Stores Like Urban Outfitters
Sheridan Grant
Table of Contents
Textures, patterns, and silky soft fabrics all lie at the heart of Urban Outfitters (UO). And yet, the brand is not wholly defined by one style. They have more of a custom-mixed collection of classic styles and the newest trends that are popping on the market.
This really cool blend of modern and traditional fashion speaks to so many, and it’s what makes stores like Urban Outfitters special.
If this doesn’t capture your interest, maybe the brand’s impressive 9.1 million followers on Instagram and 2.1 million likes on Facebook will wow you.
It’s definitely clear that the brand is heavily sought after and loved by many, which is why they’ve been featured by popular media outlets such as Refinery 29, NY Mag, and Elle Magazine.
From clothing, and lifestyle products, to items for your home, Urban Outfitters has it all. But, if you’re on the hunt for other stores like Urban Outfitters to expand your product selection, and have more shopping options, stay tuned.
Below, we’ll check out many comparable stores, and dive into some of our top picks to help you decide which retailer is best for you.
But before we compare them to other similar retailers, let’s take a look at what Urban Outfitters is all about to help you understand the brand better. So let’s jump into our in-depth analysis of the company.
Overview of Urban Outfitters
Above, we mentioned that UO carries a vast selection of differing styles. If you’re wondering what we meant by that, imagine earthy boho vibes, soft grunge, ethereal florals, and IG baddie aesthetic altogether in one collection. This is definitely an eclectic mix of styles!
Back in the 1970s, Dick Hayne founded the brand with a vision in mind: to empower the voices of young women around the world. And their lofty mission is to “inspire customers through a unique combination of product, creativity and cultural understanding.”
Unique is definitely the right word to describe this retailer. Their diverse collection embodies and expresses the voices, and varied styles, of many young women from across the world.
And UO really is a global brand, since their products are available worldwide, so young people everywhere can don themselves in the brand’s clothing, decorate their homes with their unique pieces, and get their hands on cool and interesting gadgets, all in the same place.
Another interesting little tidbit: the brand was first called Free People, but was renamed Urban Outfitters later on. Further down the road, they broke into two separate brands while keeping their respective names.
And if that’s piqued your interest, stay tuned, because Free People may or may not be one of our top picks. We’re not giving away the details just yet!
Now, before we delve into the juicy stuff (i.e, the list of stores like Urban Outfitters), let’s take a look at the overall highlights of this company.
Highlights
- Effortlessly cool and stylish collection of clothing, homeware, and lifestyle goods
- Commitment to sustainability and diversity
- Rewards program
- Convenient app
- Afterpay available
- Constant new arrivals
- Free shipping over $50 in the US
- Sales available often
How We Chose the Best Stores Like Urban Outfitters
With so much to love about this brand, you may be wondering how in the world we chose other brands that could even compare. How did we find retailers that are alike to UO? First of all, it doesn’t hurt that the company has a few sister brands that embody the same unique style.
Then, of course, there are other stores out there that have pretty similar collections, price tags, styles, impressive quality, and more. So, to help you discover the best stores like Urban Outfitters, we searched high and low for other brands that have a similar essence and aesthetic— meaning they could even be considered competition for UO (gasp).
Below, we’ll outline all the things we considered before serving our fav brands to you on a silver platter, and in a neat top-11 list that outlines each retailer in detail (in other words, we’ve written this article just for you).
Price
Of course, one of the top things to consider when shopping is always the price tag. We aimed to find a variety of stores like Urban Outfitters, whether they were similar in price, higher, or lower so that everyone can find something they like that suits their preferences and budget.
And, of course, stores like Urban Outfitters but cheaper are always appealing.
Style
Now, we’ve already mentioned that UO has a pretty extensive collection of styles and has many varied designs. Our list of stores like Urban Outfitters consists of a number of retailers that each have a different style and aesthetic— from boho to contemporary to a mish mash of many styles.
This way, there’s something for everyone (just like the numerous choices UO offers).
Quality
While UO sells lots of its own signature pieces, it also carries a collection of different brands, all of which maintain high-quality standards and focus on sustainability. So, it makes sense that our list of other apparel brands has similar values and commitments.
And they should also maintain impressive craftsmanship and use only high-quality materials (just like UO does).
That being said, there are stores like Urban Outfitters but ethical (or more ethical) out there that still uphold those important standards we outlined, so we’ll give you the skinny on those options too.
Selection
The super-wide selection of items at UO is another thing that makes it so impressive. They have a vast array of clothing for men and women, home décor, beauty products, lifestyle necessities, and even cute little knick-knacks.
So, if you’re on the hunt for stores like Urban Outfitters home, lifestyle items, and everything in between, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll give you all our greatest picks below, along with very helpful commentary about each one.
