Tuesday's Rant: Target's Disappointing Designer Lines

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today’s rant is about the rash of disappointing designer debuts at Target. In the past 6 months, the Bullseye has given us a so-so Jonathan Saunders clothing line, a ho-hum Hayden-Harnett purse line, and a big-n-blingy Erickson-Beamon jewelry collection. I won’t even mention the McQ line. And as I talked about in yesterday’s post, we now have a lackluster Miss Trish of Capri sandal line hitting Target stores. It’s really a bummer that all of Target’s recent design collaborations have been such a letdown after all the hype and advertising. And it makes me wonder whether their next two designer collections - Loomstate (Rogan’s organic men’s and women’s wear) and Ashley Page (swimwear) – are going to be a buzzkill as well.

The dish on Miss Trish...

Yesterday I discovered that my local Target had put some of the new Miss Trish of Capri sandals out early (they are not due in stores until April 5th) and I hate to say it, but I was immediately disappointed by what I saw. First off, they were hard to find; they were misplaced in the Mossimo section, and even had Mossimo signs on the shelves advertising the prices. ??? Anyhow, look for the bright turquoise-blue boxes and you'll find Miss Trish. And what I found could be best described as cheap. I saw most of the flat-styles I blogged about last week, and there wasn't one pair I liked enough to even try on, let alone buy. The stitching was sloppy on at least two pairs that I examined up close (which points to shoddy manufacturing) and the PVC materials are so "plastic" that they don't even attempt to look like faux-leather.

Now contrary to my prediction, Miss Trish is also offering a couple of high-heeled options in addition to the flats previewed on Nitrolicious. Pictured at left is one of the Miss Trish platforms I saw in person; this style features hot pink faux-leather with mini-jeweled turtles. You can see pics of the red nautical-braided rope sandal as well as the black-patent crystal ladybug platform here on the Sugar Rock Catwalk. But as was the case with the flat styles, the platforms didn't "wow" me at all. What a letdown!

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Now there's a lot of fun stuff on sale this week, but here's what I honed in on: fresh herbs and veggies from Target's Garden Center.

As I've lamented before, not all Target stores have a Garden Center anymore, but the one Target in my area that does always has fresh plants that are attractively displayed. That's why I was excited to see that Target has herbs and veggie plants on sale this week, because nothing could be more fresh than growing your own. It's also economical (have you priced fresh Chives and Oregano lately?) as well as convenient (oops, out of Rosemary? Just step outside and pick some!). We actually had a wonderful salad last night made out of lettuce picked from our own backyard; the greens were tender and it really impressed my parents that it was "home grown"!

Herbs in 1-pt pots: on sale for $1.75 each
Veggies in 1-pt pots: on sale for $0.99 each
Herbs or Veggies in 3.2-pt pots: on sale for $2.99 each

(Available in Target stores only; not available online. Assortment may vary by store. Available in Target's outdoor Garden Center; note that not all Target stores have a Garden Center).

The Bernie Madoff baseball card

I'll continue the baseball theme from yesterday with news that the Topps Company - in addition to releasing their usual selection of baseball cards this Spring - will also issue trading cards featuring the 'world's biggest hoaxes, hoodwinks and bamboozles'. And yes, that includes a card dedicated to Bernie Madoff. Among the other do-badders in the subset are Charles Ponzi, The Runaway Bride, and Enron.

"These cards feature 20 perpetrators of some of the most notorious pranks, dubious claims, and outright frauds of the last 2 centuries," says Topps. That means, my friends, that you could potentially open a pack of these cards and find Madoff right alongside notable sluggers like Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols. The cards will sell for $3 a pack at mass retailers (including Target) and the odds of finding a Madoff will be one in 12 packs on average.

Major League wear on the cheap

Spring training is in full swing and the start of the 2009 Major League Baseball season is upon us. In just a few short weeks, our favorite heroes of the diamond will take the field and battle it out for division pennants. And in order to fully support your team, one must be outfitted with team apparel, right? But in today's economy, most of us are struggling for necessities, not to even mention "wants" like a baseball jersey.

