I shopped for clothes at Gap vs. Banana Republic, both were expensive - Business Insider

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I shopped for spring clothes at Gap and Banana Republic, and I'm not sure I'd go back to either retailer

Terri Peters

2024-04-08T16:20:26Z

I went shopping for clothes at Gap and Banana Republic. Terri Peters

• I shopped for clothes and jewelry at Gap and Banana Republic, and neither retailer impressed me.
• I didn't buy anything at either store, but liked Banana Republic's selection of jewelry.
• Although I can afford to spend more money on clothing, I'd rather splurge on a meal or vacation.

It's been nearly a decade since I shopped at Gap or Banana Republic, but the retailers — both owned by parent company Gap Inc. — have been mall staples for as long as I can remember.

However, after seeing that Gap Inc. closed 350 Gap and Banana Republic locations since 2020 and hired former Mattel executive Richard Dickson to take over as the parent company's CEO, I was curious to see what the retailers were like today.

I recently visited both stores at my local Orlando mall to get a sense of the value each offers. Here's what my experience was like.

I started my shopping trip at Gap.

I hadn't been to Gap in about 10 years. Terri Peters

Gap is known for its casual, classic clothing, accessories, and shoes. There are over 700 store locations in North America and Asia.

I hadn't shopped at Gap in about 10 years, but I remembered the retailer selling pieces that were a little more expensive than those found at other stores like Old Navy.

Gap had a huge selection of denim.

Jeans were on display across the entire Gap store. Terri Peters

I found that most of the women's jeans at Gap were made with cotton and either polyester or spandex, and priced between $70 and $80.

By comparison, my favorite pair of jeans from Old Navy — which is also owned by Gap Inc. — are made with a similar blend of materials and cost $45.

Personally, if I'm going to pay more for a pair of jeans, I'd rather they be made with high-quality 100% cotton.

Still, I was happy to see Gap offered jeans in various rises, colors, and fits.

Even simple spring tops seemed pricey to me.

I didn't buy any of the spring tops at Gap. Terri Peters

Gap carried simple tees and tanks that looked perfect for spring, like brightly colored tops with cute eyelet-lace accents.

I thought about purchasing one for my warm-weather wardrobe but reconsidered when I saw it cost $40. Because I live in Florida, where I sweat through my clothing most days, I prefer to spend less money on tops.

When looking online a few weeks later, I saw that same top marked down to $15, which felt like a way better value for a basic shirt.

After seeing how generous Gap is with online sales, I'm glad I didn't buy it for full price.

Gap was having a sale, but I didn't think it was a great deal.

The sale at Gap was buy one, get one 50% off. Terri Peters

Gap had a sign advertising a buy one, get one 50% off sale, but I didn't think this was a very good value.

For example, purchasing an $80 pair of jeans to get a second for $40 didn't feel like much of a savings to me. I was also surprised that I didn't find a clearance rack or other on-sale items in the store.

Again, when checking on the Gap website a few weeks later, I noticed most jeans were 50% off — and you didn't need to buy two to get the deal. I would've been a bit frustrated if I'd paid $120 for two pairs of jeans instead of $80.

I thought the jewelry display looked cheap.

Gap's jewelry section had nice pieces, but they didn't look high-quality. Terri Peters

Gap's jewelry, which included $20 bangle bracelets and $10 earrings, appeared stylish and reasonably priced.

Unfortunately, the rotating cube-tower display reminded me of something at a cheap mall-accessory store. Nothing about the jewelry section matched the vibe of the rest of Gap.

In my opinion, the entire display felt like an afterthought.

Gap had pretty spring dresses, but they were a bit pricey for my budget.

The dresses at Gap were cute, but I didn't buy them. Terri Peters

Gap's dresses included designs with eyelet-lace patterns and came in cute springtime colors like pink and green.

However, they ranged from $100 to $170, which I wouldn't pay for a simple dress. I often shop clearance racks or visit discount or thrift stores to hunt for high-end brands for less than $100, which I think is a better value.

Next, I went to Banana Republic.

I assumed Banana Republic would have expensive pieces. Terri Peters

Banana Republic is a clothing and accessory store with over 400 locations worldwide. The store sells menswear, womenswear, footwear, and accessories.

I always thought Banana Republic was on the pricier end of mid-range mall retailers. Right off the bat, I noticed women's jeans cost well over $100 and saw a turtleneck for $130.

The store had some jeans, but the selection wasn't as large as it was at Gap.

Banana Republic didn't have a huge variety of jeans. Terri Peters

At Gap, the denim selection was spread across the store. At Banana Republic, however, I only found jeans in one small section. There weren't as many styles on display there, either.

I found the jeans ranged in price from $110 to $150.

I really liked Banana Republic's camisoles but didn't buy any of them.

I thought the silk camisoles at Banana Republic were expensive. Terri Peters

One of the prettiest things at Banana Republic was a silk camisole that came in pink, black, and cream colors. Unfortunately, each tiny top cost over $100, which I didn't think was a great value.

As a mom of four who handles our family's grocery budget, I immediately thought about how $100 easily feeds my husband and children for a week.

I found only one item on sale in the entire store.