Some of these stores carry mainly clothes, while others sell an array of homewares and beauty options. So, no matter which retailer you end up choosing, you’ll still find a similar selection to the vast collection available at UO. It really is a win-win situation.
Convenience
Of course, the convenience of the brands on our list of the stores like Urban Outfitters is essential. They should each match up to UO’s great standards (or come close).
UO offers lots of great customer perks, such as UO has a fun rewards program, free shipping on orders over $50, and is super accessible in-store and online.
So, we sourced brands that have similar convenient options, though they all can’t have every single one of these wonderful perks. That being said, each of the stores are accessible, which is the most important thing when it comes to convenience.
Diversity & Inclusion
One of the most important things to consider is diversity and inclusion. For our list of stores like Urban Outfitters, it was essential that all brands included models of different backgrounds and sizes because shoppers ought to be able to see themselves represented wherever they shop.
Now, you may be wondering what our top picks are when it comes to stores like Urban Outfitters. So, here they are:
- Anthropologie
- Free People
- H&M
- Zara
- Reformation
- Madewell
- Forever 21
- ASOS
- Mango
- Nasty Gal
- & Other Stories
11 Best Stores Like Urban Outfitters
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: now we’ll reveal our list of the 11 best stores like Urban Outfitters.
Below, we’ll give you the low down on every brand, including how it got started, what it’s doing, and how it compares to UO in terms of the criteria we mentioned above— from the price tags, the selection, to the quality, and more.
#1 – Anthropologie
Anthropologie is actually one of UO’s sister brands and was founded by Dick Hayne in the fall of 1992. The brand was created to appeal to middle-aged women who loved boho style. And, interestingly, it was originally designed for one of Hayne’s friends on the hunt for exactly that bohemian look.
The first store opened in Wayne, Pennsylvania and, like UO, it’s now available all over the globe. What’s another similarity between the two? AnthroPerks is also available, which gives shoppers access to things like promos, free shipping, and more.
On top of that, Anthropologie has a similar, wide-ranging selection of items, including clothes, homewares, furniture, beauty products, and even a gifting section.
They also have ethical and sustainable manufacturing and promise to manage their company in a lawful and responsible way.
All that said, we have mentioned that UO is designed for young people on the hunt for a variety of different style options. Anthro, on the other hand, speaks more to those who have a thing for flowy fabrics and lots of bohemian-inspired prints and has a more mature vibe overall.
For an audience on the hunt for a more mature version of UO, Anthropologie pieces range in price from $12 – $2000.
#2 – Free People
Another sister brand to UO is next up on our list: Free People. This company was technically born first, though the two began as one and eventually split apart to become their own separate brands.
Unlike UO, Free People focuses on an entirely bohemian vibe and aesthetic. And their products are designed for a specific clientele— specifically, a group of individuals that lie somewhere between Urban and Anthro’s demographics.
Like Urban, Free People is available all over the world and carries a collection dedicated to everyone and anyone who feels a connection to their pieces. The company also showcases a diverse range of models, which demonstrates their commitment to diversity.
The brand is firmly committed to being both ethical and sustainable. Not only are many of their pieces artisan-made, but they’re also crafted from eco-conscious materials using sustainable tools. Plus, the beauty section is considered clean and organic!
Free People’s vast collection consists of boho clothing as well as select beauty and wellness items. So, they do offer a similar wide-ranging selection just like UO’s collection. Although Free People has a distinctive style and targets an age range that’s unique to the brand.
When it comes to prices, Free People ranges from $30-$3000.
#3 – H&M
Founded in Sweden in 1947 by Erling Persson, H&M is known as one of the most popular retailers in the world today. Speaking of today, the brand’s current mission is to make “it possible for customers around the world to express themselves through fashion and design, and to choose a more sustainable lifestyle.”
With that in mind, H&M has paved the way in a sense when it comes to sustainability. The brand focuses on reusing and recycling items, and has its own conscious fashion line. They also use mostly natural materials and strongly believe in protecting animal welfare.
On top of all that, H&M showcases models from all different backgrounds and they also have a plus-size range. Their products are available in stores and online worldwide, and they even have a loyalty program, offering free shipping, extra promos, and savings.
Like UO, H&M also has a really great home selection with items that range in style— from farmhouse and contemporary to boho, and more.
Their clothing styles are similar to UO’s aesthetic and are also designed for a younger clientele. Their huge collection has plenty of pieces to choose from, although H&M definitely focuses on basics and wardrobe necessities.
H&M clothing ranges in price from $5 for basics to up to $300 for heavier coats.
#4 – Zara
Zara was founded in Spain by Amancio Ortega in 1975. At the time, he was on a mission to “give customers what they want, and get it to them faster than anyone else.” Zara’s products are available worldwide in their many boutiques and via their website (with pretty fast shipping).