That's why my favorite place to shop for major league wear is Target. Target offers not only licensed baseball wear, but also gear of local other professional – and sometimes college - sports teams. Obviously, the key word is “local”; if you live in Minnesota (Target headquarters) you’re going to get a selection of Minnesota Twins shirts. In my neck of the woods (Northern California) we have the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s. And I have noticed that depending on the season, my Target will also offer a selection of San Jose Sharks (hockey) and San Francisco 49ers & Oakland Raiders (football) wear. I have even seen shirts for our two local universities: Stanford and UC California Berkeley. One caveat: you won’t find the "flashy" or "trendy" styles of sports apparel at the Bullseye; rather, you pretty much get the basic shirt, polo or sweatshirt with the standard logo. But the good news is that you can usually pick up these shirts for the wallet-friendly range of $16-22.

Jessica Alba hearts Target

Out for some mother/daughter bonding time, Jessica Alba and her baby girl Honor Marie made a shopping trip to Target last month in Los Angeles.

The “Sin City” and “Fantastic Four” star and her precious daughter ventured over to their local Target store, wandering the aisles before heading out to the car with a cartful of purchases.

Wednesday’s Rave: this Mossimo shoe

It's a boot! No wait, it's a sandal! And it's metallic! (which, we hear, is really big for Spring….)

It's the Valentina Peep-Toe Bootie by Mossimo, and at just $26,99, it looks a heck of a lot more expensive than it actually is.

Tuesday’s Rant: Target’s web site, Part Deux

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Now last Tuesday I ranted about Target.com’s search functionality… or lack therof. I thought I would keep the rant going after reader “Lola” wrote in with this comment: “I have a similar complaint… I don't like how on Target.com each color or pattern variation of an item is listed as a seperate item. If you're looking at a black shirt, you may not know that the same shirt also exists in red, blue, and white. It takes a little searching to find the other variations, which may or may not show up as related items on the first item's listing page.”

So true, Lola! This frustrates me as well. Why can’t they just show the items ONCE, and have the multiple colors available in a drop-down menu?

Likewise, reader "OysterGirl" commented on my recent Miss Trish post that “I just checked the Target site and the Miss Trish shoes are (already) listed and all of them say they are out of stock!?! How is this possible?”

I told her that my guess was that Target pre-posted all the links/pages to the Miss Trish sandals ahead of time, tagging them as "out of stock" until they actually ARE in stock and available for ordering on the site. Now I chalk this up to "lazy web site maintenance" on their part. It seems like they tried to do a bunch of the web-page building ahead of time… but if they were really on the ball, there’s a way they could have done this and keep these pages "hidden" from view until Miss Trish officially debuts.

And another thing I HATE – which Target is guilty of – is keeping things on their web site that have sold out, as illustrated by the picture above. I took this screen grab on 3/17. The shirt was already sold out around 3/8 – that’s when I first tried to put it in my shopping cart – and here it is 3/24 and it’s STILL on Target’s site despite being sold out for at least 2 weeks now. Obviously, Target doesn’t update their site that often, because if they did, this wouldn’t happen.

Overall, Target’s web site has PLENTY of room for improvement. Yes, the site is large and I’m sure it’s a handful to manage. But Target is a huge corporation, so you’d think they’d invest more in their web site functionality. Especially since their site is linked to Amazon’s (“Target.com utilizes Amazon.com technology and patented Web site capabilities”) you’d think their site would be better organized and more frequently updated.

More plus-sized options coming soon to Target

The Budget Fashionista is reporting today that Target is getting a new line of plus-sized clothing from the LA-based line Pure Energy. The collection will feature brightly-colored tank tops, floral skirts, maxi-dresses and a variety of denim options, all priced at a wallet-friendly $16.99-$29.99.

Which is great news and all, but Target has offered plus-size clothing from their in-house Mossimo and Merona brands for years. Yes, it's great to have more options for plus-sized gals, but it's not like Target hasn't already been offering clothing in that size range. Like this cute Merona Green-print trench for just $44.99 (shown).

yet another Sneak Peek: Loomstate for Target

Target is sure being generous with the “sneak peeks” these days! Here is yet another one: this time from Loomstate, Rogan Gregory’s eco-friendly line. Although it’s not slated to hit Target stores for another month, Racked.com has posted some preview pics here. This time, Rogan has produced both men’s and women’s wear with a definite beachy slant, heavy with t-shirts, shorts and swimsuits. Like his Target offerings from last year, this new collection is primarily done in black, white and neutrals. There are also a few shots of turquoise and pink thrown in to break up the monotony. Overall this collection looks young, hip and fun, and I’m sure it’ll do just as well (or even better) than last year’s Rogan/Target line.

