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Today, Polo Ralph Lauren offers the rare kind of wearable essentials that come with a preppy twist, like a lambskin blazer or a double-breasted twill trench coat or wide leg pants. Even so, the brand isn’t immune to trends that keep it at the top of everyone’s minds. The latest being the Polo Bear sweater which went so viral in 2024, that people started the ultimate meta trend of dressing like the actual bear on the sweater.
Levi’s
When it comes to the all-American staple of jeans, perhaps no other brand is as recognizable as Levi’s. With over 175 years of history, Levi’s has led the evolution of denim and its trends. Their secret to staying in demand all these years later is looking back to the archives. Some may know the brand best for its 501 jeans, a style that has become so covetable, both stateside and in Japan, it’s now also a vintage icon that shoppers worldwide seek secondhand.
“By balancing the past and our future, we like to say that Levi’s is the youngest oldest brand in the world,” says Tracey Panek, Levi Strauss & Co. Historian and Archives Director. She mentions the recent ‘Reiimagine’ campaign featuring Beyoncé wearing the Levi’s 501s, inspired by a 1985 Levi’s TV advert dubbed Laundrette as one example. “We maintain a digital version of the original ad along with print versions in our Archives,” she says. “Similarly, a letter in our archives from 1938 inspired a television ad called ‘Pickup’ about a car that breaks down. The car owner used a pair of Levi’s to tow his car home. Both the letter and the Levi’s, with some rope still attached, are in our archives.”
Calvin Klein
The original, casual minimalist mall brand will always be Calvin Klein. The brand has its own impressive history of high fashion lore, but it also goes without saying that getting right down to the basics is written in Calvin Klein’s DNA. The label pioneered the idea of designer underwear, jeans, and T-shirts with a sexy, low-key aesthetic.
The brand has a history of pushing the conversation with controversial advertising campaigns featuring celebs stripped down to their underwear. Today, Calvin Klein continues to drive that narrative with buzzy icons like Jeremy Allen White. And you can continue to count on the brand for those under-the-radar essentials, whether it’s a white tank top or a simple tee.
Madewell
Madewell was created in 2004, when J. Crew bought the logo and trademark of the original workwear company that was founded in 1937. As a relatively newer classic mall brand, Madewell is firmly loved by the millennials who were some of its earliest supporters. The brand has a cult following for its jeans, and the amount of variety offered in its denim categories is impressive.
Today, the brand is known for its modern interpretations of trends with a slightly vintage aesthetic. Along with all the jeans, you’ll find ballet flats, modern suiting, and leather goods, and all the wardrobe staples in between (including what one of our editors deems as the perfect white T-shirt.)
Uniqlo
Beacon of basics, Uniqlo is an OG mall brand staple for a reason. Founded in Japan in 1984, the brand now dominates across the U.S. (in malls and bustling shopping streets) with its ingenious approach to mixing practicality with affordability, variety and technology. The brand’s unique features, like Heattech or UV protective clothing, make it stand out.
Where else could one find a puffer vest or cashmere sweater in so many different colorways? For the fashion obsessed, Uniqlo keeps things interesting through collaborations and recurring collections with some of the most exciting names from the high fashion sphere, including J.W. Anderson, Marni, Anya Hindmarch, and Clare Waight Keller.