I visited Aéropostale as an adult. Not much has changed since I was a teen, but I'm not sure that's a good thing.

When I was in middle school, I loved shopping at Aéropostale. Chloe Caldwell

• I'm a millennial who shopped at Aéropostale religiously in middle school.
• Growing up as a lower-middle-class kid, Aéropostale's clothing was a symbol of belonging.

The year is 2008 and I'm 13 years old.

I'm in a crowded mall with my friends, and the word Aéropostale is sprawled across my T-shirt, helping me feel more confident.

As a lower-middle-class kid in upper-middle-class suburbia, that logo across my chest was more than just the outfit I picked out for school that day. It was a symbol of belonging.

It wasn’t quite as cool or expensive as Abercrombie & Fitch, but Aéropostale's clothing helped me fit in — I wore my favorite T-shirt until the holes in it were too big to hide.

Aéropostale felt like my store, even if I could only afford a few items a year. The brand was cool yet accessible, helping me to express my personal style and discover an interest in fashion.

During a recent trip to the mall, I decided to step inside Aéropostale to see what my favorite early 2000s retailer looks like today.