I tried on linen shorts at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. The priciest ones were amazing, but I found a similar pair for way less.

• I tried on similar pairs of linen shorts at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.
• The pair from Old Navy was the cheapest but felt a bit tough against my skin.
• The Banana Republic shorts were my favorite, but the pair from Gap provided the best value.

I'm someone who loves color and bold fashion statements . There are more pink dresses and puff sleeves in my closet than there are black or white basics.

While I adore the creative expression and femininity in my wardrobe, it's become a challenge to dress for everyday life — my purple fur-lined cardigan isn't necessarily coffee shop-appropriate.

That's why I've made it my mission to invest in neutral, versatile clothing pieces this summer — starting with a pair of linen shorts.

I turned to Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy — all owned and operated by parent company Gap Inc. — to find the most comfortable, high-quality option for the best value.

After all, Gap Inc.'s brands are as popular as ever, with both in-store and online sales up from last year . With this in mind, I figured the retailers would have plenty of on-trend items for me to browse. Here's how it went.

I started my search at Old Navy.

Old Navy is one of the largest apparel brands in the world, with over 1,200 locations worldwide. The company also brought in $8.2 billion in sales in 2023, so I figured it must be doing something right.

I also appreciate that Old Navy offers inclusive-sizing options online and in some stores — women's styles are available in sizes 0-30 with no price difference between the smallest and largest items.

I found the shopping experience at Old Navy to be a bit overwhelming.

Old Navy's brick-and-mortar stores aren't quite as big as department stores, but in my opinion, they feel like walking into a warehouse.

It was hard to know where to start looking, but I liked that similar styles were grouped accordingly (such as seasonal pieces, athletic apparel, and pajamas). This made it easy to locate the shorts I was looking for.

They didn't have the white shade I was hoping for in my size, but they did have a selection of other neutral and vibrant colors. So, I tried on the high-waisted linen-blend shorts in black.

I'd reserve the Old Navy shorts for a casual occasion.

I liked the loose-fitting silhouette and the fact that these shorts had two pockets in the front and two in the back. However, the material (55% linen, 45% rayon) could have been softer and felt a bit tough against my skin.

I'd wear these to the beach, for relaxed lunch outings, or while running errands. But because of the elastic waistband and shorter hemline, I'd reserve these for casual occasions.

Overall, I thought the $30 price tag for these shorts was reasonable — but I did find them online at 50% off.

Next, I went to Gap to try on more basics.

I've made a few trips to Gap recently after having rarely shopped there before, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the selection of styles every time.

The store, which has over 700 locations in the US and Asia, has plenty of on-trend seasonal clothing. However, I've been most impressed by their large selection of basics, which is exactly what I've been looking for.

Despite being a massive corporation, I also liked that sifting through the racks at Gap felt more like shopping at a boutique. The garments were neatly organized, and it was easy to find what I needed quickly.

The shorts I tried on at Gap had a relaxed but well-tailored fit.

When I tried on the 365 high-rise linen-blend shorts from Gap, I was satisfied with almost every aspect of them.

I loved the high waistband with belt loops, which would make it easy to dress them up or down to pull off trending-linen looks. The relaxed yet well-tailored fit was stylish and elevated.

I could picture myself wearing these while wandering the streets of Europe or attending a laid-back summer party. However, the button and clasp closure didn't offer much flexibility, so it'd be important to size these correctly.

However, the shorts were pretty see-through.

My main issue with the white shorts was that the material was quite sheer, showing the full pocket squares in the back (you'd need to put on seamless, flesh-colored underwear with these). They're not shown this way in the photos online, so I'm glad I tried them on in person first.

I also noticed that the shorts have the same material makeup as the ones from Old Navy (55% linen, 45% rayon). They were almost double the price but felt more lightweight and comfortable than the Old Navy pair. I didn't notice any stiffness or scratching.

I wouldn't pay the full $50 for these, but I'd buy them on sale — I later saw them for 50% off on Gap's website.

I finished my shopping at Banana Republic.

For my last stop, I visited Banana Republic, which has over 400 stores around the world . I was delighted with the actual shopping experience, which felt luxurious and chic, and an associate immediately helped me find what I was looking for.

They didn't have my size in-store, but I tried on the 4-inch linen shorts two sizes up to see if they might still be worth ordering online.

The Banana Republic shorts came out on top for their high-quality material and fashionable design.

I loved the ultra-high-waisted cut of these shorts, which came with an adjustable, removable belt. The scrunched waistline also added an eye-catching effect, although these would have to be worn with a cropped or tucked-in top.

While the $90 price tag was much higher than the Old Navy and Gap options, this was the only fully lined pair of shorts made from 100% linen. I could feel the difference in the quality and material, too.

$90 is out of my usual price range for a pair of shorts, but when I compared them to similar linen styles from popular retailers like Reformation or Revolve, the price actually seemed reasonable.

However, I'd be most likely to buy the pair from Gap.

If the Banana Republic shorts were available in my size, I would have considered purchasing them. I've been eyeing them online since trying them on, but because I previously found Banana Republic's sizing to be a bit off, I'm hesitant to place the order.

However, I'd be most likely to purchase the pair from Gap (in a non-white neutral color) because of the decent fit and lower price.

Read the original article on Business Insider