Forever 21 Worth a look?

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Louise

Veteran

US store forever 21 has opened a store in the Bullring Birmingham, is it worth the 20 minute train ride for a look? x

15 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from jen321

Kate

Veteran

Well, it's cheap. And I have two pairs of skinny jeans from there (about $10 each) that have held up pretty well. Their tops fall apart quickly, and a lot of the accessories don't last long either.

I've also recently become more aware of their business practices, and have decided to stop shopping there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.....ontroversy I know that most companies have questionable ethics, but coupled with the overall bad quality of their products it makes it easier to stay away from Forever 21.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Thanks for the info Kate x

15 years ago

wilson

Active Member

Wow, that's a lot of controversy, thanks for the link Kate. (Gotta wonder why printing a Bible verse on their tags is lumped in there with the dirty laundry unless its to show the discrepency between the owner's personal values and poor business practices....)

I personally don't care for the store. It seems geared toward shorter hemlines and tighter cuts than I can comfortably wear as a thirty-four year old. Also, like Kate said, the items I have bought from there have fallen apart quickly, aside from two pairs of leggings that have held up well. The quality is not as good as Primark. In my mind it is only good for cheap two-wash summer dresses to take on a tropical vacations.

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Louise, here is what Kendall Farr has to say, from her book Style Evolution: How to Create Ageless Personal Style in Your 40s and Beyond. (This doesn't apply to youthful you, but thought you'd like to read how she captures the F21 vibe.):

"Forever 21: Young, fast, and shiny. Everything is shiny. Unless you have forged a pact with the devil and will remain Forever 21, this is now a forever no. Even for accessories. Sorry, I know some moms swear by things they find when shopping with their teenagers, but the look is for teens and early twenties and it is unapologetically, flammably cheap."

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Gosh worse quality than Primark!!!!! I don't think I'll be making a special journey then!! but may pass through the next time shopping friend and I go to Birmingham. Thanks all x

15 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I am going to 'fess up that I have bought LOTS of cheap accessories there and they get loads of compliments (like "Are those from an estate sale?"). The clothes are cute for a cheap fix but not really built to fit anyone past puberty.

15 years ago

tina

Active Member

I have a few articles of clothing from there and they fit me pretty well, but they aren't quality clothing, that's for sure. They are on trend, so good for this season, but probably not many more. I have a hard time with their accessories because most just seem to look cheaply made or overly trendy. I go into Love21 often, but usually leave empty handed.

15 years ago

Megan

Active Member

Lots of the petite bloggers pick up pieces that run really tiny from Forever 21- can't say any of them inspire me to order from there. They seem to do lots of lace and frills which are not really my style.

I don't discount teeny bopper stores entirely though- I have a pair of PJ pants that I bought on a trip to the US in 2006 (!) from Charlotte Russe that are still as good as the day that I bought them- they travelled around the world with me and were worn every night for 4 months, have been washed a million times and are still awesome. Wish I had bought more than 1 pair!

15 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I am going to have to vote yes! Now, I don't know how the store is going to be priced in the UK, but in the US, it is very very affordable. While I find the store a bit overwhelming (too much merchandise!), if you take your time, there is always the possibility of scoring something worthy of your money. Of course, not everything is well made, but some things are. And then if you are after some trendy pieces (tweed shorts? denim shirt? glitz sweater vests?), you can definitely find it there for cheap. I love love their jewelry. Actually, I just scored there 2 beautiful necklaces and a pair of earrings for under $20 this past weekend. I also saw some very nice scarves and would have definitely bought a couple if I weren't trying to weed out some of my already huge collection.

15 years ago

Marley

Veteran

In my opinion - absolutely NOT! For both ethical reasons and the quality of the product they produce. I'm not going to go into it - but living in CA, you hear a LOT about them - seems like they are always popping up in the press - and it's never good.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Agree with Bella. I don't really shop there myself but don't think it's beneath me.

It is ethically questionable, but what isn't these days?

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Having posted the dismissive quote from Kendall Farr, I just remembered that I have a menswear-inspired vest/waistcoat from F21 that has gotten a lot of wear: http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0260.jpg

That picture is from a year and a half ago, and that vest still comes out to play at least once a month.

15 years ago

jen321

Active Member

When I first found this store I was on vacation in Florida and I was in my teens. I fell in love with the pieces of fashion clothes that no other store carried. Pieces I imagined and never saw in stores. I loved that the items were all so different, it was a change from the same old gap and Penney's items (I do love gap, more recently they have started selling different items. I left the store with about 6 items for 80 dollars. Then the store came where I live a few years later. Now I'm in my young twenties. I have bought shirts that don't cling to the belly area after having kids. I couldn't find loose shirts like that anywhere else at the time. Since I am a size larger still, I bought a 10 dollar pair of skinny jeans and have worn them all the time. Definately worth a quick cheap fix. I'll admit the most of things I have gotten there have held up just fine, even better than some places. The jewlery however doesn't, but most is priced at $3 dollars for earings and under 10 for necklaces. Great for a few time use! Great for college students with no money! So I think it is worth a fun day out shopping just to see what it's all about even if you don't buy anything! However I do feel like it is a store that should be shopped by mostly teens and twenty year olds.

15 years ago

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