.
gap 100% cotton sweaters are so well made i swear after washing them so many times. my mom gave me wool gap sweaters (95% wool) from the 90s and they look great when i wear them! also gap factory has the same stuff and exact same basics for 1/3 of the prices. i was able to get 4 100% cotton cardigans and two cotton tank tops from there online all for $80 yesterday!
BR sales are so worth it. I have gotten a 100% wool blazer that was originally $300 for $80. I usually have a cart with items open and wait for the sale. I also noticed they’re in person sales are higher in stores vs online
I LOVE BR’s Tall shop. It has literally saved my live so many times. It doesn’t get enough credit. I also find the BR stores have very professional customer service which is very hard to find today
What timing - I was just in Banana Republic yesterday and was shocked to see 100% silk tops and silk/cotton blend tops. So many beautiful pieces. I ended up getting a gorgeous skirt on sale 🥰
You make such high quality content. Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us. You have such good attention to detail and really help explain things logically to help me understand your reasoning. For example, I genuinely didn’t understand why the thinner denim was bad, because I figured it would be more breathable, but when you said it would get holes faster, I almost hit myself… of course!!! Why didn’t I think of that?! Also, thank you for sharing my frustration about white clothing being sheer. It’s very frustrating since I’m an Asian guy with darker skin in the summer and dark n*ps (sorry for the TMI), so I HATE when white clothing is sheer on me.
this comment made me chuckle 😆thanks for such a kind comment - I feel so seen! I def feel imposter syndrome sometimes since I didn't go to fashion school but I know what I do well is draw from personal experience and independent research to offer insights from a consumer perspective; and I do my best to explain concepts in a way that's straightforward (I hate fluff and filler content) and easy to understand. Thanks again for the support and for the laugh! 😋
I love this comparison, I'm quickly nearing my 30s and I felt like I totally outgrew my forever 21/American Eagle wardrobe and Gap has been my go to for buying more mature pieces that still fit in my budget (let's be honest this is the most important part) and feel pretty classic. I definitely think some things are not that great quality but if you stack rewards with their sales you can get some amazing deals. I bought a pair of linen dress pants that were totally out of my comfort zone but after the discounts they only cost me
My closet is cultivated around good quality made items. My Banana Republic trousers and blazers are better made than high brand luxury stores. You cannot be at the pricing and quality of a Banana Republic Blazer or trouser -Men or women collection. And they still make shoes with leather bottoms!!!! It's 2024 and they're not cutting corners. I absolutely am in love with Banana Republic .The items really are made with excellence. It's a quality piece that doesn't break the bank account and will seriously last you 10 plus years. Mine are still going strong and I'm not that dainty of a girl :)
If a 100% linen blouse is transparent/see through then it cost less then $5 USD per yard (retail, not whole price) if it is good/best quality lightweight white linen, and if it is a heavier weight and a tighter weave (solid looking) then it may be up to $10 USD per yard of material (again; retail, not whole sale bulk pricing). A blouse takes a yard of fabric to make, in most situations, though "puff sleeves" can eat up a lot of material; extremely big sleeves can eat an entire yard if they are super huge. Linen fabric comes in several weights and can be woven "tight" or "gapping" / "loose". Linen that seems transparent is woven "loose" and will feel softer to the touch, while densely-woven linen can start to take on the same properties of Denim and Canvas. So if a linen shirt is see-through-ish then it is mostly likely on the lightest end of the spectrum; if it is lighter then light weight then it is "handkerchief" linen (as implied by the name; linen used historically for personal accessories such as underwear, caps, scarves and handkerchiefs). Currently you can buy (based on my own purchases over the last year) 5 yards of good-quality lightweight linen cut from the bolt for $60 USD or $70 USD either raw/white (cheaper) or in solid colors and prints (either woven into the material, or screen-printed on top.
@@naya4607 If you are looking for ready-made new clothing in tighter-woven linen then you want to read the descriptions carefully for hints like "not transparent" or "a bit rough" or "a bit heavy". Zoom in to the detail shots; you want to see how thick the threads appear and if there are "slubs" (the bumps, which are more common on thicker linens and should be rare/uncommon on thin). How bulbus a slub appears in scale compared to the material often then suggests it has to be a thicker weave (although, a sign of bad-quality lightweight linen is a huge slub; but large slubs on heavy linen makes sense). In terms of brands, anything with a more "grain brain" / "hippy naturalist" vibe is more likely to carry clothing made of heavier weight / denser weave linens. Resort wear has always been the light weight stuff; thick linen is the fabric of the "poors" (historically / European cultures) so companies going for a more country/rural/grainy/organic vibe are more likely to use it. For just the fabric there are many possible sources, but I would recommend searching by weight. There are probably fancy terms for when the weave is dense, but search by weight and also pay attention if the retailer also carries hemp; if a fabric store carries Hemp and un-died linens, then they probably have the dense/tight weave you are looking for.
