American Eagle Outfitters

Three of my favorite things were born in 1977: me, Star Wars, and American Eagle Outfitters. For more than three decades, A.E. has been providing quality, trendsetting, affordable men's and women's clothing, and is now firmly established as one of the best-known purveyors of hot fashions for teens and young adults. Their wide selection of clothing, bright stores, and hip marketing have made them a favorite with style-conscious shoppers around the world.

Look below the fold to learn more about American Eagle and its variety of great clothing.


Founded in 1977 by Mark and Jerry Silverman of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as an offshoot of their menswear business, American Eagle changed ownership in the early 1990s and became the store it is today--a place to find a wide variety of label clothing for young men and women. American Eagle--often referred to simply as "AE" or "æ"--grew exponentially at the end of the 20th century to its current position as a multibillion dollar company with three brands and over 1100 stores.


True to its name, American Eagle features fashions born in American style, like these American Eagle Women's Boyfriend Jeans, featuring lightly destroyed fraying to give you that cool weathered look.











What I've always loved about American Eagle is how their men's clothing rides the line between outdoor gear and casual fashion. I always knew walking into an American Eagle store that I'd find something really comfortable that I could wear for work or play, indoors and out. Over the years I've bought quite a few great pairs of American Eagle shorts and pants like these American Eagle Men's Rip Stop Cargo Shorts.






In 2006, American Eagle launched aerie, a sub-brand of intimate clothing and accessories for young women and girls. The line features bras, panties, lingerie, sleepwear, sportswear, makeup, accessories, and cosmetics. Check out these aerie terry bermuda shorts, perfect for the dorm, yoga class, or hanging out on the couch...







...or this aerie f.i.t zip-front active bra, featuring sweat-free fabric and racerback style. Now with more than 150 stand-alone stores of its own around the country, aerie by American Eagle is a great addition to the company's diverse offerings, and is an example of American Eagle's planned development of new brand concepts.





American Eagle has great choices for women's swimwear, like this halter top bikini top and side-tie bikini bottom.

American Eagle has that rare combination of trendy styles for both girls and guys. I often feel like an afterthought in a lot of clothing stores, but American Eagle definitely hits the mark with their men's clothing, from t-shirts, to jeans, to shoes, and even hats. I wore the same American Eagle cap for several years until a girl forcibly removed it from my head. Comfort and good looks are the name of the game, like with these American Eagle Signature Low Rise Trunks.









With a widening variety of products and brands, American Eagle is poised to grow even more in its fourth decade of existence. I would bet, however, that--like me--American Eagle clothing will always give props back to that great year of 1977.