Old Navy: gone majorly downhill, or is it just me?

[amandaindetroit]

Okay, so complaining about Old Navy isn't nearly a new thing. I think I've read enough customers venting about a downward spiral in ON's clothing quality that I'd have a house if I had a fiver for each one I've seen

Comments

[goingloopy]

I have a very love-hate relationship with Old Navy...as in, I hate them, but their jeans ALWAYS fit me and make my ass look spectacular. As a 4x/26-28, my shopping options are more limited, so I have bought quite a bit from ON over the years. However, you're right. Their stuff lately is just boring and icky. I haven't ordered anything in a while. Also, I send them at least 3 or 4 emails a year begging for the plus line to be back in stores. I always get a completely canned response, but I keep sending them anyway.

[enveri]

So much this.

I have spent so much money there because the ON Skinny Jeans are the only ones that don't leave me enough room to carry a small child in the crotch, and I liked the graphic tees and bright colors.

Now... I flip through the selection, go 'meh' and close the browser. :(

[amandaindetroit]

ON is one of the few retailers carrying up to a size 30, so I can definitely understand that. I've made some here-and-there purchases, but it isn't the same exciting experience for me. Not having the plus line in-stores is irritating -- lack of space is the only somewhat reasonable thing I can think of, but I still think it's workable and I doubt that's their only reason. I don't see how carrying plus size in-store isn't a major money-maker, too?? I never understood that.

[ms_penguin]

I'm mostly annoyed at their near total lack of anything cotton blend anymore. For the past couple years it's all rayon and polyester which are not fabrics I like.

[amandaindetroit]

Yep. I'm lucky enough that I can buy a Gap tee online, so I do when buying basics. The quality difference between a $12.50 Gap tee and $7.50 Old Navy tee is ridiculous. ON's tees are very inconsistently sized, too.

[menageohthree]

I find it offensive that they have a plus line but its not available in stores. If they're not selling tanks for $5, they get no love from me.

[amandaindetroit]

I don't see why moving plus sizes to stores WOULDN'T be a money-making move?! It's something I never really understood...

[kethlenda]

It's stupid fatphobic BS. They're afraid seeing fat people in the store will make thin people think it's a "fat people store" and stop coming. Like that rumor that Abercrombie gives more discreet bags to shoppers they don't think are hot enough to represent their brand as they walk around the mall. Or at least that's my guess. it's stupid and offensive.

[amandaindetroit]

Yeah, I've wondered if it's something like that too. When some high-end designer brands talked about extending their size range, I heard critiques that thin people will feel like they aren't part of the brands' ~exclusive club~ anymore... this stupid fucking exclusive club socially constructed to make people feel superiority or inferiority. -_- So heartwarming.

[belleweather]

I don't know what to do about Old Navy. They suck, but places that have clothes whose sizes I can reasonably guess at and who ship to APO with no issues or drama... well, there's Old Navy and uh... Old Navy, pretty much. :(

What really pisses me off is that they've got SO many more options for men. My husband is tall and not big, with very very long legs. About the only place he can buy pants anymore is ON. If you're a boy, you can be just about any size you want -- tall, skinny, short, large waisted, barrel chested, whatever, and ON has a fit that will accomodate you. Why they can't do the same thing for women I do not understand.

[amandaindetroit]

Yeah, I can definitely understand that. ON can be hard to avoid because of stuff like shipping to APOs and being one of the few retailers carrying up to size 30.

The wider range of men's styles doesn't surprise me, but it's disheartening. I've only poked around the men's section a couple times. If I remember, they carried up to a men's 3X in store, which is also an advantage to the men's section... groan.

[___heyvanity]

I used to buy almost all of my clothing at Old Navy. It's super cheap (especially when you could get in amazing deals... buying shirts and stuff for like 75 cents!) and I liked the style... I could kind of mix and match and make my own fun style from their basic pieces

[amandaindetroit]

Yeah, I've noticed Old Navy puts out less coupon codes now, too. I personally don't mind spending the little bit more, but I'm like, SHOULDN'T THE SELECTION AND QUALITY BE BETTER BECAUSE OF IT?!

I gave up on buying bottoms in-store because the 18 Talls and 20 Talls are ALWAYS sold out. And I mean ALWAYS. A 16 Tall isn't worth trying on for me, and I get exhausted ordering denim from their plus line to just return it. I wish they carried more long inseams again -- with regular inseams, I usually can just try a skinny jean without it looking ridiculous on me. Torrid carries long inseams, but it's sooo overpriced.

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen size 18/20 shorts. Hmm!

[meganeko_mausuu]

I have! Decided to have a look today, and found a whole bunch of plus size shorts, though only a few of them were to my my taste. Here: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=65100#close

[amandaindetroit]

Oh yeah, I meant in-store. I've seen plenty online.