I’ve bought the halter tanks from all 3- BR, Gap and old navy, and considering the price difference, the BR tank isn’t my fav of the bunch. It might be a bit thicker than the gap ones, but other than that I learned that for basic tanks, The Gap is the way to go.
I was just talking about Gap! I hadn’t gone in years, but picked up a few pieces from the sale section and was amazed at how much 100% cotton that’s well made you can find at wildly affordable prices. I was able to appreciate my Gap finds from watching this channel! It definitely made me want to check out BR again, I have BR pieces from years ago that have held up, but hadn’t been excited about them in awhile.
Thanks Jennifer, I like the concept of the video. Would be interested in seeing a comparison between the H&M-group brands (& Other Stories, COS, Arket).
I got a nice cashmere and wool sweater from BR on a great sale! Gap brands are basically the only non secondhand stores I shop at (currently in school so I need accessible pricing). I have had plenty of pieces from all the brands in my wardrobe for years.
The last time BR was good was during college, so glad they're refocusing on quality again. Wish they would bring back the banana Republic explorer t shirts!
I always look for BR and Gap at the thrift - not sure why, but there are tons at our local thrift stores. I’m in my 30s now, and while I don’t need a professional wardrobe (I wear scrubs ha), I feel a little more “pulled together” in their classic pieces. It’s been a good bridge for my style, personally.
These stores unfortunately don't cater to plus sized petites. Old Navy has a wider range of sizes. I bought a few 100% cotton boho t-shirt material dresses from Old Navy last summer. I wore them and washed them on repeat. They still look good this year. The quality is pretty decent for fast fashion. If I wasn't plus sized, I would shop at gap. BTW, would buy the less expensive white t-shirt because white clothing is a dirt and stain magnet. It doesn't always come clean.
Great video! Thank you for your thoughts on both brands and what to look for to get the best quality. I just bought a BR suit online yesterday after trying the jacket on in the store. I like to visit the stores to see the fabrics and try things on but I do most of my shopping online. I actually shop at all the GAP brands for myself and my children and most of the items I bought have lasted for many years, some going on 5+ years for me, because my size hasn't fluctuated much and I take good care of my clothes. I'm new to your channel and about to click that subscribe button. Thanks for sharing! Stay well. Blessings...
thank you. I bought some nice shorts from the GAP online. Suddenly I am signed up for emails from Banana Republic also! And now I know why a few others.
Ah, l love finding sale items at both Gap and BR. Got some great GapFit leggings and tanks before Athleta came into the picture. And who can forgotthe gap zip hoodie, my favourite
The quality is definitely better. I’m not buying simple basics I’m buying pant’s, dresses and other things like jackets and skirts. As a tall woman, I don’t know what I would do without them. They’re the only store that caters to tall women if we choose. I’m sick of everything being made for short women while tall women are completely ignored in the marketplace. I have not seen you mention any store that sells clothes for tall, petite and regular sized woman.
I worked at BR for 5 years, at the Eaton's Centre too 😁, and their products are much nicer now compared to a few years ago. They definitely went through phases withtheir creative directors lol. I'm surprised they didn't have any Supima cotton tshirts, those were such a staple and 100% cotton too
I was curious if either one has different inseam options online (they both do). BR lists out the inseam for each individual pair on its website, adjusting for cropped and extra long styles. The GAP just has standard inseams in a size table across all their styles and writes out where a cropped style should hit in the description (i.e. ankle length). They do both provide the rise measurements for each pair of pants thankfully. I prefer the level of detail BR provides but both seem acceptable for buying correct length pants online.
I'm curious, is it possible to find good quality clothing at more affordable/discount stores? I know it is counter intuitive since more affordable clothing is cheaper for a reason but there must be outliers that are actually decent quality. I would be interesting to see you check out something like TJ/TK Maxx.
Could you please look into the quality of Halara clothing? I like the simple designs and their casual stuff seems perfect for work. However the aggressive influencer marketing as well the fabric being almost exclusively Polyester is off-putting...
I find there are certain things at BR that are definitely worth the price but in my opinion most are not. With that being said, when things go on sale with an extra percentage off they are definitely worth it lol. That’s usually when I rack up. Most things don’t sell out right away at the regular price so waiting for BR to run a sale is usually not a problem for me. Right now they have an extra 25% off sale items and I got 10 items for about $300. A few of them I’ve been eyeing for months. I also shop at the Gap for certain things. I find that the Gap have much better jeans than BR. The only time I buy BR jeans is if they are on sale. Over all I’ll have to admit I do enjoy shopping at BR more because like you said, it’s neater and less crowded. As I get older, combing through racks of cloths in a crowded store just gives me anxiety lol
I just went to a BR store trying to find some jeans I saw online to try on but there was hardly any. The store is organized in a very strange way. Normally you'd think all the denims would be together but no.
