Due to far east industrialization and growing globalization, fast fashion stores have sprung up around the country in droves. Fast fashion stores provide of the moment trendy wares for cheap prices and turn their inventory quickly.
Entering one of these stores can be overwhelming, from the amount of choices to the cheap prices and masses of excited shoppers. It is well worth braving the crowds to enter these stores for the smart finds, and herein is a guide to help sort out which stores do what best.
Forever 21
This fast fashion store is my personal favorite, and I try to go once every one to two weeks to see the new wares. I find this store to be particularly strong at accessories – they are always of the moment and sometimes look very special and expensive.
I have found the best $4-5 funky acrylic bangles that look just like $100 styles you’ll see at a boutique by Alexis Bittar. Also to note are their belts, clutches, and sunglasses. You’ll never need to save up for another pair of designer sunglasses after reviewing their ever growing selection.
H&M

This European based chain is best for their men’s fashion – always classic, well cut, but with a subtle European attitude. Male readers, please do visit this store often for their $30 jeans, cool graphic tees, and lean suits.
For the ladies the store also hits the right note in particular with swimwear and cute but work appropriate dresses. If you happen to speak Finnish, Swedish, or German, you can have a special treat and check out the retailer’s online store at http://shop.hm.com/
Zara

Spain based Zara has higher prices than Forever 21 and H&M, but maintains the same passion for quick fashion and low prices. Think dresses starting at $30 as opposed to $15. The store in particular carries fantastic shoes at affordable choices, typically cheaper and cooler than selections at Nine West or Aldo.
One note is to be careful of the shoe sizing, as they tend to run small. The other item to pick up at this store are their jackets – blazer, military, or motorcycle in style. They tend to have a great fit and very fair price, and you’ll wear them with everything.
And this is a guide to my favorite fast fashion stores. Do you like these stores as well? Perhaps I missed your favorite fast fashion store?

guest
Forever 21 is awesome…. they have v-neck tees for like $4.50 a piece, and you can layer them with their cheap $2 camis for a cute look. 3 other places are Marshall’s, Ross, and TJ Maxx…. I know its a pain in the ass to have to look through every single shirt and you might not come up with anything, but you get designer stuff for real cheap. Or cheap clothes for even cheaper. One more that I just came up with… Target. Their graphic t’s are so cute, purses are fun, and the jewelry is funky.
guest
Ah I love Zara, it can be sometimes a little bit expensive there, but the clothes are totally worth every euro/dollar/whatever
guest
I like Forever 21′s styles but their smallest size is loose on me. I don’t really shop at the other two stores but I guess it doesn’t hurt to check them out. =)
guest
i like f21 but everything sometimes fit too loose on me. i can only buy things if i want them to be a bit loose…
but there was a discussion in my architecture class about style and design and quality..
f21 and especially h&m clothes don’t last that long. my f21 clothes do last a bit longer than h&m clothes which is why i dont shop there anymore.. the clothing seems to be made from fabrics that don’t last too long and you’re probably gonna have to end up shopping there again in the next week or so.. leaving the shirt you bought last week in the closet never to be worn again..
i think it’s alright and stuff, the clothes LOOK good.. but cheap stuff like clothes and furniture can only last for so long.. (more like a few weeks or months)
i’m starting to rethink where i should buy my clothes and furniture.. though these stores may be affordable.. i think i’d rather have something that lasts a lot longer of a time.
guest
as soon as i saw the title for this blog forever 21 popped into my mind. seriously forever 21 is the shhhiiitttt…like.
there are no words to fullt describe my love for forever21. I have been a loyal shopper there for about three years now and i absolutely LOVE LOVE that store…there is alwaysss something there i want to buy never do i leave that store dissappointed. Not only is their stuff trendy sophisticated funky fresh fun unique BUT CHEAP!! i can leave that store with a whole new warbdrobe accessories and all for under 200 dollars.
seriosly where else can you buy a great pair of skinny jeans for 19.50???
and H&M and zara….god…love them too.
