I tried on similar tops at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. I'm done assuming big names with the highest prices have the best products.

Chloe CaldwellJun 12, 2024, 23:55 IST

I tried on similar tops at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy.Chloe Caldwell

I tried on similar linen-blend tank tops at Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Gap.
Of all the shirts I tried on, the one from Gap was my favorite.

Although I now prefer buying clothes from thrift stores and locally owned boutiques, I used to love shopping at mall staples like Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Gap.

All three stores are owned by the same parent company, Gap Inc., which has gone through many changes over the past couple of years.

Most recently, the company welcomed a former Mattel executive as its new CEO and designer Zac Posen as creative director of Gap Inc. and chief creative officer of Old Navy.

With all that in mind, I was curious to see which retailer would impress me most and offer the best value. While shopping for new clothes for the summer, I stopped at all three stores to compare similar linen-blend tank tops. Here's how it went.

My first stop was to Banana Republic.

Banana Republic (location I visited not pictured) is a global retailer with over 400 stores.Claudine Van Massenhove/Shutterstock

I was drawn to a neutral, linen-blend top.

The Banana Republic top felt lightweight on the hanger.Chloe Caldwell

However, I didn't think the Banana Republic tank was worth the price.

The tank was comfortable and well-constructed, but I wouldn't spend $65 on it. Chloe Caldwell

Next, I went to Old Navy.

Old Navy has over 1,200 stores worldwide.Chloe Caldwell

The Old Navy tank I picked out was thinner than the version I tried on at Banana Republic.

I immediately noticed that the Old Navy top was thinner than the one I tried on at Banana Republic.Chloe Caldwell

I was surprised by how much I liked the top once I tried it on.

The Old Navy tank top was both comfortable and flattering.Chloe Caldwell

Finally, I stopped at Gap.

Gap has over 700 locations in North America and Asia.Chloe Caldwell

I ended up browsing the entire store when I walked in.

I ended up trying on at least 10 different pieces at Gap.Chloe Caldwell

I loved how the top from Gap fit me — but I was shocked by the price.

The Gap tank was double the price of the Old Navy option, even though they had an incredibly similar material makeup.Chloe Caldwell

Based on the value, fit, materials, and overall quality, I’d be most likely to buy the tank from Old Navy.