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 staple pieces thanks to their modern (if not exactly fashion-forward) styles.
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.
Cool Clothing Stores Like American Eagle
These Are the Best Brands Like American Eagle that Stylish Shoppers Need to Know ↓
Madewell
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.
J.Crew
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.
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.
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.
Uniqlo
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.
Topman
British import Topman is kind of like the UK’s equivalent of American Eagle, though they offer a wider selection that ventures into suiting and formalwear.
Their sensibility is markedly more European, meaning their clothes tend to be a little more fashion-forward than AE’s, and the fits are generally slimmer.
Everlane
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.
Levi’s
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.
Fisher + Baker
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.
Bonobos
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.
Urban Outfitters
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.
The Gap
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.
Abercrombie & Fitch
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 ➤
Banana Republic
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.)
Old Navy
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.
Hollister
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.
Amazon
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 and Goodthreads brands are both close competitors to American Eagle, offering a wide range of stylish staples at some pretty low prices.
ASOS
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.
Forever 21
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.
Aeropostale
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.
boohooMAN
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.
You Know The Most Stylish Stores Like American Eagle
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Knowing where to turn for clothing stores like American Eagle will help you go beyond the basics when expanding your wardrobe.
But knowing where to buy stylish and affordable menswear is one thing; knowing how to wear rock it is another.
After all, the (handsome) devil is in the details.
If you want to out-dress the other guys, you need to know how to nail all the seemingly small but crucially important details that add up to make a big impact on the way people perceive you.
I’ve put together a head-to-toe checklist that will help you do just that.
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More Resources:
More Men’s Style Advice from Irreverent Gent:
- The Best J.Crew Alternatives for Men
- The Most Stylish Men’s Casual Boots to Wear with Jeans
- 12 Stores Like H&M for Stylish & Affordable Fashion
- How to Dress Better for Guys
- Thursday Boots Review
- The 25 Best Stores Like Abercrombie & Fitch
- The Best Stores Like TJ Maxx Online
- The Best Stores Like LL Bean for Great Outdoor Gear & Apparel
- The Most Popular, Affordable & All Around Best Tweens Clothing Stores & Brands
- The 24 Best Stores Like Forever 21 for Stylish, Affordable Clothes
Banner image: Ser_Amantio_di_Nicolao via Wikimedia Commons
