Origins and History: From Flying the Friendly Skies to Teen Fashion Staple
Aeropostale has an unexpectedly aviation-centric backstory. The brand traces its roots to a small shop founded in New York City in 1987, selling pilot jackets and accessories inspired by the glamour of 1920‘s French air mail carriers. The name "Aeropostale" comes from Compagnie Générale Aéropostale, a pioneering 1920‘s French airline.
Over the 1980‘s and 90‘s, Aeropostale shifted from aviation gear to more mainstream casual wear for men, women and eventually children. It retained a focus on basics like t-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts and jackets, branded with the Aeropostale logo. The brand was acquired by retail giant Macy‘s Inc. in 1998.
Aeropostale truly took flight (pun intended) as it entered the 2000‘s, becoming a major force in teen and young adult fashion. Riding the tides of millennial mall culture, Aeropostale stood alongside brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle as a go-to for trendy, casual essentials for back-to-school. Sales boomed to over $2 billion annually by the early 2010‘s.
However, the 2010‘s brought decline as fast fashion disrupted traditional teen retail. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016, Aeropostale was acquired by mall operators Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties. Today, a smaller Aeropostale focuses on e-commerce and around 100 brick-and-mortar locations in malls and outlets. While far from its early 2000‘s peak, the brand retains nostalgic appeal for millennials, and has revived some popularity offering Y2K throwback styles to today‘s teens.
Aeropostale‘s Aesthetic and Target Shoppers
Browse Aeropostale‘s website today and you may feel like you‘ve stepped into a zig-zag time machine transporting you between the early 2000‘s and today. Many products embrace a Y2K aesthetic – think distressed denim, slouchy cuts, cropped lengths, logo prints and color block windbreakers straight from the Britney Spears playbook.
At the same time, you‘ll notice Gen Z‘s influence, with an expanded range of sizes and emphasis on diversity and inclusion compared to 20 years ago. There are references to contemporary trends like cottagecore and vaporwave. Social media-friendly graphic tees remind you this isn‘t your older sibling‘s Aeropostale.
The unifying aspect of Aeropostale‘s product mix is its youthful, casual vibe. This remains a brand targeting teenagers and college students. While aged 18-24 remains the prime demographic, their choice to bring back 2000’s styles has introduced nostalgic millennials into the mix. Aeropostale also carries selections for kids and toddlers now as well.
Pricing remains affordable to appeal to budget-conscious students. You can easily outfit yourself head-to-toe for under $100. Jeans generally cost $25-45, graphic tees $10-25, hoodies and fleece around $40. Clearance sales are frequent if you’re looking for even better deals. This makes Aeropostale an affordable alternative to pricier teen brands like American Eagle. Selection tends to focus on high volume basics rather than unique statement pieces, though some on-trend items definitely stand out.
Reviewing Current Aeropostale Bestsellers
Let’s analyze a few current highlights of the product mix so you know what to expect from the revived Aeropostale.
Women’s ‘90s Super High Rise Ripped Baggy Jeans
Part of the throwback appeal for today’s teens is revisiting authentic 90’s jeans styles from brands like Aeropostale that led the movement.
These high rise baggy jeans perfectly capture the slouchy, relaxed aesthetic. They give a nod to current trends too with distressed elements like ripped knees and raw hems. The light wash denim with classic 5 pocket styling exudes easygoing vintage vibes.
Made from 60% conventional cotton with 40% recycled cotton, these jeans walk the line between retro look and responsible materials. $36 makes them an accessible price point for high quality denim. Expect a comfortable broken-in feel matching that perfectly faded look.
Men‘s Pop Color Block Funnel Neck Pullover
This long sleeved funnel neck pullover splashes some bold Y2K color block flair into any winter wardrobe. The papaya orange and blue lagoon color combo channels nostalgic Nickelodeon vibes.
The shirt‘s cut strikes a nice balance between slouchy and athletic. Made from a cotton/poly blend, expect a soft fleece interior lining for warmth along with a dose of stretch. Its long fit and high neck gives you plenty to layer over a tee or under a jacket.
Priced under $40, this color block pullover punches above its weight delivering a lot of style while keeping you toasty. The color options stand out from plainer hoodies.
Unisex Y2K Striped Cropped Hoodie
This adorable striped hoodie speaks directly to the Y2K revival current among the youths. The three color stripes take inspiration from 90’s brand Tommy Hilfiger. An adjustable drawstring hood and kangaroo pocket keep all the signature sweatshirt features.
What gives this hoodie its Gen Z spin is its cropped boxy cut. Tailored for layering, the cropped length pairs perfectly over high waisted bottoms. The boxier fit and drop shoulders channels more contemporary streetwear vibes.
Made from a soft cotton/poly french terry, expect excellent comfort from this top as well as warmth. Coming in around $35 full price, it delivers strong value too.
