I stepped into an Abercrombie & Fitch for the first time in a decade and found it to be almost unrecognizable — in a good way

Gabbi ShawDec 2, 2021, 04:15 IST

Abercrombie & Fitch in 2003.Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Abercrombie & Fitch was one of the most popular clothing brands when I was in middle school.
After experiencing a dip in the 2010s, the brand has rebounded.

I'm 26 years old, which means I was firmly in middle school at the peak of Abercrombie & Fitch mania.

Abercrombie & Fitch sweatshirts are displayed in one of its stores December 8, 2003.Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Walking into the store in my local mall was always scary — every employee looked like a model, it was lit like a club, the speakers were blaring music, and you could smell the store from a mile away.

Atmosphere during Abercrombie & Fitch store opening in 2005.ichael Loccisano/FilmMagic for Paul Wilmot Communications/Getty Images

Walking into the store in my local mall was always scary — every employee looked like a model, it was lit like a club, the speakers were blaring music, and you could smell the store from a mile away.

Abercrombie's name was all over the clothes and accessories, or at the very least, items had a small stitched moose.

The moose.David Pomponio/FilmMagic for Paul Wilmot Communications/Getty Images

But Abercrombie's reign eventually came to an end.

Abercrombie & Fitch clothing is displayed in one of its stores on December 8, 2003.Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Abercrombie & Fitch has since rebounded — it's trendy again, but if you check out the website, you'd be hard-pressed to find a moose or an "A&F" anywhere on the clothes.

Inside of an Abercrombie & Fitch store in 2021.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Abercrombie & Fitch has since rebounded — it's trendy again, but if you check out the website, you'd be hard-pressed to find a moose or an "A&F" anywhere on the clothes.

On a cold Saturday in November, I trekked to the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, New York, to visit my local Abercrombie. The one I would longingly pass as a pre-teen has now closed.

Tanger Outlets.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

On a cold Saturday in November, I trekked to the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, New York, to visit my local Abercrombie. The one I would longingly pass as a pre-teen has now closed.

This store location is in a prime spot at the outlets, and it has a giant sign that's easy to spot.

The sign.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

There's a new look at the storefront: There's not a shirtless man to be seen.

The entrance.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Inside, the ceilings were high, the lights were bright, and it was just one large room, instead of a dark labyrinthine club.

Inside the store.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Not to worry — the fragrances are still available to purchase.

Abercrombie fragrance.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

One of the things the brand is still pushing is jeans — though I definitely noticed a more diverse array of sizes than the last time I walked in.

Jeans.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I looked at the men's section and found it was essentially like any other store.

Some of the men's clothing.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

In general, the store wasn't super crowded.

The store.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I tried on this camel coat and actually ended up buying it.

Selfies in Abercrombie.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I checked out the kids' section.

Abercrombie kids.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

When I walked in, it happened to be empty. But I saw lots of bright colors, something that was missing in the adults' section.

Abercrombie kids.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

If you were worried that A&F had completely ditched their logos, you can rest easy. I had to go looking for them, but once I found the graphic tees, they were easy to spot.

Graphic tees.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

If you were worried that A&F had completely ditched their logos, you can rest easy. I had to go looking for them, but once I found the graphic tees, they were easy to spot.

There were graphic sweatshirts, too.

Graphic sweatshirts.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I also found a pair of sweatpants with the name ...

Sweatpants.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

... and a Sherpa-lined zip-up. Notably, there was not a moose to be seen.

A zip-up.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Overall, my Abercrombie & Fitch experience was pleasant — I'd definitely go back.

Another jacket I tried on.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

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I stepped into an Abercrombie & Fitch for the first time in a decade and found it to be almost unrecognizable — in a good way

I'm 26 years old, which means I was firmly in middle school at the peak of Abercrombie & Fitch mania.

Walking into the store in my local mall was always scary — every employee looked like a model, it was lit like a club, the speakers were blaring music, and you could smell the store from a mile away.

Abercrombie's name was all over the clothes and accessories, or at the very least, items had a small stitched moose.

But Abercrombie's reign eventually came to an end.

Abercrombie & Fitch has since rebounded — it's trendy again, but if you check out the website, you'd be hard-pressed to find a moose or an "A&F" anywhere on the clothes.

On a cold Saturday in November, I trekked to the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, New York, to visit my local Abercrombie. The one I would longingly pass as a pre-teen has now closed.

This store location is in a prime spot at the outlets, and it has a giant sign that's easy to spot.

There's a new look at the storefront: There's not a shirtless man to be seen.

Inside, the ceilings were high, the lights were bright, and it was just one large room, instead of a dark labyrinthine club.

Not to worry — the fragrances are still available to purchase.

One of the things the brand is still pushing is jeans — though I definitely noticed a more diverse array of sizes than the last time I walked in.

I looked at the men's section and found it was essentially like any other store.

In general, the store wasn't super crowded.

I tried on this camel coat and actually ended up buying it.

I checked out the kids' section.

When I walked in, it happened to be empty. But I saw lots of bright colors, something that was missing in the adults' section.

If you were worried that A&F had completely ditched their logos, you can rest easy. I had to go looking for them, but once I found the graphic tees, they were easy to spot.

There were graphic sweatshirts, too.

I also found a pair of sweatpants with the name ...

... and a Sherpa-lined zip-up. Notably, there was not a moose to be seen.

Overall, my Abercrombie & Fitch experience was pleasant — I'd definitely go back.