Can you pls do a Uniqlo video? Love your content and pleaase keep digging into the sustainability of the brands, the items, and their materials- I love that stuff! You've found your niche and will get big from it:-))
Great Video. You are really good at showing what quality clothing looks like. Love your short videos too. How about a comparison between the Gap Factory Stores and BR Factory Stores compared to the regular Gap and BR?
The Banana Republic jeans are utility jeans. The loop on the side of the pant is meant to hang a hammer off of it and the pockets are lower because its meant to hold more items when working on a job site. The Gap jeans are cargo pants. They're completely different and the comparison aren't equal.
I usually start off searching BR Factory and then try Gap. I've found the quality to be good and regular BR hold onto full prices of their items while you can find similar items on BR Factory and Gap on sale.
Can you do a versus for factory stores too? And i noticed j crew has a bunch of different brands also. No store near me so it would be nice for you to compare.
I think it’d be great if you did a comparison between any brand that has an outlet sister store, like the Gap and the Gap Factory! I know brands have started using outlets as a way to make cheaper quality items under the guise that they are the same quality as items in their regular store, so to see the differences up close would be really helpful.
I cannot STAND how white tees are always see through! As someone with a larger chest it's especially an issue for me when the fabric inevitably stretches when I put the shirt on.
The Gap shirt looks more like a standard button-down pattern, while the BR one seems to be specifically designed -- I like the look of the BR one, as it feels more office-worthy. I'd probably spend the extra 30 bucks -- I can thrift standard button-downs by the truckload.
To me, I have always felt a difference. BA clothes just feel so much more luxe to me. The whole shopping experience feels like high end luxury. That said, I also mainly shop at their sale section. Their factory store isn’t bad either. Maybe do a video on comparing quality at the BA factory store with BA main? Gap is definitely more for basics. They have done well to segregate their audience into multiple segments imo.
From a menswear perspectiveI can say the overall aesthetic is very different between the 2. The collar on Gap basic pocket T discolour and they can lost shape so you get what you pay for there.
I use to work at Old Navy and they have the same owner. BR/Gap/old Navy! Believe it or not old navy uses a lot of 100% cotton, just check the tags people
BR used to have the best t-shirts but they have changed. Also why is everyone putting large chest pockets on their shirts. At 5’4 the pocket often takes up my whole body. But, this was very helpful in looking at the quality of theses stores.
Why is there a store called Banana Republic still??? When I was a kid it sounded like a fun and whimsy name, but as soon as I learned what the term “banana republic” actually meant, I was like, “why would you name a store that???”
I mean, I'm from an actual "banana republic" country, and we don't find that term offensive (we even call ourselves "monkeys" or "guinea pigs" to each other). That being said, BR clothes are nice haha (I've been wearing them since I was 11).
As a reseller BR & Gap have almost equal resell value of zero. No one buys it. Even with tags. J. Crew flies out of my store. Personally I see amazing BR pieces with quality fabrics all the time and have many in my person wardrobe. 😊
The qualities ARE NOT the same regardless of all three companies are under the Gap umbrella. I work in fabric r&d for 15 yrs and no way you can say any qualities are the same without a fabric spec sheet in your hand to show you the construction, yarn size, yarn composition, etc……
Thank you to Ritual for sponsoring this video! Get 25% OFF your first month: go to ritual.com/jenniferwang25
Can you do Maje and Sandro?
I’ve been wanting to try Ritual forever! The code doesn’t work😢
I love this concept of comparing similar items. I much prefer shopping online than in store. Just recently I got a ton of linen blend sundresses from Old Navy, and a couple of cotton sweaters and these were all on sale and I was impressed with the quality given the price. I would like to add a few more higher quality pieces from a store like BR . Your videos have taught me so much when looking at any item of clothing . I have a much more critical eye now and demand more as a consumer!
Glad you like this concept, I will def make more of these 😊
I believe BR isn't really for casual wear, this is more GAP's specialty. I personally like how BR is more detail oriented.
Great idea! I’d love to see
Madewell/ J Crew
Anthro/ Free People
Zara/ Massimo Duti
H&M/ & Other Stories/ COS/ Arket
I don’t understand why Arket doesn’t ship to the US anymore :( if all their other stores do, idk why not
As a reseller there is no comparison between Anthro- Free P. Anthro a quality wins hands down and has more sophisticated styles. FP are just oversized loose non structured, slapped together and fall apart quickly. I would take a Maeve anything over FP
I've seen in winter/holiday seasons past almost exactly identical plaid tartan dresses at both Madewell and J.crew but the price point was different. Usually the Madewell quality and fiber content is inferior to J.crew but usually I much prefer the Madewell style more. So I just wait for clearance sales and only buy the higher quality natural fiber pieces from Madewell.