Shown at left: Loomstate for Target Zip-Front Jacket in Black for $44.99, Pelican-Print Triangle Bikini Top in Black/White for $16.99, and Pelican-Print Shorts in Black/White for $26.99.

Target’s Style Videos

Target has two new style videos posted on their web site. The first one features Fashion Stylist Christina Erhlich with her 4 top Target picks for Spring. The second is from Interior Designer Kristen Casey with her 3 top home decorating trends (again, all done with items from the Bullseye).

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Now I don't know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but here in Northern California it's the season where it's rainy on and off every few days. I'm not complaining; we're almost at drought-levels and really need the rain, but it does make things unpredictable and a bit messy. Messy in that the 4 of us (plus two cats) are tromping in and out all the time, tracking in dirt, mud, leaves, etc. That's why these small accent rugs (shown) are such a great buy at just $3.99 each. I plan on stocking up on these and putting one next to each door to try and save our floors and carpets from the seasonal mess our shoes (and paws) bring in.

Accent Rug, 2x3' size, Chindi or flat woven style in various colors: on sale for $3.99 this week. Available in stores only; not available online.

Another Sneak Peek: Miss Trish for Target

Yesterday I linked to the Nitrolicious site for pics of the Felix-Rey for Target collection, and today I’m going to link to their site for preview pics of the Miss Trish for Target sandal collection (due in stores April 5th). It was hard for me to pick just one to show here, so be sure to check out their site. This brown pair with the jeweled turtle is adorable, but so is the white pair with the blue whale. I’m not so sure about the toe-ring ones, though; they’re awfully cute, but the toe-ring thing just isn't my style.

Nitrolicious shows 6 styles and speculates whether this is the whole collection or just part of it. My assumption would be that this is all of it; six styles is a lot for a capsule footwear collection. The other thing I’m wondering about is comfort; these sandals look superflat and hard. I actually have a Mossimo pair of wooden-beaded thong sandals from several seasons back that are pretty comfy because while the sole is solid leather, it’s also flexible enough to GIVE. These sandals, though, don’t look as forgiving.

Sneak Peek! Felix-Rey for Target

As I first reported last December, designers Lily Band and Sulaika Zarrouk of the line Felix-Rey will launch a limited edition handbag collection called Felix-Rey for Target this Spring. And while it was SUPPOSED to officially launch on March 29th (over one week from now) the store near my work put the collection out EARLY and I’ve been able to get a sneak peek! And guess what? It’s pretty darn cute!

Now Target’s site doesn’t have pics up yet, so check out Nitrolicious to see what I’m talking about. Obviously, these bags have a beachy, by-the-sea vibe… like the tote bags with fish and shell motifs and the blue & white “wave” pattern clutch. All have some sort of metallic (mostly gold) trim on them, and are made from a substantial-weight canvas material. I just couldn’t resist the coral-embroidery clutch (shown) so I nabbed the last one on the display for just $19.99. The embroidery almost has a vintage or handmade-feel to it, and coral is one of my favorite summer colors, so buying this was sort of a slam-dunk for me. Anyway, check it out for yourselves and let me know what you think!

Ways to save $$ at Target

I have passed some of these tips along already, but during these challenging economic times they bear mentioning again. So here are some additional ways to save $$ while shopping at Target:

• Target offers new sales every week, so check their weekly ad to see what’s currently on sale.

• Target often runs free shipping deals for items bought on their website. Click here for details on their latest deal, which runs out March 21st (Saturday).

• Target’s web site also gives you access coupons to use online or to print out and take with you to the store; click here for more info.

• And speaking of coupons: supposedly Target will accept one manufacturer coupon plus one Target coupon per item, to double your savings and let you save even more money. (I haven’t personally tested this out, though, so I’m not sure whether this is true at all stores).

The Octo-mom hearts Target

She’s been all over the news since giving birth to octuplets, and a couple weeks ago Nadya Suleman was even spotted out with a few of her older kids running errands at Target.

The “Octo-Mom” (as she’s being called) headed over to a local McDonalds to pick up some food for her brood before hitting up the Target store in Whittier, California. And for those who were hoping to get a new reality show with the mother of 14 kids, it looks like such a show won’t be happening.

TLC Network president Eileen O’ Neill initially told the press, “We certainly, like the rest of America, [are] waiting to see how this develops. The number of children or scale of the multiples is intriguing, but it also comes down to what are the family’s lives like?”

But then in her most recent statement to the press (on February 17th) O’Neill definitively stated that “TLC is not pursuing any program at this time with Nadya Suleman. We wish the family well.”

