Mamapedia City Voices highlights the inside scoop on your city by selected writers, from up-and-coming mom bloggers to well-known mom experts.
Forever 21 Maternity Line Controversy
Recently the popular clothing chain Forever 21 announced they will be launching a new Maternity clothing line. Who thought this would have turned into a major controversy? I certainly didn’t until I read this yesterday. Basically this writer is insisting this maternity line is for teens and in turn encouraging teen pregnancy.
Last time I checked, I am not a teen, and I shop at the popular mall based chain store. Along with places like H&M, and whatever peaks my interest that week. But not one time have I thought that only teens shop at the popular chain. In fact most of the times I have been in there shopping, with my kids in tow, I see more older women, or 20 something’s in there than teens. Even right down to the workers.
I was shocked then I saw someone implying that Forever 21 is encouraging or being more acceptable of teen pregnancy because they are making a maternity line. All this means is that older women like me that do not really care for the traditional maternity clothes that are typically sold in stores like Motherhood Maternity will not be forced to shop their grandma-esk type styles at marked up prices. Granted there probably some teens out there that will shop this maternity line, but it hardly is going to encourage them to get pregnant. A hand full of maternity tops and stretch pants is hardly persuasive enough to do that.
Either way, I think that author of that completely is missing the point that most of the people shopping there are not teens by any means, simply because the name of the store is Forever 21.
Danielle Elwood is a mother of two, Mom Blogger, and social media professional.
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ZsMomma, August 20, 2010
I completely agree with you! Having just found this out- and being 6 weeks away from giving birth to my second (and most likely last) baby, I wish they would have come out with their line much sooner!
I can't tell you how much I HATE shopping for clothes that will fit and feeling forced into wearing smocks and ugly maternity pants.
Yay for choices and yay for STYLE!!!
Becky, August 20, 2010
It's crazy that someone would think that! This is the first I heard and I'm so excited, I can't wait to see the line. I shop Forever 21 because it's stylish and has reasonable prices and I'm sure their maternity line will have those prices too. Maternity clothes are just so expensive and ugly!
Everyone just has an excuse to blame teen pregnancy on. Crazy people!
SP, August 21, 2010
I'm wearing a Forever 21 top right now that I bought when I was pregnant. a couple of years ago, I got a lot of my early & middle maternity wear there and H&M. The styles were right for it, the prices were right, and they looked a lot better than traditional maternity clothes! (I was 42 when I gave birth.)
Hazel M. Wheeler, August 23, 2010
Well, just to add a bit of humor, it seems that as many of their window-dressing displays offer inane 'outfits' like boa scarves and panties, maternity wear seems a logical progression! I'm kind of conservative in my apparel, but am glad there are other options out there, as maternity clothes are expensive and often frumpy...
Sandie , August 23, 2010
I agree and would also like to say as a Pregnant teen myself.... wen I got pregnant it was not because I saw some cute maternity clothes Nd wanted them. Most teens who get arent motivated by clothing lines... Simply by boys, lack of maternal love, loneliness and things like that. Also, forever twenty one is my favorite store and instead of basketball shorts n tee shirts or maternity clothes that just arent my style id love to wear their maternity clothes...
Christy , August 23, 2010
I agree that Forever 21 is not just for teens. I am in my mid 20's and expecting and am excited to be able to wear cute and still inexpensive clothes instead of the frumpy out of style maternity clothes often available. Just because you are pregnant doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice style. Thank you for writing an article that points out women of all ages shop at
Forever 21!
Darya, August 24, 2010
First of all. FOREVER 21 represents a line that is for those of us that are in our mid to early 30 who are looking for style. There aren't to many stores that offer hip clothing for this age group. The name FOREVER 21 seems to symbolize staying 21 or at least having style as we grow away from being 21.
Seems funny to me that there was an article about this.
Monica Davenport, August 28, 2010
And that also doesn't address the fact that some young women choose to get married and have children at quite a young age. Should they be made to feel guilty because they are ready for that stage of life sooner than others? I'm sure they will love having some more stylish fashion options available.
Suzy Bindrup, August 28, 2010
I see that it is common to blame a person's behavior on a retailer or the existence of an item for purchase. I recently heard a woman say that texting was encouraging teen girls to be mean. Honestly, teen girls that want to be mean will find a way, a passed note(in my day) or a phone for texting, and nice girls will send nice messages in the same manner...
dawn-bethia, August 28, 2010
I am a 42 year old woman and i wear some FOREVER 21 styles lol
Glo Thomas, August 28, 2010
Why would anyone feel that a store called "Forever 21" is for teens? Being forever 21 implies the woman has reached the age of 21 and plans to stay 21 forever (or at least for a few years). Just the same as a woman that says she is 29 for a few years so she doesn't have to admit she is 30+...
Katie, August 28, 2010
What's funny is that I recently had my first baby (I'm 29) and a lot of my "maternity" clothes came from Forever 21. They just had a lot of flowy tops and dresses that worked for most of my pregnancy. Cheaper and cuter than Motherhood Maternity and Target.
msp, August 28, 2010
Oh pleeeease! Of COURSE Forever 21 is for tweens/teens and women trying to be "Forever 21". You don't see many/any mature women in there. Of course it is encouraging teen pregnancy. But unfortunately with Miss Palin and her ilk (The Spears sister, etc.) teenaged girls are being given a new visibility and hipness. Sad, because my generation and those before me fought so hard for equality and the teen-queens have forgotten or not been taught to have a life before motherhood...
Rebecca, August 28, 2010
I'm 4'11", so it's nice to know that there just might be maternity clothes out there now for smaller people. Even right before I gave birth, there was no WAY I was fitting into even XS maternity clothes from somewhere like Motherhood.
Amy, August 28, 2010
I'm sorry ladies. I don't feel that Forever 21 is aimed at women in there 30's. (although i do shop there every once and a while) Whenever I go in or even walk by the store the customers are always teens. I don't think the writer is saying that the store is the cause for the teen pregnancy, it's more that she does not agree with how it's being more acceptable and she does not want it glamourized.
