American Eagle has become one of the most popular casual clothing retailers, especially among teens and young adults. Known for its stylish yet affordable apparel, American Eagle is a go-to destination for jeans, tops, loungewear, and more.
However, even die-hard American Eagle fans need to mix up their shopping sometimes. The good news is there are plenty of stores that offer similar styles and prices.
In this article, we‘ve compiled the top 10 alternatives for American Eagle shoppers. We analyzed over 20 popular clothing retailers to find the ones that stacked up as the closest matches.
Our evaluation looked at several factors:
- Style and aesthetics
- Price points
- Target demographic
- Quality
- Customer service
- Shopping experience
No two stores are exactly the same, so we focused onfinding the ones that check the most boxes for American Eagle fans.
Keep reading to discover 10 excellent stores to add to your shopping rotation if you already love browsing American Eagle‘s latest collections.
1. Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch tops our list as an American Eagle twin. The two brands showcase very similar casual American style in their clothing offerings. They use lots of denim, cotton, fleece, flannel – staples of laidback looks.
In addition to showcasing comparable aesthetics, Abercrombie and American Eagle have essentially identical price points. Most tops range $15-$50. Pants are usually $40-$100. And outerwear generally spans $50-$250.
Abercrombie also targets the same 15-25 age demographic. So if you feel too old for American Eagle sometimes, you‘ll likely feel the same browsing Abercrombie.
The two brands are on par for quality too. In fact, Abercrombie might have a slight edge with more premium materials like real leather and 100% cotton used across more items.
One advantage Abercrombie offers is more frequent sales and discount codes. So savvy shoppers can often score pieces at an even better value compared to American Eagle prices.
Overall, Abercrombie nails the American Eagle aesthetic and experience, cementing its status as the closest match we found.
2. Aerie
Our runner up is American Eagle‘s sister brand, Aerie. Given the shared company ownership, it‘s not surprising Aerie looks and feels a lot like an extension of American Eagle.
Aerie specializes in loungewear, intimates, and swim – categories that complement American Eagle‘s apparel nicely. The styles, patterns, and colors work seamlessly together for mixing and matching.
And since Aerie operates under the American Eagle brand umbrella, the pricing stays consistent too. Shoppers can expect the same sales and discount opportunities across both stores.
The main difference is Aerie‘s product range focuses more on comfort and softness rather than outerwear. But the brand nails that cozy, casual vibe perfect for American Eagle devotees.
Between the complementary products and consistent experience, Aerie gives shoppers more of what they already enjoy from American Eagle.
3. Hollister
Another brand sharing the same parent company as American Eagle, Hollister echoes a similar relaxed SoCal inspiration in its clothing. It emphasizes wearability, comfort, and laidback vibes across its offerings.
In addition to the stylistic similarities, Hollister also utilizes comparable pricing tiers to American Eagle. Shoppers can expect to pay the same amount for basics like t-shirts, swimsuits, shorts, and jeans.
One area where Hollister expands the offerings beyond American Eagle is with more workwear options like blazers, slacks, and blouses for young professional wardrobes.
So if you‘re an American Eagle die-hard starting your first office job, Hollister can help transition your wardrobe into mixing business casual and weekend wear.
Overall, the familiar aesthetics, pricing, and demographic makes Hollister worth a try for American Eagle enthusiasts.
4. Madewell
Madewell captures American Eagle‘s signature laidback Americana style with an elevated grown-up polish. Known for high quality denim and wear-forever classics, Madewell masterfully balances trendiness with timeless style.
Pricing does skew around 20% higher than American Eagle. But devoted shoppers report Madewell pieces lasting for many extra years compared to cheaper counterparts.
Madewell also offers a stellar customer loyalty program with tiered discounts and free shipping incentives. Savvy shoppers who invest in key wardrobe staples can reap serious savings over time.
With premium finishes and attention to detail, Madewell delivers sophisticated renditions of American Eagle‘s beloved jeans, tees, and flannel. The price reflects the investment, but quality conscious shoppers find excellent value in Madewell‘s offerings.
5. PacSun
PacSun serves as the premier destination for stylish surf and skate apparel. Like American Eagle, it embodies a carefree SoCal vibe with its clothing aesthetics and branding.
Shoppers can rely on PacSun for swim shorts, pullover hoodies, joggers, graphic tees, and other casual staples that work for beach chilling or kicking around town.
Pricing matches up squarely with American Eagle, with most items ranging from $15-$60 for apparel. PacSun also runs deep discounts during seasonal sales just like its competitor.
One advantage PacSun offers is a wider selection of accessories to complement the apparel range. From sunglasses to hats to belt bags, shoppers can pull full looks rather than just outfits.
PacSun also collaborates with cool skate and surf brands on limited edition capsule collections not available through mainstream retailers. So style-conscious shoppers can score ultra-rare statement pieces.
6. Tilly‘s
Tilly‘s mirrors PacSun as a premier destination for stylish casual wear inspired by surf and skate culture. Expect to find apparel and accessories exhibiting the same kinds of graphics, patterns, cuts, and silhouettes as PacSun and American Eagle.