Anthropologie is generally better quality but once in a while all of their brands (including Urban Outfitters) will sell a version of the same thing, like the mesh shirts in a floral pattern. In that case, mesh is mesh so long as it was sewed well enough. So I opted for the lower priced FP version instead of Anthro.
Massimo Dutti is much higher quality. Incomparable. It's also geared towards a completely different demographic. Massimo Dutti is like the elegant European version of Eileen Fisher whereas Zara is the fun fashionable young woman.
I love my Cos and &OS pieces. They're really good quality for the price point.
Honestly, in all of these brands, you're still going to find both high and low quality items. It's about having a critical eye, taking a moment to assess the overall fit and construction of each garment and taking care of (especially in how you wash or store your clothes) that will prolong the life of these things.
Generally speaking in these family of brands, the higher priced sister brand is the better one but that doesn't mean you can't find bad pieces in these stores. Or conversely, that you can't find good pieces in the lower priced brands.
I shop at all of them.
Anthro is awful. In in the last ten years they've increased acrylic in their garments more and more. $100 for a holey acrylic shirt or sweater, no thank you
, I also love Maevefrom Anthro. Probably my favorite of their house brands.
I work at Banana Republic, so glad its getting some more recognition, love where they're going with the brand! And yes the clearance section has some amazing deals! One time we had a trench coat originally $400 and was marked way down to around $80 since it was a bit older and during the summer season.
I agree! I am a longtime Gap brands customer (I worked at the Gap as a teenager in the 90s) and felt they had lost their way for a while, but lately they’ve been making some great stuff.
I worked at BR in the late 90s. That discount on top of the sales price was so freaking great. 🔥
@@harlempixie338 when I worked at the gap in the mid-90s, there were no sales! Only regular markdowns on Wednesdays. Those in the know made sure to check the markdown rack on Wednesdays. Things sure have changed since then!!
I once scored a pair of wool pants for 20 from br
Once I saw a crazy sale after midnight where they had $15 wool pants, and $10 t-shirts... I got a pair of pants but I wish I had gotten more pieces.
I love BR - it's in its comeback era for sure. I bought a navy suit recently and the tailored pieces are very well done. On sale BR feels very reasonably priced for the quality. I've also shopped at GAP recently - linen and cotton shirts and short - and again the quality for their sale prices is often insanely good compared to places like A&F
Seems like every BR has an area of the store dedicated to discounted products.
BR and Gap are owned by the same people
@@breanna6816 it was mentioned in the video.
@@breanna6816And online you can shop at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy at the sane time as its all on the same website.
@@breanna6816And online you can shop at Gap, BR and Old Navy at the same time as they are all on the same website. Athletica too.
The various Gap brands target different customers: Old Navy was created as an alternative to the Gap Outlets, with a focus on fast fashion, cheaper materials and production quality. The Gap has always been about staples of American style (it was founded as a denim and records store) targeted at the youth (the gap was a reference to the generation gap). Banana Republic started out as quasi-safari wear, but then Gap bought it and reoriented it around polished pieces for working professionals. So a Gap shirt will be more of a basic style while a BR shirt might have an interesting design feature or use higher quality materials or techniques. Lately I’ve been buying a lot of Gap and Banana Republic pieces from around y2K secondhand on eBay or other sites. The quality is fantastic (often you can find 100% cotton or wool, unlike so many other brands that use synthetic blends) and the prices are generally good. I have 100% wool Gap sweaters I bought 20 years ago that still look great.
I find that the 100% cotton items are more likely to be found in old navy and in gap factory, and less so in the the regular gap
+
I agree the ‘90’s and early 2000’s Gap, BR were their best. The quality and style hasn’t been seen since. Old Navy used to have great clothing too. I have an Old Navy jean jacket that’s about 20 years old. A sales associate in Old Navy even said Old Navy isn’t what it used to be.
@@robynwells8249 agreed! I constantly get compliments on my three pairs of Old Navy workout leggings that are probably 20 years old and still in excellent shape. I can’t replace them because they’re such better quality than anything I could get there now.
I love this longer form content comparing pieces! It's been such a great help in knowing what a well constructed item looks like.
Something to consider with fast fashion linen is the softeners used when they go out to the stores. On the rack they may have a very nice hand-feel but after a wash will turn very rough.
I'd love to see a video comparing the Banana Republic Factory clothes to the regular Banana Republic store (although not sure if Canada has the outlet/factory stores).
We do have the Factory stores! Amazing idea!
Ugh. Not a fan of factory stores. Most of them are synthetic fibers and the blends with natural fibers feels cheaper. I do own some factory brand clothes, but mostly I avoid. They look and feel cheap. You can find some gems of course.
I recently visited a BR outlet store in Vegas… YIKES. Yes there are deep discounts but the construction was messy and the clothes didn’t even look nice in the hanger. I hadn’t visited BR for some years so didn’t know if this was unique to the outlet or this is the quality of the regular stores.
