The Limited

Shop The Limited

In 1963, two years after dropping out of law school, Leslie Wexner opened 2,000-square-foot store in Columbus, Ohio, using a $5,000 loan from his aunt as funding. He named the new retail venture The Limited because of the relatively small amount of merchandise it carried--creating an air of exclusivity. The store was an immediate hit, and Wexner expanded to a second location within his first year of operation. The company went public in 1969 by selling stock over the counter. In the 1970s, Wexner perfected electronic point-of-sale and inventory systems, which allowed the company to grow even more rapidly.

In the '80s and '90s, The Limited made several major acquisitions, including Lane Bryant, Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, and more. The company also introduced a number of brands of its own, such as Limited Too (later renamed Justice) and Express. Plenty of new stores were also opened under the original The Limited moniker during the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century. In 2007, The Limited and all its entities were bought out by Sun Capital Partners, which is the brand's parent to this day. There are currently more than 200 The Limited stores across the country.

Women's Merchandise

Products

The Limited focuses on contemporary, fashion-inspired apparel for women, and the brand strives to offer apparel in almost every major category. In dresses, you'll find styles like A-line, fit-and-flare, shirtdresses, slips, sheaths, shifts, maxi dresses, and more. Plenty of skirts are also available in maxi, midi, and mini lengths. Tops include blouses, tunics, tanks, camis, fashion tops, sleeveless tops, and tees. You can also choose among sweaters, cardigans, wraps, and ponchos for light layering.

In bottoms, trousers, chinos, ankle pants, and leggings are all popular in different colors and patterns. The Limited is also well known for its Exact Stretch pants that are designed to be incredibly comfortable. You can find jeans and other pants in cuts like skinny, bootcut, straight, and flare. Shorts and capris are perfect for warmer weather and available in a number of different fabrics. Blazers and vests are designed for business wear, or you can choose from a selection of full suits. On the other side of the spectrum, the brand's loungewear collection features casual apparel for more relaxed days. In terms of accessories, The Limited also offers an array of jewelry, scarves, sunglasses, belts, and more.

Swap.com's Rating of The Limited

While The Limited may be better known for its various subsidiaries, the company's original brand has been offering groundbreaking styles for more than 50 years. Putting an emphasis on fashionable clothes for all occasions, The Limited offers apparel that can fill up your wardrobe--whether for work, play, or other activities in between. While fashions aren't "dirt cheap," the brand is relatively affordable (and even more so when you buy clothes via consignment). Even though products are inspired by the latest trends, they aren't likely to go out of style quickly, which is why we give The Limited 5 stars out of 5.