Brand Names & Battle Scars: A Love Story in Labels

What are your favorite brands and why?

By now, you know I love to shop. And if you don’t—well, welcome. Grab a cart. Stay awhile. In Chez Kiki, shopping isn’t a chore; it’s an experience. I read the reviews like they’re the morning paper. I compare, contrast, second-guess, and then—just when I think I’ve found “the one”—I’ll try something completely different just to keep things interesting. Loyalty, for me, isn’t blind. It’s earned.

Take store brands. I used to breeze right past them like they were the understudies of the grocery world. Why settle, right? Until one day, curiosity (and maybe a sale sticker) got the better of me. And guess what? Plot twist: some of those “backup singers” are hitting higher notes than the headliners. Same quality. Sometimes better. Honestly, I’m convinced there’s a mysterious warehouse somewhere in the tri-state area cranking out both labels while we all argue in aisle five.

When it comes to cars, my loyalty used to be inherited. I grew up in a Chevrolet family, with a little Audi influence sprinkled in. And to be fair, those Chevys treated me well. Reliable. Familiar. Comfortable. Then marriage came along—and with it, a new contender: Jeep. Three years ago, that “contender” became my forever. My Jeep flipped—up and over, spinning like it had somewhere else to be—before finally landing on its roof. I crawled out upside down, shaken but here. That vehicle didn’t just get me from point A to point B. It saved my life. Brand loyalty doesn’t get more real than that. I won’t drive anything else. Period. Full stop.

Now let’s talk clothes—because this is where things get personal. I’m not a high-end, designer-label kind of girl. Give me classic with a little personality and I’m happy. About thirty years ago, I walked into Gap and felt like I found my fashion soulmate. Since then, my closet has become a tribute to all things Old Navy and Athleta. At this point, I should probably get a holiday card from corporate. And while we’re here—let’s just say it: Athleta gym clothes outperform Lululemon in my world. There, I said it. They last forever, they move with me, and they don’t make me nervous to actually…you know…sweat in them.

The only other brand that has truly earned my undivided loyalty? Nike. I’ve tested them all—every style, every promise, every “this will change your workout” pitch. But Nike? Nike gets me. I’ve got a thin foot with a high arch, and since 2014, I haven’t had a single ounce of foot pain after a workout. Not one. Sometimes I don’t even branch out—I just keep buying the same sneaker like it’s a trusted friend. No flash required. Just results.

If you’re keeping score at home, my “brand style” is less about labels and more about loyalty with receipts. I’ll try anything once, but when something proves itself—whether it’s saving my life, surviving my laundry routine, or supporting my arches—it earns a permanent place in my story.

At the end of the day, our favorite brands say a lot about us—not just what we like, but what we trust. They’re stitched into our routines, parked in our driveways, and lined up in our closets like old friends. Some we outgrow. Some surprise us. And a few? A few show up when it matters most and never leave. Those are the ones worth sticking with…no coupon required.

Unknown's avatar

Author: KikiFikar

Kiki Fikar is a native New Yorker who is passionate about taking the day to day life we all experience and sharing it in her tales from Suburbia. She will often be found at the gym, writing snippets each day for future story lines, listening to her two children create their lives, and building the perfect beachfront home and writing retreat in her mind.

64 thoughts on “Brand Names & Battle Scars: A Love Story in Labels”

  3. Im a mixed bag of backup singers and headliners, haha… I have a high arch, too… and I’m a Chevy guy, however… my dad is a Ford man… I’ve actually owned both… 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Jeep is a great car brand – and better now that I know it saved your life! I like that you embrace the brand debate and have nuance about it. it’s totally ok to have brand preferences.

    speaking of which, when you were talking about the grocery brand I’m so impressed with how the Bowl & Basket shoprite brand is dominating right now lol – it just sounds like such a wholesome brand, and yes it’s probably operating out of like…Hewlett or some other low key place lol 😀 Mike

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Love this, Karen. You kept it real the whole way through.

    I like how you don’t just follow brands, you test them and let them earn their place. That Jeep story says everything. That’s not just loyalty, that’s gratitude. Thank God you were okay….

