Our Best Finds From Mall Month
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We’ve all heard about the decline of the American shopping mall — its imminent death has been trumpeted for so long now that it seems a miraculous revival might be upon us. At least that’s the conclusion we’ve drawn here at the Strategist duringMall Month. After taking a second look at some of the brands we were shopping a decade-plus ago, we consistently found ourselves pleasantly surprised.Some old favorites still hold up, like the bath bombs atLushand the candles atBath & Body Works, and many newer offerings are surprisingly stylish, like theGap’s Flore Flore–esque tops,Abercrombie’s sundresses,Aerie’s activewear, andBanana Republic’s no-longer-fusty menswear. Below, I’ve rounded up all the best finds we discovered (or rediscovered) during Mall Month.
Abercrombie
Strategist writer Bella Druckman tried on all thesundresses at Abercrombiein both mini and midi lengths and found several that she loved, including one with a princess-y smocked waist and one with a cute polka-dot pattern.
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Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen testedAbercrombie’s activewear line, YPB, which stands for “Your Personal Best.” The exercise dress ended up being her most-worn item from the collection; she also liked the layered tank and bike shorts.
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Aerie
Aerie’s activewearcollection is trendy and easy to wear out and about, says Strategist writer Kitty Guo. She’s been wearing the brand’s track pants, running shorts, leggings, and sports bras to work out in at dance, Pilates, and strength classes.
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Banana Republic
Banana Republic’s menswearis suddenly very good, reports Strategist senior writer Michael Zhao. He visited the store and tried on sturdy, stylish outerwear; lightweight pleated pants; and some unexpected swings, like a cotton-linen mesh tank and a photojournalist vest from the brand’s newly launched Explorers Club capsule.
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Strategist senior writer Ambar Pardilla also gave Banana Republic a closer look, focusing specifically onall the linenpieces. Though it’d be impossible to tryeverythingon, she did test at least one item in all the linen-related categories, including tops, shorts, pants, and dresses. A swingy shift dress, a relaxed T-shirt, and a wide-leg pull-on pant were among the winners.
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Bath & Body Works
Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst went toBath & Body Worksto sniff every candle and managed to emerge without a headache. She ended up gravitating toward scents with warmer, spicier, earthy notes, like Mahogany Teakwood and Rose and Oud.
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Build-a-Bear
Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo was initiallyskeptical of Build-a-Bear, but she ended up thoroughly won over. “I walked in ready to scoff at the corniness of the whole endeavor, but have to admit that it was a pretty magical experience,” she says of the process that netted a personalized stuffed frog for her son.
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Edikted
When Druckman went hunting for the perfectnot-too-short jean shorts,Edikted’s Rylin shortswere a top pick thanks to their just-right bagginess, true low rise, and two-inch inseam.
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Eileen Fisher
Our love forEileen Fisher’s linenis well documented, but the brand’scrushed silkis what Strategist senior writer Dominique Pariso will be wearing come summer. Her closet currently contains a bright pink tiered dress, a blue bateau long sleeve, and a swingy short dress. “Since adding these pieces to my wardrobe, I’ve worn them everywhere from fancy dinners to birthday parties, where they are routinely mistaken for Pleats Please for about half the price,” she writes.
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Garage
Despite being anti-rip, Druckman was also a fan of theseGarage Denim Festival shortsduring herjean-shorts huntand can picture herself wearing them to the beach.
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Gap
Strategist updates coordinator Najwa Jamal noticed that theGap has some very stylish topson offer right now, including ones that look very similar to Flore Flore, Leset, and Cou Cou Intimates (but without the high price tag!).
When Pardilla polled a bunch of stylish people about what they’rebuying from the Gap right now, she received lots of insider intel on the brand’s low-slung ’90s jeans, sturdier-than-they-look jelly flip-flops, and poplin pants that feel like “like biting into a crisp Bosc pear.”
