Yesterday’s trip to the mall resulted in some very glee-inducing purchases. I hit a jackpot at Forever 21 and scored a dress on sale at H&M! Overall impression, however, was gloomy – the only colorful thing at Forever 21, for instance, was neon yellow mannequins. :( The rest was black, beige and – if you’re lucky – pale pink. And we’re supposed to be entering the spring season! Nonetheless, I managed to find a few cute things.
Purse, false lashes and the bow ring all came from Forever 21. It was love at first sight when I spotted this bow purse on the shelf. It’s very well made, soft faux leather and only $17.
Finally, a bow ring that is anything but bo-ring! 1 1/4″ wide, it’s bedazzled with rhinestones. I ‘went for the gold’ but there is also a silver version. And for only $2.80, how can you resist??
Puffy loves it!
H&M was slightly more adventurous (read: not afraid of color). In fact, this lovely princess dress was on sale for only $10 (originally $35, I believe). The problem with H&M is that their sizes run small – 4 is actually a 2, 6 fits like a 4, etc. This dress is a little small on me but since it was the last one they had, I went for it anyway! I think I know how to fix it and for $10, it’s totally worth it. :)
I love vintage and consignment shopping for designer pieces on the cheap, but sometimes I forget how awesome these two stores are. I almost never return empty-handed and my wallet never complains. If you’re a customization junkie like me, it’s like treasure hunt!
Deerlings: what are your favorite stores lately?
P.S. Lime Crime contest on Polyvore is ending in 6 days. The theme is “Enchanted Forest & The Creatures Who Roam It”. Since it’s a brand new group – under 50 members – your chances of winning are REALLY good!!!
That dress is so dreamy and for so little!! I would’ve bought it too. I can’t wait to see what you do with it *_*.
These dresses were available in Germany as well in every colour you can imagine and if such dresses would fit me, I had definitely bought EVERY of them. I so envy you for that beauty, that’s definitely the perfect dress for me.. if it wouldn’t look ugly on my body *laughs*
nicole Reply:
January 15, 2010 at 1:25 pm
AHH you guys are lucky. The H&M in NJ sucks…I need to make a trip to the NY one soon or go back to Europe,lol. The H&M in Poland was awesome as well.
Cute dress.
I buy a lot of stuff off ebay and vintage stores but when I need to shop at a mall I tend to shop at urban outfitters (love their stretchy skinny jeans), Forever 21, H&M & Target. I also find some decent stuff at Kohl’s from time to time too. I bought an awesome Vera Wang long tie cardigan at Kohl’s for 60% off before Christmas. I loved it so much in the gray color that I bought a second one in black. And it looks awesome over leggings and boots.
And I would have to disagree about H&M sizes. For me they don’t run small. They run true to size for me.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 14, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Really? It seems every time I buy a dress, the size is off by 2 digits. Maybe it’s just the dresses?!
tokidoki Reply:
January 14, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Maybe. Although I do have a couple dresses from H&M (not strapless ones though) that fit fine. Right now I am wearing a pair of H&M skinny ruched bottom pants they sold 2 or so years ago and they are true to size. And I have to say these are one of my favorite pairs of pants and they were less then $20. :)
I’m in love ! *.*
I bought a dress , I love it but I prefer yours ! :p
I adore most of what I find on http://www.anthropologie.com, but being still a student, it’s difficult to afford.
So I take the sleazy way out: I let myself be inspired by it and remake it on my own :D
Love F21 and H&M for fun occasions and photoshoots! F21 designs are fun but the quality is not so great (luckily, it’s hard to see in photos).
I think H&M should make more sizes that are smaller! Their size 2 is still loose on me. I’m a XXS / 00P in other stores.
All the size 2s and 4s are always the first to go from the shelves, since they make so few and there’s high demand.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 14, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I bet if you got enough people to annoy the buyer, they would stock more smaller sizes!
tokidoki Reply:
January 14, 2010 at 5:15 pm
That is my gripe with F21. I am petite so xsmall tops fit me the best but the smallest size F21 sells for most items is small. I wish they carried more xsmall tops.
When did forever 21 get drained of colour!? So bizarre, I haven’t been in about a year and a half since I stopped fitting into their sizes but all though highscool they were the most colourful place in the mall. I can’t imagine that store full of bland colours. O.O
Loving the Pink dress it’s so something I’d wear! How much were those lashes?
Doe Deere Reply:
January 14, 2010 at 5:23 pm
I think they were 3.80 – really cheap! I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet but I mean, how much can go wrong with eyelashes?
