The Showdown: Forever 21 vs. H&M

September 11, 2008     Posted in Style

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By Carly

Ah, cheap yet stylish clothes. Does it really get any better than that? Where else besides Forever 21 or H&M can you snag a $5 top on clearance, or track down a pair of really sweet wide-leg pants for less than $30?I suppose Target or Marshall’s might fall into a similar category, but I’ve always considered their clothes to be on a different level. Target is known for stocking basics over trends, and Marshall’s is known for stocking trends… from two or three seasons ago, so we’ll just leave them out of this discussion.

I have this theory: you’re either a Forever 21 person or an H&M person. You are what you are, and you can never switch over—it’s sacrilegious. If you shop at both, let’s face it: your loyalty lies with one, and you’re just cheating on it with the other. Shame on you.

I happen to be an H&M kinda girl. There – I said it. H&M is and always will be better. Is there really a competition? Not even a little bit.

Point I: Quality

Forever 21 may be cheap, but you’re only kidding yourself if you really think you’re going to wear anything you buy there for more than a year or two.

H&M’s clothes, though still admittedly not the best quality, are sturdier. I have things in my closet I bought years ago at H&M that are still holding up fine—no holes, no tears, no anything. They’re still just as brand new and shiny as they were on the day I bought them.

Point II: Trashy Factor

Forever 21 is great if you want to be a beach bunny or look like you’re fifteen years old. Hey, there’s a market for that kind of thing, so I’m not slamming it, but if you want to look chic…

…then H&M is your place. They sell casual stuff, but I’ve actually bought a lot of work clothes at H&M. They’re classy, and they’re stylish, too—but not so ultra-stylish that I won’t be able to wear them in six months when the newest trend sweeps the nation.

Point III: Style Variety

Forever 21 certainly has a lot of variety, yes, but it’s a variety of crap. You know how you sometimes spot a clearance sale that seems too good to be true, only to examine the racks and note that it’s just true because no one could possibly want anything they’re selling? Yeah, that’s Forever 21 in a nutshell.

H&M has true variety for people of all different styles. As I noted above, if I want to dress classy, I can find something there. If I want to go clubbing, I can find something there. And if I want to be moody and wear only black things with skulls on them, I can still find something there.

Case closed. I fully expect to get skewered on this one, so unleash the comments.

30 Comments on "The Showdown: Forever 21 vs. H&M"

  1. Beth says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20085:13 am 

    Forever 21. I've only ever been to an H&M once-it sounded amazing, I was excited to go there, but I did not see one thing there that I would ever wear, except for this one shirt. Everything, it seemed like, was made for one body type-I'm a size 6, but I have a huge stomach (gross, I know, but it won't go away) and so I have to wear either loose things or flowy or empire waisted or something…but nothing like that at H&M. Their purses were admittedly better than Forever 21s though. And they did have nice classy stuff-but Forever 21 has some of that too. Not much, but some.

    Plus I still wear the Forever 21 top I got 2 years ago and wear all the time. And it's holding up much better than some of the things I've gotten at higher-end places.

  2. AJ says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20085:57 am 

    Sadly, some of us are limited to only loving F21. In fact, ours JUST opened last year (Damn Arkansas) so before that it was WalMart or Goodwill if you wanted something cheap.

  3. snarktastic says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20085:58 am 

    did h&m pay you for your advertisement?

  4. jes says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20086:02 am 

    Well H&M do not sell online, and we don't have a store down here in the south east…

    Forever 21 was so exciting when I first discovered them, but after realizing how poor the quality is, I'd rather walk down 20 ft to Charlotte Russe.

  5. Amanda says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20086:11 am 

    Agree with AJ. Some of us in the boondocks of America are limited to F21. I still have to drive 2 hours to get to one. I like it because its a bit of a treasure hunt. Sure 90% of the stuff in there is trashy, but if you are patient enough to wade through the racks, you'll walk out with something cute.

  6. Callie says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20086:11 am 

    I totally agree. H&M rocks. Their clothes are sturdier and can last more than one season. Forever 21 has cute clothes that I can wear once or twice and then never again-either because its out of style or it rips. I do wish H&M would have an online store, then it would move even higher up on my list. Thats the only thing F21 has over H&M.

