Old Navy vs American Eagle: which sweater to buy, and when
Both land in the budget tier: the Old Navy Cotton-Blend Crew Sweater at $35, the American Eagle Cotton Crew Sweater at $45, $10 apart. Here is how they stack up, head to head.
| Old Navy | American Eagle | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 | $45 |
| Material | Cotton/acrylic and cotton/poly blends, light-mid gauge. | Cotton and cotton-blend knits, mid gauge. |
| Fit | Standard casual fit, true to size. | Relaxed casual fit, true to size. |
| Quality | Budget — lightweight blends that pill and lose shape sooner than wool. | Budget — sound cotton knit and easy care; high-street construction, not built to last for years. |
| Best for | Low-cost everyday knits, a wide colour range, and filling out a wardrobe cheaply. | Casual everyday wear, a youthful relaxed cut, and budget knitwear on sale. |
| Care | Machine wash cold and tumble low; shave pilling as it appears. | Machine wash cold and lay flat or tumble low. |
Old Navy's $35 cotton-blend crew and American Eagle's $45 cotton crew are both budget high-street knits, but AE uses a sounder mid-gauge cotton against Old Navy's lighter cotton/acrylic and cotton/poly blends. The $10 gap buys a more substantial knit and a relaxed youthful cut, not heirloom durability.
- The case for Old Navy
- $10 cheaper, wide color range, light everyday weight, frequent sub-$30 promos
- The case for American Eagle
- sounder mid-gauge cotton, relaxed youthful fit, easy-care knit, deep sale prices
VerdictThe pick
Both are casual budget knits, so the call hinges on weight and price. Take Old Navy at $35 if you want the cheapest color filler and don't mind blends that pill and thin sooner. Pay American Eagle's extra $10 for the heftier cotton and relaxed cut, but wait for its frequent sales since reviewers rarely pay full $45. Neither is built to last years; buy whichever hits the lower number when you need it.
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