Going, Going, Gone

I restrained myself from talking about the already over-hyped Prabal Gurung x Target collection leading up to its release.  But, reality, I am as much of a sheep as the next girl.  And just because I didn’t talk about it doesn’t mean I didn’t think about it, plan for it and shop it.  As much as I love Gurung’s designs, and both Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama seem to be fans, I didn’t anticipate the reception the collaboration received when it launched on Sunday.  The fab-collab-that-more-or-less-sells-out-on-day-one, with the best pieces selling out by mid-morning, is back.  Did you get any?  If not, there are a few choice items left.

STILL IN STOCK:

Customer reviews suggest most items are quite cute, but beware of fit issues.  By and large the collection runs small.  So try it on in stores or order a couple of sizes.  The shoes, however, in addition to being surprisingly comfortable, run about 1/2 size large.
Overall, I agree with the general assumptions that are being bandied about to explain this recent success.  Pronouncements that the public had grown tired of designer collaborations, largely because they had become commonplace, seem to have been premature.  The buying public still appreciates access to great design.  That doesn’t go away just because there’s more of it.  I think, for one thing, with their vibrant colors and flowers galore, Gurung’s designs for Target are more accessible than Maison Martin Margiela for H&M was.  Most importantly, however, the prices were accessible — true Target prices.  Each dress sold for $30-$40.  The Target x Neiman Marcus holiday collection seemed to have forgotten how vital the “bargain” is for widespread panicked success.  We can only hope that fast fashion retailers got the message loud and clear.  But I do think a fair amount of credit has to go to Prabal Gurung who designed a beautiful collection that was both easy to wear and appealed to a wide range of shoppers.

JUST SOME OF THE SOLD OUT ITEMS:

For all of the collection’s success, mumblings around the industry suggest that Prabal Gurung should feel a little bad that he did not manage to crash the Target website the way that the Missoni x Target collection did.  I would like to think that is due impart to Target having learning how to better manage the volume (for one thing, not releasing the precise time the collection would launch online).  It is worth noting, however, that Missoni has a distinct and universally recognizable look.  Every time I wear my Missoni x Target coat, people recognize it as being Missoni, whether or not they know about the collaboration.  That has a caché that a young designer can’t possibly match.  And that most designers, who have an aesthetic that may be a little harder to nail down, can’t match either.  While many women may recognize that exquisite Prabal Gurung dress that Kate Middleton wore, I venture that few would be able to recognize another Prabal Gurung piece which they have never seen before.  With that in mind, if crashing websites is the goal in this business, I would propose a Target x Pucci collaboration.

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Everybody Loves a Bargain

Alice + Olivia bicycle, $499.99, luggage, $179.99

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Target Delivers Fashion Sealed With A Kiss

A bunch of things I’d like to talk about – but I’m afraid it’s kind of getting down to the wire to mention the upcoming crop of Shops at Target hitting stores this Sunday.  And even as it is starting to become part of the normal course of things, so that you think we’d all stop falling all over ourselves and acting as if it represents a once in a lifetime opportunity, I can’t resist a good designer x fast-fashion-retailer collaboration.  The funny thing – to me at least – is that I found the last series of Shops at Target pretty easy to resist.  There are, after all, no “Designers” involved.  The designers are store owners collaborating with Target’s design team.  And as great as your eye for fashion may be, and as fabulous as I’m sure your store is, it doesn’t mean you can design your way out of a box.  The girls at Kirna Zabête, however, have done a fantastic job.  Everyone seems to be jumping to point out that this is a chance to get, for less than $100, clothes from the folks who generally bring you a $2600 dress from Giambattista Valli or a $1700 dress from Lanvin.  Flawed thinking, to say the least, since what you are getting for less than $100 is certainly not a Lanvin dress.  It is, however, an awfully cute dress, perfectly on trend, which at $39.99 is still an incredible steal.

I cannot mention this collaboration without pointing out that Kirna Zabête is a seriously problematic store name.  I still cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to pronounce (even to myself in the privacy of my own brain).  But this collection is strong enough that I have gotten over my discomfort with the name and am now sold.

In addition, I have to make a confession up front.  I never thought I would say this — and I’m kind of shocked that I’m saying it out loud — but after a few seasons of the fashion industry trying to foist it upon my, I am loving the jumpsuit/playsuit thing.  I still don’t know who can actually pull off the look besides a few blessed souls.  You will certainly never catch me in one.  But it’s too bad, because a jumpsuit can be kind of cute.  In fact, I’m not even going to show you the Kirna Zabête for Target jumpsuit until later in the post in order to let it flow seamlessly with my other favorites from the collection.

Long-Sleeved Shirt Dress $39.99 (Fedora $22.99, Envelope Clutch $29.99, Bracelets $16.99 for a set of 3, Ring $14.99)

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Let’s Face It, There’s Always Something Else To Shop For, And It’s Target Time

I don’t know about you, but I have a had to institute a moratorium on spending on spring clothing and accessories.  I have no reasonable excuse for buying anything else.  So, trying to steer clear of my favorite websites, I thought it was time to check out the Shops at Target.  Without question, my favorite is the Privet House shop (I’m not a dog owner, and after my dear friend was awoken on Mother’s Day by a poop covered dog who had been sick in his crate the night before and let out by a mischievous five year old, I have no interest in becoming one — so I have an aversion to the Polka Dog Bakery shop without even checking it out so it could be just lovely but I wouldn’t know).  The Webster shop is a little preppy for my taste, but there is some nice merchandise if you go for that kind of thing.

Not surprisingly, many of the Privet House items have sold out, but there are still some cute pieces left.  The dishes, napkins and glasses are very pretty.  Admittedly, at this point nice melamine dishes are a dime a dozen, except that they aren’t remotely a dime a dozen so the Target prices for these dishes makes them pretty hard to resist.  $15.99 for a set of four dinner plates isn’t half bad given that comparable French Bull melamine dishes, while beautiful, retail for  $11.00 each.  The bad news is out of four styles of printed melamine dinner plates, only one is still available online.  Truth be told, it’s my favorite of the four.

Privet House at Target Brown Toile Dinner Plates

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Another Affordable Designer Capsule Collection … Ho Hum

Karl by Karl Lagerfeld

Is it just me, or is this whole affordable designer capsule collection thing just spinning out of control?  I bet you’re getting tired of reading posts about designer collaborations. I’m getting tired of hearing of them and I am obsessed with the damn things. That suggests to me that something is clearly out of whack. Let’s take stock of the collections since the summer:

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