Brandy Melville Review: Everything You Need to Know Before Shopping the Cult-Favorite Brand

Hey there, fashion lover! Today, we‘re diving deep into one of the most buzzed-about brands of the moment: Brandy Melville. Chances are you‘ve seen the label‘s trendy basics and vintage-inspired graphics all over your Instagram feed, usually on the backs of your favorite celebs and influencers. But is the hype really worth it? In this honest, unfiltered Brandy Melville review, I‘m sharing my personal experience with the brand and everything you should know before hitting that "add to cart" button.

The Bottom Line

Let‘s start with the key takeaways:

• Brandy Melville is a trend-driven brand known for its laidback, carefree aesthetic and affordable prices (most items are under $40).
• The brand relies on social media and influencer marketing to drive brand awareness and popularity among teen and 20-something shoppers.
• Brandy‘s biggest point of controversy is its super limited one-size-fits-most sizing model, which only accommodates petite, slim body types.
• Quality and materials are on par with other fast fashion retailers, but don‘t expect long-lasting wardrobe staples.

Now that you‘ve got the high-level overview, let‘s get into the nitty-gritty details!

About Brandy Melville

Brandy Melville may scream "California cool girl," but did you know that the brand actually got its start in Italy? Yep, Italian father-son duo Silvio and Stephan Marsan founded the company in the early ‘90s, and the first Brandy store opened in L.A. in 2009.

Since then, Brandy has absolutely exploded in popularity, largely thanks to its social media marketing strategy. The brand‘s dreamy, beach-chic Instagram aesthetic is basically genetically engineered to appeal to teen and 20-something girls. Brandy doesn‘t use traditional advertising or e-commerce strategies – instead, it relies almost entirely on organic social media reach and influencer seeding to get the word out.

And boy, has it worked. The brand‘s Instagram following has grown over 200% in the past three years, now clocking in at 3.8M followers. According to market research firm Piper Sandler, Brandy Melville was the 8th most popular brand among female teenagers in 2022, beating out mall staples like Lululemon and Hollister.

The numbers don‘t lie: Brandy is the moment, at least for a very particular subset of young shoppers.

Bestsellers and What to Buy

If you‘re new to Brandy Melville, the sheer number of options can definitely be overwhelming. The brand drops new items constantly, and popular styles tend to sell out quickly. As someone who‘s spent hours scrolling through the brand‘s website and Instagram, I‘ve definitely got the inside scoop on the can‘t-miss bestsellers.

Rosa Sweatpants

The Rosa sweatpants are the Brandy Melville basic – I‘d bet money that at least half the girls in your local high school own a pair. And for good reason: they‘re insanely soft, comfy and come in a rainbow of 20+ colors. I have three pairs myself and reach for them constantly!

The only downside is that the Rosas run a bit slimmer than other Brandy sweats. I‘m usually a XS/S in bottoms and find that they‘re pretty fitted throughout the hips and thighs. For a looser, slouchier fit, I‘d recommend sizing up or opting for the Anastasia sweats instead.

Christy Hoodie

For a slightly preppier take on athleisure, you can‘t go wrong with the Christy hoodie. This baby comes in a whopping 15 colors, from basic black to bubblegum pink to lime green. The slightly cropped fit is so flattering with high-waisted bottoms and looks adorable layered under a denim jacket or oversized flannel.

NGL, I own this hoodie in three colors…it‘s just that good. The fleece lining is lightweight but still cozy, perfect for spring and fall days when you want an extra layer without overheating.

Ashlyn Baby Tee

IMO, Brandy Melville is the undefeated champ of baby tees. The tiny cropped silhouette is just too cute and pairs perfectly with baggy jeans or sweats for that effortlessly cool, undone vibe.

The Ashlyn tee features the cutest retro graphic and lettuce-edge trim that gives it an authentic thrifted feel (without having to actually set foot in a thrift store). I love styling mine with vintage Levi‘s and an oversized cardigan.

Quality and Sizing

Let‘s talk about the elephant in the room: Brandy Melville‘s one-size-fits-most policy. This is definitely the brand‘s biggest point of criticism, and for good reason. The vast majority of Brandy‘s pieces are designed for one specific body type – thin, petite and small-chested.

As a relatively thin person who usually wears XS tops and 00-0 bottoms, I tend to have good luck with Brandy‘s sizing. That said, I have many friends who are curvier or taller who can‘t wear anything from the brand, and I totally understand how frustrating and exclusionary that feels.

In terms of actual product dimensions, a Brandy size small corresponds to about a 32-inch bust, 24-inch waist and 34-inch hip. If your measurements are significantly larger than that, you‘re probably going to have a tough time finding pieces that fit well.

Another thing to note is that since Brandy items are meant to fit a range of sizes, the actual fit can be kind of inconsistent. I have two skirts in the same style and size that fit completely differently – one is a bit loose and the other barely zips up. Sizing is even more complicated when you shop online since you can‘t try pieces on in person.

Now for quality and craftsmanship. I‘ll be honest, you‘re not going to find super high-end or durable materials at Brandy. Most items are made from thin, lightweight cotton and tend to shrink or fade after a few washes. I have a few graphic tees that got tiny holes after a couple wears – definitely not built to last in your wardrobe for years.

