While it’s been a staple of American malls forever (pun very much intended), it isn’t hard to understand why shoppers would want to find some other clothing stores like Forever 21.
On the one hand, it’s a great place to snag some incredibly affordable basics like tees, hoodies and jeans, in styles that are always on-point and of-the-moment.
On the other hand, the ultra-fast-fashion retailer may be cheap, but it isn’t exactly known for quality (hey, you get what you pay for).
And it doesn’t take long for shoppers to “age out” of their clothes, and go looking for stores that are just as affordable, but carry a wider and/or more mature selection of styles.
Plus, they’ve been closing a lot of stores over the past few years as the entire retail industry struggles, so who knows how long they’ll even be around.
Fortunately, the world of affordable retail fashion is large, and you don’t have to look far to find some great Forever 21 alternatives.
In this post I’ve rounded up two dozen stylish and affordable stores like Forever 21 where you can find great styles in a price range that won’t break the bank.
Top Picks ↓
I’ll explain more about what makes each store great below, but here’s a quick rundown of the best Forever 21 alternatives:
- Best Stores Like Forever 21 for On-Trend Clothing:
- Slightly More Expensive Stores Like Forever 21:
Cool Clothing Stores Like Forever 21
Rounding Up the Best Stores and Brands for Fashionable Clothes at Low Prices
Best Stores Like Forever 21 for Cheap & Trendy Clothing
Boohoo
Boohoo is a UK-based online fashion retailer that caters to teens and 20-somethings (they actually offer student discounts), carrying all the latest trends at very affordable prices.
They carry a wide range of clothing across all categories, with everything from activewear to clubbing clothes to business suits, making it a one-stop shop for your entire wardrobe.
Plus, Boohoo is particularly noted for its ability to quickly bring the latest styles from the runway to the market, offering thousands of new styles every week.
Fashion Nova
Another popular store with Gen Z, you’ve likely only heard of Fashion Nova if you’re on TikTok, since they use social media influencers for most of their marketing.
While their styles are similar to Forever 21 (think plenty of bold prints, loud colors, big graphics, and whatever else is currently on trend in streetwear), the upside to shopping at Fashion Nova is they offer a much wider selection of styles and categories.
If you live in California you can shop at one of their five brick-and-mortar locations, but the vast majority of their sales are online, which helps keep their prices shockingly low.
H&M
One of the biggest names in the fashion industry, H&M is an obvious Forever 21 alternative thanks to its huge selection and variety of styles.
One of the great things about H&M is it has multiple departments, so whether you’re looking for the latest fashion trends or want to upgrade your wardrobe with some more sophisticated pieces, you can find both under one roof.
And while it’s technically a fast-fashion store, the retail giant has been making efforts towards sustainability in recent years, which is huge for the planet (and your peace of mind).
Shein
Seeing as this is a list of stores that offer cheap, trendy fashion for young people, we feel obligated to include fast-fashion giant, Shein.
Sure, the online retailer has an enormous selection of affordable clothing (as well as luggage, housewares, beauty products, and more) that, like Fashion Nova, has gained a cult following thanks to social media influencers.
But full disclosure, Shein has also garnered a ton of backlash due to its forced labor practices and a shady all-expenses paid factory tour for influencers, which has made it a less desirable option for some shoppers.
Romwe
Romwe isn’t just cut from the same cloth as Shein, they’re owned by the same parent company.
While they’re technically separate brands with their own domains, their business models as well as their merchandise is relatively the same (and therefore, so are their reputations).
The only major difference is that Romwe carries more options in the alternative fashion category, with edgier and more unique aesthetics like goth, punk, anime, and fairycore.
A Brief (But Heartfelt) Plea:
Support Small Business!
Like Forever 21, most of our suggested alternatives are fast fashion retailers with well-stocked websites and/or stores across North America.
But!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that some of the coolest pieces – and best deals – come from local shops, independent boutiques, and even secondhand stores.
In addition to scoring some great prices and supporting small businesses, shopping local is a way to get better quality items and add investment pieces to your wardrobe.
(And even if you pay a higher price, the products last much longer, so the cost per wear is actually less than something from a fast-fashion retailer.)
OK, rant over. And with that plea to support local businesses over, let’s move on to our next recommendation, which is (sigh) pretty much the exact opposite of that…
Old Navy
Old Navy is also owned by the same parent company as the Gap, but falls on the younger, more casual end of the spectrum.
It’s a closer competitor to Forever 21 in both its pricing and target demographic, but with less focus on trendy styles and more emphasis on everyday essentials.
And while it isn’t the best quality, it tends to be better than some of the other fast fashion brands mentioned above, so you’ll get a few more wears out of your purchases.
Zaful
Zaful is another online retailer that’s often compared to stores like Shein and Fashion Nova because they’re so similar.
Targeting Gen Z consumers (mostly through social media influencers and affiliate programs), Zaful sells cheap, on-trend pieces for young men and women.
