Tuesday's Rant: Garden/Patio already replaced with BTS

On Tuesdays I sometimes take the opportunity to rant about something I do not like about Target… because although I love ‘em to death, they ain’t perfect. Regular readers will find this rant familiar: that by late June/early July, Target is already shutting down their Garden & Patio section in stores and replacing it with all the BTS (Back To School) supplies. This frustrates me no end, as the Summer has barely started. Likewise, Target.com is already hyping their "College Made for U" College Registry.

So at this point, if you want any patio furniture, head online where the selection is 30% off. I've also noticed in stores that Target is already replacing their straw hat selection with wool and felt caps (???!) so if you need a Summer skimmer, better buy it now before they're all gone.

Lilly lingers, but isn't marked down...

If you look hard, there  is still a smattering of Lilly Pulitzer for Target merchandise left in some stores. But at this point (8+ weeks since launch) Target's design collabs are usually marked down on clearance, and I haven't seen that happen with the Lilly stuff yet.

As I mentioned almost 2 months ago, this jumpsuit (pictured) seems to be one of the items still consistently found in stores, usually mixed in on the racks with other jumpsuits and maxi dresses by Mossimo and Xhilaration. Other items I've seen recently are the pineapple thong sandals, string lights, juice glasses and the ever-present nail files. And if you're wondering why/how returns are still trickling in (despite the 2-week return window for this collab) I've been told by readers that they've been able to return Lilly items by accepting store credit vs. a refund of their original payment method.

If you're still craving a little Lilly - but don't want to pay full price - my fellow blogger The Recessionista advises that the brand will hosting an Extending Summer Since 1959ish exclusive one-day promotion to celebrate the summer season and 4th of July holiday. On Friday, July 3rd, a special one-day promotion will be offered in-store and online. Gifts with purchase include:

• Spend $200 and receive a limited edition beach towel
• Spend $1,000 or more and receive 5 limited edition beach towels

Three New Brands Added to Target Collective

Back in March Target introduced Target Collective, the retailer’s first curated design-focused collection tailored just for men. Now Target is adding three new brands to the collective: bag makers Stone and Cloth, clothiers with a purpose Parks Project and eyewear experts Shwood. And this time, they're bringing apparel and accessories for both men AND women to the mix. You can check out all the offerings by Target Collective here on Target.com.

Double-Take: Arteriors vs. Threshold

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it up against a lookalike - yet pricier - designer piece. Today we're looking at two nautical-inspired rope lamps which would make a lovely accent piece in a room with casual or rustic decor. But one is by Arteriors (available at Interior Homescapes) and will set you back a whopping $600, whereas the other one is by Threshold (at Target) and costs just $44.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

The Eddie Borgo for Target Lookbook

A little over a month ago I told you about Target's next designer collab, which will be with Eddie Borgo. Now A Bullseye View has posted pics from the collection's lookbook, which you can view here. Target dubs the collection of customizable necklaces, charms, bracelets, belts, and bags as "Inspired by the craft culture of 60s and 70s"....creating "astronomical style opportunities for everyone from DIY divas to the edgiest fashionistas, with its unique mix-and-match pieces and hand-assembled geometric parts."

Priced from $7.99 to $49.99, the Eddie Borgo for Target collection will be available at select Target stores and on Target.com beginning July 12th. While some of the pieces are pretty, I agree with fellow blogger The Budget Babe that this collab is no bargain. While individual pieces are affordable, the whole point is to mix, match, layer, and design your own creations... which can certainly add up fast. Case in point: these 3 customized bracelets (shown) add up to almost $100 total.

Housewarming Gift Ideas from Target...

A Bullseye View has posted 3 great ideas for housewarming gift baskets, all made with products available at Target, of course! They include suggestions for the "first time home owner", for "the expanding family" and for "the empty nesters" (shown here). The white geometric vase pictured is by Nate Berkus and I actually gave it to my mom on Mother's Day and she absolutely loved it.

The Look for Less: Joss & Main vs. Threshold

Turtle motifs keep popping everywhere, like this fun little "Gretchen Trinket Box" shown on the left from Joss & Main. It's cute, but a little spendy at $55 (on sale from $99.85!). But you can get a much more wallet-friendly version with the Threshold "Tortoise Decorative Dish" (at Target) for just $14.99.