Store Guide: Forever 21

I have very few friends that don’t enjoy a trip to Forever 21.  The store offers an appealing proposition to fashionistas all over the country: on-trend clothes at unbeatably low prices.  If that seems too good to be true, well, it is – sometimes.  I’ve written this entry to help you navigate which items to go for and which ones to stay away from.

FOREVER 21: BUY

• Plastic bangles and rings: Unlike plastic “gold” and “silver” necklaces, these fun pieces can be worn season after season!
• Floral tops: They come in all styles and shapes and are perfect for both work and play.
• Cute clutches: I have a brown leather-like “woven” clutch that I’ve worn for years and still get compliments on! 
• Trendy trends: This is the place to experiment with any crazy fads of the moment.
• White tops: Impossible to keep clean for long (let’s be honest here), stock up on a variety of white blouses that you won’t feel bad about getting rid of after a year.

FOREVER 21: DON’T BUY

• Faux-leather handbags:  They’ll break when you need them most!
• Anything sequined: you’ll have lost a good portion of them after one use – or before.
• Makeup:  Be gentler to your face! Stick with a real cosmetics company. The same goes for lotions, nail polishes and the other items they purposely leave near the check-out.
• Shoes:I know, I know – some of them are really cute! More often than not, though, they break within a use or two.
• Items over $30: Take your hard-earned cash somewhere else.
• Winter Coats: Unless you live in Miami or LA, these'll do you no good.

Don’t feel like dealing with the crowds?  Forever 21.com offers free U.S. shipping on all orders $50 or more.  When browsing, read the materials section for each item.  I advise against anything that 100% polyester – you’ll be able to see and feel the poor quality.  Also check out the Size Chart to make sure you’re selecting the right size!  As Forever21’s following skews younger, their sizes definitely run small.

Happy Shopping!