But where Shein is very fashion-forward, Zaful’s vibe is a bit more laid back, making it a great option for casual (yet still stylish) streetwear like t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, swimwear, cozy sets, and more.
YesStyle
Good news if you love online shopping: YesStyle is, yes, another online retailer that offers trendy clothes at reasonable prices.
As an Asia-based company, their aesthetic is focused more on what’s popular in Asia than in North America, making it a great place to shop if you’re looking for brands and styles you won’t find in every mall across the country.
Amazon
At this point Amazon is so massive that it belongs not just on a list of websites like Forever 21, but in pretty much any article that contains the words “websites like…”
If you don’t mind doing a little searching, you can find just about any style you’d get at Forever 21, not to mention, a ton of big name brands.
So not only can you score affordable clothing, but in a lot of cases, you can opt for better quality.
(Slightly) More Expensive Stores Like Forever 21
ASOS
ASOS is a British-based online store that’s particularly popular with fashion-conscious young adults.
Known for frequently updating the site with all the latest men’s and women’s styles (sometimes even daily), ASOS offers a much wider range of options than Forever 21, and often better quality.
But the biggest draw to this retailer is that in addition to their own in-house brand, ASOS also carries dozens of trendy name brands, including Adidas, Topman, Carhartt, River Island, The North Face, and more.
Zara
A Spanish clothing retailer with humble beginnings, Zara is one of the biggest and most successful fast-fashion retail brands today.
Zara puts more emphasis on being of-the-moment than just about any other retailer, and famously turns over its entire inventory every couple months to get the old fads out and the latest fashion trends in.
But compared to Forever 21, Zara caters to a slightly older demographic, so you can expect to find more sophisticated styles and higher prices.
Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters is a great alternative to Forever 21 because both stores cater to the same demographic, but Urban Outfitters carries a wide selection of more diverse brands and styles.
Where clothing at Forever 21 and its counterparts all kind of looks the same, Urban Outfitters is a go-to destination for cool finds, like vintage-inspired pieces and creative designs to suit a unique personal style.
Plus, the quality tends to be higher, but then again, so are the prices.
Check Out Urban Outfitters ➤
Madewell
If you’ve ever wondered where Forever 21 shoppers go when they outgrow Forever 21, the answer is probably Madewell.
A go-to for denim – their specialty – and high-quality basics, Madewell caters to a slightly older age group of fashion-forward individuals, who have a bit more money to spend.
(While you’ll definitely find much lower prices at some other Forever 21 alternatives, the quality is typically questionable.)
They don’t just sell their own brand either; they also have a whole category dedicated to labels they love, where you can find some cool stuff from brands you might not have otherwise heard of.
Uniqlo
If you’re looking for styles that are a little more mature than Forever 21, but you’re still on a limited budget, Japanese fast-fashion brand Uniqlo is a great option.
Like Forever 21, they carry a ton of casual staples at decent prices, but their aesthetic is a little more grown up and professional, designed to outlast passing trends.
And since they’re always featuring special collaborations with other international brands, you can find cool, unique pieces that don’t look like everything else in the mall.
Hollister
While it attracts the same age group as Forever 21, Hollister is more about that laid-back, SoCal surf vibe, offering cool, casual wear that’s still on-trend with teens and young adults.
They offer a wide range of options, including comfy jeans, cute tank tops, soft tees, and cozy hoodies, plus accessories and even fragrances that embody the carefree West Coast lifestyle.
Basically, it’s a great alternative for more casual everyday wear that’s still trendy — or if you’re shopping for a beach vacation.
Aeropostale
Owned by the same parent (a joint venture between Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group), Aeropostale is a close competitor to stores like Forever 21 in that it’s a staple of malls across the USA, and another place to turn for casual clothes targeted to people in their late-teens and early 20s.
Style-wise, Aeropostale leans a bit more preppy and all-American, with neutral colors, clean-cut looks, and varsity logos (but don’t worry, they still have plenty of trendy graphic tees if that’s what you’re looking for).
The price point is pretty low (only slightly higher than its sister store) and if you take advantage of their frequent sales, you’ll pay roughly the same as at Forever 21.
More Resources ↓
More Shopping Recos and Buying Guides:
- The Best J.Crew Alternatives for Men
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- The 25 Best Stores Like Marshalls for Great Deals on Stylish Brands
- 12 Stores Like H&M for Stylish & Affordable Fashion
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- The Best Stores Like TJ Maxx Online
- The 20 Best Stores Like Express for Stylish & Affordable Clothes
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- The 25 Best Stores Like Abercrombie & Fitch
Kirstyn Brown
Kirstyn describes herself as a “coffee lover and cat lady,” but don’t let her humility fool you:
As the co-creator and former Editor-in-Chief of Strong Fitness Magazine, she’s a highly respected writer and editor with more than a decade of experience, whose work has appeared in top publications like Strong, Oxygen, Clean Eating, Girls Gone Strong and more.