As of this writing, my legs are still considerably sore from the three and a half hours I spent at the VIP Launch Party of Forever 21 Philippines. Actually, it wasn’t so much as a “launch party” as a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by hours of unrestricted shopping. I should have anticipated the long lines to the dressing room and cashier, and dressed accordingly (i.e. flats instead of four-inch heels). It felt nice to be well-dressed among well-dressed celebrities and media personalities, but my feet suffered unimaginable pain on account of my vanity. But more on that later! For now, let me show you the store itself.
Forever 21 is located at the second floor of Megamall A, beside Watson’s, on the space where Cinderella used to be. It’s nowhere near as big as the new 4-storey Forever 21 store at Times Square, but the size is fairly impressive with 2,700 square meters of retail space, 34 fitting rooms, and 91 staff.
Upon entering, you are greeted by the Back to Basics section to the left, where you can get plain tank tops for as low as P180.
To the right is the accessories section, where there is so much to see. If you’re the type who loves piling on beads around your neck, you’ll go nuts when you see the necklaces; they’re fun to mix and match and cost around P250-350 each. There are chunky bracelets, earrings, scarves, headbands, and cocktail rings too.
Further back in is Forever 21′s main collection, along with several sub-brands.
Twelve by Twelve was probably my favorite section. This is the more “upscale” version of Forever 21 that features couture designs by the store’s 12 in-house designers. Go here if you’re looking for pretty party dresses and vintage-inspired clothing; prices start at P1,000, which is quite reasonable for cocktail dresses. I was tempted to get a number of items from this section but my thrifty nature prevented me from doing so. Sigh.
I tried to sweet-talk my mom into buying my Christmas dress a couple of months early, but no can do. :(
There’s Love 21, filled with muted pastels, khaki, and chambray for the working woman.
Heritage 1981 is geared towards those who prefer “indie” fashion, but I found a lot of bohemian-inspired pieces here.
There’s even a 21 Men in case you want to bring your boyfriend or husband along. I couldn’t take a proper picture of it though, because all these male models were in the way. I feel very awkward about taking photos of male models. Also, one of them was apparently quite the jerk.
Don’t let the deceptively empty shopping bag fool you. I ended up shopping like everyone else who attended the launch, but my Forever 21 haul was a very modest one. I was afraid to get anything more than the basics because I’m sure everyone and their mother will be wearing all the pretty dresses I saw by next week. I liked (and need) a lot of tops, but they were too expensive at P900. And tempted as I was to hoard necklaces, cheapskateness and lack of space on my dresser got the better of me. I’m quite pleased with what I walked away with though, even if I feel slightly guilty about supporting the retail chain’s unethical practices by doing so (more on this later).
The first thing I checked out was the Back to Basics section, and I squealed in delight when I finally found the holy grail of all basics – The Perfect White Tee. The Perfect White Tee is a plain white t-shirt made of soft jersey, with a deep v-neck and flattering, loose fit. I’ve been searching forever for this and I’ve only found it in two stores – at Mango, where it sold for P1,350 (no thanks), and Zara for P650 (they didn’t have my size). So you can just imagine how happy I was when I got this for only P458.50 at Forever 21, and with hardly any effort!
Next up, a plain maxidress in purple. I used to think that maxidresses were a big no-no for my diminutive height, until I actually tried one on for myself and found that it can actually make me look taller. This one looks stunning on me; it’s almost like an evening gown, actually. It’s made of soft jersey and only set me back P645.50.
The only printed dress I did get was this smocked floral number. I couldn’t resist the delicate embroidery, perfect fit, and the P745.50 price tag. Being short sure has its benefits – I’m pretty sure this was meant to be a long top and not a dress.
I also got this kitty ring from the cocktail ring trays by the cashier. I really will buy anything with a cat on it.
It took me forever (no pun intended) to actually walk out of the store with my purchases in hand; the lines to the dressing room and cashier were ridiculous, and I didn’t think to immediately fit what I got while the crowd was still lingering outside. I spent around an hour waiting in line and was ready to pass out from hunger and exhaustion when I finally whipped out my credit card. Girls, don’t be like me – wear comfy shoes if you plan to check out the store this weekend, because I’m pretty sure the lines will be just as terrible.
A few months later, I came back and discovered that Forever 21 is a great place to people watch. The next time you go there, try to spot the types of people you see at Forever 21 Philippines.
ZOMG so exciting~! Now I don’t have to buy stuff through Johnny Air, lol!
OMG I’m sooo excited about it too!!! You’re so lucky to have been invited to its opening!
