A quick (okay, fine - two hour) trip to Forever 21 over the long weekend yielded three dresses, not all available online, sadly. The online and in store selections are vastly different.
The store was bursting with sweet summer dress options but almost everything I tried on was too short. I have a fairly high tolerance for minis, but there are limits, people. And that limit is hit when you realize that you are risking arrest for indecent exposure if you so much as step foot outside your door. I'm not even super tall, but at 5'6 I found that most of the dresses were hitting reaaaaally high up my thigh.
These dresses have driven me to leggings. I know. The rest of you probably gave into leggings 5 years ago when they made their comeback. I purchased my first pair on Sunday. Turns out, they are just as comfortable as you've all been claiming for years. Go figure.
Um forever 21 clearly wants us all to expose our bums. Those skirts and dresses are too darn short! I love them though and continue to buy them. Oh well! And I have to wear leggings.
ReplyDeletei JUST jumped on the legging bandwagon too. why did i wait? they are so awesome. especially for a 5'6 (pushing 5'7) girl.
ReplyDeletei really loved your stripey dress from old navy the other day.. is that one too short?
I need a Forever 31 (or 35!). Same dresses, same prices, just add a few inches to the hemline! Too hot in OKC right now for added leggings.
ReplyDelete:) yes...part of the whole reason i rarely wear dresses anymore, this whole shortness issue.
ReplyDeletei'm sure you look adorable.
so cute. love the purple one.
ReplyDeleteI'm still holding out on the legging issue. If I feel that my modesty is in danger I wear really thick tights. Same coverage, no cankles. Sweet deal.
ReplyDeleteI love summer dresses
ReplyDeleteGreat summer dresses! That store overwhelms me sometimes. The purple one is really cute!
ReplyDeletesuch a good compromise for too-short-for-public dresses. these are both adorable and i can't wait to see the others you swiped up!
ReplyDeleteI've been on the legging bandwagon for years. Then again, I'm 5'9" and I've been having this short dress problem for years :)
ReplyDeleteIt's to the point now where all of the dresses at Forever 21 are nearly shirts on me, so I really feel like I have to wear shorts or pants with them. I'm not a fan of legging butt, and never will be. It stinks to be long and lanky.
I could spend hours in F21 - there's so much stuff! Almost every "dress" I've tried on there is too short, so I usually end up wearing it as a tunic.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with the tiny "dresses" this season? Everything I own needs to be layered, fortunately we've had the longest spring ever here and it's not warm enough to wear dresses WithOut leggings or tights yet.
ReplyDeleteThis entry made me laugh, summer dresses are so wonderful, unfortunately in the past I've been working in really air-conditioned labs so I've had to save them for the weekend. I picked up a new one at Old Navy a few weeks ago which isn't supershort but does have the cleavage problem- I may end up having to wear a tank top underneath. Enjoy your summer dresses!
ReplyDeleteI'm a no-can-do on the short dresses. What am I saying...I'm a no-can-do on dresses period. But maybe if I add leggings...
ReplyDeleteCute dresses:)
@ Summer - the ON dress from a few weeks ago is shockingly NOT too short. I'll often order ON dresses in tall sizes, online, because they tend to be a bit short (although nothing as shocking as F21). I have a medium in the ON stripey top dress (would probably need a small if I weren't carrying around a few extra winter pounds right now, whoops) and it isn't overly tight at all and it hits less than 2" above my knee. I highly recommend it.
ReplyDelete@ Shh - I do thick tights in the winter, but I feel weird wearing them in the summer. The leggings I got (also from F21) are capris, so I can avoid the dreaded cankle issue.
@ Ashley Renee - YES! Legging butt is what kept me from wearing them for so long, I think. But as long as the dress covers my butt completely, I'm okay with wearing them. Leggings are NOT pants and we should not forget this.
@ Zoe - I am also a victim to overairconditioned labs! Fun to see another scientist on here. I compromise by doing some serious layering. I wear a dress, bring tights or leggings (now) and a good cardigan with me to work. I actually always keep a pair of thick sweats and extra closed toe shoes in my office, in case the lab is worse than usual.
thank you so much, rachel! it's been in my head ever since i saw it here.
ReplyDeletehappy thurs!
Ooo, the one on the right is especially cute!
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny, because the same thing happened to me after a successful trip to H&M the other day. I tried on cute, if rather short, summer dresses - and I'm 5'3", mind you - and also gave in to leggings on the same trip due to fear of indecent exposure. Now, if only the west coast weather would know that I have a closet full of summer clothes...
After spending my formative years in a vast assortment of leggings and big shirts/sweaters, I've been esp. resistant to the leggings trend. Especially as a bigger girl! But there are just so many cute tunics and summer dresses that won't work with jeans!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the leggings. Let's take it one step further and bring bloomers back. I mean hardcore frilly bloomies. So bending over in the boxy printed number? No problem. Regarde le bloomers.
ReplyDelete(The dresses are ADORABLE and yes, Steve will probably be cheaper than your LA options. I think his labor turned out to be $45 per GIANT Scamp cushion, and he charged us wholesale for the fabric. UHmazing.)
Yes, I know this issue well. I'm 5'9" and hence don't even try F21 dresses. But the leggings are a great solution (and comfy). Embrace them.
ReplyDeletebigBANG...right on with the bloomers idea! I'd jump on that band wagon! Leggings seem hot & defeat the purpose of a short dress! You could always add a ruffle to the bottom of the dress to add some length.
ReplyDeleteHaha...I finally gave into the leggings trend last winter. I gained some winter tummy weight so it was nice wearing longer, looser tops with the leggings. I definitely hate legging butt too. It just looks funny! (I love f21 too...even tho I'm way beyond 21!). :)
ReplyDeleteI swear, it's like when they started making so many things sheer 10 years ago without including tanks or liners or anything - just to save money! Now they're going the shorter hemline route to convince us that paying the same price for a shorter dress is totally fine. Glad I'm not the only one disturbed by the shorty short short dresses! :)
ReplyDeleteahem. FOREVER 21 IS FOR TEENAGERS.
ReplyDelete@ esb - I steadfastly refuse to believe that, even when proven wrong by 90% of the store. I'm not giving it up.
ReplyDeleteHow did we survive with F21? Such good options without breaking the bank!
ReplyDeleteThis has inspired me to start looking for the perfect summer dress!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they make them short on purpose. So that if you have any modesty you just HAVE to purchase that pair of leggings. Oh and that cute top that also goes with the leggings you are buying, and that awesome ring zomg!
ReplyDeleteHmm. Make me wonder..
dresses and leggings really are the cutest combination. it doesn't hurt that it's the most comfortable outfit you could ever wear! great for traveling!
ReplyDeleteThese are great for summer. Thanks for the post and suggestion.
ReplyDeleteDana
The Beso Team
Beso.com
just when i thought i had given up on forever 21 because everything they make looks stupid on me, i will try again. thank you.
ReplyDeleteyes...the uber short dress trend is what lead to my dress over jeans fixation.
ReplyDeletethose "dresses" are fab!
Ugg, I have the same issue with F21, everything is sooo freakin short! I usually just surrender to leggings as well...you just can't pass up cheap, cute clothing!!
ReplyDelete