Cute, cheap dresses from Twelve by Twelve are perfectly sweet for Valentine's Day. (From left: Belted Dress, $39; Feather Trim Dress, $46; Tiered Sweater Dress, $32)
[A]lthough you are always mentioning Forever 21, I'm wondering what you have heard about Twelve by Twelve. Their stuff is super cute and affordable, I'm hoping you could perhaps give me a more in depth review. Thanks! —Claudia
Twelve by Twelve is the "luxe" line from Forever 21, and I think it is an excellent value. This contemporary collection features an ever-changing array of tops, dresses, sweaters, bottoms and more, that follow the latest fashion trends. If feathers, lace and leggings are hot on the runways, Twelve by Twelve will have budget-friendly versions of those trends in a flash.
Generally your bigger Forever 21 stores will carry the best selection of Twelve by Twelve, usually towards the front entrance, in it's own special little boutique-style area with fancy fixtures and more breathing space. I'm always impressed by the Twelve by Twelve displays at the Old Orchard shopping center outside Chicago; their items never fail to stop me in my tracks, followed by shrieks of "Ohmygodthisis sooo cute! I want!" Maybe some of my readers have had similar reactions.
Twelve by Twelve price points are slightly higher than the rest of Forever 21, but I think it's well worth it considering how much you'd paid for something similar at a designer boutique or a department store. The quality of the fabric and embellishments is generally better with the Twelve by Twelve line, and they use fancy little clothing labels and pricetags to give the goods an extra special touch.
The other positive thing I have to say about Twelve by Twelve is that I have not seen them produce any blatant, seam-for-seam, stitch-for-stitch knockoffs (I'm not saying they haven't, but I haven't seen them). I think they manage to interpret trends and create designs that are actually inspired by designers, not copies—and this is very good. I'd much rather wear an inspired piece than a knock-off any day.
For a taste of Twelve by Twelve's offerings, peruse
their sleek website. I think they've done a great job projecting a fun, fashionable online presence. It's easy to navigate, well-organized, and features funky lookbook images (some of it's campy but at least its different) and styling tips from their fashion consultant Aimee.
Would you give Twelve by Twelve a glowing review, too?