@@strangepickles Ok so the outlet factory stores DO NOT carry the same product as the regular Banana Republic stores! The BR factory store has product made specifically for it at a lower price point! So they will take items from BR's line as inspiration and remake them for the factory store eliminating expensive design details and using less expensive fabrics. They don't even use the same factories to make the clothes as the regular BR store! The regular BR has materials like leather, shearling, silk, Italian wool and cashmere and the factory outlets do not, and if they have a leather piece it's usually slightly lower quality or is very simple to keep cost low (that's why it's so affordable). If you'd like BR's quality at a lower price point, I recommend waiting for sales or go to their clearance racks! They regularly have friends and family sales that are 40% off and the clearance can be up to 85% off!!! Problem is you have to hope pieces make it to clearance because the great stuff sells out super fast. I have several beautiful and well made pieces from them that I adore (including a gorgeous fluffy calf length shearling coat I got on sale for $1200!!🎉)
If you want a high quality, absolutely not see through white tshirt go for LL Bean's Pima cotton version. The finishing and stitching around the collar is impeccable and after a solid year of wear and washing it's held its shape as new. It hasn't yellowed and the surface texture is absolutely smooth - no hint of pilling or even puffing of the fibres. Totally worth it investment tshirt that's available in a wide variety of colours (that also stay quite vibrant if you don't wash in too-warm water) and in v-neck or crew, long or short sleeved.
AFAIK we don’t have that brand in Canada
@@jelemil Indeed we do! There's definitely a store at Brentwood Mall in Burnaby, BC. They also have a canadian website
@@jelemilThey have it in Toronto Canada as well. 😊
gap 100% cotton sweaters are so well made i swear after washing them so many times. my mom gave me wool gap sweaters (95% wool) from the 90s and they look great when i wear them! also gap factory has the same stuff and exact same basics for 1/3 of the prices. i was able to get 4 100% cotton cardigans and two cotton tank tops from there online all for $80 yesterday!
@@simonipatel1014 agreed on 90s/Y2K gap quality. I also still have a well loved corduroy purse from that era, and it’s still looks very presentable.
Agreed! I have been buying y2K Gap and BR (and J Crew) pieces on eBay for this very reason!
I always to straight to the back for sales @BR, no questions asked
Omg!’ Can you compare loft and Ann Taylor?
BR sales are so worth it. I have gotten a 100% wool blazer that was originally $300 for $80. I usually have a cart with items open and wait for the sale. I also noticed they’re in person sales are higher in stores vs online
Please do Quince next! I know you’ve had a short but interested in longer videos
I LOVE BR’s Tall shop. It has literally saved my live so many times. It doesn’t get enough credit. I also find the BR stores have very professional customer service which is very hard to find today
What timing - I was just in Banana Republic yesterday and was shocked to see 100% silk tops and silk/cotton blend tops. So many beautiful pieces. I ended up getting a gorgeous skirt on sale 🥰
You make such high quality content. Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us. You have such good attention to detail and really help explain things logically to help me understand your reasoning. For example, I genuinely didn’t understand why the thinner denim was bad, because I figured it would be more breathable, but when you said it would get holes faster, I almost hit myself… of course!!! Why didn’t I think of that?! Also, thank you for sharing my frustration about white clothing being sheer. It’s very frustrating since I’m an Asian guy with darker skin in the summer and dark n*ps (sorry for the TMI), so I HATE when white clothing is sheer on me.
this comment made me chuckle 😆thanks for such a kind comment - I feel so seen! I def feel imposter syndrome sometimes since I didn't go to fashion school but I know what I do well is draw from personal experience and independent research to offer insights from a consumer perspective; and I do my best to explain concepts in a way that's straightforward (I hate fluff and filler content) and easy to understand. Thanks again for the support and for the laugh! 😋
I own multiple BR shrunken T shirts and they still look brand new from a year ago!
I just bought 3 BR shrunken shirts online, wanted to get them for a while and got them on sale! They will arrive tomorrow
@@DaniDani-ml8xkme too I got 3 on sale also and I like them thus far
I love this comparison, I'm quickly nearing my 30s and I felt like I totally outgrew my forever 21/American Eagle wardrobe and Gap has been my go to for buying more mature pieces that still fit in my budget (let's be honest this is the most important part) and feel pretty classic. I definitely think some things are not that great quality but if you stack rewards with their sales you can get some amazing deals. I bought a pair of linen dress pants that were totally out of my comfort zone but after the discounts they only cost me
It would be cool to also a comparison between BR and BR Factory, the outlet version
My closet is cultivated around good quality made items. My Banana Republic trousers and blazers are better made than high brand luxury stores. You cannot be at the pricing and quality of a Banana Republic Blazer or trouser -Men or women collection. And they still make shoes with leather bottoms!!!! It's 2024 and they're not cutting corners. I absolutely am in love with Banana Republic .The items really are made with excellence. It's a quality piece that doesn't break the bank account and will seriously last you 10 plus years. Mine are still going strong and I'm not that dainty of a girl :)
If a 100% linen blouse is transparent/see through then it cost less then $5 USD per yard (retail, not whole price) if it is good/best quality lightweight white linen, and if it is a heavier weight and a tighter weave (solid looking) then it may be up to $10 USD per yard of material (again; retail, not whole sale bulk pricing). A blouse takes a yard of fabric to make, in most situations, though "puff sleeves" can eat up a lot of material; extremely big sleeves can eat an entire yard if they are super huge.
