21 Stylish & Affordable Stores Like American Eagle

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Anyone on the lookout for modern, stylish and affordable clothes could be forgiven for seeking out some other stores like American Eagle.

On the one hand, AE is always a safe bet for casual (if not exactly fashion-forward) staple pieces like jeans, hoodies, and t-shirts.

On the other hand, their clothes can sometimes be a little generic, so it’s not the best place to turn if you’re looking for something that goes beyond the basics.

Plus, while their prices are pretty low, you often get what you pay for—which means their quality can leave something to be desired.

Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find a host of affordable American Eagle alternatives that offer a wider range of styles.

In this post I’ve rounded up 21 of the best stores similar to American Eagle for anyone on the hunt for stylish, affordable and well made clothes.


Top Picks ↓

You can read more about each American Eagle alternative below, but here’s a quick sneak peek at our top picks:

  1. Madewell
  2. Abercrombie & Fitch
  3. J.Crew
  4. J.Crew Factory
  5. Levi’s

Cool Clothing Stores Like American Eagle

These Are the Best Brands Like American Eagle that Stylish Shoppers Need to Know â†“

Madewell

Madewell apparel

Like American Eagle, Madewell focuses on stylish staple pieces like jeans, tees and sweaters.

Whereas its parent company J.Crew offers a much wider selection that includes formal pieces like suits and tuxedos, Madwell’s primary focus is denim and all the core casual pieces and accessories that go with it.

If you’re looking for jeans similar to American Eagle, but made from higher quality denim, Madewell is a must.

Check Out Madewell ➤


Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch apparel

Of all the shops like American Eagle on this list, Abercrombie and Fitch might just be their closest competitor.

Though their clothes tend to have slightly more of a California surfer vibe, Abercrombie has a very similar ethos, approach and selection to AE, and their prices are quite comparable.

Check Out Abercrombie & Fitch âž¤


J.Crew

J.Crew apparel

As mentioned, J.Crew’s flagship stores carry a wide variety of stylish clothes ranging all the way from t-shirts up to tuxedos.

Their stuff is definitely a bit pricier than American Eagle’s, but generally much better made. J.Crew also targets an older demographic, so their clothes tend to have a more grown up and sophisticated feel than much of AE’s lineup.

Check Out J.Crew ➤


J.Crew Factory

J.Crew Factory

J.Crew Factory kind of splits the difference between the flagship J.Crew store and American Eagle.

While they do carry a line of suiting, their core focus is on casual staples, much like AE, and their pricing is more in line with affordable brands like American Eagle than with the higher-end casual brands like the flagship J.Crew store.

Check Out J.Crew Factory ➤


Levi’s

Levis apparel

When it comes to classic Americana brands, stores don’t get much more classic – or for that matter, much more American – than Levi’s.

In a lot of ways American Eagle’s clothes are cheaper versions of the casual, rugged all-American style that Levi’s pioneered.

While their prices may be higher than AE’s, both their quality and style is usually superior.

Check Out Levi’s ➤


Frank and Oak

Frank and Oak

Frank and Oak isn’t as well known (or as affordable) as American Eagle, but it earns a place on this list thanks to its fresh spin on casual staples.

Where AE’s clothes can sometimes seem both a little bland and a little shabby, Frank and Oak prides itself on making high-quality shirts, pants and sweaters that look great and last a long time.

Check Out Frank and Oak ➤


Everlane

Everlane apparel

Everlane is a great alternative to American Eagle because they combine some great styles with a great story.

They focus on making clothes that have a positive impact on the world, so they only source their clothes from ethical factories. And those clothes aren’t just ethically made, they’re well made and stylish as hell.

Check Out Everlane ➤


Fisher + Baker

Fisher + Baker apparel

Fisher + Baker specializes in timeless menswear staples that are classic in style and functional in design, making it a great place to pick up staple pieces like sweaters, shirts and tees.

Their selection isn’t quite as wide as some of the other stores on this list (for instance, they’re one of the few that doesn’t carry jeans), but the rest of their lineup is worth checking out.

Check Out Fisher + Baker ➤


Bonobos

Bonobos apparel

Bonobos isn’t the most obvious choice for a list of stores like American Eagle because it’s closer to the higher-end retail brands like J.Crew and Banana Republic, but it’s easily one of my favorite menswear stores.

Their styles are classic but sophisticated, making them the perfect American Eagle alternative for anyone who wants to upgrade their look while still maintaining a casual and cool sense of style.