guest
Forever 21′s clothing are SO cheap (no pun intended). Yes, the clothes and jewelery are inexpensive, but you are getting what you pay for. Don’t be surprised if your shirt or dress falls apart after a couple washes – it has done that EVERY time I have ever bought something from there and when I try and do a return or exchange for the clothes that have fallen apart, they refuse because it has been washed and worn already. Yes, they have absolutely adorable and fashionable clothing, but I personally think the store is CRAP.
guest
@Sk1z0fr3n1c_Fr3d@xanga - i dont know you must really put your clothes through the wringer cause all my clothes that I have bought from forever have lasted me for a really long time….and i party/go clubbin in them…
guest
I don’t really buy anything from these places. They don’t have the style of clothes I like, and also, since I’m disproportionate, their clothes fit me weirdly. o.O
daisy / 742 posts
I love H&M and Zara!!
guest
I used to like forever 21, but now I think the styles are a bit young for me. I like going to similar stores if I see something really trendy that I love. The quality is horrible, but what do you expect for the price? For something trendy, who cares? It’s going to sit in my closet after a couple of uses anyway.
guest
I was doubtful when I first heard of Forever 21, but then I tried the place out.
Most of my friends would describe me as a picky tomboy–fashionwise, especially–but I found dozens of things there that I loved. Plus, as you said… the prices are fantastic.
dahlia / 2012 posts
I have never heard of Zara.
sunflower / 260 posts
H&M is awesome! They always have clothes that fit small women.
Forever 21 is great as well, but mainly for price. They have too much selection, and I find their stores to be very disorganized.
guest
@FantasyDreamerGrl@xanga - I know, right! I have no problem spending over an hour there just to see everything they have. It’s like an overload for my eyes.. trying to see everything. Crazy!
guest
i love all the places ^_^
guest
yes love em but i don’t have an h&m here
guest
i love them all. see, these stores are cheap and the clothes fall apart easily, but that just give us girls another reason to shop! its a vicious cycle but i like it.
guest
i looooove H&M. the clothes are a little cheaply made, yes, but they’re cute! there’s a wide variety of styles and sizes and accessories and there’s always something new.
guest
I love Forever 21 & H & M. I never really shop at Zara, but those other 2 are my most favorites. They are trendy and awesome! Especially, when I have to have new gear for modeling all the time, I have to find fashion stores that have decent prices so I don’t oversplurge.
guest
i love forever 21. never heard of zara though…
guest
The only one out of these that i’ve heard of is forever 21. i wasn’t very pleased because all my stuff from there shrunk a lot.
guest
I love ALL three. their my top 3 shops i loveeeee
guest
hehe i’d hate to be called “trendy”, but i love these fast fashion stores!!
guest
I’ve never been to any of those places. They don’t exist in the city I currently live in.
guest
forever 21 always and forever.
and then zaras
and then h&m
guest
I dont shop at any
guest
Zara is my favorite. =D
guest
you missed bebe :*(
i like forever 21 and its not too heavy on the pockets.
guest
personally, i find the clothes and accessories are better quality in h&m and zara.
dahlia / 2942 posts
Forever 21 has a lot of rubbish, fads that sell RIGHT NOW, so I’m often discouraged having to dig through lots of ugly things to find that great item. H&M has more tasteful choices but most of their things are not my style, so I usually leave empty-handed.
guest
i love forever 21 and H&M but i never heard of zaras. Let me check out their online website
guest
H&M all the way. cute clothing and acessories for reasonable prices.
guest
I love f21. I’ve been shopping there since I was 13 (lived in Los Angeles, the BIRTH of Forever 21!). At that time, I thought of it as a hidden gem, ’cause they only called it Fashion 21. I like it because I always walk out of there with something cute for less.
I think Zara has excellent quality, but I don’t think I would buy “fashionable tops” from there per se, because I’d only wear it once or twice; not worth the price. Zara, however, is good for tees/turtlenecks/and apparel pieces that SHOULD be able to withstand wear and tear.
