R.I.P. Forever 21: Farewell to an Iconic Brand
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The bright yellow bags. The sassy mannequins. The oddly specific graphic designs. Forever 21 was one-of-a-kind when it stepped onto the scene in 1984. But the brightest stars burn out the fastest. And that’s exactly how the store’s reign came to an end — fast fashion.
Ironically, Forever 21 had a hand in creating the fast fashion industry as we know it today. It changed styles with the wind and released fresh fits faster than you could swipe a credit card. But brands that replicated the F21 template — like Shein, Temu, and DHgate — are the reason why the company has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Consider this post as Forever 21’s obituary, its eulogy. This is my ode to a store that practically raised me and helped forge my fashion sense in the smithy of my soul — for better or for worse. So let’s talk about iconic Forever 21 products and how we’ll go on without the fluorescent lighting and confusing layouts of your local F21 store.
Greatest Hits: 11 Styles That Defined Forever 21
Over its 40+ years in business, Forever 21 released thousands of styles. There are a few things the store didn’t sell. But we want to highlight a few of the most iconic and nostalgic items, from strange jackets to dresses that all our dads hated.
1. Brand Collabs
Forever 21 never missed an opportunity to collaborate with another brand or franchise. From Barbie and Bratz to Wicked and Peanuts Gang, the company would brand its clothes with just about anything, catering to every fandom out there.
2. Denim Jackets
F21 often took a capricious approach to denim jackets. You’d spot an adorable jean jacket on a hanger, but when you turned it around it’d say something like, “Nom Nom Give Me Pizza.” These are the kinds of quirky designs that always made me question if I should even shop the store.
3. Babydoll Dresses
If you wanted an easy-breezy dress for summer, Forever 21 was always the place to go. You could find a plethora of lightweight dresses — which were a few stitches away from being nothing but napkins. While flimsy and often see-through, I loved these flirty styles.
4. Bodycon Dresses
On the flip side, if you needed a slinky dress to turn heads at the 10th-grade homecoming dance, F2 had you covered. Or, more accurately, uncovered. These barely-there, skin-tight dresses are closet staples, and now where do I get those sexy body socks?
5. Cheap Heels
If you’re like me, you’re untalented in heels. My willingness to drop more than $30 on a pair is usually zero, which is where F21’s pile of $10 high heels always saved the day. And perhaps here lies the reason it went bust.
6. Sweaters
People often complain that modern sweaters are poorly made. They’re right, and F21 had a big hand in that. The company cranked out cheap sweaters faster than heels, so you could revamp your winter wardrobe every other day. Those sweaters were an affront to knitters the world over, but I still have some in my closet as I type this.
7. Lingerie
8. Peplum Styles
Ah, yes, the peplum style. A silhouette that only makes sense on Cindy Crawford-esque bodies and 9-month pregnant women. I wore it, and I regret it. It doesn’t work with my hourglass figure, and it definitely did not work with my snowglobe middle school body. Goodbye, F21 Peplums. I’ll always despise you.
9. Bags and Purses
Unlike my heels, I’m happy to drop a week’s salary on a chic bag. Nevertheless, I know F21 supplied many people with trendy purses and bags that were used only a handful of times. They were cheaply made but unique and under $30, so they’ll be missed.
10. Sweats and Lounge Sets
I regret to say I hopped on the loungewear trend a little late. But when I finally boarded the lounge train, F21 was my first stop. There was no better store to provide you with a 100% polyester outfit that was shockingly cute.
11. Cropped Tops
Last but not least, I feel like F21 revived the crop top. It was left behind in the ‘80s, but the 2010s embraced the crop top again — I know F21 had some influence there. Crop tops are still in style — but not as stylish as they once were. I’ll always think of my F21 crop tops fondly, including one with a Sistine Chapel-esque graphic of baby angels hugging.
Let’s Find Solace in These 8 Dupe Brands
As we mourn Forever 21, we know in our hearts we must move on. But to what? To where? We have a few brands you can turn to in these dark and mournful times.
Shein
Shein is for sure one of the brands responsible for F21’s demise. But we don’t have to hold that against it. And with cute babydoll dresses like this Blue Butterfly Sleeve Dress, we think Shein will fill the void well.
H&M
H&M is a little classier — and therefore pricier — than Forever 21, but not by much. You won’t find the uber-unique styles that F21 had, but the quality is a small step up, and the brand is reliable when you need a cute look. With looks like this Zebra Print Set, they are ready to take over F21’s customer base.
Fashion Nova
Fashion Nova was one of the earlier fast-fashion brands. Some of us forgot about FN, but in our time of grief, it’s the perfect brand to turn toward. You can find stylish bags like this Vacation Handbag, and more items that compare to F21.
DHgate
DHgate is far different from Forever 21. It’s more… chaotic. And it sells much more than clothes and small beauty items. You’ll find everything from cell phones to ketchup bottles. But you can also get cool loungewear sets, like this 2-Piece Shorts and T-Shirt set.
Mango
Mango is a real step up from Forever 21. The prices are higher, but so is the quality and style, so it’s a magnificent upgrade to make. This brand isn’t copying anyone; it’s creating its own distinct designs that are hard to resist. You can feel chic as hell in something like this Ruffled Floral Print Dress.
PrettyLittleThing
PrettyLittleThing is one of Shein’s and Fashion Nova’s top competitors, with low prices and trendy styles. You can come here for crop tops that don’t say stupid things, like this Dusty Pink Soft Knit Crop Top. More elegant than Forever 21, PLT is still young and fun and hot — like you.
Temu
Temu is like DHgate’s cousin with a slightly better attention span. The site isn’t quite as chaotic, but there’s still a lot going on. If you loved those silly F21 shirts with quotes and graphics, Temu is a stellar place to get your corny fill. You’ll find quirky clothes, like this Light Blue Cat Graphic Tee that says “It’s Fine. I’m Fine. Everything is Fine.”
Uniqlo
Uniqlo is classier and more simplified than F21, with fabulous basics like H&M. It’s your new spot for finding affordable looks, including your go-to jean jackets. This Denim Oversized Jacket is lowkey and classic, costing only $30.
Our Stylish Condolences
Forever 21 was good to us. As one of the biggest staples in mall culture, it makes sense that they’re dying out along with shopping centers and mallrats. Maybe the brand won’t live on in malls forever, but Forever 21 will forever be in our hearts — and at the back of our closets.
And who knows? Maybe your F21 pizza-themed cropped tops will be worth big bucks in a few years!
Veronica is a bubbly lifestyle writer and Boston University graduate with an appreciation for fashion, beauty, home, travel, food, and entertainment topics. She aims to connect with her readers through honest human experiences, whether that’s obsessing over a jacket you can’t afford or struggling to fold laundry promptly. Her byline appears in Rolling Stone, Popsugar, CNN, Daily Mail, Brit + Co, and The Weather Channel. If she’s not on her laptop, she’s sweating in a vinyasa class or challenging herself in the kitchen.
