Gap & J Crew in trouble

[FrugalFashionista]

Reading fashion / business news - these are tough times for midrange brands...

Gap

J Crew

????

J Crew definitely used to be a mid-priced option though. I shopped there and at Club Monaco when I was a student - they emulated high-end stuff we saw at Barneys but the prices were within reach, even for a student, at least during the sales. Now I have a decent salary and both feel far too expensive.

J Crew is definitely mid priced in the US especially when you buy online in the sale and then often you get another additional 30% off at checkout. Much more expensive in the UK though.

Sadly I clocked the outfit at J Crew they were describing when I was at the same mall last week. The clothing is too fashion and isn't wearable for someone who isn't tiny. Ten years ago I wore a lot of j crew for work and there was nothing I could have worn from their latest collection.

What no one over the age of 40 realizes in the US and the UK is that the 20 something's who have traditionally been the ones spending have much lower disposable income. I have recent graduates working for me who are earning $59k a year with $90k of student debt. They have one suit jacket, 2 skirts and 3 pants with 7-8 tops. Their budget extends to a few basics from old navy. The starting salary with my employer hasn't really changed in 10 years yet the cost of living, including the cost of college which has sky rocketed.

Having said that, Gap baby is fab but they need some bright colours. DD was escorted through and she didn't want anything. It doesn't help that dd aged 3 is wearing their age 5 clothing which is the largest size the store carries. I would not be surprised if our local store is one that shuts!

Gap sizing is daft. If it says age 5 and it's in the baby range it's tiny, an age 5 from the older kids range is massively bigger!

I always thought uniqlo would kill Gap on the UK high street. Same stuff, in the main, with more innovative fabric and cheaper.
Only the eponymous gap hoodie has to be from gap ... and mine is 14 years old and still going strong!

Yes, Uniqlo has hit GAP - i buy from both (probably 90% of all my clothes) and not sure which I prefer. Will really struggle if GAP went. H&M is not very good at all.

Want2b also in the uk, 20 something style has moved away from Gap's famous basics in the workplace. It's either trying to look sharp/city or hipster/quirky on those tiny budgets.
Gap could still be hitting the 30/40 somethings who grew up with them but have knee jerk nudges toward 20 something style that leave them in neither camp.

"I always thought uniqlo would kill Gap on the UK high street"

Except that there aren't any stores outside the London area. I like to go into real shops and try things on, not buy online.

Are they only in London? I knew they had few stores but thought they'd be in all the big hubs eg Birmingham, Manchester etc. That's such a shame the stores are great.

They had a Manchester store years ago, I think. But, yes, only in London now. And they charge for delivery but, otherwise, great service.

Gap used to be great - always used to get jeans there. Now they are overpriced in North america. Who wants to pays 80 dollars for a pair of their jeans?

Yes, I always try to fit in a visit to Uniqlo when I go to London for work - it's lovely, a far nicer experience than Gap, but I am annoyed there isn't one anywhere near Scotland.

Same goes for bloody Muji.

bloody love Gap trews

agree mostly Gap stores LOOK a mess

Too many reductions too often. Staff dont care

uniqlo is a great shop but sadly only in London

Really annoying

that blog jcrewismyfavestore jcrewismyfavstore.blogspot.co.uk/

she looks TERRIBLE in so much of it'

Someone tell her that grey dress is GOPPING

just wtaf
jcrewismyfavstore.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2015-05-28T06:00:00-04:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false

Gap is fine for babies and kids but I find the adult clothes quite poorly constructed and overpriced for what they are. Mind you, I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything from there as they're always having X% off promotions.

I wonder why Old Navy has never come to the UK? It's basically the same stuff as Gap but for much more reasonable prices. Nothing extraordinary but nothing too expensive either.

I love Old Navy stuff, American relatives get it for the DC sometimes. I would love to go to a store and check out the adult things.

It's fairly unremarkable stuff but I bought a couple pairs of gym trousers and a pair of flip flops from Old Navy 5 years ago and they're still going strong!

Seeing as the J Crew store on Regent street didn't even last 18 months- this doesn't surprise me at all.

No Gap outside London is rubbish. There's one in Liverpool

www.gap.co.uk/products/store-locations.jsp

And a lot more places according to their website..

I read it as no Uniqlo outside of London. Hunners of Gaps near me, inc lovely outlets stores from where I kit out my kids.