I know that disposable fashion is the huge ethical issue du jour... but I still love Forever 21!
I discovered Forever 21 as a teenager from BC on a trip to West Edmonton Mall. Suddenly I found myself in a world of Christina Aguilera-inspired minikilts and four-dollar cleavage-baring tops. Much to the disdain of my parents, I loaded up my suitcase with slutty apparel that saw me through my early clubbing days.
Now I am much older and wiser... and much closer to Forever 21! Luckily Forever 21 seems to have adapted with the times, and while there is still lots of cleavage-baring apparel there are also clothes that would be perfectly appropriate in church on Sunday morning. The clothes are still made from cheap materials and construction isn't always the best (check for ripped seams, loose threads, fraying hems, etc. before you get to the register!) but they're SO CHEAP. I recently picked up a cute little cardigan for about $15, as well as two cocktail dresses for less than $30 each. I find the best time to hit "XXI Forever" (as they try to brand themselves) is around dinner on Saturday, when most shoppers have gone home.
One caveat: While disposable fashion IS a serious ethical issue and one that you should consider before shopping, there are also other things to consider when browsing at Forever 21. Flip your shopping bag over and you'll find a Bible verse- the owners of the company donate heavily to anti-choice religious charities (oddly, they do this while also engaging in business acts that have led them to be charged with multiple counts of copyright infringement...).