  7. Callie says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20086:12 am 

    And another thing-H&M does have a ton of clothes, but its never as cluttered as F21. When I go into Forever, its so overwhelming because I have to look through every single rack just to find one shirt I kinda like. H&M definitely has better organization in their stores.

  8. ela says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20086:16 am 

    i sometimes just hate the way H&M hems, i'm a stickler about it too. sometimes their patterns (as the shape of the actual clothes) for some dresses are made for very womanly women, hence why all the mannequins are pinned into all their clothing.

  9. Brittany says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20087:26 am 

    I WISH I could be an H&M girl, but they don't have any stores in Dallas. What gives, H&M?

  10. Cath says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20088:06 am 

    I disagree–H&M's fabrics are just as cheap as Forever 21's, but a lot of the pieces are cut oddly across the chest and under the armpits for example so they don't fit as well. I used to be an H&M girl, but I haven't found anything I like in there in months. Forever 21 has great, cheap basics like tanks, jeans and leggings and also has legit party dresses that are good for going out. Not to mention the accessories! I can't get enough.

  11. Jackie says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20089:17 am 

    H&M's stuff holds up a little better than F21's, but in the past couple of years H&M has become a good deal pricier than F21, which explains it. Also, Marshall's and TJ Maxx have really outdone themselves in the past year-they are now constantly stocking styles while they are in-season, and are getting some great brand names in, too.

  12. Leah says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20089:40 am 

    I'm an H&M girl. I buy the occasional thing at F21 but the dye is so cheap the color in everything runs and it's annoying to hand wash everything. As well, their fabric is cheap polyester so it doesn't breathe well and a lot of it pills. I have a sweater from h&m that I bought 5 years ago and it has never pilled or stretched out and I paid all of 25 (Canadian $$) for it. They have lots of practical clothes that are really good quality and the price is still really affordable (I found a $15 sweater there the other day). F21 is significantly more expensive since nothing from there lasts!

  13. Amber - Old Dominion says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 200810:01 am 

    I sense some bias in this article…

    I'm a huge fan of both, but F21 definitely takes the cake. Their stores are freaking HUGE and packed with tons of stylish stuff. Yeah you won't some of that stuff in year, but trends DO change.

  14. Marlene says:
    Fri, 12th Sep 20087:03 am 

    I am definitely a Forever 21 kinda girl. I've been to H&M and i dont like their style of clothes plus all their sizes are European so it makes me feel fat when i have to wear a size 4 shirt. Their jewelry and purses are nice, but overall Forever 21. They have clothes for every occasion and every type of person!

  15. Sarah says:
    Fri, 12th Sep 200810:21 am 

    HAHAHA…the above comment is too funny–"fat" in a size 4? LOL!

    Anyways, I totally love H&M. I had a Forever21 in my area first, and liked it, but as soon as the H&M was developed right across the hallway in the mall, it was true love. I think a person's preference for either store has a lot to do with their personal style, though. In my opinion F21 has lots of very detailed, club-like clothing, whereas H&M has more simple, sophisticated, and staple pieces along with their more unique clothing. I also associate H&M with my poor indie friends because it's similar to Urban Outfitters but without the price tag.

    I will always and forever be an H&M girl because their style just suits me. Plus, not only can you find real steals at their stores, there are also plenty of quality pieces for a heftier price, but they're worth it! I found a pair of lined, wool, grey, wide-leg pants there for $60 about 4-5 years ago and they're still in great condition and style!

  16. asya says:
    Fri, 12th Sep 20081:11 pm 

    the shape of h&m clothing is always a bit off, and their colors are normally too dark for my taste. forever 21 is the way to go.

  17. Carly - Grinnell says:
    Fri, 12th Sep 20086:03 pm 

    FYI to snarktastic — uh, NO, I did not get paid by H&M to write this, and your comment sounds like it's insinuating that a company pays off anybody who decides to write good things about its products. I also like Ghirardelli chocolate, Victoria's Secret lotion, and Apple products. Guess I'm really rackin' up the cash with this comment!

