Charlotte Russe

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Brothers Frank, Dan, and Larry Lawrence worked in their father's clothing store in Brooklyn when they were young. The three moved to California in the early 1970s and formed their own company called the Lawrence Merchandising Corp. In 1975, they opened a store in Carlsbad, CA, and named it Charlotte Russe after a desert that they had visited as kids. The store expanded into other San Diego area locations over the next decade and carved out a niche for itself to target trendy young women. In the early '90s, Charlotte Russe branched out from California into other markets in the Southwest. The Lawrence brothers sold the chain to CEO Bernard Zeichner and a private investment firm in 1996.

Charlotte Russe went public in 1999--around the same time that it continued expanding all the way to the East Coast. The company traded on the stock market for 10 years before being acquired by Advent International Corp., which took the business private again. Today, Charlotte Russe operates more than 500 stores across the country. It specifically caters to women in their teens and early 20s, and it puts a spotlight on trendy apparel at affordable prices.

Women's Merchandise

Products

Charlotte Russe offers a huge array of fashionable shoes and clothing for women. In dresses, you can find options like party dresses, casual dresses, bodycon, fit and flare, shifts, maxi dresses, midi dresses, little black dresses, little white dresses, lace dresses, day-to-night dresses, going out dresses, rompers, jumpsuits, and more. Tops range from casual options like tees, tanks, camis, and croptops, to more formal blouses, button-ups, and lace tops. Cardigans, blazers, vests, sweaters, and more are also available for light outerwear.

The brand sells plenty of jeans in different styles and washes. You'll find flare, skinny, and boyfriend cuts in addition to overalls, jeggings, denim skirts, and denim shorts. Other bottoms include trousers, skinny pants, drawstring pants, leggings, lounge pants, and joggers. In intimates, Charlotte Russe offers plenty of bras and panties. Bras are available in styles like sports bras, racerback bras, push-up bras, bralettes, bandeaus, adhesive bras, and more. Panties include bikinis, thongs, and boyshorts. The brand's line of activewear includes tops, bottoms, and undergarments that are designed to move freely and wick moisture. In shoes, Charlotte Russe has an assortment of boots, booties, pumps, flats, sneakers, sandals, and wedges that meld form and function. Accessory options include scarves, socks, hats, jewelry, and bags.

Swap.com's Rating of Charlotte Russe

It's not difficult to see why Charlotte Russe has become such a staple in malls across America. The brand is committed to making the latest trends attainable for women on a budget. Clothes and shoes are affordable without feeling cheap, and they are available in a huge range of different styles. You could potentially build your entire wardrobe with clothing from Charlotte Russe because the brand offers all the basics in addition to plenty of specialty items. For its low prices and its trendy styles, we give Charlotte Russe 4.5 stars out of 5.