Steal this Look : A Look Inside Forever 21

[Madhuri]

Well matching up cheap TO pricey is smart. You're getting the trend not the item. And maybe someone wants a chanel clutch but can't get the whole outfit. Most models do that because they get the designer stuff for free and can only afford forever21 or just like the fact that it's cheap and chic. I shop at forever21 and it's not because I can't afford designer stuff, it's because it's very chic clothing and I love a good deal. I love smart shopping. I also don't even think when I'm mixing designer with

I agree it's smart but my point was that it doesn't make you cool or different. I get tired of interviews with so-called It girls where they act like mixing high and low is sooooo original.

 

[L0VE]

I must say something else too. Forever21 is not quality it's just a TREND. There are so many trends today that quality is the lesser of the few. I used to buy just quality but forever21 offers me the option of buying a polka dot top and chucking it a few months later. I feel better doing that with a 20 dollar top than a 400 dollar top. And say express who is 60 bucks a top, forever 21 is the same stuff. Express falls apart and is not even designer. So my option of shopping at express or forever21, forever21 wins. Quality = designer.

 

[L0VE]

I'm ranting. But in my other post, I'm trying to define this in a way that ; some parts of my city we have the old money and new money (old dress in a classic fashion and new just buy the logos to "show off") I don't look at clothing as $$$ or to show my value. I look at it as fashion and something that catches my eye. I don't buy it based on $$$ signs but because I like it. I've noticed that many people buy Chanel or LV to get attention or to show their value, from vain things instead of valuing who they are based on theirselves. I don't know but I get annoyed reading that people base $$$ instead of the clothing make or style. And anyone who thinks that they are below a $20 top, just goes to show that you are trying to impress someone that is not yourself and that's sad. I don't mean because of quality or dislike, but just because of the price.

 

[Star Foreman]

clarification please. for some people it's all that they can afford. besides, it's not what you wear. it's how you wear it.

I am working with agency models, and when I am not able to pull for a shoot the models must bring their own wardrobe. When they bring items made with cheap fabric, badly dyed items, or just plain ugly items it creates images that are less than par.

These girls are going on go-sees with the designers that make the originals that F21 is stealing from.

I have found that many aspiring models are basically clueless when it comes to fashion, and how to look fashionable. As such I have to send out dos and don'ts and one of the don'ts is no Charlotte Russe, no Forever 21, no Red Eye etc...

Bad fabrics photograph as bad fabrics, and cheap items look just as cheap in photos.

 

[L0VE]

^ That's what a tank top or T and jeans are for =). So my question, what do you like if they can't wear designer? Because express, limited, bebe and those type, are mostly made in China and fall apart after a few washes too. I also think that they photograph the same, my BCBG and F21 jeans photograph the same.

 

[L0VE]

Guess which is which. BCBG or Forever21?

 

[Fabulyss]

Bad fabrics photograph as bad fabrics, and cheap items look just as cheap in photos.

On the contrary, I completely disagree with this. It all depends on the talent of the photographer and stylist. H&M catalogs always look fantastic for example, but in the store the clothes show their true quality.

 

[Star Foreman]

On the contrary, I completely disagree with this. It all depends on the talent of the photographer and stylist. H&M catalogs always look fantastic for example, but in the store the clothes show their true quality.

I actually recommend H&M as a place to go for models who can't afford better. They do not use cheap or badly dyed fabrics, at least no where near as bad as the stores I actually mentioned.

I think it is a cop out to say that a talented photographer can get art from crap, it has nothing to do with talent. It has to do with opacity, weave, color temperature shifts from badly dyed fabric, and above all the nature of the garment and its ability to look flattering.

Also catalogs are made with sample pieces, not from the actual production line pieces so it is really apples and oranges when it comes to the photo in the store vs. the actual garment. The catalog shoots happen while the piece is being put into production, because the images must be printed and ready to go when the items hit the stores.

 

[2Nova]

^ and H&M is actually decent in quality

 

[kahlilg]

I am working with agency models, and when I am not able to pull for a shoot the models must bring their own wardrobe. When they bring items made with cheap fabric, badly dyed items, or just plain ugly items it creates images that are less than par.

