Seven brands for American retro style beyond Brandy Melville

Fashion really does keep looping back on itself. Tennis-core, ballet-core, minimal basics, American retro summer dressing: it all comes around again, usually with a slightly different accent — including the retro street-style summer lane.

If you want the Brandy Melville feeling but do not want to look like everyone else, these seven brands are worth saving. Some are more American-campus coded, some are more British grunge, some are Korean Y2K. Together, they give you that easy retro-girl mood without relying on one obvious label.

Sweet Chilling

Sweet Chilling is the soft sporty one. Public brand-history sourcing is limited, so I would avoid treating its founding details as fully settled. What can be confirmed clearly is the product direction: mini dresses, pleats, gingham, drop waists, shirt collars, lace shorts and girlish sporty pieces.

That makes it good for the relaxed campus side of American retro style. Think tennis-adjacent shapes, light athletic energy and pieces that still feel wearable in daily outfits.

Sweet Chilling summer campus outfits with white dresses and sporty styling

Crank

Crank is a Korean brand founded in 2017, according to its official shop listing on SIXTYPERCENT. It is trend-sensitive, tight, girly and a little sharp.

This is the brand for the sweet-cool version of the look. It can lean cute or punk depending on how you style it. A tight top with a pleated mini skirt gives you the soft schoolgirl route. Add darker accessories and it turns more idol-stage.

Crank crop tops, mini skirts and Korean sweet-cool styling

Minga London

Minga London was born in East London in 2014 and still has that independent, slightly weird energy. The brand talks openly about embracing individuality, oddness and edgy fashion, which fits its dark, punky, school-style mood.

If Brandy Melville is too clean for you, Minga is the messier answer. It is better for graphic pieces, tartan, dark color, baby tees and outfits that feel more Tumblr-girl than Malibu-girl.

Minga London punk schoolgirl outfits with tartan, graphics and dark styling

The Ragged Priest

The Ragged Priest is a British brand established in 2007. The brand describes itself through self-expression, individuality, denim and London design, with a clear grunge edge.

This is the one for chains, knitwear, patchwork, denim and a rougher version of retro dressing. It can still sit inside an American vintage outfit, but it gives the whole look more attitude.

The Ragged Priest knitwear, denim and grunge styling details

LOTS YOU

LOTS YOU is sometimes discussed through idol-adjacent styling, but I could not verify the claim that it sits under ADLV. Current public records and official store information point instead to LOTS YOU operating through Nostalgia Corporation, and Korean retail pages describe the brand through 1990s and 2000s vintage culture.

That correction actually makes the brand easier to understand. LOTS YOU is built around nostalgia: cute T-shirts, blouses, bags, backpacks, romantic vintage shapes and soft young-girl styling.

LOTS YOU soft retro outfits with pink bags, knits and nostalgic styling

BADEE

BADEE is a Korean brand. MUSINSA lists it as “Since 2019” and describes it through 1990s subculture, Y2K looks and the slogan “SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT BADEE.”

This is the hotter, more street version of the list. The butterfly symbol, cargo pants, baby tees and subculture references make it feel less sweet and more rebellious. If you want the retro look to lean baddie rather than schoolgirl, BADEE is the better route.

BADEE Y2K outfits with butterfly tops, cut-outs and street styling

Pain or Pleasure

Pain or Pleasure launched in Seoul in 2017. The brand says it focuses on fit and silhouette that show the body, while keeping the design original but casual enough for everyday wear.

That explains why it works so well for current ballet and Y2K styling. It has straps, shoulder lines, cut-outs and fitted shapes, but it does not feel like costume clothing. It is still daily enough, just much more intentional.

How to use the list

For soft campus style, start with Sweet Chilling or LOTS YOU. For sweet-cool idol energy, try Crank. For punk and dark schoolgirl styling, go Minga London or The Ragged Priest. For a hotter Y2K version, BADEE and Pain or Pleasure make more sense.

The trick is not to copy American retro style too literally. Take the feeling: short hems, sport details, school references, vintage color, fitted tops, messy hair, a little attitude. Then choose the brand that makes it feel like you.

Sources

Sweet Chilling official store
SIXTYPERCENT: Crank official shop
Minga London: About Us
The Ragged Priest: Ragged Responsibility
LOTS YOU official store
KREAM: LOTS YOU brand store
MUSINSA: BADEE brand shop
Pain or Pleasure: About