Linen fabric comes in several weights and can be woven "tight" or "gapping" / "loose". Linen that seems transparent is woven "loose" and will feel softer to the touch, while densely-woven linen can start to take on the same properties of Denim and Canvas. So if a linen shirt is see-through-ish then it is mostly likely on the lightest end of the spectrum; if it is lighter then light weight then it is "handkerchief" linen (as implied by the name; linen used historically for personal accessories such as underwear, caps, scarves and handkerchiefs). Currently you can buy (based on my own purchases over the last year) 5 yards of good-quality lightweight linen cut from the bolt for $60 USD or $70 USD either raw/white (cheaper) or in solid colors and prints (either woven into the material, or screen-printed on top.
Good to know! Want to know where I can find tighter-woven linen
@@naya4607 If you are looking for ready-made new clothing in tighter-woven linen then you want to read the descriptions carefully for hints like "not transparent" or "a bit rough" or "a bit heavy". Zoom in to the detail shots; you want to see how thick the threads appear and if there are "slubs" (the bumps, which are more common on thicker linens and should be rare/uncommon on thin). How bulbus a slub appears in scale compared to the material often then suggests it has to be a thicker weave (although, a sign of bad-quality lightweight linen is a huge slub; but large slubs on heavy linen makes sense).
In terms of brands, anything with a more "grain brain" / "hippy naturalist" vibe is more likely to carry clothing made of heavier weight / denser weave linens. Resort wear has always been the light weight stuff; thick linen is the fabric of the "poors" (historically / European cultures) so companies going for a more country/rural/grainy/organic vibe are more likely to use it.
For just the fabric there are many possible sources, but I would recommend searching by weight. There are probably fancy terms for when the weave is dense, but search by weight and also pay attention if the retailer also carries hemp; if a fabric store carries Hemp and un-died linens, then they probably have the dense/tight weave you are looking for.
@@TeaCupCrackedomg thank you! This is very helpful ❤
I’ve bought the halter tanks from all 3- BR, Gap and old navy, and considering the price difference, the BR tank isn’t my fav of the bunch. It might be a bit thicker than the gap ones, but other than that I learned that for basic tanks, The Gap is the way to go.
I love BR and their sales are always amazing. I buy a ton of classic pieces there and I’ve been very happy with everything. Great video!
I was just talking about Gap! I hadn’t gone in years, but picked up a few pieces from the sale section and was amazed at how much 100% cotton that’s well made you can find at wildly affordable prices. I was able to appreciate my Gap finds from watching this channel!
It definitely made me want to check out BR again, I have BR pieces from years ago that have held up, but hadn’t been excited about them in awhile.
Also! If you could do Athleta vs Lululemon, I’d appreciate it!
Awesome reviews. I’m a BR fan but as prices go up, it’s good to know there is good value.
Thanks Jennifer, I like the concept of the video. Would be interested in seeing a comparison between the H&M-group brands (& Other Stories, COS, Arket).
I got a nice cashmere and wool sweater from BR on a great sale! Gap brands are basically the only non secondhand stores I shop at (currently in school so I need accessible pricing). I have had plenty of pieces from all the brands in my wardrobe for years.
Ahhhh congrats for your sponsor!!! I really love your honesty and savageness, keep up the great work♡♡
I love the big pocket on the BR linen shirt. The Gap shirt just looks like a big piece of fabric.
The last time BR was good was during college, so glad they're refocusing on quality again. Wish they would bring back the banana Republic explorer t shirts!
I worked at the Gap for 6 years. They are my go-to for basics. I hope they bring back their khakis.
I always look for BR and Gap at the thrift - not sure why, but there are tons at our local thrift stores. I’m in my 30s now, and while I don’t need a professional wardrobe (I wear scrubs ha), I feel a little more “pulled together” in their classic pieces. It’s been a good bridge for my style, personally.
you need to do a white t shirt review because i’ve been looking for the perfect one and i just don’t have the confidence to try so many
Just got that blazer online. Glad to know it has your seal of approval!
