Forever Shopping

So there was an interesting article in the NYT today about Forever 21. I’ve always liked this store. It’s cheap, cheap, cheap in both prices and quality, but for trendy items it can’t be beat. I’ve always noticed their offerings of designer knockoffs getting in store a lot faster than any other retailer. I like to visit the store before going on vacation, because you can get very cheap sundresses and t-shirts and other novelty items that are good for the beach, and I don’t care if they pill or come apart in the wash a couple of months later. A stuffed shopping bag will only set you back around $75. (Although in LA, visiting the huge new Pasadena store, I noticed they have a warning sign at the registers that say something like, "These materials have been known to have lead and cause cancer- I'm paraphrasing but it's equally spooky. Turned me off a bit- as much as I like cheap clothing, it's no longer cute if it puts my life in danger)

Forever 21 is very popular in Bahrain. It is always packed with young girls, wearing abayas or not. I’ve noticed the girls and women here are very fashion-forward. Most of the stores in Bahrain (and Saudi as well) carry the latest fashions and the females who don’t choose to wear the abaya are decked out in the latest trends. I’m sure the same outfits are underneath the abayas as well. In Bahrain however, Forever 21 is not cheap! Same with Topshop. Same with Zara. Places I could count on for cheap fashions are no longer cheap over here. It takes all the fun out of it.

They just opened Gap here in Bahrain. In the States, Gap is crap. I’ve purchased things once they get marked down to $6.99, but it’s because the low price overrides my derision of the bad sewing and fits. Over here, a $24.50 men’s pique polo from the States costs $60! It’s ridiculous. Unfortunately Jeff and I ended up here because he was looking for some lighter weight pants and polos. (It’s reaching 100 degrees every day now). In the end we purchased his clothes from Banana Republic, more expensive than Gap, because it was the only place that had his size! We tried local Arabic stores but they really don’t make clothes to fit American (read: large size) men.

A true tale: At Gap, we asked the salesperson for a size, and she looked in the stockroom but they didn’t have it. She came out with one size smaller and said, “These might work- they follow American sizing which is huge.” Jeff replied, “I am American and I am huge, but these won’t fit.” Oh, she was mortified... tee hee...