<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I tried on similar dresses at J. Crew and Abercrombie.Chloe Caldwell</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I tried on <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shopping-for-similar-dresses-gap-banana-republic-old-navy-2024-6">similar dresses</a> at J. Crew and Abercrombie to see which version offered the best value.</li><li>I loved the design of the J. Crew dress, but the sizing was way off.</li></ul><p>Although I lean more toward online shopping these days, there's something nostalgic and comforting about wandering the mall and trying things on in-store.</p><p>I can <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shopping-for-similar-linen-shorts-gap-banana-republic-old-navy-2024-7">compare similar styles from different brands</a> before buying anything, and I don't have to worry about returns if something doesn't fit — not to mention it's an easy way to reach my 10,000 steps for the day.</p><p>With summer in full swing and travel plans on my calendar, I realized I needed a comfortable, casual dress. So, I turned to two tried-and-true retailers — J. Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch — to find my new frock.</p><p>I was especially curious to check out these stores since both have had reputational and brand shifts in recent years. J. Crew <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/22/style/at-40-j-crew-shakes-off-a-midlife-crisis.html">filed for bankruptcy</a> in 2020, brought in new owners and a new CEO, and is now in the third year of its <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.gq.com/story/brendon-babenzien-j-crew-anniversary-interview">reboot</a>.</p><p>And after years of declining sales, lawsuits, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-rise-and-fall-lawsuits-controversy-comeback-2022-8">controversy</a>, Abercrombie & Fitch shares are up and the clothing giant has officially been dubbed <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-stock-turnaround-millennials-weddings-wall-street-sales-2024-6">back from the dead</a>.</p><p>I took a trip to the mall to form my own opinions on both stores and tried on comparable options at both locations. Here's how it went.</p>