    And I have to say, that part hit home for me. I got my very first Jeep this year and I love it. I’m so excited about it and have already done quite a bit to it. I’m in a few Jeep clubs and follow some groups on Facebook too. I’m hooked 😂🚙

    Liked by 2 people

  8. You’re right! Our favorite brands really say a lot about us. 👍

    Oh, and Nike? You just mentioned one of my favorite brands for sportswear! ☺️

    Nike… Let’s Do It!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Thank you so much my friend. It means a lot. Jeep brotherhood!! When this whole thing is over I’ll send my story to Jeep. Until then I’ll just keep up with the gratitude!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Thanks Mike!! Yes – that is exactly the brand I was talking about. They are so flipping fantastic. I told the manager we need a store called Bowl and Basket!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Once, when on a visit in Vermont, I surrendered to my curiosity and walked into a Lululemon store. I was always under the impression that clothes were items one bought, not mortgaged. I departed as I entered: emptied handed.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Fascinating, Karen. I never really thought about it before. Levis, Wranglers, Vauxhall cars (owned by General Motors for 100 years) They have always been my go to’s. I wonder if it’s because I was weaned on Westerns and never looked back. 😂
    I was a Nike fan, but about 20 years ago, I saw a documentary Team Nike and the Brazilian footbal team, it kinda put me off. But I understand your loyalty there. ASICS for me and similar to yourself they’ve never let me down. I’d love a Ford Ranger pick-up and a Stetson but A. our roads aren’t big enough and B. I’d look a plonker 😂Thanks for an interesting read 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Ooo Broncos are cool… I don’t really have a favorite… i like many… but my last one was a 99′ Chevy S-10 Xtreme… I bought it in 2o18… it had 120k original miles on it… I sold it not long ago… maybe one day I’ll add pics of it in one of my stories… it was really sexy lol… not your average lil pick em up truck 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  23. can you imagine a store like that? that would be so cool – the name alone would run Whole Foods/Wegmans out of town! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. It’s insanity. When I was first doing Bootcamp I vowed to buy Lululemon pants and a top when I lost weight (a reward). It would have been $10 short of a mortgage payment.

    Like

  26. Thank you for reading! So good to hear from you. I always love hearing what runners wear. It’s always a popular topic when running a Spartan race. I once went three miles of a race with a group and all we talked about was the type of trail shoe we were wearing and why.

    Hope you are having a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. My first 2 vehicles were VW beetles… then my uncle gave me a mustang… then I got like another beetle… then after that got my first Chevy… it was an S-10 Tahoe king cab

    Liked by 1 person

  32. You had a Beetle? Ugh I still want one. Actually I now want that hybrid Volkswagen van that’s out. It’s so cool looking.

    I had a silver Chevy Camaro. Man I loved that car.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Ooo yeah… I absolutely love love beetles… had a 69′ Baja one… a super awesome 72′ Canary Yellow Baja one… with a one of a kind tilt front end and a super badass motor… then I had a 73′ super beetle low rider… I learned how to work on vehicles from them… thats cool about your Camaro… I also had a white one… it was an 81… one day, maybe… I may look for a beetle to restore…

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Mine was an 85 and it was a V6. I didn’t care. It was all about the Long Island 80s scene with that car. Big hair – leather jackets. Madonna makeup. lol

    Liked by 1 person

  39. I pulled a Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancin on my Camaro… my friends were leaving the bar late one night… it was pouring rain and locked my keys in the car… there were these wooden railroad track ties in the parking lot… I picked it up and chunked it through my window… shattering it with such force it slammed into my center console and busted it all up… I drove home and got soaked from the rain coming in the driver’s side… but my friends were good haha

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Ohhhh ok Patrick!!! lol that is bad boy stuff! I think I need to incorporate you into my tv series at some point. I just thought of a line “Have you heard of AAA?”.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Even I discovered Old Navy many years ago on driving trip on the West coast and bought the store! We don’t have them here 😔
    I’m a walking gear fella and Craghopper & Peter Storm work for me 👍

    Liked by 1 person

  44. witty, vulnerable, inspiring, and informational all in one blog. Amazing storytelling! I am loyal to jeep because it saved you!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Oh, yes it’s a fascinating topic. I remember everyone at the end of a run, saying which trail shoes they liked, mostly expensive! One girl said, “I did my 110 mile Ultra in these, two years ago. I got them from EBay for £25” 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  50. Very nice! We’ve been a hardcore Subaru family since 2011. They’re affordable and really do last forever; my 2011 Outback has almost 144K on it and is still going strong. I gave it to my son last year. I rotate between Adidas and Asics for running, but my most loyal brand is definitely Degree. It’s the best deodorant out there.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment