Five Belle-Approved Pieces from Old Navy
Nov 20, 2014
Old Navy is the website I cruise when I want an inexpensive piece that doesn’t look like it. Choose, but choose wisely, and all of that. Here are a few of the pieces that caught my eye while I was window shopping.
This dress is perfect for a relaxed holiday party or casual Friday. It also comes in a gorgeous charcoal grey.
These pumps are a knock-off of a J.Crew pair from last winter. Good grey pumps are hard to find, so I’d leap on these if you like them. The 3.5″ heel keeps them work appropriate, and the embellishments give them a little something extra.
Open Front Fair Isle Cardi ($59)
Need a cozy sweater to wear with jeans or to keep at the office for chilly indoor temps? This one is an awesome choice. I love the black and white color palette and the relaxed vibe.
With a pair of tights, boots, and a long necklace, I’d rock this dress on casual work days. Then, I’d switch out for an ankle strap heel and some stack bangles for a relaxed cocktail hour.
I saved my favorite piece for last. I love this jacket because it could be outerwear or indoor-wear depending on your preference. I’d wear it with a white tee, skinny jeans, and ankle boots. I’d also wear it over a sheer black blouse and a black pencil skirt.
While I like your picks, especially the open cardigan and the tweed blazer.. I am wondering if it is worth it to buy pieces that will look worn out and like crap in 3-6 months.
This is where I struggle with buying cheap clothing. It just won’t look as good as the first day I got it (pilling, stretching, fading), and if I wait and spend more money on something that isn’t fast fashion, even if it takes me forever to find the perfect cardigan or tweed blazer, at least I know I can wear it for much longer.
In your experience, has stuff from Old Navy lasted the test of time and multiple wears/washes?
I buy probably 50% of my wardrobe from Old Navy (on a pretty limited budget here), and I’ve found that the quality varies greatly, but generally stuff can last a few years if it’s treated carefully. Even though they put “Machine Wash” on most of their clothes, DON’T. A lot of things (like the sweaters) above should be hand washed or dry cleaned, if you can foot the bill. I have had some things tear to shreds within a few months, but I also have clothes that I bought from Old Navy 3 years ago that still look new.
It’s all in what you buy there. I almost never buy online, always in-store. You have to be able to see and feel it to determine the quality, and sizing inconsistencies mean you really need to try it on (and probably in multiple sizes). I have a fair isle blanket cardi almost exactly like the one above from ON that I purchased 2 years ago and it still looks brand new, as well as a few thick ponte shift dresses that are several years old and haven’t given out yet. I always buy my jeans at ON, too, and they typically last 9-12 months a pair, and can’t be beat at $25.
It’s all in how you take care of your clothes. I only wash mine after multiple wears (no reason to wash after one wear, if it’s not dirty or smelly), and I do a lot of hand washing as well. And I NEVER EVER put anything in the dryer (besides socks and underwear). Drying is what ruins clothing quicker than anything else.
I don’t buy much at Old Navy, but I have stuff from Target and H&M that I purchased over ten years ago that I still wear. I’ve occasionally had to sew up holes or fallen hems or missing buttons but nothing too drastic.
It’s nice to buy more expensive, higher quality clothing, but I’ve had almost no problems with fast fashion garments falling apart in the past ten years or so.
As Belle mentioned, you have to choose wisely. I have had some quality issues with Old Navy clothes, especially pilling. But they have so much cute stuff lately that I’ve been shopping there frequently so I can usually tell by feeling the fabric whether that’s likely to happen. I have a sweater dress that I’ve had over a year, worn constantly, and it still looks great. As for washing, I wash anything I really like in laundry bags because I use shared laundry facilities and the machines are terrible
What timing–I am wearing a wrap dress from Old Navy today that I just bought, and am pleasantly surprised by its quality. Heavy weight cotton and super soft. And it was 20 bucks. I think you can find some great, comfortably basics if you look carefully!
I’ve been marveling at the longevity of a winter coat I bought at ON…9 years ago. It’s still in fantastic shape, it’s not worn out or dated (pretty basic knee-length puffer), and I’m pretty sure I paid like 35$ on sale.
Now, I definitely have things that have died untimely but not unexpected deaths from ON, usually due to pilling or warping. But I generally account for that when I shop there. The mint 3/4 sleeve cardigan that I wore to death this spring/summer? Pilling, sure, but it’ll make it at least through the spring. At 12$, it worked.
I actually tried on that sweater dress in store and it fit really poorly. The waist area was very baggy, especially in the back, but then it got tight around the hips again. It’s the right idea, but poo execution for a sweater dress.
I really never looked at Old Navy for clothes until you mentioned it Belle – you actually turned me on to both Old Navy and sweater dresses at the same time, which has made my life both more affordable and more cozy. Thanks!!
I have to admit that I buy ON all the time, and in fact I have the ON Visa Card. Today I went to the store, bought $160 worth of clothes, but after the 50% off sale for card holders and a few credit card rebate coupons, I ended up paying $0.18. I got a high five from the cashier!
I know the clothes won’t last forever, but cute clothes for almost free works for me.
I bought a wool coat from ON about 5-6 years ago that still looks great. However, I got a coat from JCrew Factory last winter and the lining ripped. So it really can vary.