American Apparel

Like mechanical pencils, sometimes the simplest ideas are the smartest. Case in point: American Apparel. The concept behind the store is genius: brand-free, sweatshop-free wardrobe staples in more than 70 styles and 20 colors. Prices range from $8 for a ski cap to $50 for a fleece hoodie. The majority of the brightly lit space is devoted to tees for men, women, kids and pets that cost between $18 and $30 depending on the style. Why didn’t we think of this?