Last week I shared snippets of my spring style. One geometric tribal-inspired dress (that guy up top!) reeled in quite a bit of love. Lo and behold it’s from Forever 21 and totaled less than $20. After too much shopping at J. Crew, clearly, my head still explodes over the price-tag. Turns out shopping at the same place as kids who still get paid an allowance is a winner decision…or something like that.
Today it’s time for some Forever 21 real talk. More rampant consumerism!
For years, and I mean like eight straight years, I avoided said store like the plague – reasons being body image issues, sizing (aka, that shit didn’t fit), and because I felt as if I was going to have a seizure from overstimulation of too many tweens and too many things.
Then, a weird thing happened last month; I wandered into Forever on a walk home from work. The weather was warm and I didn’t want to come home to domestic duties just yet. I think they call this escapism. Call it what you want, instead of making dinner, I picked out 10 sundresses, dreamed about all the places I could wear them to, and tried on every single one. It was a whim of a thing, since Forever 21 hadn’t fit me in years, but by golly, it was the Cinderella’s slipper of dress experiences. Everything fit, and not in the “make it fit” sort of way I’d come accustomed to with dresses. It was a “baby you were made for me” come-to-jesus moment where you want to call your mom to tell her about this great shit you found at the mall. You guys do that too, right?
Obviously, I’ve gone back more than a few times. Like, errr, five. Inventory turns over quickly, so new dresses, cuts, and patterns are available each week. This fact important because it allows me (and you!) to be super picky about what we actually want and need. Previously, if I found something that even remotely fit, I’d buy it out of fear that I may never find a dress that fit me EVER AGAIN, EVER. Every shopping experience was apocalyptic. Good thing I’m not dramatic.
No doubt, part of my re-connection with Forever 21 is that I can actually shop there again. Just the sheer knowledge that a store I longed to fit in for so many years is now in the realm of possibility is sort of effing awesome. That it is because of my own hard work, is what takes the cake. I don’t talk about the W word (ahem, weight) too often here, but it goes without saying in this case that a strong focus on my health and lots of running have resulted in downsizing and an evening out of sorts.
Body image and personal revelations aside, I’m sharing all of this today because I truly adore of the dress options that Forever 21 is cooking up for spring and summer. Everything is mega cheap (read: allowance friendly) and seemingly well-made enough to make it through a summer of BBQs. Plus, there’s an entire zone dedicated to patriotic fashion. Imma be dressed like a damned American Flag for half the month of July and will not be apologizing to anyone over that decision. Needless to say, there are so many different styles that you’re bound to find one or five that fit your dress dreams: chambray, geometric, watercolor printed, tribal, bohemian.
Since I can’t take you all on a field trip with me during my lunch hour (this in when I like to do my damage instead of eating at my desk like normal person), below are 12 dresses that I NEED in my closet, stat. Numbers 5, 8, 9 are actually already owned (#8 in multiple colors, natch).
See anything up your alley? I’m hustling over this week to try on #4 and #7. Where are you scoring your summer dresses?
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