Rue21 has long been my first choice for apparel, because they had (until recently) one of the most extensive, varied and stylish selections of men's clothing to be found at any retailer. Although I tend to shop for clothes approximately twice per year, I could easily stock up on a couple bags full of items that would last me for years to come. They also carry my favorite cologne, the scent of which is frequently commented and complemented upon.
Lately though, it seems that their selection of men's wear has become...lazy. Brands have gone bland. Sweatpants. Uninspired and flavorless hoodies and sweaters. Offensively ugly button-up shirts. The uniqueness of their selections seems to have been bleached and ironed out into a pattern of conformity: "this is what men wear these days".
Maybe I visited at just the wrong time of year, and caught them in an awkward transition period. More likely, I have just aged out of the demographic they're targeting, because I wouldn't be caught dead in most of what I saw on my last visit. I'll be back for the cologne, and hope that a spark of inspiration catches and lights a fire of inspiration under their buyers and designers.
The staff here are friendly and helpful though, if a little green at times. They also seem to be instructed to push certain products (perfumes and colognes) pretty hard, but since I was there to purchase it anyway, I didn't mind, although I could see how it might seem pushy or annoying to others.
On the other end of the spectrum, I like just about anything my wife wears that she purchased here, so stylistically, they're on point with female fashion. The durability of the women's clothing is a little suspect at times, but for the price, it's difficult to complain too much. And you can find some absolutely bonkers deals in their clearance sections (when they're not almost completely wiped out, as they were on our last visit), so it's always worth your time to pick through the remainder of last season's selection. read more
