You know that line in Kanye West's song that goes "Rock Forever 21 but just turned 30"? No? That's okay. You shouldn't.
But if you do, that single line describes me to a T. Now, I'm not sure that I'm actually "rocking" Forever 21, but I definitely still do shop that there. Guilty. I hold my hands up.
Of course, I stay away from the crop tops and micro skirts, but I love their accessories (I could spend two solid hours on the third floor of the Stratford Westfield Forever 21 store picking out chandelier earrings and statement necklaces - just ask John, since this was actually a recent occurrence), their selection of gym gear (their open-back tanks are amazing for hot yoga), and their dresses - that is, when they're not too short for me.
Best of all, shopping at Forever 21 is like popping candy. It's beyond affordable - it's just cheap! They're clothes that, in a couple of seasons (maybe even less), I'll upcycle into something else or recycle. Of course, like all sensible people in the world, John frowns upon this practice - steering me in the direction of COS or Whistles and saying things like, "quality, NOT quantity". Of course, I am not like all sensible people in the world, so I reply to him brightly, "Why not both?" as the sales assistant at COS rings up a sweater dress that he had picked up for me with a sigh as he paid for his own suit for work.
Anyway, that was a very long introduction to this WTF email that popped into my inbox this morning from Forever 21 (YES, I VOLUNTARILY SIGNED UP FOR THEIR NEWSLETTER, DON'T JUDGE) featuring their newest "Artist Series" wherein tanks, skirts, and more have been screen-printed with the iconic artworks of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Slightly disturbed, yet intrigued? So was I. So I clicked on the link.
This is what I would wear if I was actually 21, had no boobs, and still had a flat stomach:
Obvs, I wouldn't wear it on its own - instead, I'd pair it with a black or white semi-sheer, low-cut trapeze tank and skinny jeans.
And I quite like this Basquiat tank as well, but would question the possibility of croppage:
... which could be fixed with a high-waisted (and thick - always thick), jersey slimline skirt from H&M. But at my age, I probably wouldn't risk it.
It's an interesting (and surprising) collaboration, though not that surprising, since one could see how easily both Haring's and Basquiat's art lends itself easily to a graphic print clothing line - after all, Uniqlo had already produced a capsule collection of Keith Haring tees for its "UT" t-shirt line in 2013.
So yes. If you're actually 21, please consider these pieces for me as I tend to the few, wiry white hairs that have suddenly popped up in the midst of my jet black fringe. It's the end of a shopping era for me (save for maybe two departments in the store that I can still shop from), but it may not be for you.
Seize the day, my young and glamorous friends - seize the freaking day.
All images from the Forever 21 website.
COMPLETELY agree with you. I fell in love with F21 when I was in Japan and lived in the middle of nowhere. They'd deliver to my tiny village and let me pay in cash at my door.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to check out those yoga clothes you were on about! I need some new yoga stuff.
The best F21 in London is the one at Stratford Westfield - three floors and it's almost always empty! I could spend hours in the accessories department picking up statement necklaces and earrings.
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