I shopped at Banana Republic and J. Crew to see how their transformation is going. One was much more fun to shop.

The store is located next to Rockefeller Center at 626 5th Avenue.

A giant coffee table displayed art books.

The styling here wasn't super impressive, but definitely spoke to a quiet-luxury approach that spotlights staple pieces and luxury fabrics like wool and shearling.

The store was spacious. I didn't see many customers in the store.

Artful centerpieces added dimension to the tables.

The skirt is part of the Peter Do collection.

There was a mix of staples like crewneck sweaters, along with more statement pieces like shearling coats.

The jacket felt high-quality and looked warm. And it was reasonably priced at $230.

The satin puffer coat has an awkward shape with a very large collar. It felt off compared to the rest of the clothing around it.

A black velvet suit set was laid out on a glass table, which made it a bit difficult to picture how it would fit.

The bohemian jewelry didn't seem to fit with the more elegant pieces. But I found a pair of nice gold hoops.

The coat felt so luxurious, and I loved the wine color.

More art pieces continued to give the store a modern, worldly vibe.

First, I tried going into the fitting rooms on the second floor, but there weren't any employees there so I went back down to the first floor.

Normally I'm a small, but it seemed Banana Republic's clothing ran a bit big. I would go down to an extra-small in this sweater. (The pants were my own.)

This top was an extra-small and it fit me well. It's made from a wool-blend fiber, but it felt paper thin, and I could imagine it getting holes quickly. So, I wouldn't pay $70 for it.

This was a nice top that I could wear to work. I also tried a pair of wide-leg leather pants. They were cool, but way too big on me.

If Banana Republic wants to tap into the quiet-luxury market, they'll need to start by improving the quality of their basics. There were also some strange style choices that they'll have to refine.

The pieces that stood out to me most were more luxury-leaning, like the $2,500 shearling coat and a $380 bucket purse.

I would consider buying a couple timeless staples at Banana Republic or investing in a single splurge item like a coat or handbag, but the brand wouldn't be the first on my list for a closet refresh.

This store is located near Union Square at 91 Fifth Avenue.

The styling was fun and festive for the holidays.

The store felt playful and bright.

There was lots of bright red, Fair Isle sweaters, and silver.

Sequins were throughout the store — on sweaters, dresses, and tops.

There were at least a dozen customers on the ground floor.

I was not expecting to find this metallic leather jacket. The shearling and cropped style was perfect.

The pops of color made the store visually interesting and exciting.

Something felt stripped down about the store compared to previous years. There weren't a lot of patterns, other than the occasional stripes, Fair Isle, and some holiday plaid. Instead, the clothing really leaned into pops of color and lush textures like cashmere and wool.

Feathers have been a trendy adornment lately. It's not always done tactfully, but this crisp button-down felt like an approachable way to try the trend.

The store selected modern, minimalist furniture.

The jewelry was much preppier than the jewelry at Banana Republic.

The pants were a slim-straight fit. I thought they'd look cooler if they were a trendier wide-leg or even a fun, retro flare. But I grabbed a pair to give them a shot.

I really liked the merchandising throughout the store. Some unexpected pieces were paired together, but it looked cool.

The fitting room had plenty of room to hang my clothes and the lighting was adequate.

The brown sweater was a nice staple, though I wasn't feeling the color on me. The corduroy pants were a miss. The color was too mustard and I didn't like the slim fit.

I've been looking for a new pair of leather pants, so I picked out a couple of pairs. Before I went to the fitting rooms, a customer told me she had both pairs and loves them.

I couldn't decide which pair of pants I liked best. They fit slightly differently, but both felt comfortable and were flattering.

I tried a shirt with removable feather cuffs for fun — stripes aren't really my thing, but I actually didn't hate it.

I had the most fun shopping at J. Crew and could have spent a lot more time there. The store had a wide range of styles and colors, but not so much that it overwhelmed me as it does in H&M or Forever 21. Every section had something that caught my eye, and there were multiple pieces I noted to come back for or look up online.

While J. Crew has kept much of its classic prep, the clothing didn't feel too traditionally preppy for me. The brand has managed to hold on to parts of its identity that make it J. Crew — like sequins, feathers, and bright colors. These styles came off as revamped and modern when paired with leather skirts, cropped jackets, and cashmere sweaters.

Finally, the clothes are approachable. The styles are paired down from what you might see on the runway, but still feel trendy. And prices skew slightly less expensive than Banana Republic for comparable quality.

Before this visit, J. Crew seemed outdated and it didn't fit my personal style. Now, I would consider it a destination for several needs, whether it's to get a few basics, find an outfit for an event, or overhaul my wardrobe.