I’m 31 and A&F hit its stride when I was in college. I never understood why kids would spend their parents’ money on torn jeans at $100 when you could get the same jeans (sans holes) for $30 and rough them up to achieve the same effect.
Then again, I’m conservative and utilitarian. I don’t see a need for “metro” clothing when jeans and a t-shirt work just fine for bumming around the house or at Home Depot.
Anything they had could be found at Goodwill for 5~10% of the price.