Forever 21?

It's been a while since I could realistically shop at Express, recommended to me again by a friend for the "Editor" pants collection. Specifically, it was college, and I asked my Mom if she would take me shopping because I was gaining weight and none of my size 10 or 12 pants fit anymore. (Sadly, this was the beginning of a downward turn that would land me squarely in the land of Lane Bryant and Target Plus for years) I was 20 years old, Express was the "it" store at the time in our hometown mall, apart from the Limited, and I needed some jeans that didn't look like they would burst at the seams at any moment.

I loved everything in the store, the sequins, the ruffles, the cling-y cotton tops. The tweens who worked there (apart from my friend Becky) were all sort of bitchy, but bitchy in the way girls that age are supposed to be, and because I was close enough to it myself I barely noticed. In the end, we walked out with two pairs of size 14 jeans that fit like a glove, and though I was grateful, I bemoaned that I was headed back in the direction of fat girl.

Sidebar- I went to AC with a group of friends two weekends ago. One of the two other girls going is my age and has an ecletic sort of Carrie Bradshaw vibe going and has always sported fun and usually "young" looking clothes. The other one is only 25 and the Express sequin-y clingy dresses are a staple of hers. My style (which I have grown into quite comfortably) is much more subdued, but I think sexy and fun in its own right.

With all this in mind, I strolled into Express just a couple of blocks down at lunch. I eyed a couple of the sequin dresses and even picked up a couple of the tighter tops. I felt better surrounded by the 21-something salesgirls when I saw several women obviously my age and even older perusing the same racks as I was. I grabbed up a couple of the only size 12/14 short pants in the place and headed to the dressing room. The girl that found them for me followed with a "we don't usually carry that size in short, so you're lucky." Yep- still bitches.

I started with some of the cotton/sequin dresses (in medium and large, not x-large thank you) thinking "hey, I can be fun and flirty too!" and dismissed them the minute they came over my head. I nearly cried when the 12 short pants fit up over my hips and zipped without a single strain, but they too weren't quite right. The shirt was long enough to be a mini-dress on me...if I wanted to look like one of the cocktail waitresses at AC, but would have looked ridiculous on me with jeans.

"What is this?" I thought. I'm not 45. I don't need to shop at Talbots just yet. My girlfriends (even the ones my age) that shop here look awesome in this stuff. WTF is my problem???

I guess, for me anyway, Forever 21, Express, and Charlotte Russe are behind me and I will stick to the lands of Banana Republic and Jones New York. It's ok. I had my time there, and it was good.