Wednesday’s Rave: this cute rainboot

I am lucky enough to live in (mostly) Sunny California, so you won’t hear any weather complaints from me. However, when I see wet-weather gear like these too-cute-for words Nova Plaid Rain Boots, it makes me (temporarily, mind you!) want to live in Seattle or some other rainy climate. Perfect for puddle-jumping, these slip-on water-resistant boots will only set you back 25-clams (unlike some of those other rainboots that go for $60-and up).

Tuesday's Rant: Target.com's Search Function

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today’s rant is about the "search" function on Target's web site... which is sorely lacking, and has been for years. Case in point: type in "Mossimo trench" into the search field on Target.com. What you'd expect to see is an array of trench coats by Mossimo, correct? Well yes... partly. You do get 6 pages of items - over 100 in all. And most of them are some variation of coats by Mossimo. But then you get to the second or third page, and it starts getting weird. Why is this Sherpa Vest showing up? And likewise, this Merona Rain Jacket? It's not even Mossimo-brand, for pete's sake! It's as if their search function started to give me my request with the first results, and then branched out into all things related to outerwear. And this isn't an isolated incident; this happens almost every time I do a search on Target.com, no matter how specific I make the description in the search field.

While I DO appreciate the fact that you can narrow your search by price, color, etc., I do NOT like getting so many initial results that don't pertain to my search criteria. I keep hoping that Target will improve this functionality, but so far they haven't. I'm not an expert on search engines, but it seems as if they have FAR too many keywords lumped into each category and need to narrow it down somehow.

Twilight at Target

While Walmart is hyping the fact that they’re planning to sell the Twilight single-disc DVD for $17, fans of the movie (and fellow Target-Addicts) need to know that Target will be selling the deluxe edition for just 99-cents more. So no need to make a special trip to that OTHER store; Target will have the 3-disc deluxe DVD edition for just $17.99 starting March 21st. It will also be available on Blu-ray disc for $24.99.

Clearance Alert: Hayden-Harnett

The Hayden-Harnett collection (or what's left of it) has been put on clearance on Target.com at 30%-off. I haven't seen much of it in the stores lately, and the Double-flap bag in Brown (shown at left) looks to be sold out already on Target's web site. Overall, I wasn't impressed with this line... but at $13.99, I may finally go back and get the Black-studded clutch.

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. This week is Dollar Week at Target, so there are plenty of buys to choose from in the food & beverage, personal care, and household/cleaning product aisles. But I need a touch of Spring today on this cloudy and gray Sunday, so I am gravitating towards these cute Merona Cable sweaters on sale for just $15 each. The cable-pattern - combined with the Easter-egg colors - pack quite a preppy punch, don't you think? Very much like J. Crew's version, but at less than half the price.

The Merona Collection at Target

Those of us who have been mourning the loss of Isaac Mizrahi’s line have a couple of choices. We can scour what’s left of his collection at Target.com (and at last count there were over 10 pages of merchandise still on clearance). Or better yet, get to know the new “Merona Collection” at Target. This line seems to be replacing Isaac’s as the feminine, ladylike collection of dresses, jackets, and work-wear separates. The prices seem to be on par with what Isaac’s offerings were at, and even some of the cuts/colors are similar. I’m getting a classic, preppy vibe from this new brand… like Ralph Lauren styling with Lily Pulitzer colors & prints in navy, green, pink and white. In any case, I encourage you to check it out both in store (as The Recessionista did; check out her blog for some great pics!) as well as on Target’s web site as some items from The Merona Collection are available exclusively online.

And look at this adorable navy/green swirl-pattern sleeveless dress (pictured) which has already garnered nine 5-star reviews on Target.com. Doesn’t it just scream “Michelle Obama”?

Wednesday’s Rave: Jergen’s Natural Glow

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick to death of winter weather and can’t wait for Spring to be here. Especially when I look in the mirror and see a winter pallor staring me back in the face. Well I’ve got just the solution for that: Jergen’s Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer and Express Moisturizer. Both products offer a hint of color which you can build up gradually. And Jergen’s is leaps and bounds better than the fake-looking self-tanners of the “olden days” that could leave you with stripes and dark patches if you didn’t rub it in perfectly even. Jergen’s is pretty foolproof, and this week it’s also on sale at Target for just $7.49. I used some this past weekend, and already my skin looks perked up and – yes – glowing!