  18. Annie says:
    Tue, 16th Sep 20088:50 am 

    I disagree with your statement that you can only really like either Forever 21 or H&M. I go to Forever 21 for trendy stuff and H&M for the basics. I could never shop at one or the other, or else my wardrobe would be unbalanced.

  19. carolina says:
    Tue, 16th Sep 20086:49 pm 

    H&M is the best. You can shop at forever 21 all you want if you either want to look trashy or like a high school girl. Their clothes dont last a season, their stores are a mess (My boyfriend likes to shop with me and help me pick up clothes but the one rule he has is not going anywhere near forever 21), people who work there are miserable and most of the time is packed with girls trying on 20 thing at the same time. H&M has more sophisticated clothes and some fun looking things too, for the days you dont feel like dressing up so much. Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney made lines for H&M (what else can you ask for?), so you get designer clothes (that will last) for low prices, I bought so many clothes from the Roberto Cavalli's spring collection that i wore a lot and everything looks as good as new. I cant wait for their fall line. I love H&M and I do feel very sorry for people that live in places where there is not H&M,my cousin from florida comes to NY twice a year just to shop at H&M. She always goes back happy and says its totally worth it!!

  20. Matthews says:
    Sun, 21st Sep 200811:17 am 

    Now, although I'm a dude; I shopped w/ my 4 year model X-girlfriend & her friends pratically most of the time. And I would have to agree with all of those that found a means of using both stores n their waredrobe. H&M does does have a broader "plain" style of clothing: from @ home wear 2 corporate apparel; & they have a nice variety of accesories.Hey, they even consider ages 30+! BUT their european slim sizes are way too limited & although their clothes do last longer, u can never find a full club outfit n there. They are not as stylish as F21 and an obvious amount of their clothes jus dn't hang right on most women. Now, F21: high color coordinated volume of clothes. Yes, cluttered but still organized by first type then color.& no, I'm not getting paid by any retailer to ad. Here's plus, give F21 your Sat. morning & they will promise u the lastest hottest fashion ensemble for that Sat. night. & as far as varity of style ranging age wise: c'mon grls, look @ their name for cris-sakes. The average 21yo is a co-ed working a "get by" PT job. Hello! Need not mention their online store; nuff said. Also, don't knock ur local TJ Maxx or Marshalls either. Peeking in there a few times could lead to that one piece of garment that competes the look u were dying for.

  21. Amanda says:
    Fri, 10th Oct 200812:28 pm 

    I live in Florida. There is not one H&M in the state of Florida! AND no online database, so I'm limited to Forever 21 online. Oh, and the closest Forever 21 is in Orlando. Thankfully I go to college there now, but I have no car, so…

    H&M sounds really cool though. I want to check it out. I don't have a job yet, so ANYTHING chic with a small price tag is really appealing.

  22. Amanda says:
    Sat, 11th Oct 200810:12 am 

    Ew, your views are completely biased. This is a poorly written article. Now I feel like I have to defend F21 because you bagged on it so much.

    I've never heard of sticking to just one store. If you do, I think you're terribly close-minded, & if you only shop at one store, you're going to look exactly like every other person that shops at that store, regardless of that store.

    H&M has a limited style & you're not guaranteed an outfit when you walk out. At least at F21 their clothes are cheap enough that you can walk out & be satisfied. They have many varieties there, & I've seen plenty of ladies with more sophisticated clothes walk out of the store.

    I think the popularity of the store proves my point.

  23. a girl from germany says:
    Thu, 23rd Apr 20098:18 am 

    H&M has a online shop!

    Well, in Europe H&M is more popular than Forever 21 (i dunno where to find it-except in the internet or France)

    But,i really like H&M and their 60 way of dressing and their designer-actions…..victor&rolf, karl lagerfeld, stella mccartney…………..has forever 21 this?

  24. pseudonym says:
    Wed, 19th Aug 20097:57 am 

    Girl from Germany, there's an online shop only in Europe. In the USA, not so.

