The Spike

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Forever 21

I have always dismissed Forever 21 as just a ghastly shabby cut price dive. When clothes are too cheap, I’m suspicious. I go in to any very cheap shop and think… hmm… this is a bit too easy. There is something wrong here.

And I maintain there’s probably a lot wrong with Forever 21. But I’m not sure there’s much wrong with this plaid coat, which is a good take on the Isabel Marant plaid jacket fandango.

Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 13.42.37

They’ve made this coat look so, so hideous here, but it’s alright – I tried it on. £45 

I don’t really understand Isabel Marant anyway. Everything is so oversized and weird and a bit unflattering. Someone once told me that it was clothes for “thin blonde trustafarians from, like, Paris” and I thought God I am so, so far away from any of those things that it’s no wonder the clothes seem so bizarre to me.

Anyway, look, there’s nothing actually wrong with a plaid coat and I thought this one was okay, it won’t make you look like Jackie from Rosanne, which the Marant one almost certainly will.

Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 17.15.30

Love you, Laurie

In other Forever 21 news, I thought a skirt on a hanger I saw would look excellent with some long brown boots and a black polo neck, but when I looked it up online it turned out to be this skirt, which they have again managed to make look so utterly hideous that I feel like someone who went to bed with George Clooney but woke up and discovered it was actually George Clarke. But, as with the plaid jacket, perhaps actually on a normal person and worn with normal clothes and not a fucking belly top, hello? it would be fine.

Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 13.43.59

£15

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Comments

  1. Susan says

    November 18, 2015 at 8:55 am

    As in George Clarke the architect? I always thought he was OK. I think my standards are lower than yours…..

    Reply
  2. ianebrice says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:29 am

    Possibly my favourite of Laurie Metcalf’s roles is in Mike Figgis’ Internal Affairs – especially the scene in which she gets shot and reacts in what imagine to be the most realistic way I’ve ever seen. Oh, sorry – is this supposed to be about clothes?

    Reply
  3. Sue Collins says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:51 am

    I wish this blog was more about Laurie Metcalf’s roles and George Clark architecture! I’m getting bored with constant moaning about weight and cheap clothes now. I know…unsubscribe then! !

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      November 18, 2015 at 11:52 am

      yes. please do.

      Reply
  4. Heather says

    November 18, 2015 at 10:41 am

    I love George Clarke, he is sooooo much hotter than George Clooney, he is the kind of man who could build a loft conversion with his bare hands. Please could we have more recipes on the blog?

    Reply
  5. thestarter1978 says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I like the skirt but not the jacket. I’ve been rather inspired by your tartan shirts and have ordered myself a shirt / tunic from Landsend.

    Reply
  6. thestarter1978 says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Where do you buy your tartan shirts?

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      November 18, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Topshop! xx

      Reply
  7. Susan says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    The erratic content of your blog posts pleases me. And I like the way you write. Don’t go changin’.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      November 18, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      I won’t! I can’t! the aim of this blog is to have something on it every day, which means that everyone just has to deal with whatever’s on my mind – quite often it’s about weight loss, some about clothes, sometimes about kids…. I’d say 90% of my readers, like you, understand that this is the deal with a lot of blogs and they aren’t just free, interactive, newspapers. Thanks for reading and sticking with me xxxx

      Reply
  8. thestarter1978 says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Hey, I love the blog. I’d rather read frequent, shortish posts than occasional monster ones. It DOES encourage me to spend money but I don’t need a whole lot of encouragement there. Keep going!

    Reply
  9. Chelsey says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    Loving the blog Esther x

    Reply
  10. Nic says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Esther, your blog is brilliant. This has nothing to do with today’s post, it’s just something I imagine you have views on… After school play dates. Any tips? I’ve a four year old boy and now the first half of term is over we are ramping up our efforts to socialise. It all feels like a bit of a test though so I wondered if you have any advice or fancy dedicating a post to the subject? Thank you. Hope this isn’t too presumptuous!

    p.s. H&M Logg tartan shirts are v good as long as you accept going up a size because their as cheap as chips.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      November 18, 2015 at 3:23 pm

      Oh god you are asking the wrong person. I am terrible at socialising and Kitty is even worse… sorry, I know that’s not what you want to hear xxx

      Reply
  11. Nic says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    Arghh *they’re*

    Reply
  12. Nic says

    November 18, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    Actually it’s kind of good to hear. I sort of assumed other people have it nailed. I’m desperate for him not to be as awkward as his parents but I think he is. He just goes off and does his own thing. Bit embarrassing. xxx

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      November 18, 2015 at 6:21 pm

      oh god, poor little mite. don’t bother, is my advice. and it’s winter and horrible out there. after school come home, do a jigsaw, stick the telly on, play cards – whatever. he’ll find a little friend in his own time, I reckon and then you won’t see him for dust. xxxxx

      Reply
  13. Nic says

    November 18, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    Thank you. Sure you are right. Poor chap with an overthinking mother. Telly it is. xxx

    Reply
  14. MrsB says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:26 pm

    I love your blog Esther – and what I love most is not knowing what you’re going to speak about every day. Random is good. I really enjoy hearing what you think about clothes and cosmetics and have rushed out to buy a few things you recommend. Am currently on day 2 of Elizabeth Arden’s non-smelly 8-hour cream. I have high hopes!
    I’m with Susan: don’t go changin’.

    Reply
  15. Maggie says

    November 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    Esther. We love you.
    Keep going exactly as you wish, you brighten our days.
    Maggie

    Reply
  16. Aaf says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Don’t stop moanin’! And I love me some (cheap or not cheap) clothes advice. Used to have a blog too and hated it when people started just demanding stuff.

    Reply
  17. Julia says

    November 21, 2015 at 9:52 am

    You are seriously the funniest thing I read all day! Lived in London for 2 years and got addicted to reading you (and sometimes Giles) – now back in Chicago and have recommended to all my friends…

    Reply

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