10 Stores Like J. Crew to Shop for Similar Looking, Preppy & Timeless Clothing

J. Crew is one of the best places to shop for timeless clothing featuring classic American styles. However, if you are looking for some alternatives just because you want more options to choose from, you have come to the right place!

Below is a list, followed by some basic intros and links to the official websites of the best brands and stores like J. Crew. These companies offer clothing and accessories for men and women that look very similar to the preppy and classic style of J. Crew.

J. Crew : Some Little Known Facts

J. Crew has a long and fascinating history. It all started in 1947, when a father and son duo, Mitchell Cinader and Saul Charles, founded a company called Popular Merchandise, Inc.

They sold low-priced women’s clothing through in-home demonstrations, where they would show their customers how to mix and match different outfits.

In 1983, Popular Merchandise, Inc. decided to launch a mail-order catalog to reach more customers. They named it J. Crew, after the rowing term “crew”. The catalog featured photos of the Cinader family and their friends wearing the clothes in casual and elegant settings. The catalog was a hit and helped the company grow rapidly.

Top 10 Preppy Clothing Brands in the U.S. that Can Serve as Great Alternatives to J. Crew

• 1. Banana Republic
• 2. LOFT
• 3. Brooks Brothers
• 4. Talbots
• 5. American Eagle
• 6. Abercrombie
• 7. Levi’s
• 8. Urban Outfitters
• 9. Club Monaco
• 10. Nordstrom

Banana Republic is owned by GAP and it specializes in upscale and stylish clothing and accessories for men and women.

At Banana Republic, you’ll find gifts that will impress you and your loved ones, such as cozy and soft knits made from cashmere and wool. Banana Republic also offers an impressive range of timeless and sophisticated clothing for men and women.

Generally, the price range of clothing, shoes, and accessories at Banana Republic and J. Crew is comparable.

However, Banana Republic has a hidden advantage: it often has amazing deals that you can discover with a little bit of digging on its website. You will be surprised by how much you can save and how much you will love your new purchases!

LOFT is a subsidiary of Ann Taylor, a well-known American brand that offers high-quality and fashionable clothing for women. LOFT specializes in feminine, versatile, and affordable women’s clothing that’s perfect for every occasion, whether it’s work, a weekend affair, or a party.

LOFT is highly recommended for women who are in love with J. Crew’s flattering dresses, perfect-fitting pants, and blazers but want to save some money with zero compromise on style or quality.

Brooks Brothers belongs to ABG, a company in New York that runs many famous clothing brands like Forever 21, Billabong, and Nautica.

Brooks Brothers is the oldest chain of clothing stores in the US and people see it as the original source of American style for men, women & kids.

Compared to J. Crew, Brooks Brothers may seem a bit more expensive, but it is worth the investment. If you are looking for something elegant and sophisticated to wear for a special occasion, Brooks Brothers can be a great alternative to J. Crew.

Talbots is a US-based retailer that sells stylish women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Talbots is a part of Sycamore Partners, a New York-based private equity firm that owns and operates many other well-known brands such as Torrid, Lane Bryant, Staples, and more.

Talbots has a variety of fashionable items for women of different sizes, from misses to petite to plus size.

Talbots has a large variety of sizes for most of its items, making it easy to find your ideal fit and style. Compared to J. Crew, Talbots is almost always a more budget-friendly option too.

At American Eagle Outfitters, you can find and buy amazing clothes and accessories for both men and women. Whether you need jeans, tops, bottoms, activewear, loungewear, or anything else, AE has it all. Depending on your mood and taste, you can choose from classic styles or trendy looks.

At American Eagle, there is one item that stands out from the rest: a pair of denim jeans. Their jeans are a great value for the money, especially when you compare them to what you normally pay at a J. Crew store.

Abercrombie & Fitch is a very popular brand from the US that sells clothes for everyday wear. A&F also has three other brands for different customers: Abercrombie Kids for children, Hollister Co. for teens, and Gilly Hicks for lingerie.

Generally, it is believed that J. Crew is more focused on classic and preppy styles, while A&F is popular for its casual and trendy designs. But that’s not entirely true. A&F does have an impressive variety of classic American styles too.

Levi Strauss & Co. is a US company that makes denim jeans that are famous all over the world. They have Levi’s and three other brands that have been around for a long time: Dockers for casual pants, Beyond Yoga for activewear, and Denizen for affordable jeans.

If you are a fan of jeans and flannel shirts, you might want to check out Levi’s, a brand that has a long and rich history of making these items. Like J. Crew, Levi’s jeans are also known for their quality, durability, and variety of fits and washes.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. is a big company from the US that sells clothes and accessories that match different styles and tastes. UO also has other brands that people love, like Anthropologie for women’s clothing, Free People for hippie or bohemian fashion, and BHLDN for very stylish and elegant bridal wear.

Technically, Urban Outfitters is not among the direct competitors of J. Crew. However, it can still serve as a cheap alternative in many situations.

Club Monaco makes clothes for men and women that are stylish and elegant. They use high-quality fabrics, modern shapes, and trendy designs. So, no matter what your weekdays look like, Club Monaco helps you choose clothes that make you stand out.

Club Monaco offers classic and preppy styles that are similar to J. Crew, but with even more attention to detail and quality.

Nordstrom, Inc. is a U.S. chain of department stores that specializes in high-end and luxury fashion. At Nordstrom, you can find amazing women’s shoes, clothes, jewelry, dresses, makeup, and more from the best brands and designer labels. Nordstrom is also the parent company of HauteLook and Beyond the Rack.

If none of the alternatives to J. Crew suggested above worked for you, Nordstrom is the place that you should check out.