    But H&M is far superior. I go to F21 sometimes for really cheap pieces that I won't wear more than a few times, or that I will wear out to a club where it will probably have drinks spilled on it. But for my day clothes, I prefer H&M, along with some other brands for things like jeans, of course. Their denim is a bit too European for me, and I wouldn't want to be the pretentious American.

  25. Ivy says:
    Tue, 22nd Sep 20092:58 am 

    To the girl from Germany: No designers want to work with Forever 21 because F21 constantly knock-offs other designers. H&M often has a lot of "inspired" pieces but never blatantly knocked-off (as F21 has); which probably explains why designers are willing to work with H&M and not F21.

    As for this article, I completely agree with Carly. I don't believe you have to stick to one but in the end, you do have a preference – and mine is H&M hands down. To be honest, I never really liked F21 because the stores are so overwhelming if not in size of the store, just clothes thrown everywhere. Even if they are organized by "color" and "style" as the guy mentioned above, you still get a very cluttered feel.

    I learned over the years that one must definitely have patience to shop at F21. When H&M first opened, I didn't like it because they had really plain pieces and some of their shirts from divided fits awkwardly. But again over the years, I learned H&M reigns over F21 mostly because of the quality. H&M is NOT great, but it's better than F21 in terms of quality, especially their winter line (coats, scarves, etc).

    As someone mentioned above, it really depends on style as well. Whenever I'm in F21, I see old women shoppers who still try to dress like they're "21" or really trashy girls. Most of the stuff at F21 is also more suitable for a club environment which some customers obviously don't comprehend since they wear club wear out during the day…

    H&M may be "plain" but unlike Target and wherever else that sells basics, H&M is CLASSY and chic. Plus, I'm SUPER excited for the Jimmy Choo x H&M collection to hit stores in November!!

  26. Daisy says:
    Thu, 29th Jul 201012:11 am 

    Let me prove my point: H&M has the SAME trends as any other store! F21 has more trendy fashion clothing than H&M. I'm obssessed with F21 & I'm proud to say I am. F21 is such a unique store than any other store. Ppl that shop at forever21 are in style! & last time I was at beverlycenter mall at Beverly hills & I saw miley Cyrus & demi lovato shopping at F21.. So if you guys say all this CRAP about F21, than why do even famous ppl shop there.? Cuz FOREVER21 IS THE BEST CLOTHING STORE EVER!!!!!!

  27. Lacey says:
    Mon, 2nd Aug 20104:48 pm 

    I just can't understand why so many people are hating on this article. She's just speaking her mind. Would there be such debate over an article about whether or not Dove is better than Olay?

    Everyones entitled to their opinions. She just believes that H&M is better than Forever21, and wants to share her views with everyone of us.

  28. Lacey says:
    Mon, 2nd Aug 20104:49 pm 

    I just can't understand why so many people are hating on this article. She's just speaking her mind. Would there be such debate over an article about whether or not Dove is better than Olay?

    Everyones entitled to their opinions. She just believes that H&M is better than Forever21, and wants to share her views with everyone of us. I actually really enjoyed this article.

  29. vin says:
    Thu, 7th Oct 20107:17 pm 

    H&M all the way!

    I use to shop at F21, but then I found H&M and it matched my style for clothes much better. I find the H&M clothes more diverse and it seems like they really know how to sell clothes to everyone either their petite or plus size. My size is incredibly hard to find because I'm in between of both, a Large in petite is too tight but the smallest size in plus size for me is too big (it's weird I know) but not everyone has the same shape or way of having curves in their body. F21 has a plus size but their clothes are aweful and not chic at all, they are way too wide on the hips most of the time, and they are just not flattering. As for H&M they have clothes that goes from size 1-18, I am a 10-14, and they fit just as nice as how a petite would wear a size 1-8. Also their clothes are fashionable, trendy and classy as always. They will not make you looke like club hopper every season.

  30. Noelle says:
    Thu, 6th Jan 20119:09 pm 

    Shes clearly just stating her opinion, shes entitled to it, just as your entitled to you own, but thats no reason to insult her

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