Girls’ Seamless Racerback Tank Top and Bike Short Set
Matching athleisure sets like this versatile pairing have become everyday wardrobe staples for youth after being deemed “cool” by the arbiters of TikTok. This racerback tank and bike shorts combo nails the sporty meets streetwear aesthetic.
The polyester and spandex blend makes both pieces lightweight with plenty of stretch. The seamless construction promises not to dig or irritate. With the racerback tank you get breathable mobility, while the high waisted shorts deliver coverage and support.
Its simple gray color scheme pairs effortlessly with other loud or vibrant pieces. Yet the contoured lines and camo print details still provide flattering shape and visual interest. At 2 for $20, this versatile set offers fantastic affordable value.
What Do Customers Think About Aeropostale?
Expanding our research beyond the product itself, what is Aeropostale’s reputation like these days? We analyzed recent reviews from customers on Influenster, TrustPilot and SiteJabber to get a 360 view.
On Influenster, Aeropostale enjoys an impressive 4.3 out of 5 star rating based on 14,000 reviews. Positive feedback focuses on cute styles, trendy looks for school, quality materials and affordability. One 16 year old happy shopper gushes "They always have my style there for a inexpensive price."
Things get spottier on TrustPilot and SiteJabber however. TrustPilot gives Aeropostale just 1.3 stars across over 250 reviews. Multiple customers call out issues with strange billing practices and terrible customer service when trying to get resolutions. Others complain packages take weeks longer than advertised to ship.
On SiteJabber with a nearly 3 star score, we see the grievances continue around shipping delays, returns and scarce online stock. But we also notice recent improvements in service getting called out. One reviewer with a negative past experience shared "I‘m happy to say this recent purchase was quick, package arrived fast & intact."
So in summary – delight with the actual Aeropostale clothing remains fairly high, while behind the scenes operations like fulfillment and support seem historically spotty but potentially on an upward swing. Growing pains as smaller brands adapt to e-commerce realities likely explain some of these logistics issues.
Worth Shopping? Perks, Pitfalls and Final Verdict
Considering all we explored in this complete guide to Aeropostale – is the brand ultimately worth including in your shopping rotation? Here’s a quick pros vs cons breakdown:
Perks
- Affordable prices from just $5 clearance to $50 full price
- Trendy Y2K inspired styles
- Branded basics still valued for back-to-school
- Tons of teen trends like matching sets, crop tops, baggy jeans
Pitfalls
- Online ordering and shipping frustrations
- Spotty quality control and sizing inconsistencies
- Durability issues mentioned on some pieces
- Lackluster accessibility for disabilities
On the whole, if you appreciate Y2K throwback style and like hunting deals on fast fashion basics, Aeropostale deserves a browse. Focus your spending under $50 to avoid possibly flimsy quality, size oddly for the best fit, and take advantage of free returns within 30 days just in case. Call ahead before visiting stores for stock availability.
Approach pricier specialty collabs and branded graphic tees more cautiously. And set proper expectations around shipping and customer service based on those mixed reviews. Check in on social media for sitewide promo codes which pop up frequently.
Where To Buy Aeropostale In 2023
You can shop Aeropostale’s latest collections through these channels:
- Online at Aeropostale.com with limited international shipping
- 100+ locations across malls in 45 U.S. states
- Select Macy’s department store outposts
- Amazon and Walmart ecommerce marketplaces
Bluenotes serves as the exclusive distributor carrying Aeropostale in Canada both online and around 50 retail stores.
Aeropostale Return Policy, Shipping and Contact Info
Here are some key fine print items to know as you shop Aeropostale:
Return Policy
30 day window for returns and exchanges on most items. Extended holiday policy runs from October 19 – January 10.
Clearance, intimates, personal care excluded. Items must have tags intact. Simply initiate free return shipping through Aeropostale website or any store location.
Shipping Policy
Free standard shipping on orders $50+
$7 flat rate shipping on orders under $50
4-7 business day delivery estimate
Tracking number provided
Contact Aeropostale
- By Phone: 1-844-789-8956
- Email: [email protected]
- Chat available on Aeropostale.com
- Twitter: @Aeropostale
Frequently Asked Questions
To wrap up this complete Aeropostale review, here are answers to some popular customer questions:
Who owns Aeropostale now?
Aeropostale remains owned by mall operators Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties after its 2016 bankruptcy.
Does Aeropostale ship outside the US?
Limited international shipping available by visiting country-specific sites. Otherwise global direct ordering is currently unavailable.
Is Aeropostale good quality?
General feedback suggests quality is hit or miss – basics like sweats and tees tend to last but beware delicates. Prices reflect fast fashion level materials.
Is Aeropostale ethical?
Details on ethical manufacturing remain limited. They do partner with Cotton LEADS for sustainability. Some items incorporate recycled materials.
So there you have the complete current low-down on Aeropostale! Whether you‘re longing for their iconic logo tees from decades past or discovering the brand for the first time through TikTok, this guide highlights everything today’s Aeropostale has to offer.
