As the weather gets warmer, I love being able to grab one of my go-to T-shirts and a pair of shorts. However, I realized it had been a while since I stocked up on new options.
So, I decided to check out three Gap Inc.-owned retailers — Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy — to see if I could find one that makes me feel both confident and comfortable.
For a fair comparison, I tried on one basic black T-shirt from each store. Here’s how it went.
I started at Gap, a store I hadn’t been to in a while.
It had been a bit since I’d last shopped at Gap, but my local store was stocked with T-shirts in a wide array of trendy colors, silhouettes, and patterns.
It was difficult to choose which styles I liked the most — which I considered a good sign. Plus, most of the shirts I saw ranged from about $15-$30 (some were on sale), which I found to be a fair price point.
I ended up grabbing a $30 black boatneck top, which I brought to the fitting room.
The shirt was cute, but I didn’t love how it fit me.
When I tried it on, I liked the shirt’s boat neckline, which I thought made the style feel elevated.
The soft-ribbed material (96% cotton and 4% Spandex) felt nice on my skin, and it wasn’t see-through or too heavy.
Unfortunately, though, the body of the shirt felt loose and the arms felt tight, even though I tried it on in my usual size. The hem also felt higher on my waist than what I usually prefer, so I would size up in this style next time.
Overall, I decided to pass on this option because I didn’t think the neckline would be easy to layer comfortably without riding up on the arms. So, this shirt would be one I’d only wear in the warmer months.
Next, I went to Banana Republic.
This was my first time in a Banana Republic store, as I’ve only owned the brand’s clothing secondhand. So, I was a little surprised to see T-shirts priced at $50.
However, the interior felt elevated, and the clothing was hung and curated nicely.
While browsing, I only found a few casual shirts, and decided to try on the black minimalist cotton baby T-shirt.
I liked this option a lot, but it wasn’t within my budget.
Overall, I liked this shirt’s fit, hem, and semi-thick material (made of 100% cotton). The only real downside was the $50 price tag.
I definitely think I could find a shirt with a similar feel and silhouette elsewhere for a lower price. However, it’s worth noting that I later saw this option for sale on the Banana Republic website for $35.
I ended my journey at Old Navy.
To round out my shopping trip, I visited Old Navy, the Gap Inc. store where I can usually find the largest selection of affordable options.
When I walked in, I found a long table of T-shirts of all different styles — stripes, bright, summery colors, and even modern band graphics.
After looking around for a bit, I brought the black snug crop T-shirt ($17) with me to the fitting room.
I really liked the Old Navy T-shirt.
Labeled on the Old Navy website as having a “snug fit,” the shirt’s ribbed material (made of 48% polyester, 48% cotton, and 4% Spandex) fit my curves well. I also thought the sleeves and hem sat at the perfect spots on my torso and arms.
I don’t typically reach for polyester-cotton blends because I find them less comfortable than other options, but this one pleasantly surprised me.
Like many of the shirts I saw in-store, it was marked down to $12, which I thought was a great value.
Overall, the option from Old Navy was my favorite.
Although I loved the material used for the Gap shirt, I didn’t think the neckline was versatile enough to wear year-round. However, I’d definitely consider buying a similar option with a more basic style.
As for the shirt from Banana Republic, the quality was great, but I couldn’t justify paying the full $50 for it.
Moving forward, Old Navy will definitely top my list of stores I check out when I need to find the perfect T-shirt. Plus, I really appreciated the store’s wide range of styles and colors at an affordable price point.
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