The Returns Department...

It’s time for another installment of The Returns Department, a sporadic feature on my blog in which I share with you an impulse buy that went awry. The focus this time is on the recent Jason Wu for Target collection, of which I'm afraid I ended up returning most of the items I bought. To date, I've returned the Black flared dress (as it was "too poufy" for my tastes), the Striped t-shirt dress (as I felt it was too see-thru) and the Milu cat tee (for the very same reason). And as I previously blogged about, I returned the Gold blouse as it fit completely differently then the Red one I purchased. I also returned the lace tee in Blush, as I thought the "lace" was printed in black (as is the case with the lace print skirt) but oddly enough, it's in blue - ?

So at this point, the only things I'm keeping are the "Michelle Obama dress", the Red blouse, and both the Navy and Floral print scarves. And the only thing I'm still longing for is the Milu cat tote... but I fear that unless I stumble across a customer return, I'm out of luck on that one!

Double-Take: J. Crew vs. Target

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-jay and match it up against a lookalike designer piece. Faithful reader Cotton Candy alerted me to this one while jewelry shopping the other day. One of these coral/gold bamboo bangle bracelets is by J. Crew, and retails for $22.50. It's currently on sale for $18.50... which isn't bad, until you consider that the Target version comes in a set of FOUR for just $16.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

Mad Men style at Target...

Banana Republic is about to release their second Mad Men-inspired capsule collection on March 1st. One of the preview pics (at far left) shows a neutral-floral cardigan paired with tailored crop pants, which is a look you can easily re-create with separates at Target (for a fraction of the BR price). Just take a pair of skinny crop pants from Mossimo (only $22.99, in assorted colors) and pair it with a grey print cardigan from Merona (also $22.99). Add a ladylike bag and a pair of colorblock pumps, and you're ready to channel your inner Betty Draper.

Join Target for Dr. Seuss Storytime!

Mark your calendars tomorrow for Dr. Seuss Storytime at Target stores nationwide. Bring your kids to any Target store tomorrow for a live reading of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, from 9-11am on Saturday, Feb. 25th. The celebration also includes free goody bags and other fun activities. For more information on this special Read Across America event, click here.

Double-Take: Xhilaration vs. Cambridge Satchel

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-jay and match it up against a lookalike designer piece. Today it's the battle of the neon crossbody bags. One of these trendy totes is by Xhilaration, and was a top pick by celebrity stylist Brad Goresky (as noted in my blog post from a couple of weeks ago). But while the Xhiliaration one (at Target) will only cost you $24.99, the other is by Cambridge Satchel (at Bloomingdales) and will set you back a whopping $155. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

Target quietly restocks some Jason Wu bags...

Since late last week, Target stores (at least in my area) have quitely re-stocked some styles of the Jason Wu for Target bags. Mostly I've seen the ivory straw clutch and blue-print flap bag (both pictured here) as well as many of the straw saddle bags. I also spied one of the canvas striped tote bags, but alas, no cat totes!

In some stores, Target has bunched the few bags they have left with the Jason Wu clothing, so be sure to check the clothing racks in addition to the accessories aisle. Unfortunately, Target.com doesn't seem to replenishing supplies of Jason Wu bags or scarves online.

I was tempted by the ivory straw clutch, but resisted as honestly, it's something I'd probably only use once or twice. I did notice, as some readers have commented, that the stitching is uneven on some bags, and on others the clasps seem crooked and aren't on straight. If you do find one of the Jason Wu bags in the store, I'd recommend you check it over carefully for quality issues before buying it.

Pajama Style: yea, or nay?

Last week I caught a fashion segment on The Today Show where they were touting kimono-style tops as a key trend for Spring and Summer. Then the very next day at Target, I noticed just such a top by Mossimo in the juniors department (which I'd link to, but unfortunately I can't find it online on Target.com).

And then today, I see this article on A Bullseye View about "Pajama Style", and whether or not you'd wear it in public. While most of us leave the house in the morning trying to look like we’re not dressed in our PJs, fashion designers have recently taken inspiration from traditional nightwear. Labels like Derek Lam, Peter Som and Robert Rodriguez are dressing models in silky, patterned pants and buttoned-up blouses reminiscent of luxe lounge suits. Sure, the outfits seem comfy, but would you wear them out of the bedroom? To find out, they polled 100 women in Los Angeles for their take on the trend.

Like any slightly out-there fashion fad, some women were a bit apprehensive to try this look. “Either it looks like you’re wearing pajamas or it looks like you made a mistake” said one twenty-something respondent. But most were open-minded about the trend. “I say go for it! I mean, if red jeans are in style right now…” one woman remarked. “I think it looks cute,” said another. Others said they’d pair a pair of skinny jeans with a loose pajama-like top.

In the end, 78 percent of women said they'd rock pajama-inspired style in public, while only 22 percent stated they'd prefer to keep this look at home. I'd have to put myself as part of the 22%. How about you out there, readers? Is this a look you'll embrace this Spring?