While Zara is a fast-fashion company, they’ve set some pretty impressive sustainability goals, such as reaching net-zero emissions by 2040, using more natural and organic materials like cotton and linen, and no longer using any single-use plastics.
Like UO, Zara has a vast selection of pieces ranging from contemporary women’s and men’s apparel to kid’s clothing, home décor, beauty products, and more.
Also, Zara’s items can drastically range in style, just like at UO, and they offer a wide range of modern, eclectic, grunge, and boho designs, to name a few.
Zara has a similar price range to H&M, with pieces retailing anywhere between $5 – $250.
#5 – Reformation
Reformation first started out when Yael Aflalo sold a collection of vintage clothes in 2009. Things progressed quickly after that, and the brand now carries items that are sustainably crafted with an air of femininity and an overall contemporary vibe.
Reformation is committed to its original vision: “to bring sustainable fashion to everyone.” So, they now offer free worldwide shipping. Plus, every piece of clothing is made from high-quality, ethically-sourced materials that have little environmental impact.
Reformation’s collection consists of a variety of cool and classic women’s clothing, as well as some wedding pieces for bridal parties and guests. Their overall style is a little more refined, so this brand is definitely an ideal option for more mature shoppers on the hunt for sustainable fashion.
Reformation’s clothing pieces go for between $38 – $488.
#6 – Madewell
Madewell was founded in 1937 by Mickey Drexler as a Massachusetts-based workwear company. By 2006, the brand was absorbed by J.Crew and began to focus more on contemporary women’s clothing.
Fast forward a few more years later, and the brand is incredibly well known and available worldwide.
Madewell is committed to “developing leaders, infusing talent, fostering inclusion, and building equity.” To do so, they use responsibly-sourced materials and utilize ethical manufacturing practices. This helps them maintain their core values and provide a sustainable shopping experience for their customers.
The brand carries a range of different clothing styles just like UO, although they’re most well known for their denim pieces. Their apparel is also designed for a higher age range, since they carry more sophisticated and timeless styles.
So, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect pair of jeans that have a cool and classic touch, and are also sustainably made, look no further.
Like the other brands on our list, Madewell clothing ranges in price from $15 – $790.
#7 – Forever 21
Forever 21 was founded in Los Angeles in 1984, and quickly became famous for their super trendy styles and killer prices. Their stores are located all over the world, which makes their items very accessible.
Also, there are always plenty of coupon codes available, and the brand even offers free shipping on orders over $100.
When it comes to sustainability, the brand has committed to using 100% recyclable plastics and continues to take measures to lessen their carbon footprint.
Speaking of which, the company also launched ‘ForeverGREEN’ which was designed to help reforest Canada by planting one tree for every $50 purchase.
As their name would suggest, the brand offers styles designed for shoppers in their early 20s and sells pieces that fit into a broad range of categories and styles (similar to UO). Shoppers will find options for men and women as well as a plus-size section.
Forever 21 is definitely on the more affordable side of things, retailing between $5 – $80.
#8 – ASOS
ASOS was founded in London, UK, in the year 2000 by Nick Robertson, Andrew Regan, Quentin Griffiths, and Deborah Thorpe. The name is an acronym and originally stood for “As Seen On Screen.”
The company originally sold lots of pieces that were commonly featured on TV, but now they’re on a mission “to become the world’s number-one destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings.”
ASOS sells its own range of items as well as items from over 850 of the best brands available to give shoppers full access to plenty of different pieces. Speaking of access, ASOS ships worldwide and is available online or through their mobile app.
ASOS has a gender-neutral collection, is body positive with a range of over 30 sizes, and has 200 models to represent their audience.
Plus, they’re committed to setting ethical standards for their suppliers to ensure all workers are treated fairly. And they’re attempting to reduce the carbon footprint of all their products.
Like UO, ASOS is specifically aimed at young adults with its vast collection of men’s and women’s clothing in a wide variety of styles. In saying that, most ASOS pieces are quite contemporary and exude a very modern vibe.
ASOS prices range from $10 – $600. But keep in mind, there’s also an outlet chock full of extra savings as well as loads of promo codes available.
#9 – Mango
Mango was founded by brothers Isak Andic and Nahman Andic in 1984. Their first website was created in 1995 and the brand’s first store opened in 2000.
Mango offers minimalist staples for every member of the family in a variety of trending colors and styles.
Today, 79% of the brand’s garments have sustainable properties, and they strive to make that number 100% by the end of 2022. They also use environmentally friendly fibers, and often reuse and recycle fabrics to reduce waste. Plus, the brand’s packaging is 100% recyclable.
