Stores Like Ivory Ella: 12 Preppy-Casual Alternatives for Teens and Young Women
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About Ivory Ella
Founded
2015
USA
Ships to
US, Canada, worldwide
Sizes
XS-XXL
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Who is Ivory Ella actually for now that the elephant graphic tee has stopped being a middle-school status symbol? The honest answer: a 13-to-16-year-old who wants a cause she can wear, matched with a mom who reads the "10% of profits to Save the Elephants" line and feels good about a $30 tee instead of a $30 tee with nothing behind it.
That pitch worked. The elephant silhouette on soft crewnecks, the pastel palette, the constant Instagram giveaways, the packaging that felt like a small gift — it built a genuinely loyal tween following, and the conservation angle gave the whole thing a warmth that pure logo prep never had.
But lean on one motif long enough and it starts to feel like a uniform.
The elephant is the brand, which is also the ceiling. Once you own three elephant hoodies, the fourth is redundant, and the prices don't undercut the polished prep of the brands teens graduate toward anyway. What people want next is either the same feel-good spirit with more range, or the crisp preppy look without the single-mascot lock-in. That's the gap Pura Vida fills with its stackable charity bracelets and States Apparel fills with cleaner collegiate basics.
That pitch worked. The elephant silhouette on soft crewnecks, the pastel palette, the constant Instagram giveaways, the packaging that felt like a small gift — it built a genuinely loyal tween following, and the conservation angle gave the whole thing a warmth that pure logo prep never had.
But lean on one motif long enough and it starts to feel like a uniform.
The elephant is the brand, which is also the ceiling. Once you own three elephant hoodies, the fourth is redundant, and the prices don't undercut the polished prep of the brands teens graduate toward anyway. What people want next is either the same feel-good spirit with more range, or the crisp preppy look without the single-mascot lock-in. That's the gap Pura Vida fills with its stackable charity bracelets and States Apparel fills with cleaner collegiate basics.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Ivory Ella
1
Pura Vida
Est. 2010
La Jolla, California, USA
Sizes One size accessories
$
cheaper
Teens who bought Ivory Ella for the cause more than the elephant
1% for the Planet
Same feel-good-purchase energy — friendship-style bracelets and accessories tied to charity partnerships, aimed squarely at the same teen giving-back shopper.
Pros
- Bracelets start under $10
- Rotating charity collections keep the cause fresh
- Strong social and influencer presence teens already follow
Cons
- Mostly accessories, not full apparel
- Quality of cord bracelets varies
- Charity share is per-collection, not blanket
2
American Eagle
Est. 1977
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Sizes XXS-XXL, extended online
≈
similar
Teens wanting broad everyday basics beyond a single graphic
The mall anchor teens graduate to — soft logo tees, hoodies, and denim at the same price point with far more variety than one motif.
Pros
- Huge range of tees, denim, and loungewear
- Frequent sales bring prices below Ivory Ella
- Inclusive sizing and body-positive marketing
Cons
- No cause attached
- Quality is fast-fashion tier
- Ubiquitous — no exclusivity
Visit American Eagle
Full guide: Stores Like American Eagle
3
Simply Southern
Est. 2005
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Sizes S-3XL
$
cheaper
Shoppers who want the exact cause-plus-animal graphic feel
The closest match on the graphic-tee-with-a-cute-animal formula — turtles, elephants, and pastel prints, with a portion supporting sea turtle rescue.
Pros
- Cheaper tees, often under $25
- Wide range of animal and preppy graphics
- Widely stocked in boutiques and gift shops
Cons
- Very similar aesthetic can feel dated
- Quality is basic cotton
- Less polished than mall brands
4
Vineyard Vines
Est. 1998
Stamford, Connecticut, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Teens ready to trade the elephant for polished East Coast prep
The gold standard of preppy logo wear — the smiling whale is Ivory Ella's grown-up cousin, crisper and more country-club.
Pros
- Higher-quality shirting and knits
- Strong resale and brand recognition
- Good men's, women's, and kids' range
Cons
- Noticeably more expensive
- No cause element
- Whale logo just as one-note as the elephant
Visit Vineyard Vines
Full guide: Stores Like Vineyard Vines
5
Southern Tide
Est. 2006
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Older teens moving toward refined coastal prep
Coastal prep with the Skipjack fish logo and performance polos — the elevated version of logo casualwear for the same crowd.
Pros
- Genuinely durable performance fabrics
- Clean, grown-up preppy look
- Skipjack polos are a wardrobe staple
Cons
- Skews older and more expensive
- Smaller women's selection
- No charitable angle
6
Lilly Pulitzer
Est. 1959
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sizes 00-16
$$$
pricier
Fans of loud, colorful preppy prints willing to splurge
Bright, printed, unmistakably preppy — the aspirational end of the same pastel, cheerful aesthetic teens covet.
Pros
- Iconic bold prints with cult following
- Strong resale value
- Wide dress and resortwear range
Cons
- Much pricier
- Sizing tops out at 16
- Prints aren't for everyone
7
Comfort Colors
Est. 1975
Gildan-owned, USA
Sizes S-3XL
$
cheaper
Shoppers who want the soft-tee feel without the logo markup
The blank-and-graphic tee brand behind half of Etsy's custom shirts — pigment-dyed, ultra-soft, and the go-to base for cause and animal prints.
Pros
- Famously soft garment-dyed cotton
- Cheap blanks under $15
- Washed-out vintage color palette
Cons
- Mostly blanks, you supply the graphic
- Inconsistent sizing after washing
- No cause element
8
Aerie
Est. 2006
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Sizes XXS-XXL, extended
≈
similar
Teens who want soft, feel-good casualwear with real size range
American Eagle's sister brand with the same soft loungewear and undertone of body positivity that resonates with Ivory Ella's teen base.