These stores unfortunately don't cater to plus sized petites. Old Navy has a wider range of sizes. I bought a few 100% cotton boho t-shirt material dresses from Old Navy last summer. I wore them and washed them on repeat. They still look good this year. The quality is pretty decent for fast fashion. If I wasn't plus sized, I would shop at gap. BTW, would buy the less expensive white t-shirt because white clothing is a dirt and stain magnet. It doesn't always come clean.
I love this comparison!! Would love to see more of these types of videos comparing brands owned by the same company!
Great video! Thank you for your thoughts on both brands and what to look for to get the best quality. I just bought a BR suit online yesterday after trying the jacket on in the store. I like to visit the stores to see the fabrics and try things on but I do most of my shopping online. I actually shop at all the GAP brands for myself and my children and most of the items I bought have lasted for many years, some going on 5+ years for me, because my size hasn't fluctuated much and I take good care of my clothes. I'm new to your channel and about to click that subscribe button. Thanks for sharing! Stay well. Blessings...
would love to see a more in depth video on banana republic specifically
WHERE can we find white cotton t-shirts that aren't see-through? 😭
Someone else commented about LL Bean shirt in pima cotton.
I've been interested and getting into sewing and all that comes with lately. I appreciate your videos. It doesn't hurt that you're hilarious as well.
Curvy tall girl reporting here. Recently picked up two pairs of jeans from GAP they were high waisted and came in long.
thank you. I bought some nice shorts from the GAP online. Suddenly I am signed up for emails from Banana Republic also! And now I know why a few others.
Ah, l love finding sale items at both Gap and BR. Got some great GapFit leggings and tanks before Athleta came into the picture. And who can forgotthe gap zip hoodie, my favourite
Well done great concept of comparison !!! Big thank you from France 😉👍
Love this!! Please compare massimo dutti vs zara and hm/arket/cos!!
Love this! Please do Zara vs Massimo Dutti!
Could you do a compare of Banana Republic vs Express for basics? I’ve heard their stitching is way better and fabric composition is better quality.
The quality is definitely better. I’m not buying simple basics I’m buying pant’s, dresses and other things like jackets and skirts.
As a tall woman, I don’t know what I would do without them. They’re the only store that caters to tall women if we choose.
I’m sick of everything being made for short women while tall women are completely ignored in the marketplace.
I have not seen you mention any store that sells clothes
for tall, petite and regular sized woman.
my husband’s uniqlo t-shirt’s neckline widens v quickly within a few wears, maybe we should invest in a couple of good quality ones 😅
omg! can you review ralph lauren?
Thank you for this comparison and detailed review. It certainly helps with making better purchases!
I worked at BR for 5 years, at the Eaton's Centre too 😁, and their products are much nicer now compared to a few years ago. They definitely went through phases withtheir creative directors lol. I'm surprised they didn't have any Supima cotton tshirts, those were such a staple and 100% cotton too
I was curious if either one has different inseam options online (they both do). BR lists out the inseam for each individual pair on its website, adjusting for cropped and extra long styles. The GAP just has standard inseams in a size table across all their styles and writes out where a cropped style should hit in the description (i.e. ankle length). They do both provide the rise measurements for each pair of pants thankfully. I prefer the level of detail BR provides but both seem acceptable for buying correct length pants online.
I'm curious, is it possible to find good quality clothing at more affordable/discount stores? I know it is counter intuitive since more affordable clothing is cheaper for a reason but there must be outliers that are actually decent quality. I would be interesting to see you check out something like TJ/TK Maxx.
Could you please look into the quality of Halara clothing? I like the simple designs and their casual stuff seems perfect for work. However the aggressive influencer marketing as well the fabric being almost exclusively Polyester is off-putting...
I find there are certain things at BR that are definitely worth the price but in my opinion most are not. With that being said, when things go on sale with an extra percentage off they are definitely worth it lol. That’s usually when I rack up. Most things don’t sell out right away at the regular price so waiting for BR to run a sale is usually not a problem for me. Right now they have an extra 25% off sale items and I got 10 items for about $300. A few of them I’ve been eyeing for months.
I also shop at the Gap for certain things. I find that the Gap have much better jeans than BR. The only time I buy BR jeans is if they are on sale.
Over all I’ll have to admit I do enjoy shopping at BR more because like you said, it’s neater and less crowded. As I get older, combing through racks of cloths in a crowded store just gives me anxiety lol
I just went to a BR store trying to find some jeans I saw online to try on but there was hardly any. The store is organized in a very strange way. Normally you'd think all the denims would be together but no.
Can you pls do a Uniqlo video? Love your content and pleaase keep digging into the sustainability of the brands, the items, and their materials- I love that stuff! You've found your niche and will get big from it:-))
Great Video. You are really good at showing what quality clothing looks like. Love your short videos too. How about a comparison between the Gap Factory Stores and BR Factory Stores compared to the regular Gap and BR?
Love the longer videos !!
Mens version? Banana Republic vs Bonobos vs Nordstrom Rack please! thanks for considering.
