Wondering if Cato’s Fashion is right for you in today’s evolving retail environment? If you stumble into Cato Fashions while sampling your way though a retail strip mall, or just checked out its latest styles online, you likely have questions. Here’s a guide to everything you might want to know, as if friends were having coffee and comparing retail tales.
What is Cato’s Fashion?
Cato Fashion is a popular women’s fashion store that sells value-priced clothing and accessories. At home, it remains a go-to for budget-friendly fashion, but not at the expense of options or style. With new shoppers in the thousands each year, Cato Fashion strives to stay on trend while remaining budget-friendly.
Why is Cato’s Fashion Closing Some Stores?
There’s a lot of buzz lately about Cato Fashions closing stores. The truth? Cato Corporation, the company behind Cato Fashion, has faced some financial struggles over the past couple of years. To manage expenses, they’ve closed several stores—over 60 in 2024 and at least 8 more in mid-2025. The company is also shuttering up to 50 poorly performing stores this year. Mostly, these closures are about keeping healthy as a business. As costs rise and some economic uncertainty trickles towards streamlining, it’s helping Cato Fashion better focus on their stronger locations and online sales, rather than spreading resources too thin.
What Brands Are Under Cato Corporation?
When you think of Cato Fashion, you might picture bright, stylish shops. But Cato Corporation actually manages several brands:
Cato and Cato’s Fashion:
The primary stores, which sell a variety of women’s clothing and accessories.
Cato Plus:
A line made for plus-size shoppers.
It’s Fashion as well as It’s Fashion Metro:
These lines concentrate on fashionable looks and styles for the entire family at reasonable prices.
Versona:
Need something distinctive—aka jewelry, shoes, or fab accessories? An evening clutch, a boho bracelets, or free-spirited earrings? Festive or fun fashions?
How Many People Work at Cato?
Given the number of stores and brands, you might wonder about their team size. The work force at Cato Fashions fluctuates with the demands of the business. In 2025, as more stores have opened or closed, the company whittled away at its corporate staff by around 40 positions and still is refining its structure. But by virtue of having several thousands stores, cato still will have a major role as an employer in the fashion retailing industry.
Is Cato a Good Brand?
Ask any loyal customer, and you’ll probably hear that Cato is a favorite for affordable style. The brand is known for trendy pieces, quality comparable to bigger mall brands, and competitive prices—you get a lot of value for your money. Many shoppers, myself included, have found great in-season looks and accessories without breaking the bank.
Cato Fashion is known for our affordable, wearable, sophisticated fashion – the latest fashion trends every day for the value-conscious buyer! It’s their consistent new arrivals and seasonal collections that always get me to stop in.
Who Is CEO of Cato Fashions?
At the top is a man named John Cato. In his roles as chairman, president and chief executive officer, John Cato has steered the company through good and bad times and concentrated on controlling costs and creating new growth—even during difficult economic times. Under his direction, Cato Fashions are evolving and seeking new openings.
What’s Next for Cato’s Fashion?
Despite the retail shakeups, Cato Fashion remains committed to its shoppers. They are initiating productivity and efficiency changes, launching new styles, and expanding successful brands while keeping a close eye on costs. With an increased net income in recent quarters and improved sales figures, things are looking positive for committed fans.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a previous customer, or just curious as to what’s next, Cato Fashion will provide you with a fun, affordable way to dress up your closet. It has morphed to the times, but, in the end, it’s still a story about trend and price. Drop by a store — or take a quick look online — to find your easy “Cato” items, or something new at Versona or It’s Fashion. If there’s any brand, like Cato for example, that’s still massaging their messaging and grinding to appeal to stylish, smart shoppers like you and I amid the pressures of an ever-changing retail landscape, I welcome that as well.