As for H&M, I have a newly love/hate relationship with them now. I like some of the stuff they distribute, but the store that’s closest to me has very horrible service and snobby people working there, so it’s really lessoned my desire to shop there.
orchid / 105 posts
i love H&M and Forever21
many are affordable too
guest
ZARA’s quality is way beta than forever 21 and h&m
guest
Love Zara. I dropped a fortune there on my first month of study abroad in Paris. And this was all during the biannual “soles” in Paris. In my opinion, the store is more like an European counterpart of Express.
guest
H&M is my favorite store, I prefer it over Zara, but Zara’s awesome too…
Why don’t we have Forever21 in Italy?!?!????!?!?!?
guest
forever 21 is not bad…but in malaysia, it quite expensive though…i mean most of the stuff….some were at the reasonable prices…
guest
i love forever21 and h&m, although, as of late, i’ve found forever21 a bit too trendy for me. if you have the time and patience, however, you can find some really great, classic pieces that are perfect waredrobe staples. certainly, the craftsmenship on some of their articles is questionable, and their smallest sizes are often too big for some of their more svelte costumers, but i’ve had many of their pieces for years now and they have faithfully been vital parts of my day-to-day wear.
i always find something really clean and simple at h&m; most recently, a beautifully cut little black dress. never been to zara, but i’ll have to check it out!
guest
Mango is another one… it’s like Zara except cheaper. I’m not the hugest fan, because Zara is soooo worth the extra money. Zara is my fav of them all because the others seem to have more flimsy clothing. I’m no teenager and at some point your body begins to need clothing with structure.
guest
I like Rue21.
It’s really cute, and inexpensive. =)
orchid / 160 posts
I like Forever 21 but always have a hard time figuring out what my sizes are! Also, I think it’s upsetting to not be able to find anything in the store that is online. We don’t have Zara or H&M in Nebraska so I have no idea what those stores are about.
I personally like Charlotte Russe and always have. Their clothes are right in my price range and are very cute.
guest
I love Forever 21. I think eventually I will be too old to shop there but I can never go wrong with their selection of basics (T’s, tanks) at such great prices. Also, they carry small sizes which are great for me because I’m petite and a size 0. I have trouble finding clothes small enough for me at stores that START at a size 4… Yay for H&M too! I want to check out Zara. My aunt brought me back a couple shirts from Zara from Spain years ago so I am familiar with the brand and welcome them to the U.S.!
guest
I wish there were more Zara stores in the US. Right before I left Italy last summer, I found the best pair of jeans for 20 euros! I wear them all the time and wish I could get more, but the only place I’ve seen Zara in the states is in NYC.
H&M has really cute basics… I go there once in a while to get little short-sleeved shirts and tank tops for cheap. Yeah, they’re not the best quality in the world, but it’s cute stuff. I like how they keep carrying some of the same styles all the time, just maybe in different colors, because then you can buy more of something if you really liked it, want a different color, ruined it, etc.
guest
I seriously have never heard of Zara, I guess I have now.
But Forever 21 fer sure, but H&M for great quality jeans.
guest
forever 21.
i got my valintines day dress there!!!!
guest
I like H&M because my husband and I can shop there together and neither of us ever leave empty handed. I have a love/hate relationship with forever 21. It seems to be hit or miss, and can change depending on which one you go to. It seems to serve very different clientelle depending on the location, but I find that the sheer AMOUNT of clothing at forever 21 will sometimes compensate for the fact that I don’t currently like their display items.
I have never shopped at Zara because, like you said, it’s slightly more expensive.
guest
well said about h&M. thats the only place that i shop when my budget starts acting up. modern fit trim, great deal.
guest
I have no Zara or H&M near me..nor a Forever21, but I shop at Forever21 a lot. They’ve scored 350 something dollars from me so far LOL. In fact, I just ordered 90 dollars of stuff a few days ago. I’m excited to get it :]
The color that shows up on my screen can be completely inaccurate though. Their acccessories at the shit.
guest
I recommend Zara to anyone who to don’t shop as often but are in for a stylish clothing that will last for awhile.
I never have problem with finding clothes that fits-from H&M. I like the dresses there.
Forever 21 seems to have a trend-ADD, things come and go from there. I sometimes purchase the accessories there.
For those who haven’t entered Zara or H&M, they’re usually located in the big cities or Metropolitan area (that’s if you’re in the States).I love Union Square, SF.
guest
i love zara and forever 21
magnolia / 1030 posts
ive never seen a zara but i loveeeeeee h&m and forever 21!!!
h&m is muchhhhh better quality though. forever 21 has some really bad quality, though beautifullll, stuff