Just got work clothes from BR sale section - def investment pieces that’ll last me a while.
The Banana Republic jeans are utility jeans. The loop on the side of the pant is meant to hang a hammer off of it and the pockets are lower because its meant to hold more items when working on a job site. The Gap jeans are cargo pants. They're completely different and the comparison aren't equal.
I’ve always seen gap as the more casual version of BR. Similar to Ann Taylor and LOFT
I also recommend shopping BR Factory! You can get BR for gap prices, sometimes even cheaper than that.
I stopped shopping at outlets ever since that exposé revealing the quality is not as good as the retail stores 😭
@@wangjenniferr waaaaait what exposé!? I haven't heard about this 😭
@@howdycowboy247 it's from 2016 by CBC Marketplace, you can watch it here on CZcams!
@@wangjenniferr I will definitely check it out, thank you!!
I usually start off searching BR Factory and then try Gap. I've found the quality to be good and regular BR hold onto full prices of their items while you can find similar items on BR Factory and Gap on sale.
Can you do a versus for factory stores too? And i noticed j crew has a bunch of different brands also. No store near me so it would be nice for you to compare.
I think it’d be great if you did a comparison between any brand that has an outlet sister store, like the Gap and the Gap Factory! I know brands have started using outlets as a way to make cheaper quality items under the guise that they are the same quality as items in their regular store, so to see the differences up close would be really helpful.
Im curious on your opinion on lily silk!
Great video!! I’d love to see Garage verses Dynamite!
I cannot STAND how white tees are always see through! As someone with a larger chest it's especially an issue for me when the fabric inevitably stretches when I put the shirt on.
Loved this video! Please make more content like this ❤
I'd love to see Zara/Mango.
Very in-depth video! Thank you😊
The Gap shirt looks more like a standard button-down pattern, while the BR one seems to be specifically designed -- I like the look of the BR one, as it feels more office-worthy. I'd probably spend the extra 30 bucks -- I can thrift standard button-downs by the truckload.
I love the concept ❤
To me, I have always felt a difference. BA clothes just feel so much more luxe to me. The whole shopping experience feels like high end luxury. That said, I also mainly shop at their sale section. Their factory store isn’t bad either. Maybe do a video on comparing quality at the BA factory store with BA main? Gap is definitely more for basics. They have done well to segregate their audience into multiple segments imo.
From a menswear perspectiveI can say the overall aesthetic is very different between the 2. The collar on Gap basic pocket T discolour and they can lost shape so you get what you pay for there.
Ooo the gap t-shirt, love the cut
I use to work at Old Navy and they have the same owner. BR/Gap/old Navy! Believe it or not old navy uses a lot of 100% cotton, just check the tags people
I love this channel
I find that shopping on the BR website is better. I get some really amazing 100% wool blazers from there at like 60 to 70 percent off.
The GAP has a new designer Zac Posen, so let’s see if can improve the brand.
BR used to have the best t-shirts but they have changed. Also why is everyone putting large chest pockets on their shirts. At 5’4 the pocket often takes up my whole body. But, this was very helpful in looking at the quality of theses stores.
I got the Gap midrise 90s loose jeans. The fabric stretches out a lot after a short time and looks very frumpy in the front.
Would love a review of popular brands found at Nordstrom.
Why is there a store called Banana Republic still??? When I was a kid it sounded like a fun and whimsy name, but as soon as I learned what the term “banana republic” actually meant, I was like, “why would you name a store that???”
dont shop there if you dont like it. name has brand equity and nothing wrong with it.
@@albundy3929you must not know history, stfu
I mean, I'm from an actual "banana republic" country, and we don't find that term offensive (we even call ourselves "monkeys" or "guinea pigs" to each other). That being said, BR clothes are nice haha (I've been wearing them since I was 11).
I love both stores.
What happened to clothing stores steaming before putting clothes on the sales floor? That linen shirt was a mess.
i researched this for one of my supply chain classes in grad school. it was actually crazy like it’s good for the company but……. not good for us lmao
Should gave included old Navy too
My work pants from BR held up much better than similar ones from the gap.
Great video!
i used to be on ritual in college but it was too expensive $30 a month 💀
Lol, I don’t shop in either store 😂😂😂😂
As a reseller BR & Gap have almost equal resell value of zero. No one buys it. Even with tags. J. Crew flies out of my store. Personally I see amazing BR pieces with quality fabrics all the time and have many in my person wardrobe. 😊
Prides at BR factory makes shopping there worth it for me.
What was the name of that linen blazer from BR at 9.53? Was it the Lina linen blazer?
The qualities ARE NOT the same regardless of all three companies are under the Gap umbrella. I work in fabric r&d for 15 yrs and no way you can say any qualities are the same without a fabric spec sheet in your hand to show you the construction, yarn size, yarn composition, etc……