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.

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.

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.

£15
As in George Clarke the architect? I always thought he was OK. I think my standards are lower than yours…..
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?
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! !
yes. please do.
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?
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.
Where do you buy your tartan shirts?
Topshop! xx
The erratic content of your blog posts pleases me. And I like the way you write. Don’t go changin’.
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
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!
Loving the blog Esther x
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.
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
Arghh *they’re*
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
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
Thank you. Sure you are right. Poor chap with an overthinking mother. Telly it is. xxx
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’.
Esther. We love you.
Keep going exactly as you wish, you brighten our days.
Maggie
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.
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…