Then again, these clothes aren‘t really meant to be long-term investments. Brandy is the definition of fast fashion, designed for trend-driven shoppers who want a cute going-out top for $20, wear it a few times and move on. And I get the appeal of that, especially if you‘re a cash-strapped teenager or college student who just wants to keep up with the latest styles.

What Other Customers Are Saying

Since Brandy Melville clothing is such a hot button issue, I wanted to make sure to include perspectives beyond just my own in this review. I scoured the internet for customer reviews on Trustpilot, Sitejabber and other forums to see what other shoppers have to say.

Common positive feedback:

• Super cute and on-trend styles
• Affordable prices
• Comfortable, soft fabrics
• Wide variety of basics and graphic tees
• Fun in-store shopping experience

Common negative feedback:

• Extremely limited sizing (even for straight sizes)
• Inconsistent fit, even within the same size and style
• Poor quality and craftsmanship for the price
• Items often sell out very quickly
• Many items are final sale and can‘t be returned

I‘ll share a review from Sitejabber that I think sums up a lot of people‘s mixed experiences with the brand:

"Ok, I LOVE the way Brandy‘s clothes look – they‘re so effortlessly cool and insta worthy. But OH MY GOD the sizing is a nightmare. I‘m a solid medium in pretty much every other store but literally nothing from Brandy fits me except the oversized hoodies. I‘ve had to resell so many items that I ordered online because they were uncomfortably tight. I really wish they‘d expand their size range because I‘d shop sooo much more if I could actually find clothes that fit."

How Brandy Melville Stacks Up to the Competition

Brandy Melville definitely isn‘t the only retailer geared towards fashion-forward teens and 20-somethings. Other popular players in this space include Urban Outfitters, Princess Polly, Pacsun and Dolls Kill. So how does Brandy compare?

Well, the one-size-fits-all thing is definitely Brandy‘s biggest differentiator. All the other brands I mentioned carry a range of traditional sizes, with most offering up to a 2XL or 12. Even among "straight size" shoppers, I‘ve heard that Brandy‘s pieces run much smaller than competitors‘. So if you have a curvier figure, you‘ll probably have much better luck finding items that fit from Urban or Princess Polly.

Brandy‘s price point tends to run a little lower than Urban Outfitters and Pacsun. You can get a graphic tee for $20-$25 versus $30-$40 at other stores. The one exception is basics – Urban actually has great deals on $12 ribbed tanks and tees that are comparable in quality to Brandy‘s.

In terms of style and aesthetic, Brandy definitely owns the "vintage beach babe" vibe. Urban and Pacsun have a slightly edgier, street style feel while Princess Polly and Dolls Kill are more trendy and experimental. If I had to rank them from most basic to most fashion-forward, it would go Brandy > Pacsun > Urban > Princess Polly > Dolls Kill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before I wrap up this monster review, I want to take a sec to answer some of the most common questions I get about Brandy Melville.

What is Brandy Melville‘s return policy?

Brandy Melville will accept returns for a full refund within 21 days of your purchase date as long as items are unworn, unwashed and have the original tags. However, many items (like graphic tees and accessories) are final sale and non-returnable, so make sure to check the product description before you buy.

Does Brandy Melville ever have sales?

The short answer is no. Brandy is notorious for never having sales, promo codes or special offers. The brand relies on scarcity and FOMO to sell products at full price. Your best bet for scoring a deal is to shop secondhand on Poshmark, Depop or Mercari.

Is Brandy Melville ethical?

This is a tricky one. On one hand, Brandy does use eco-friendly materials like recycled cotton in some of its collections. The company also has pretty solid labor standards, with all factories required to sign a strict code of conduct covering working hours, discrimination and fair wages. That said, the brand‘s lack of size inclusivity and diversity is a big red flag for a lot of consumers.

Is Brandy Melville problematic?

It depends who you ask. A lot of people would say yes, mainly due to the brand‘s exclusionary "one-size" policy and lack of diversity in its branding and employee base. An Insider exposé from 2021 shed light on alleged racism and body-shaming from top executives, including an all-white leadership team and discriminatory hiring practices in retail stores. As a consumer, you have to decide whether you‘re comfortable supporting a company with these types of allegations and limited sizing.

Final Verdict

So, is Brandy Melville worth the hype? I‘d say it depends on your priorities and body type. If you‘re looking for affordable, insta-worthy basics and happen to fit into Brandy‘s target demographic (aka thin, white and under 25), you‘ll probably love the brand‘s fun, laidback aesthetic. The clothes are undeniably cute and on-trend, and I can‘t deny that I wear my Brandy pieces all the time.

However, if you care about supporting size-inclusive and diverse brands, Brandy definitely isn‘t it. The one-size-fits-all model is frustrating at best and body-shaming at worst. I really wish the company would extend its sizing to be more accommodating of different shapes and sizes.

Another thing to consider is longevity. A lot of Brandy‘s trendier pieces feel very "of the moment" and probably won‘t be closet staples for years to come. You kind of have to go in expecting that these clothes have a limited lifespan, especially with how delicate some of the fabrics are. Then again, maybe that‘s not a huge deal if you just want some cute, cheap going out tops!

At the end of the day, you have to weigh the pros and cons to decide if Brandy Melville aligns with your personal style, budget and values. I hope this super in-depth review helped you make a more informed shopping decision. Feel free to DM me on Insta if you have any other questions – I‘m always down to talk fashion!