Updated on March 5th, 2025
Sure, you love Forever 21 as much as the next fashion-obsessed, financially stressed woman, but the store can be utterly overwhelming.
The gist:
- If you have time to spare, shopping in-store at Forever 21 can be a blast. There are racks, stacks, hooks, and shelves filled with trendy fashions. The shopping strategies below can help you make the most of it.
- If you’re in a hurry or easily overwhelmed, try stocking up on your fast fashions at the Forever 21 website instead.
10 ways to shop Forever 21
1. Set expectations
One thing is true of this store. Quantity reigns high over quality. If you hunt, you can get 10 tops for about $100. Not a one of those shirts will last forever. Buy accordingly.
2. Don’t guess on fit
A trademark of low-quality clothes is inconsistent fit. Always try everything on when shopping in-store at Forever 21. It doesn’t matter if you are restocking jeans you already have at home or if you just bought a pair of shorts the day before.
Obviously, trying stuff on isn’t an option when you’re shopping online. The Forever 21 return policy isn’t great, either. So take appropriate precaution. If you can’t try it on, only buy styles that are forgiving on fit — like t-shirts, socks, handbags, etc.
3. Check the sale items
In the store, you can find awesome deals on sale racks or those fun bins next to the checkout line. On the website, look for the sale page. If a big sale is one, you’ll also see sale messaging on the homepage.
4. Get your coupon codes
Forever 21 runs lots of coupon codes and special promotions. These are so common that it’s silly to buy online without one.
5. Accessorize
One of the best things about Forever 21 is the sparkling accessories section. Find scarves, hats, bags, wallets, clutches, belts, jewelry, and so much more.
You can even buy shoes. The shoe section is like a fashion forward Payless, with prices around the $35 mark.
6. Layer up
Forever 21 is a great place for trendy, affordable outerwear. You can find coats, jackets, and blazers in so many styles, patterns, and colors.
The caveat is that these are coats for California weather — meaning they’re not terribly warm or sturdy. But they’re cheap, so that’s your trade-off.
7. Shop by style
Take an e-shopping short-cut with Forever21.com’s Shop by Style pages. Right now, the options are:
- Sexy edgy
- Casual cool
- Femme bohemian
- Sexy street style
Use these curated collections to refine your own style and to inspire new looks you may not have thought of.
8. Don’t be put off by young models
Forever 21 is geared for the younger set. The product images on the website reflect that targeting — the models are young and vibrant.
But here’s the thing: Older women can shop Forever 21. You just have to look past the fresh, youthful faces in the store and on the website.
You know what clothes look good on you, so lean on that. You might skip over the hot pants (or not) and browse the cardigans instead, for example.
9. Shop plus
Forever 21 has a plus collection with tons of options. You can also shop by style for plus. Here are the links:
- Plus wardrobe refresh
- Plus beach edit
- Plus sexy edit
10. Shop men’s
You can also buy stuff for your buy at F21. The collection is very youthful, complete with sweat separates, graphic tees, and denim jackets. Still, if you’re shopping for a younger brother, you might find something good and affordable.