Iyow - in your own words

I know you’ve seen them. Bright yellow plastic bags with bold, black type. Carried by 13 year old teens to 50 year old women. Ah, the allure of youth and great marketing. I give you Forever 21.

Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately?), I’m far from 21. That means I have bills and responsibilities. I can’t buy whatever I want and pay the rent. Oh wait, I can…sort of. Credit cards are nasty little things. But I digress. As Cyndi sang, girls just want to have fun. Thus, stores like Forever 21 were created.

If you are far from 21, but are among the curious, here are a few tips for surviving this shopping experience:

1. Go early. Like when they open. I arrived at 10:45am. No crowds. No muss. No fuss.

2. Spend time. The store on Powell Street has three floors. Who knew? But you need time to find the good stuff.

3. It’s cheap. That means cheaply made. But, hey, it’s fun and stylish (for now).

4. It’s cut for someone who is 21. You may need to look for styles that are more “forgiving”. But they’re out there. And they’re damn cute. Check out my latest purchase.

(Thank you Patrice.)

5. Jewelry. OK, I guess this isn’t a survival tip. But they have a great selection of trendy jewelry. Don’t get me wrong – I love well-made, handcrafted jewelry. I even took a jewelry making class at SF State taught by the amazingly talented Julia Turner so I know the pain and joy of creating a simple ring. But accessories are a great way to dress-up your wardrobe. Make a statement!

6. Bring a large handbag. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to advertise. There’s something slightly obsene about older folk carrying around a bag labeled “Forever 21”. But maybe that’s just me? I definitely breathed easier after I hid my purchases in my SoHo fabulous Mandarina Duck purse.

So, check it out sometime. Have fun. Go wild. But don’t go on a Saturday afternoon. (I warned you.)