Preview pics of Tracy Feith for Target

Somehow, someway, preview pics of Tracy Feith’s Go International line for Target have hit the Bust Magazine website. Feith told Bust that he wanted clothes “that looked like something you would find on your best vintage store score, but at an affordable price.” And that seems to be true from looking at the pics… although these “vintage looks” seem to be from completely different decades. This frothy white number (shown) looks to be channeling 1974, whereas a couple of the other sheath dresses are sporting a bold, geometric 60’s vibe. And the floral maxi dress… I’m sorry, but it looks too much like a mu-mu to me!

Aloha, Target!

Oahu shoppers made a pilgrimage yesterday morning to the first two Target stores to open in Hawaii, in Salt Lake and Kapolei. Target Corporation opened the doors to both stores to hundreds of customers who lined up at least two hours prior to the 8 a.m. opening.

The first customers were greeted with applause and high-fives by Target staff before nabbing their red plastic shopping carts and making a beeline for merchandise inside. Local residents had been waiting a long time for the retailer to come to Hawaii, and likewise Target has been trying for many years to open stores here. A third store is slated to open in July in Kona on the Big Island.

Target’s 50th Anniversary Barbie

Attention Barbie fans! To help celebrate Barbie’s 50th birthday, Target has created a special 50th Anniversary doll… and is offering at the 1959 price! That’s right: you can get this souvenir “Barbie Then and Now, 1959-2009” doll with classic ponytail and striped swimsuit for the original price of just $3. Quantities are limited, though, and no rainchecks.

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. This week I'm featuring one of my favorite lines, Assets by Sara Blakely (the budget line from Spanx). Spanx was created by Sara Blakely, a former standup comedienne who decided to try to modify her pantyhose (by cutting the feet off) to give a smooth line under her white slacks while on stage one night. The trick worked, and soon the Spanx business was born. Then Spanx spawned Assets, which is the budget-friendly version of shapers, available exclusively at Target.

I've blogged about Assets before (as I'm a big fan of their Fabulous Footless and Perfect Pantyhose) and now it looks like they've expanded the line to include the Seamless Cami and Fantastic Firmer Tank ($20-26, both shown above) as well as a whole slew of other shaper products (listed below). Slimming inner fabric provides control where you need it, while the outer fabric keeps everything invisibly smooth under clothing. Assets provide that added little "help" we all need to keep looking good in our clothes.

Fantastic Firmer Control Panty: $28
Superior Slimmer: $28
Fantastic Firmer Girl Short: $23
Sensational Slimmer: $20
Fabulous Footless and Perfect Pantyhose: $16
High-waisted Shaper: $20
Unbelievable Underwear: $15
Lucky Leggings: $14

Eau de McQ

Last week I raved about one of Sonia Kashuk’s fragrances. Well, come to find out, Alexander McQueen – the designer behind the new McQ for Target capsule collection – also has a fragrance at the Bullseye. Pictured at left, Kingdom is Alexander’s spicy/oriental offering for Target, retailing for around $65 (but alas, seems to be currently sold out on Target.com).

Target’s next “so-called designer” collection

There aren't many Los Angeles shops that get more press than Intuition, so perhaps it's no surprise that owner Jaye Hersh would leverage that notoriety into a special collection for Target. Due to launch this Summer, the Hollywood Intuition line is designed to bring celebrity trends to the masses.

As reported by RackedLA: "Because no Midwestern secretary can be trusted to attempt the Jessica Simpson headscarf tie on her own, clear usage instructions will accompany each accessory". Hersh told WWD "The products that we're featuring will actually be very instructional to the guest. 'This is how you wear a belt bag and turn it into a shoulder bag.' We'll present all that as a story. The way it's merchandised will be unlike anything Target's done before."

This all sounds sort of dubious to me, and as one Racked reader put it, “This is the first Target collaboration that I'm disappointed to see. Intuition is not directional nor inspiring. It's not even the best store in Los Angeles. Target what were you thinking??? From McQueen to this hole in the wall shop?!”

Prince coming to a Target near you

The superstar recording artist Prince is releasing a three-disc CD set at Target at the end of this month. The set will include two new albums — "LOtUSFLOW3R" (shown at left) and "MPLSoUND" — as well as a third by his new artist, Bria Valente, for a total of just $11.98.

Prince is just the latest music legend to release new music exclusively through a major retailer. AC/DC and the Eagles were among the acts who sold millions of CDs through their partnership with Wal-Mart.

