The newest place to find fabulous finds

Forever 21, originally Fashion 21, was found 1984 by Do-Won Chang. It has since been a leading clothing store that manages to provide the trendiest in fashions for half the price. Since its start, it has found branches all over North America. However, its Canadian branches had mainly been in the East, notably in Toronto and Montréal.

Thankfully, the popular brand has found its way to BC, a developing place for fashionistas in its own right. The newest branch of Forever 21, with its iconic "XXI" store sign, was opened Oct. 9, 2009 to huge crowds in the Metropolis mall at Metrotown. It was full as soon as its doors opened, with a special spot for the hit radio station 93.5 The Beat FM to celebrate. The latest in music was being played as excited shoppers were browsing through the latest in trend and style.

The Metrotown Forever 21 branch covers two floors - generally a lot of space, really - and it doesn't disappoint.  Though its main focus is on women's clothing, the store manages to cover the entire range in fashion - from dress to jewelry to hats and shoes. There's even a men's section in the lower floor.

The best thing about Forever 21 is the prices - only in there can snag a semiformal dress for $50, or a cardigan for $14. The brand doesn't sacrifice its style for price either - the quality of the products is superb. The store also never fails to stick true to its style; it's always up-to-date, with that daring mix of clothing styles from the West and East.

The only con I can really find is the fact that it can be terribly difficult to even enter the store during weekends. The store has a tendency to be jampacked, and even on weekdays the lines for the fitting room and cashier can be long. This in turn affects the quality of service - perhaps it can be the fact that the store is still brand new and employees are getting used to the place, but one would think that with such a popular store, employees should have a bit more initiative.

All in all though, it can still be said that a quick stop at the Forever 21 Metrotown branch is worth all the wait, all the more when desiring a good buy. Having a clear idea of what to buy is recommended, as it should help avoid aimless wandering among the large shopping crowd. You're almost guaranteed to get something worthy of a place in your closet - there's a reason Metrotown is becoming a crowd of shoppers holding a yellow "XXI" bag.

XXI  
Metropolis @ Metrotown
280-4800 Kings Way
Burnaby BC V5H 4J2
(604)437-7115