Pricing maps neatly to American Eagle, spanning affordable entry points to mid-tier for unique collaborative collections.
Tilly‘s doubles down on the casual Cool Guy aesthetic, stocking even more shorts, tees, hats, and activewear optimized for beach and streetwear vibes.
The wide range of brands and limited edition capsules give shoppers fresh options compared to American Eagle‘s familiar in-house labeling. But the styling maintains familiar fashion territory.
Overall, Tilly‘s nails the same aesthetic and offers expanded products at comparable prices. Well worth a look for American Eagle enthusiasts wanting more variety.
7. Zumiez
As a specialty retailer catering to skate, surf, and snow cultures, Zumiez shares the same DNA as PacSun and Tilly‘s. Shoppers can expect the same kinds of graphics-driven tees, hoodies, flannels, and accessories prized in those worlds.
Zumiez sets itself apart by expanding more gears and hardware catering specifically to boardsports. So along with apparel, shoppers can grab everything they need for the slopes or streets in one place.
Like its peers, Zumiez sticks to affordable pricing in line with American Eagle. And they run lots of sales offering deep discounts off fresh new styles each season.
The wider range of brands and specialty products give Zumiez a niche advantage. But style-wise, it still caters squarely to the same customer craving California casual wear as American Eagle.
8. Uniqlo
Japanese import Uniqlo takes a minimalist approach to casual essentials favored by American Eagle. Shoppers can stock up on high quality basic tees, button-downs, sweaters, jeans, and more.
The styling skews neutrals and timeless classics over loud graphics or trends. So American Eagle fans may miss some pizzazz.
But Uniqlo wins big on quality and pricing. The materials and construction outpace American Eagle for durability, yet Uniqlo maintains affordable entry price points. Shoppers can outfit a full wardrobe for the cost of a few American Eagle trend pieces.
For American Eagle devotees needing to build a versatile capsule wardrobe, Uniqlo warrants consideration. The quality and price balance keeps wallets happy while covering style basics.
9. Gap
As a stalwart staple in malls and shopping centers everywhere, Gap likely needs no introduction. The brand specializes in classic American casual wear, much like American Eagle.
Shoppers can stock up on denim, khakis, button-downs, and tees addressing all seasons. The style mix leans conservative but offers frequent colorful, youthful choices that American Eagle fans will appreciate.
Pricing falls squarely in line with American Eagle, with standard sales chopping 40% or more off original tags. Gap also runs deep loyalty discounts for serious devotees.
The major difference versus American Eagle is Gap‘s extensive sizing spanning toddlers to adults. More conservative cuts cater to parent and child outfit pairing. So style-conscious families may appreciate Gap‘s ability to coordinate across generations.
10. Old Navy
Owned by the same parent company as Gap and Banana Republic, Old Navy shares design aesthetics and manufacturing resources with its sister brands. Shoppers benefit from the trickle down effect of styling and cost savings.
Like Gap, Old Navy covers the full age spectrum in its sizing. But the brand better targets teens and young adults trying to maximize their budgets. Shoppers canfill their carts with tons of affordable basics and trendy seasonal pieces.
The quality won‘t match premium American Eagle jeans and tees. But cost-conscious shoppers can readily stock full seasonal wardrobes without breaking bank.
For American Eagle diehards on a tight budget, Old Navy delivers fresh stylish options every month covering the same casual categories. The unbeatable prices offset the shorter lifespan compared to pricier brands.
Finding the Best Deals
Savvy shoppers know scoring American Eagle staples for less maximizes the value. The same rules apply when shopping similar stores – keep an eye out for discounts!
We suggest signing up for email and text notifications from your favorites. This way you‘ll receive alerts for sales, coupon codes, and seasonal promos for immediate use.
Most brands launch their biggest sales in late December and July to clear previous season inventory. Shop those periods for savings up to 75% off original prices.
Price matching is another tactic to lock in the best deal. Brands like Madewell, Gap, and Aerie all offer price adjustments when newer discounts get introduced. So don‘t fret if you pay full price only to then see items go on sale.
Lastly, take advantage of loyalty programs from brands like American Eagle, Abercrombie, Hollister, and Madewell. Achieving top tier status unlocks extra coupons, free shipping, and seasonal previews.
Get the American Eagle Look For Less
Part of American Eagle‘s winning formula includes delivering of-the-moment California cool style at affordable pricing. For shoppers wanting more variety without sacrificing their budget, the stores detailed above help expand the equation.
Fans obsessed with American Eagle‘s signature laidback look can rely on Abercrombie and Hollister for a consistent experience across the board. Or Madewell and Everlane offer elevated versions with investment quality construction.
Those needing casual wear on an even tighter wallet check Old Navy and H&M. And PacSun, Tilly‘s and Zumiez welcome skate and surf culture devotees.
No matter your preferred flavor, expanding your shopping list beyond American Eagle opens lots of options to build a stylish versatile wardrobe. Using sales tactics and loyalty perks helps maximize savings too.
So next time you‘re itching to browse American Eagle‘s latest collection, remember you‘ve got plenty more go-to stores worth exploring. Expanding your casual wear wardrobe never looked so good!