Hot Topic
ICYMI,Hot Topic has gone mainstream: No longer a sole destination for the “goth” and “alt” kids, it’s now much more focused on pop-culture properties with mass appeal. Guo visited her local store to ask shoppers what they’re buying now; turns out it’s a lot of band T-shirts, blind boxes, and rave gear.
J.Crew
Zhao spoke with fashion designer Todd Snyder about his process designing theJ.Crew Ludlow suit, a defining garment in millennial menswear. “Getting all the proportions right was challenging at the time because it was new. Of course, once you come up with the blueprint, then it’s easier for everyone to come along,” Snyder told us.
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Kay
Pardilla put fine jewelry fromKay, Zales, and Pandorato the test to see if she’d uncover any (literal) gems. She reports that Kay’s hoops are lightweight and comfortable and the diamond ring looks like something she might find at Catbird.
Lane Bryant
Strategist contributor Alyse Whitney says her favorite pairs of underwear are all fromCacique by Lane Bryant. “No slipping down, no digging into my skin, and truly invisible underneath thin pants, a dress, and a skirt,” she writes.
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Levi’s
After trying multiple pairs ofLevi’s shorts, Druckman found a winner in these low-rise shorts with a frayed hem — she even “breathed a literal sigh of relief after pulling them on.” She felt comfortable and covered enough that she’d even wear them on a road trip.
Loft
Corsillo used to be a frequent shopper atAnn Taylor Loft (now known as just Loft)ten years ago but hasn’t been back for a while. She recently returned to see what the brand is currently offering, and tried on lots of muscle tanks, wedding-guest dresses, and matching sets.
Lush
Lushhas been around for over 30 years, and Pariso used to be a fanatic as a teenager. Years later, she says some of the products still hold up, like the swirly Intergalactic bath bomb, the sweet-smelling Sticky Date shower gel, and the exfoliating Scrubee body butter.
Pandora
Pardilla says Pandora’s chain necklace was the sturdiest of the ones she tried, and shouted out the brand’s Figaro hoop earrings and diamond engagement ring as worthy investments as well.
Princess Polly
Druckman tried on a number ofgoing-out dresses at Princess Polly. She crowned the Dasha her winner but found lots of other options suited for homecoming dances, friends’ birthday parties, and nights out in Bushwick.
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Sephora
Strategist beauty writer Krista Bennett DeMaio has a 15-year-old daughter who’sobsessed with Sephora. During a recent shopping trip, DeMaio bought her a multitasking K-beauty sunscreen, a sheer skin tint, and an oat-based cleansing balm, but other products she saved for later, like a luminous cheek highlight and a powdery dry shampoo.
Spencer’s
According to Strategist contributor Syeda Khaula Saad, Spencer’s — known for its gag gifts and novelty items — has asurprisingly comprehensive sex-toy collection. “The store carries almost everything and anything you might want in your sex-toy chest: lubes, vibrators, butt plugs, floggers, handcuffs, dildos, and more,” she writes.
Steve Madden
Senior writer Lauren Ro sampled everysandal at Steve Madden’s Soho store, from platform flip-flops to The Row–esque latticed flats. Her favorites ended up being an elevated black leather slide, a lightweight cork wedge sandal, and a pink jelly kitten heel.
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Subdued
Subdued, also known as the “Italian Brandy Melville,” has just touched down in Soho. Druckman visited the store to investigate why tween girls are loving the brand’s angel-wing hoodies, sequined tank tops, and cheeky baby tees.
TJ Maxx
Strategist writer Arielle Avila spoke tofive “Maxxinistas”on their secrets to shopping TJ Maxx’s sometimes-overwhelming selection. They told Avila that the perfume section is a hidden gem, the fitness section is usually well-stocked, and there’s a robust assortment of fun planners and stationery available.
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Zales
According to Pardilla, Zales has a nicely shiny Singapore chain as well as a “resplendent” tennis bracelet and a diamond ring with “clear, brilliant” diamonds.
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
