Thank you to Forever 21 & ShopStyle for kindly sponsoring this post.
All opinions are 100% honest & all items were hand-selected by us.
When my daughter turned 17 at the end of last year, it felt like a punch straight to the gut because I realized that we only have one year left with her at home. As hard as the letting go is, I do think that the best part about her getting older is the special friendship that we have formed. Obviously, first & foremost, I’m her mother (I set the rules & hold her accountable to keep them)…but we also have a lot of fun together & she is truly one of my favorite people to hang out with. We have a million inside jokes, we share a deep passion for music & we both LOVE fashion.
Since we arrived in Oregon, she’s been having fun exploring different trends & trying out new styles – the fashion is very different here than it was in NY, so we’ve both somewhat adapted our wardrobes since we moved. Now that she is done growing, I don’t mind buying her more pieces for her closet, especially when we can get them at an affordable price. I’ve always been a fan of Forever 21 because they have budget-friendly styles and I think there are some real hidden gems if you take the time to look.
One thing I’ve learned is that their online selection is much broader than what they carry in-store, especially if you’re searching for high-quality pieces (like their Premium Label). We sat down one afternoon & browsed through their new arrivals and we each put together two casual looks that are perfect for everyday wear. If you’re like me & haven’t shopped there in a while, I think you will be pleasantly surprised (as I was)!
My daughter is a big fan of graphic tees, so she loved this neutral printed sweatshirt. She can wear it now with jeans & her teddy jacket and later with cut-offs & slide sandals. We were also really impressed with these jeans – she typically has a hard time with denim because if they’re usually too big in the waist (but fit everywhere else). But, these were perfect & so comfy – she was thrilled to have a solid pair with no distressing that she can wear to school. I couldn’t believe they were less than $20!!
On her:
c/o Forever 21 Graphic Sweatshirt, c/o Forever 21 High-Rise Mom Jeans,
c/o Forever 21 Chain Necklace, c/o Forever 21 Faux Fur Lined Sneakers
The shape & detailed knit of this sweater caught my eye because it’s so different. Unfortunately, this particular color just sold out, but it’s still available in a pretty citron hue. They have so many great knitwear options right now, like this plaid coatigan, this pointelle v-neck (looks so cozy!), this boatneck sweater, this v-neck tunic & this cable knit cardigan. And these block heel booties are a dead-ringer for the designer pair I’ve been wanting, but they’re under $30! The quality is great & they fit true to size (also comes in white).
On me:
c/o Forever 21 Balloon Sleeve Sweater,
c/o Forever 21 Distressed Skinny Jeans, c/o Forever 21 Chelsea Boots
When my daughter saw this jacket, she audibly gasped because it looked so much like the Free People style, but even better because it has a hood (her words). This has a generous over-sized fit, which makes it even more cozy & perfect for layering over tees. tanks or bodysuits (also comes in black & khaki). Sizes are limited on this one, but we found another similar option for you here. This is one piece of outerwear that we will definitely be sharing! She went for a slightly edgy look by pairing it with distressed mom jeans & chunky combat boots (something she’s had on her wish list forever!).
On her:
c/o Forever 21 Quilted Jacket, c/o Forever 21 Ribbed Cami,
c/o Forever 21 Distressed Straight Jeans, c/o Forever 21 Layered Necklace,
c/o Forever 21 Combat Boots
Out of all the things I’ve bought over the years from Forever 21, I think I’ve had the most luck with outerwear. I still have a suede black moto jacket and a white blazer from at least 5 years ago & they’ve both held up beautifully. While they do have plenty of youthful styles to choose from, there are also a good amount of pieces that are age-appropriate for those of us no longer in our teens & twenties.
This faux shearling coat is such a steal and it’s so unbelievably soft, you’ll think it’s the real thing! I went with my usual size, but if you’re in between, you might want to size down (unless you plan on layering over bulkier sweaters). I also love this black moto jacket, which has a similar vibe, but is more oversized & edgy. Some other chic finds that caught my eye: this classic cape, this tweed shacket (another option here), this cocoon coat, this plaid poncho & this double-breasted coat.
On me:
c/o Forever 21 Faux Shearling Jacket, c/o Forever 21 Square Neck Sweater,
c/o Forever 21 Distressed Mom Jeans, c/o Forever 21 Faux Suede Booties
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