I started my journey at Banana Republic, which has more than 400 stores worldwide and is known for its high-quality, expertly crafted collections.

Immediately after entering the store, I spotted a table set with perfectly folded sweaters.

As I was browsing for my size, an employee checked on me and asked if I was finding everything I needed — a question I only received once during my mall visit.

Although I feared Banana Republic would have pushy and overwhelming sales associates, I felt relaxed and comfortable while scanning the store.

After grabbing an $80 sweater, which was on sale for 40% off, I headed for the dressing room.

I instantly felt cozy wearing the classic crew-neck sweater, knitted from the company's signature all-season Italian Merino wool.

Although my usual medium size fit like a glove, a large also would've worked if I wanted a looser fit or to layer a shirt underneath.

I was quickly sold on the sweater, but I wanted to see what options were available at the other two stores.

With less than an hour until the mall closed, I headed to one of the world's largest apparel brands — Old Navy.

The chain, which has over 1,200 stores worldwide, offers a range of clothing options for the whole family.

Searching the store for a black sweater was a bit of a hunt, but I eventually found one row mixed in between pants and cardigans.

However, I appreciated the store's use of clothing-size stickers on its sweaters. As a result, I didn't have to pull out handfuls of clothing to see if my size was available.

I was also delighted to see Old Navy delivering on price. Normally sold for $35, the black sweater I grabbed was on sale for 50% off.

Once I tried on the crew-neck sweater in the fitting room, I feared its 60% cotton and 40% polyester material would easily pick up things like dust and cat hair.

The sweater also felt tighter around my neck, making me question if I wanted — and needed — to size up. As of now, this sweater was headed back to the rack.

Last but not least, I rushed into Gap before the mall closed. The retailer, which has over 580 locations across the US and Asia, has always felt like a midway point between Banana Republic and Old Navy in terms of price and quality.

Upon entering the store, I discovered that Gap had the fewest number of sweaters available. With less than a handful to choose from in various colors, I was relieved they still had my size ready to try on in black.

I was also delighted to see that Gap was having a sale. The sweaters were marked down to $19 from their original price of $50.

Made of 100% cotton, this sweater was the longest of the three I tried on.

The textured style also made me feel like this was a more versatile option, allowing me to dress up for an evening event or keep things casual for an afternoon running around town.

Although I came close to purchasing the Gap sweater at the end of the night — it was technically the best savings by far — I ultimately loved my Banana Republic shopping experience the best.

The customer service, store presentation, and comfort of the sweater I tried on left me wanting to return as soon as possible. Plus, the price was reasonable for my budget — not triple digits like I feared going into the store.

I'll admit I would be satisfied with Gap's sweater, and Old Navy's option would also do the job. Sometimes, however, you have to fork over a few extra bucks and do what looks — and feels — right.