Check Out Bonobos ➤


Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters apparel

Though they cater to similar age demographics, Urban Outfitters tends to carry clothes that are cooler, hipper and trendier than most of what you’ll find at American Eagle.

With that said, Urban Outfitters also has a pretty good roster of casual staples, and unlike AE they sell a wider range of products that includes everything from accessories to houseware.

Check Out Urban Outfitters ➤


Uniqlo

Uniqlo apparel

Japanese retailer Uniqlo makes stylish and streamlined stapled pieces that are a little more sophisticated than AE’s, but priced pretty similarly.

They’re a great American Eagle alternative for anyone who appreciates affordability, but wants a slightly more professional and grown up look.

Check Out Uniqlo ➤


The Gap

Gap apparel

Much like AE, The Gap is a staple in most North American malls, and arguably one of American Eagle’s closest rivals.

AE owes a lot of its style inspiration to Levi’s, but it also borrows pretty heavily from The Gap’s playbook, which is predicated on classic casual staples with a (slightly) modern twist.

Check Out The Gap ➤


Banana Republic

Banana Republic apparel

Banana Republic is a little more dressed up than AE and caters to more of a business-casual demographic.

But in addition to suiting and more formal pieces, they also carry a wide range of casual staples, making them a good American Eagle alternative.

While their base prices are higher, they frequently run sales, so if you keep your eye out you can score some pretty good deals.

(Hint: shop on weekends, when they almost always run a sale of some kind.)

Check Out Banana Republic ➤


Old Navy

Old Navy apparel

No list of brands like American Eagle would be complete without Old Navy.

While it’s owned by the same parent company that owns The Gap and Banana Republic, it’s easily the closest competitor to AE because it focuses exclusively on all American casual staples sold for extremely affordable prices.

Check Out Old Navy ➤


Hollister

Hollister apparel

Owned by Abercrombie, Hollister is another close competitor of American Eagle, but one that skews a little younger.

They sell a range of casual staple offerings with a similarly laid back California vibe as the main Abercrombie store, but with more of the bold patterns, colors and styles you see in streetwear.

Check Out Hollister ➤


Amazon

Amazon apparel

At this point Amazon is so big that it’s basically a viable competitor of every type of retailer, but it’s made a particularly strong mark in the world of affordable men’s clothes.

Their Amazon Essentials brand is both a close competitor to American Eagle, offering a wide range of stylish staples at some pretty low prices.

Check Out Amazon ➤


ASOS

ASOS apparel

Many of the brands like American Eagle on this list have bricks and mortar shops, but Asos is one that sells exclusively online.

Like AE, they carry their own in-house brand that affords stylish and affordable pieces, but they also operate sort of like a department store, carrying a pretty decent selection of pieces from other well known brands.

Check Out ASOS ➤


Forever 21

Forever 21 apparel

As its name implies, Forever 21 targets a young demographic that makes it a direct competitor of clothing stores like American Eagle, Hollister and Old Navy, which also skew young.

And like those stores, it offers a wide range of casual staple pieces at pretty low prices compared to some of the more mature (read: expensive) stores on this list.

Check Out Forever 21 ➤


Aeropostale

Aeropostale apparel

Another absolute staple of North American malls, Aeropostale is a close AE competitor that sells classic casual staples with a modern spin.

They’re very much in the same vain as brands like American Eagle, Forever 21 and Hollister, which focuses on a younger demographic and caters to the tastes and styles of shoppers under the age of 25.

Check Out Aeropostale ➤


boohooMAN

BoohooMAN apparel

British-based brand boohooMAN (try saying that five times fast) is a lot more fashion-forward than American Eagle, offering styles that are up-to-the-minute “in.”

It’s a good place to turn if you’re looking to break out of the casual staples sold by shops like American Eagle and Abercrombie, which are always safe bets, but not exactly the most stylish.

Check Out boohooMAN ➤


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Banner Illustration: Irreverent Gent

About Dave Bowden

Dave Bowden

Founder, Irreverent Gent
Author, Man in Command and Stop Doubting, Start Dating
Writer, Really Wordy Author Bios

Dave Bowden is a style blogger, menswear expert and best-selling author (in Canada—but still!) whose advice on how to look good and live well has been featured in New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Men's Health and more.

When not obsessing over style and self-improvement, he can usually be found spending time with his wonderful wife and two amazing sons, indulging in a hoppy craft beer, or sobbing over the woeful state of Toronto's sports teams.

Check out Dave's Style Story to find out how a chance encounter with his friend's step-dad taught him the value of looking good and living well (don't worry—it's less creepy than it sounds!), or email him at [email protected] if you want to get in touch.

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