Suzanne C. Reply:
January 15, 2010 at 5:07 am
lol in my experience a lot but I’m clumsy! I’ll have to get some. <3
awesome.
I’m kind of picky when it comes to clothing! And working two jobs that require different styles.
For teaching, I love the Limited and Express, because they offer great options for basics, and they offer great color options for teaching and still be fashion forward. I also shop at Hot Topic, they tend to have stuff that work well for teaching and great color options.
For Framing, comfort is key, but I tend to buy cheap clothes from target, hot topic (i get 50%off employee discount from my sister), and forever 21, just to stay fashion forward, and yet if they get destroyed, i’m not feeling guilty for glass slicing my shirt or pants. I’ve gotten quite accustomed to Delia’s for pants, they last a while, and they’re in a good price range.
I’m petitioning H&M to make a store in Houston, because THERE ARE NO H&M STORES IN TEXAS!!!!! And its sickening! I loved H&M when it opened in Ann Arbor, I waited 6 hours for the first day sale, and I still have those clothes! I love H&M, if any of you want to petition for an H&M in Texas, I’ll have an online site up soon!
Melinda
Last season Forever 21 had a ton of weirdly colorful clothes. Black is more popular this season for them. I don’t think they’re going to change to spring for another month or 2. The forever 21 in the mall near me is 2 floors~ And lucky for my I love black ;p Unfortunatly their stuff is kinda bland lately. There’s plenty of cute stuff, it’s ust “not there” for me. Like I’ll see a shirt but then if there was one or two things different about it, I would’ve liked it better. H&M just opened last month and I’ve been there twice. I got a really cute black dress on sale for 15$ I think. They have some cute stuff, but most of it is what I would call “basics” plain dresses and shirts. I still like forever 21 the best. And I love hot topic for accessories. They have nice gloves and armwarmers, and recently little top hats or facsinaters with veils that are decently price and so much better than forever 21′s quality.
i have the same dress….2x…..in light pink (powder pink) and black!
Cute bag!
my favorite stores lately are claires hot topic online and adjambia
i love finding bright rainbowie and rave things that fill my heart with GLEE
=D
i love the pink dress doe. it’s super pretty
Since I’m not a fan of bright colors, I either do my shopping online (EBay has never let me down; I only buy from select stores, though!) or head over to Charlotte Russe, especially for shoes!
Since springtime is coming up pretty quickly, boots will be on sale! I always hit up Charlotte Russe or shoe stores since their boots tend to go on sale/clearance around springtime. Perfect for me! I happen to have a boot fetish. ); I own well over 20 pairs of them, no two even remotely alike.
what a great haul! i love the h+m dress! Would you believe that here in philly there are 2 downtown h+m’s, within blocks of each other, stocking totally different styles, but both haven’t gone bright, or even pastel or jewel, for seasons. They must think grey goes good with the city skies X-X
MY DRESS!!! I own that dress in lavender, I bought it last spring for SIXTY dollars so I am jealous that you got it for so cheap! It’s the most fun dress ever. I punched holes along the sides of the zipper and added grommets and now the back of my dress laces up with silver ribbon ^_^ Enjoy your dress!
Funny about the H&M sizing, I find that they are large in sizes. I can usually easily fit in a size smaller than I usually wear. If not two sizes! The one exception being dresses with fitted bust. Stretchy dresses works just fine, may even be a bit large but fitted is hell if you have a bgger bustsize. Other than that, H&M is really nice if you like strong colours, exspecially their Divided range. I have tons from them (me being swedish, H&M is everywhere).
i’m actually diggin’ forever 21 these days, and all of their black chic. since my dress code at my school is all black, it works out to my advantage!
My favourite store right now is actually a second-hand place right by my house. They have the coolest stuff! I got an awesome lumberjack/motorcycle-esque jacket in really fun, bright plaid and some cool retro slips and corsets. I was so surprised to stumble upon it!
Last I was at H&M I bought a size four and it was, if anything, a bit loose. I’m usually a size six (or eight depending on my eating habits!) elsewhere though – but maybe I’ll tell everyone I’m a size two if H&M fits small! ;) I suppose the sizing could be different in Canada. Or maybe I have shrunk!
H&M usually seems to be small on me as far as sizes go, but I guess it depends which stores you’re used to shopping at since all sizes seem to be different everywhere. Forever21 has some really cute stuff but sometimes the size medium fits great, other times the large is way too small! (I’m a size 8/10 depending on the store) I wish they were more consistent so I could shop online, it’s a few hour trip to Vancouver for me to get there :(
Love the dress and the falsies–nice catch! That is upsetting about F21 and their lack of color. Ah, well–just more motivation to start my own line.