Pros
- Genuinely inclusive sizing
- Soft leggings and loungewear
- Unretouched, body-positive branding
Cons
- More athleisure than prep
- No cause attached
- Frequent restock churn
9
prAna
Est. 1992
Carlsbad, California, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Cause-driven shoppers who want the ethics to actually run deep
Fair Trade
Organic
Recycled
B Corp
For the customer who bought Ivory Ella for values — prAna uses organic cotton and Fair Trade factories and does the sustainability legwork the elephant tee only gestured at.
Pros
- Certified Fair Trade and B Corp
- Organic cotton and recycled fabrics
- Durable, versatile everyday pieces
Cons
- More outdoorsy than preppy
- Higher price point
- Less teen-branded appeal
10
States Apparel
Est. 2013
USA
Sizes S-XXL
≈
similar
Teens wanting simple preppy basics with varied graphics
Clean collegiate and coastal graphics on soft tees and crewnecks — the crisp preppy look without a single-mascot lock-in.
Pros
- Regional and collegiate designs
- Soft comfortable tees
- Unisex-friendly fits
Cons
- Smaller brand, less availability
- Limited sizing options
- No charitable angle
11
Tentree
Est. 2012
Vancouver, Canada
Sizes XS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Shoppers who wanted the conservation story front and center
B Corp
Organic
Recycled
Carbon Neutral
The strongest match on cause-first casualwear — plants ten trees per item purchased, delivering the tangible give-back Ivory Ella pioneered but with real transparency.
Pros
- Ten trees planted per item, tracked
- Certified B Corp and climate-neutral
- Soft recycled and organic fabrics
Cons
- Pricier than Ivory Ella
- More earthy than preppy
- Graphic selection is minimal
12
Hollister
Est. 2000
New Albany, Ohio, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
≈
similar
Teens wanting laid-back logo casualwear on sale
The SoCal-casual mall staple that captures the same teen logo-comfort niche with beach graphics, hoodies, and soft tees at accessible prices.
Pros
- Constant sales drop prices low
- Soft hoodies and beachy graphics
- Broad teen-focused range
Cons
- No cause element
- Fit skews slim
- Quality is entry-level
Visit Hollister
Full guide: Stores Like Hollister
If you bought Ivory Ella for the cause, not the elephant
The give-back was half the appeal. Tentree plants ten trees per item and tracks it, prAna runs Fair Trade and B Corp factories, and Pura Vida ties rotating collections to specific charities. These brands make the ethics the substance instead of a line on the tag — with verifiable certifications Ivory Ella never matched.
Cheapest ways to replace the soft graphic tee
You don't need to pay logo markup for a soft crewneck. Comfort Colors sells garment-dyed blanks under $15, Simply Southern runs cute animal graphics under $25, and Pura Vida stacks charity bracelets for pocket change. American Eagle and Hollister sales routinely undercut Ivory Ella too.
Graduating to grown-up prep
Many teens age out of the elephant toward crisper logo prep. Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, and Lilly Pulitzer are the classic next steps — pricier, but with durable shirting, performance polos, and resale value the graphic tee never had.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
If the cause mattered most, go to Tentree or prAna — both back their claims with real certifications instead of a percentage-of-profits line. If you loved the exact animal-graphic-plus-charity formula on a budget, Simply Southern and Pura Vida are the closest and cheapest matches. Teens ready to look older should look at Vineyard Vines and Southern Tide for crisp preppy staples that hold up. And if you just want soft, affordable everyday basics with more variety than one motif, American Eagle, Aerie, and Hollister cover it with frequent sales. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat stores are most like Ivory Ella?
Simply Southern is the closest match — it sells cute animal graphic tees with a charitable angle at lower prices. Pura Vida matches the cause-driven vibe with bracelets, while Vineyard Vines and Southern Tide offer the grown-up preppy version of logo casualwear.
QIs Ivory Ella worth the price?
For the conservation story and soft graphic tees, some fans think so, but the aesthetic revolves entirely around the elephant motif and prices sit near polished prep brands. If the cause is your reason, Tentree and prAna offer deeper, certified give-back for the money.
QWhat's a cheaper alternative to Ivory Ella?
Comfort Colors sells ultra-soft garment-dyed blanks under $15, Simply Southern runs graphic tees under $25, and American Eagle and Hollister sales routinely undercut Ivory Ella on hoodies and tees.
QAre there brands like Ivory Ella that donate to charity?
Yes. Tentree plants ten trees per item and tracks it, Pura Vida ties collections to rotating charities, and prAna is a certified Fair Trade and B Corp brand. All three make the give-back more transparent than a percentage-of-profits claim.
QWhat should I wear if I've outgrown the elephant graphic look?
Vineyard Vines with its whale logo, Southern Tide's Skipjack polos, and Lilly Pulitzer's bold prints are the classic step up. For understated variety, States Apparel offers clean collegiate and coastal graphics without a single-mascot lock-in.
Our Verdict
The Best Ivory Ella Alternative For You
If the cause mattered most, go to Tentree or prAna — both back their claims with real certifications instead of a percentage-of-profits line. If you loved the exact animal-graphic-plus-charity formula on a budget, Simply Southern and Pura Vida are the closest and cheapest matches. Teens ready to look older should look at Vineyard Vines and Southern Tide for crisp preppy staples that hold up. And if you just want soft, affordable everyday basics with more variety than one motif, American Eagle, Aerie, and Hollister cover it with frequent sales.