Compared to UO, Mango is definitely on the more contemporary and mature side of things, although they still have a similar overall aesthetic. Plus, their items are available to shoppers worldwide, which makes it easy for almost anyone to shop for their apparel.
When it comes to costs, Mango’s pieces range from $10 – $600.
#10 – Nasty Gal
In 2006, Nasty Gal was founded in San Francisco by Sophia Amoruso with an eBay account, and vintage items found in suitcases that had never been claimed. With a commitment to its vintage roots, the brand now carries a variety of women’s clothing that also maintains an earthy and boho vibe.
Like the other brands on our list, Nasty Gal has set goals for sustainability: they seek to lessen their carbon footprint and use better materials for their collection. On top of that, the brand is working on producing less waste overall.
Like UO, Nasty Gal offers a large variety of pieces that cater to a range of different styles. That being said, their apparel is designed for a slightly mature clientele and features a more refined style. With an e-commerce business model, the brand’s items retail for anywhere between $10 – $100.
#11 – & Other Stories
& Other Stories was founded by H&M, another brand on our list, in 2013. Like its parent company, this brand combines functionality with creativity and sustainability. They’re on a mission to “share stories from diverse perspectives, reflecting what the world looks like.”
With that in mind, the brand’s selection of materials includes 100% sustainably-sourced cotton, vegan fabrics, and recycled plastic water bottles. On top of that, & Other Stories (like H&M) has a recycling program where shoppers can return used items for 10% off future purchases.
The brand carries a collection of women’s clothing that is contemporary and stylish, with a range of easy-to-wear basics which have many cool and unique patterns. Their apparel options definitely appeal to more mature customers and exude an air of femininity and minimalism.
& Other Stories clothing pieces range from $25 – $379.
Which stores like Urban Outfitters are closest in comparison?
While there is no perfect match for Urban Outfitters, there are a variety of similar and comparable stores out there. From their vast selection of items to their commitment to sustainability, each one of the companies that made our list of stores like Urban Outfitters has more than one thing in common with the brand.
Each of these brands sells items that are widely available, range in price, and offer styles and designs that would appeal to anyone interested in Urban Outfitters.
And if that’s not enough, we’ll delve even further into more details below. We’ll break down which brands most closely compare to UO, and also check out which are the cheapest, and offer the best quality products.
To judge which brands are closest in comparison to UO, it makes sense to consider everything the brand has to offer. UO isn’t simply a clothing store.
As we’ve mentioned, they carry a wide selection of homewares, beauty items, and more. So, it only makes sense that the brands we consider closest by comparison should also sell such a variety of items.
After careful consideration, we’ve chosen Anthropologie, Zara, and H&M as the top contenders. While Anthro offers a more mature, bohemian style, their collection is on par with UO’s, and their home selection is also very similar.
Zara and H&M, on the other hand, are targeted at younger shoppers. Both of them also have similar collections as UO, and they have a wide variety of different styles that would appeal to many Urban Outfitters customers.
That being said, if you’re looking for stores like Urban Outfitters but for guys (not that UO doesn’t have a men’s section), these brands are also some pretty great options.
Which stores like Urban Outfitters are the most affordable?
Urban Outfitters is definitely an appealing brand because of their relaxed and trendy vibes, but their price tag can definitely be pretty high sometimes.
Fortunately, that’s what our list is here for: we’ll help you find stores similar to this brand that also suit your specific preferences, including your style and budget.
If you’re on the hunt for stores like Urban Outfitters that are more affordable, then H&M, Zara, and Forever 21 are definitely your go-tos. While these brands each have their own perks and are similar to UO in different ways, they all have a pretty similar price range.
Which stores like Urban Outfitters offer the best quality?
Quality is always the name of the game when it comes to any brand. By now, you may be wondering which retailers have our full support when it comes to manufacturing, materials, and sustainability efforts.
With that being said, all the brands in our list of stores like Urban Outfitters pass our checklist and meet our standards, but a few do stand out amongst the crowd.
So, here are our top picks: Madewell, Free People, and Anthropologie.
Of course, two out of three of these stores are directly connected to UO since they’re sister brands. But, it only makes sense to choose them, because each one has a strong commitment to sustainability and provides a collection of high-quality pieces.
And while Madewell isn’t a sister brand, it very well could be. With their collection of trendy women’s clothing, they’re wholeheartedly committed to making a positive difference and providing the best of the best when it comes to fabrics. Plus, they have a sustainable and ethical mission that’s truly admirable.
Final Thoughts
Having reached the end of our post about the best stores like Urban Outfitters, you’ve got a lot to think about (thankfully they’re all good things to consider).
And while no brand is exactly the same as Urban Outfitters, we hope that this list shed some light on the fact that there are plenty of similar options out there. And whether you’re looking to save a little cash, choose ethical options, or find more mature styles, there’s something on our list for you!
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