I bought a couple shirts from f21 awhile ago but the quality was awful. I go in there occasionally but I never feel inclined to waste the money on anything more than their $5 accesories.
My fav places are goodwill/ragstock for something fun or unique. Target and kohls for basics. I am so cheap =)
Ouu, that’s gorgeous! I’m currently sporting my plain black H&M cardigan. =) I have a few items from there, such as my t-shirt dress and such. I am actually waiting for a dress to come in from Forever21! =) Great buys.
P.S On a side note, My shipment of “My Beautiful Rocket” and “No She Didn’t” came in today. Amazing wear! I’ve had them on each for equal amounts of time and the stay and feel is amazing! Great products! These won’t be my last!
exoh
Skylar
those are all such lovely finds! not my thing but still very nice to see on someone better suited like you! lol i can sense a reconstruction with that dress :D
when i spend time in the states claire’s, marshall’s, forever21 and hottopic are always my first stops. but here at home, i can always find the BEST deals on colourful make-up, nailpolish, and accessories at a place called wonderful world. i was actually just there today and i’m still dreaming of the Nyx glitters i saw! i’ll be back in no time at all ^_^
The only place I shop is khols because they have stylish clothing that fits me since I’m a little heavy and I’m broad.
wet seal wet seal wet seal!
I have since recovered from a forever 21 phase. Now I love Modcloth.com for its awesome glamorous colourful futuristic (and vintage) clothes and shoes. That is my style ‘Glamourously and colourfully futuristic’. I am also loving solestruck.com. Too bad I’m not allowed to spend money at the moment. I have to reduce Debt.
That purse and ring are beyond adorable! And so is fluffy, I can only hope my future cat will be so cute.
I’ve never ventured into H&M because they usually don’t carry anything in my size. My personal favorite shop is this one called Rowena. It’s a 50′s rockabilly inspired store stocked with cute purses, hair flowers, many trinkets, killer shoes, and clothes that actually fit larger sizes! I find most 50′s inspired stores only have clothes for girls size 4 or under. So I am thrilled to have this store within my shopping grasp! :D
haha, i have that exact same dress in pale pink from h&M. i bought fullprice a few weeks ago. :( i’d love to see what you’ll be doing with this!!
Doe, I’m wondering how you reconcile shopping at H&M despite the immense wastefulness that came clear in that Times article last week? I know this wasn’t the 35th St store, but H&M hasn’t come out showing things have changed. Also, while the initial statement was that the store was rouge, I simply do not buy that corporate wouldn’t have noticed the lack of donation receipts for tax purposes before now.
I love H&M- they’re really just in the perfect place between having interesting and cute things- especially tops- without them being distracting from whatever I’m working on, and as a student I really appreciate their prices. But as a creative I just felt literally sick when I read that article, and feel like I will not feel comfortable shopping there again until they show that they’ve really stopped.
And I’m not saying “Doe, think as I think about this company” I just am really curious what you think about it since, as a business owner as well as a creative, you may have some insight into why destroying unsold product is in some ways a better idea than donating it or throwing it out without destroying it that I’m completely missing.
That dress is adorable!
1. Patricia Field: For glam rock goodness.
2. American Apparel: The fit of their clothing is perfect. I love all their shiny “tacky” stuff and bodysuits.
3. Topshop: Topshop is pretty edgy for a mainstream retail store.
4. Bebe: This is where I go for a freakum dress. ;)
My favorite store of all time have to be Winners! ( or TKMax, i believe in the US..) Almost ALL of my clothes ( and shoes)comes from there. I find stuff no one else as at a half of the original price, sometime even lower. How can you not loooove it!
Awesome haul!! That dress for $10 is insane[ly cool]. I love love love snagging cheap treasures, especially for turning them into something new and fabulous! F21 and H&M are great stores, I love shopping there because I can always find things I like/love and they are always shockingly cheap! Fabulous :) I went to H&M before Christmas and got an awesome sparkly teal tube scarf ($7), shiny magenta leggings ($10), and an adorable disco ball lipgloss ($4).
OOOH i have that dress in purple, got it from my sis as a christmas gift and i love it :’D
I love that dress! It’s sold out in both Sweden and Shanghai in my size though :C But I don’t agree on the sizes, I think H&M runs big because I always fit in to a size smaller than I usually wear!
Or maybe it’s just that their clothes are more well suited for my figure than other stores…
Hey~ My cat’s named Puffy too! Well her full name is Puffy Sean Elizabeth Combs, Puffy for short :). She’s laying her with me now and says meow (hi) lol