Prince has released his recent CDs through major labels, but they were one-album deals that gave him the flexibility to go elsewhere when the project was done. Last fall, he released a coffee table book of photos titled "21 Nights" documenting his record-breaking, 21-night run at London's 02 Arena in 2007. The book also included a CD of live performances.

"Prince has long been renowned as one of the world's most original and iconic musical artists," said Mark Schindele, Target's senior vice president of merchandising. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share his most recent work with our Target guests."

The CD set will be on sale at Target stores and Target.com on March 29.

McQ for Target finally online!

For those of you who want to check out the full McQ for Target designer collection, it is finally available online. Pictured at left is the cotton trench coat I wrote about the other day with the strange sleeves - pegged and wrist length - which are mistakenly described on Target's web site as "long sleeves".

While I can picture some of these pieces (particularly the tops and leggings) on the likes of my teenage niece and my 22-year old Pilates instructor, I can't see myself in this line, so I'll be passing on it. I'd rather save my $$ anyhow for the Miss Trish of Capri sandal line that is due to hit Target early next month.

Tuesday’s Rant: Target Merchandise scalped on eBay

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today’s rant is actually about people stiffing Target vs. a gripe about Target themselves. Long story short: I’ve been to several Target stores but can't seem to find Orly Keily’s adorable apron (pictured). [You know, just to check it out – not to buy – because I’m trying to practice restraint]. So I decided to look on eBay… where I found over 20 for sale. Furthermore, I then did a search on “Orla Target”, and found close to THREE HUNDRED items for sale! Now this has happened before with other designer lines at Target: key items in the John Derian line made their way to Target shortly after it launched, and likewise many popular Thakoon pieces were horded by eBay sellers and resold on the auction site. The problem with this is that we, the consumer, suffer in all this because 99% of the time the eBay seller is jacking up the prices of the items; otherwise, how else would they make a profit? So we pay inflated prices because folks have bought out all the selected inventory from the source, Target. This “secondary market” is both shady and disturbing, but unfortunately, I don’t think there’s much that Target can do to stop it, outside of perhaps limiting the amount of duplicate items one can buy upon checkout (which, of course, would be nearly impossible to regulate).

McQ = Confusing

I’m going to post tomorrow’s post today as I am in back-to-back meetings at work on Monday and will most likely not be able to break away to “blog”. Today I checked out the McQ for Target Collection (by Alexander McQueen) at my local store… which had put it out several days early, since the official debut date is not slated until March 4th. And frankly, what I saw was confusing at best. Yes, the line has a definitive “rocker” slant to it, which appeals to a certain personality of shopper. That I fully understand. I guess I was expecting more, though, from a designer who is supposed to be so “cutting edge”.

The printed t –shirts were pretty boring. Nothing new or anything I hadn’t already seen by Target’s in-house brands (like LOL Vintage, which has some great offerings for $10 and under). The dresses were, to be honest, fairly cheap looking for the price-point of $69.99. There was a very plain sleeveless, collared black button-down shirt that looked like it could have been churned out by Merona (at $26,99, I believe). And the one piece I actually liked – a black glazed-finish belted-trench with tab collar – was just ALL WRONG upon trying it on. For some reason, it was unexplainably boxy in shape, even when the belt was cinched. And the sleeves were just a really odd length; not full-length, and not ¾ length, either, while in a weird pegged-shape (narrowing at the wrist). Did they used to call that “bracelet length” back in the day? I’m not sure, and will need to check with my mom. All I know is that it was NOT flattering on.

There was also the smattering of tiny-weeny bikinis (just like Thakoon had) as well as several pairs of leggings (again, I’ll pass). I can totally see this line being a success with the VERY young set – the ones that shop at American Apparel. Or, then again, it might be considered as “trying to hard” and be a complete flop. Only time will tell, but over at Racked.com they reported that the McQ line hit NYC last week, and that so far the department was a ghost town.

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Now there’s a lot of home items on sale this week – and this is definitely the time to stock up on towels, pillows and sheets you need them – but I’ve picked this Hudson Ladder Bookcase as my favorite. I’ve been wanting one of these for quite a while, and from the looks of the rave reviews on Target’s web site, it’s a pretty popular item. And why shouldn’t it be, when it’s an almost perfect replica of Pottery Barn’s Studio Wall Shelf? The catch is that PB’s shelf is $299, whereas Target’s is only $89 on sale this week (reg. $99).