Could it be? Has Abercrombie transformed their stores into a place I am now very curious to walk through and peruse? All signs point to yes! Gone are the days of navy and dark colored interiors with dim lighting. Abercrombie has woken up with brighter and warmer open spaces. According to this photo provided by Abercrombie, it is very well lit and reminds us of stores like J. Crew and Banana Republic. Well, I’m pleased, because I’m pretty sure the last time I was in an Abercrombie, I needed to use my cell phone flashlight just to navigate. The best part of this is that the stores will feature a “lighter, cleaner, gender-neutral fragrance.” YES.

On February 17th, the store pictured above will be revealed to customers in Columbus, Ohio.

The brand describes the new fitting rooms, designed as two small rooms within a larger suite so that friends can try on clothing and show each other privately, as “a comfortable haven from the mall or street.” They’ll also have “thoughtful amenities,” like light and music controls and a phone charging station. They’re also potentially opting for future installation of acoustic ceiling light fixtures to keep the bright lighting all throughout the store while also being able to absorb some of the sounds that the store and its customers could produce, making it easier for an employee and customer to talk together, and also allowing for the music to be heard as it should be at all times.

And there are more amenities beyond the dressing rooms – we’re talking spaces for seasonal capsule collections, a fragrance “apothecary,” multiple checkout counters, and the option to pick up online orders and place online orders while in the store.

I’m looking forward to checking one of these new stores out in person once they re-open in the Bay Area!

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