To answer your question: It’s a really easy hairstyle. You just part your hair in two and braid both sides, then bring them above your head like a hairband! Bobby pins are of course essential in keeping the braids in place. (:
i’ve never owned anything from f21, surprisingly, but i think the nothing over 2k might eat up the very little space i have left in my closet!
Oh, boy. There will definitely be a huge F21 frenzy. Even 2,500 is a pricey for me but if I wouldn’t mind saving for certain things I really like, I suppose. I hope they bring the mens section over too so people can drag their boyfriends, husbands and brothers! Heehee! I only have one thing from F21 and it is my favorite blue toggle jacket :)
You are lucky to be invited to the launch party, Lauren!
B from A plus B
They’re bringing the sub-brands too, including the menswear. And I hear a children’s line is in the works! Quite exciting but I worry that Forever 21 might kill local retail stores if they become too big.
Hmmm… diba matagal nang may Forever XXI sa Pinas? Iba ba yun sa Forever 21?
The “fake” Forever 21 in the Phils conveniently changed its name to Hip Culture but it’s not the same as THE Forever 21 in the US :p
Ah ok hehehe. Thanks Kira!
Cute ring! :)
Regarding those perfect tees, you should check out Urban Outfitters if you end up in the States. Head on over to the men’s section and you can get these simple, but incredibly soft tees. They’re cheap too, about the same price as the one you got here.
And I agree, Twelve by Twelve is their best line! :)
I like Urban Outfitters’ stuff (from what I’ve seen online), I don’t know why I never visited one when I was in the States last year. Next time!
I was stopped from taking photos to clarify if I was media or not. The person thought I was copying designs. How ironic. They have copyright infringement issues.
I don’t like shopping, but your post makes me want to run to Forever 21. Particularly the Heritage 1981 area!
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In my experience, Forever 21 cotton dresses aren’t really worth it, even with the low price tags. They have a lot of cute on-trend styles, but I have found that their dresses (besides the stretch jersey ones) tend to shrink in the wash. Their knit tops and jersey items hold up pretty well though, but I think you still get better value for money buying dresses from other retailers.
Ooh, thanks for the heads-up! I’m glad I didn’t buy the dresses then.
My favorite section of Forver21 abroad is Heritage 21! I haven’t checked out the one here because I went to Topshop’s (my first love) sale instead and also I am really scared of the crowds! : O And I am completely sure you are right that a handful of girls will find themselves wearing the same dresses for the next few weeks…
I can’t believe even at the private opening it was crowded.
Thank you for sharing the photos though! They were cool to look at. It’s also good to know that their back to basics are so cheap pala. You seem like a very practical shopper, Lauren.
B from A plus B
I’m pretty thrifty most of the time! When it comes to clothes anyway. I don’t mind spending money on really nice shoes or accessories though. :D Anything cheap at Topshop? I checked out the Mango sale and I still found it pretty expensive at 1.9k for a casual dress. :\
Lauren! You know what, I got the exact same floral dress (I really thought it was a dress, not a top lol) you got. I usually avoid f21 here but since my friends were looking, I looked around as well. Prices look like they are the same cause I got that dress for $15 + tax. I’m still a cheapskate, no matter what. That dress was a steal, imo.
Yay, we’re dress twins! How’s the quality though? I’ve heard Forever 21 dresses are notorious for breaking down in the wash.
My f21 clothes are just a handful, so I can’t really say how they are. They remind me of made in China clothing (the one you’d find in a tiangge), but with a more hefty price.
Lovely smocked dress. I’ve been researching for some ideas for my upcoming smocked dress project and this is just perfect!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE……..
i’ve been waiting like forever and now FOREVER 21 is here. am so excited…its been a while..havent been there since the launching(busy work) but this next pay day, i’ve scheduled to be there.:)
Had i been standing next to you when you got that ring, i would have taken it off your finger. ahahahaha.. thats a good buy. cute. I’ve been there too. Got this high cut boots that are for women, but had to squeeze my foot in. They look good in any type of jeans.
do they have boots in there?
Plain tees and tank tops are really a must-have. I got a couple of those from Forever 21 too. They are perfect to go with printed skirts or cardigan.
The thing about the basic tees at F21 is that they’re a little too thin. If you want a better white V-neck tee, check Giordano. I got mine for P500. better quality
I have to agree with Irene, quality-wise, Forever 21 might not be the brand for it. I have one dress named twenty one (incidentally with a similar name!) but not costing as much as the bigger brands but looking as great.
You can check it out here and probably leave a comment, if you like. :)
http://myshopgirl101.blogspot.com/2011/08/3-dresses-1-impression.html
Hello, just want to ask if you know or familiar with a good phil online store that sells cocktail dresses and is of good quality? Please do email me if you know of anything..thanks! :)
do they also have plus sizes?
Do they have plus sizes?