Toothpaste, cereal, vacuum cleaner, and Carolina Herrera might not read like the typical Target shopping list, but beginning on December 1st, that list could become yours. Target (or Tar-jey as some fondly say) is teaming up with Neiman Marcus and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to present a spectacular collaboration of designers’ styles at Target prices.
Since 2003, mega-store Target has brought high-end designers to the masses through popular collaborations with big names like Isaac Mizrahi, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, and Michelle Obama favorites Thakoon and Jason Wu. In the fall of 2011, “Missoni Maddness” took over America when the Italian fashion house — famous for their pricey, multi-color zigzag prints — released a whopping 400+ piece collection online and in Target stores. Extremely eager fashionistas stayed up into the wee hours of the morning and queued up at the crack of dawn to get their hands on a piece of Missoni for Target. The collaboration infamously crashed Target’s website and left a chevron-shaped hole in the hearts of customers after items rapidly sold out and online orders were cancelled.
Ladylike looks from Jason Wu for Target Spring 2012
Luckily, Target got its act together and after some PR cleanup, came back strong with a new concept for 2012. “The Shops” at Target was Target’s attempt to bring the spirit of five independent shops (including the trendy Miami fashion boutique The Webster) to stores and computers across America. While not as commercially popular as some of the big name designer collaborations, “The Shops” were still a success.
And now, just in time for the holiday season, Target is at it again, with help from 24 star designers from the CDFA. Not only will Target be stocking their shelves with collaboration merchandise, but Neiman Marcus will be selling the pieces as well. Women’s Wear Daily reports that the affordable collaboration (with most goods under $60) will include women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, in addition to accessories, home décor, sporting goods, and even pet accessories. The list of designers included in the collaboration ranges from the printed wrap dress icon Diane von Furstenberg (who is no stranger to collaborations after teaming up with Gap kids for a children’s line last spring), to the elegant red-carpet favorite Marchesa, and to Penn alumnae Tory Burch and Stacey Bendet of the girlishly trendy Alice + Olivia.
The designer lineup
The complete list of designers involved are (drum roll please): Alice + Olivia, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenberg, Eddie Borgo, Jason Wu (back for Target round two), Judith Leiber, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Philip Crangi, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Robert Rodriguez, Rodarte (another former Target collaborator back for more), Skaist-Taylor (of Juicy Couture), Thom Browne, Tory Burch, and Tracy Reese.
So, come daybreak December 1st, run (don’t WALK) to Target and Target.com to get your hands on a collaboration that is sure to go faster than you can say “couture catfight in aisle seven.”
-Augusta Greenbaum
Images courtesy of Fashionista.com and Fashionologie.com