Forever 21 made millions of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez fans giddy and ready to throw coins when the retailer announced it would release a collection dedicated to the late Tejano singer.
Quintanilla-Pérez was killed at just 23 years old in 1995. Her death rocked the entire music industry and left her family, friends, and fans mourning the loss. Over the past 24 years, her name has only grown with fans religiously keeping her legacy alive and thriving. They literally throw dollars at any paraphernalia released in dedication to her. Quintanilla-Pérez fans also successfully petitioned MAC Cosmetics to launch a full collection dedicated to the singer in 2016.
Forever 21 seemed like the perfect retailer to drop a fashion collection for fans to wear. The affordable fast-fashion chain has menswear, straight sizes, and a plus-size department just perfect for peppering with all the Selena Quintanilla-Pérez clothing fans can handle. There's just one VERY glaring issue with this collection that fans are calling out in droves.
Forever 21 got fans super hyped about The White Rose collection, inspired by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
"TOMORROW ???? #F21xSELENA #F21xMUSIC," the brand wrote March 21 under an Instagram mashup video of the singer.
“Forever 21 presents The White Rose, an exclusive collection celebrating our icon, Selena,” the video reads at the end.
The collection features a mix of tops, bottoms, sweatshirts, and accessories.
As it goes with all new releases, Forever 21 began posting photos from The White Rose collection on its Instagram.
The brand even invited Selena's sister, Suzette, to appear at a store for a meet-and-greet!
"Can’t wait to meet everyone this Saturday in California @shoploscerritos this Saturday at Forever21????," Suzette announced on Instagram.
The meet-and-greet event was swarming with fans hoping to meet their idol's sister, who was also her drummer.
Lots of attendees were already dressed in threads from The White Rose collection.
"So much love and fun meeting everyone today," Suzette wrote on Instagram after the event. "Saying thank you just doesn’t seem to really sum up how grateful I felt to receive all this love I felt today."
Forever 21 also shared a picture of Suzette flicking it up in front of the Selena x Forever 21 sign at the meet-and-greet.
"Dreaming of yesterday," the brand wrote on Instagram. "We celebrated our new White Rose Collection at our Cerritos location with a meet & greet with @suzettesyld. Check out our stories for a full recap of the iconic day!"
Of course, Suzette also slipped into her own hoodie from The White Rose collection.
"Trying super hard to look cooollll in this new Forever 21 X SELENA hoodie," she wrote on Instagram.
Forever 21 clearly aimed to go extra hard to make The White Rose collection a successful celebration. There's just one problem...
The brand severely and annoyingly underserved plus-size people with this launch. How severely? Let's start with the fact that most of the straight-size options stop at a large size option. And that's literally just the start.
Of the 94 items in The White Rose collection on the Forever 21 website, only six plus-size pieces are offered.
Yes, six pieces out of the 94 designs in The White Rose collection are for plus sizes. The curvy offerings include three long Plus Size Selena Graphic Tees ($20, Forever 21), Plus Size Destroyed Slit-Hem Jeans ($38, Forever 21), a Plus Size Fringe Lace Jumpsuit ($40, Forever 21), and a Plus Size Acid Wash Denim Jean Jacket ($35, Forever 21).
We also need to break down a few more details about these six pieces. Prepare your hearts for the disappointment.
Several items in the plus-size portion of The White Rose collection are not even available yet; they're "coming soon."
Specifically, two of the graphic T-shirts are labeled as "coming soon." This means that technically, there are only four plus-size designs available in the initial launch of The White Rose collection.
Why?
Three of the six plus-size items are "web exclusive," including the jeans!
Jeans are probably the hardest clothes to shop for no matter what your size is because of the notorious size guide inconsistencies at most retailers. If there is one thing you do not need to make a "web-exclusive" item in a plus-size collection, it's likely jeans. This is especially true since Forever 21 actually has numerous physical locations, some of which do have a plus-size section.
Why couldn't the retailer just make the jeans available in stores so that people who want them can try them on to get the fit they feel most comfortable in?
It's also impossible to overlook the fact that every single plus-size top available is a full-coverage graphic T-shirt.
Does Forever 21 not understand that many plus-size shoppers like crop tops, too?
Meanwhile, straight sizes have several crop tops to choose from in The White Rose collection.
It appears that Forever 21 assumes plus-size people do not like crop tops. At best, it appears that Forever 21 is contributing to the style standards that say crop tops are not for people with extra curves. Either way, this is really unfortunate.
The only plus-size item Forever 21 provided that looks even remotely sultry or sexy is this lace.
Because the rest of the plus-size offerings in The White Rose collection are either not yet available, available online-only, or modest in design — it honestly appears like Forever 21 threw this sexy fringe jumpsuit in to cover its bases.
But the bases remain uncovered. What if Forever 21's plus-size shoppers do not like this jumpsuit? What if they don't like jumpsuits? Or aren't that into fringe? Why is this design the only sexy, going-out look in a collection of SIX?
Despite that this White Rose collection seemingly appeals to plus-size shoppers like an afterthought, the retailer still promoted the collection on its Forever 21 Plus Instagram page — and received a prompt dragging by its followers for the blatant exclusion.
Fans bombarded the comments section with questions about exactly why the brand failed to fairly include plus-size offerings in The White Rose collection.
They aren't accepting any excuses for why so few plus-size clothes were in the lineup.
"WACK! You guys should have added more pieces for plus size. NO BUENO," a fan commented.
One fan pointed out that this exclusion of plus-size clothing is actually Forever 21's regular practice.
"Why is the plus-size line so limited to a couple of pieces as opposed to the smaller sizes? Kinda like the Barbie collection," the fan noted.
Sheesh.
Some shoppers are refusing to give Forever 21 their coins anymore.
"This always happens," one fan shared. "They never release these collections to plus size. They throw ugly [redacted] dark colors because they think that’s what we want. I won’t buy from Forever anymore unless they get their act together."
One fan expressed her grievance with Selena's sister, Suzette, directly.
"I'm so happy that you have more of Selena clothes out but very upset at the same time because it's very unfair that you guys go all the way to make new things but NEVER plus size," the fan shared.
"Like come on y'all should know we come in all different shapes & sizes how do you think we feel to see everyone else enjoying her clothes [and] goodies but yet we have to be in the background because we can't buy it if y'all don't make plus-size. So upsetting I swear. Please, @Suzettesyld make plus size [and] remember SELENA always said she wants EVERYONE singing her music and wearing HER clothes and we can't if there's no plus size."
Suzette responded and acknowledged that Forever 21 has only a few options.
"Hi, I totally understand but there is a couple shirts that are come in our sizes," Suzette responded. "I really hope I can have the opportunity again to create a collection with a [lot] more for us plus size girls."
Do note that Selena's OWN SISTER identifies herself as a plus-size woman.
By the way, that hoodie Suzette wore on Instagram from The White Rose collection is one of the few menswear offerings, not from the straight or plus-size designs.
How does a retailer create a collection dedicated to a late music icon, invite the singer's sibling to the meet-and-greet/launch event, and overlook the fact that plus-size shoppers (who the sibling identifies with) are underserved?
Make it make sense, Forever 21.