These girls are going on go-sees with the designers that make the originals that F21 is stealing from.

I have found that many aspiring models are basically clueless when it comes to fashion, and how to look fashionable. As such I have to send out dos and don'ts and one of the don'ts is no Charlotte Russe, no Forever 21, no Red Eye etc...

Bad fabrics photograph as bad fabrics, and cheap items look just as cheap in photos.

O ok I get your point now. it's funny that most aspiring models know very little about the fashion industry. then again, they really don't need to know.

 

[seanutbutter]

When they bring items made with cheap fabric, badly dyed items, or just plain ugly items it creates images that are less than par.

A good photographer can make the ugliest of things beautiful. It shouldn't matter what the material is.

 

[L0VE]

Agreed Seanutbutter

And I love how F21 gets flack when express has the same type of tops:

expressfashion.com, forever21.com

and this shirt from express (39.50) looks cheap and the second is 19.50 (also from Express)

I don't know but this one looks better and is only 5 bucks more from Forever21.

I don't know about you but my eye gears more towards forever21 in the beauty and tasteful chic factor.

I mean if this is what the average store will give me below designer, then I'll stick with forever21.

expressfashion.com
yuck

and last but not least, 49.50 or 19.80
I'd still pick forever21.

1st express, 2nd f21

 

[L0VE]

And the only difference is that Forever21 is inspired by the PRESENT seasons not last season.

style.com, express.com Look quite similar

(my first thought was Versace spring 07

I also don't see the difference between topshop and f21

topshop.com forever21.com

 

[unipine]

Express is not nearly as trendy and desperate as Forever 21. much more expensive, yes, but i have a few coats, cardigans, and dresses from there that have lasted me years in terms of both quality and relevance.

 

[L0VE]

And these look exactly like the Nina Ricci dresses in the new ads in American Vogue:

Topshop.com

It's just the way fashion works. 5 different designers just don't all happen to just come up with the idea of floral dresses or metalic shoes. Someone is obviously following someone.

nymag.com

http://www.fashionverbatim.net

 

[L0VE]

Express is not nearly as trendy and desperate as Forever 21. much more expensive, yes, but i have a few coats, cardigans, and dresses from there that have lasted me years in terms of both quality and relevance.

I own clothing from them too and so does my sister. The stuff washes the same and most of it resembles my forever21 stuff and cost $20 more. Some forever21 stuff does not wash up good but most of it lasts just like anything else. Express starts to wear and the zippers get stuck after about 5 washes. And some of it is actually cheaper than forever21.

 

[sariii]

wow I had no clue

 

[PinkPrincess113]

L0VE - I couldn't have said it any better! I have a couple of Express things and their things always shrink and they tear easily. My F21 things have lasted for years and they are nice basics that I wear a lot. For under $20, I think it's a great buy. Also, a lot of people I know buy clothes from F21 because they know they will only wear it once or twice- for a night out or a formal event, etc. I think they should work out their legal issues and stick to their own ideas for prints and patterns but it's kind of sad that they should be targeted when tons of other companies do even worst things such as horizontal price fixing or market divisions.

 

[giapops]

clarification please. for some people it's all that they can afford. besides, it's not what you wear. it's how you wear it.

I agree. I've seen many wealthy women in the fashion industry look cheap as hell in their designer rags.

 

[Ella Petrovsky]

Forever 21 is cheap and has poor quality, I think we`ve all established that. Its also unoriginal, but then again what isn`t? Look at L.A.M.B, Topshop, and H&M. Tell me what Forever21 is doing that they aren`t?

I must say even though Forever 21 is pretty cheap, it still has many beautiful pieces (yes, probably because they stole the outfits from other designers). Forever 21 is also the answer to many people who cannot afford the expensive Dior outfits or Chanel dresses. Are you expecting those with a limited budget, not to be stylish or try to look like it at least? I think this bashing of Forever 21 is overrating, as if places in downtown LA aren`t doing the same thing? How come we adore L.A.M.B, Topshop and H&M, when they`re all doing the same thing? And please do not give me the crap about how those stores have better quality, when they still stole the patterns and prints from other designers. Forever 21 is what it is, poor quality and stolen designs or not.