Fab Find: Mossimo's Convertible Maxi Dress

Back in November, I told you that Target had partnered with Rachel Pally to offer a "convertible dress" in her signature jersey fabric via their web site. This style of dress is becoming increasingly popular, as you can wear in a variety of ways: as a halter, strapless, etc.

And now, Target seems to have developed their own version of this dress. The Mossimo Convertible Maxi Dress can be worn as a halter, kimono-sleeve, strapless, or one-shoulder style, and the flowy a-line skirt is figure-flattering. It also comes in a wide variety of summer brights, such as Blue, Citron, and Violet (shown) as well as Coral, Brown, and basic Black. And at just $34.99, it's the perfectly versatile vacation piece to stash in your suitcase.

New at Target: D-Signed Teddy Duncan Collection

Last August I told you about the D-Signed Sonny Munroe collection for girls at Target, created for fans wanting to dress like the Demi Lovato character on “Sonny With A Chance”. And now, Target has partnered with Disney on another TV show-inspired line, this time based on the character Teddy Duncan (played by Bridgit Mendler on “Good Luck Charlie”). Here are just a few of the pieces from the collection, which I viewed in store yesterday and looked adorable. It's too bad that my niece has entered her teens and is too old for this line; otherwise, I would have snatched up several pieces for her!

Double-Take: Pottery Barn vs. Target

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-jay and pair it up with a dead-ringer designer piece. As summer approaches and the weather gets nicer, we move our double-take challenge out to the patio, and compare chaise lounge chairs. Now I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do on summer weekends is to stretch out on a patio chaise, soak in some rays, and read the Sunday paper cover-to-cover. Both of the lounge chairs shown are made of weather-resistant faux wicker, and include a water-repellant cushion. But one of these lovely chairs will only cost you $299 (shipping included) at Target, and the other will set you back more than 3-times as much at $999 (plus $50 shipping fee) at Pottery Barn. Which chaise is which? The answer appears in the comments section.

DwellStudio's founder shows you how to "Undecorate"

If you find the rules of home decor intimidating, you're hardly alone. But thankfully, times are changing.

Christiane Lemieux, founder and creative director of DwellStudio, the home decor and children's furnishings company that also has a budget line at Target, explores 20 highly personal homes from across the country in her new book "Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design". Within these pages, Lemieux - a color and graphic design guru - proves that real life and eye-catching design can exist in the same space.

The projects range from a suburban Kansas City house given a sophisticated yet down-to-earth new look by a homeowner who combined simple, marble-topped occasional tables from CB2 with a French console nearby, to a New York City couple who turn a run-of-the-mill railroad Brooklyn apartment into a serene, nature-inspired retreat by highlighting the rental's high ceilings and natural light.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, dear readers! As a reminder, all Target stores are closed today (April 24, 2011) in observance of Easter. My husband didn't believe me at first, and asked why I wasn't headed for my usual "Target run" on Sunday morning. But they are indeed closed, and instead, I'll be heading off to our local Farmer's Market (which surprisingly is still open despite the holiday).

Double-Take: Andre Assous vs. Xhilaration

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-jay and pair it up with a lookalike designer piece. If there's one shoe that screams Spring, it's the espadrille. And here are two perfect examples: both in a sling-back, rope-wedge, peep-toe, flower-embellished style. Only one pair is from Andre Assous (at Neiman Marcus) and will set you back a whopping $155, whereas the other pair is from Xhilaration (at Target) and will only cost you $24.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section.

Walmart "spies" on Target

When a large retailer like Walmart wants to check out the competition, the job of spy usually falls to someone several rungs below company CEO. But when Walmart CEO Mike Duke wants to know what the competition is up to, he simply drives to his neighborhood Target, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Just two years ago, Minneapolis-based Target opened a store in Rogers, Arkansas: a scant five miles from Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville. That makes it easy for Walmart executives to keep tabs on their top competitor.

The Target store is run by manager Chuck Simmons, who has caught Duke “spying” in his store more than once. But while Walmart and Target are fierce competitors, Simmons and Duke are cordial. Simmons said he and Duke have walked the Target store together and says Duke is a “fantastic guy.”

Tuesday's Rant: check those receipts, and expiration dates!

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. And today's rant is a double-rant, over two things I've recently witnessed at the Bullseye:

1 - As I've commented before, you need to check your receipts upon checkout, because more and more clerks keep making "mistakes". Three times now in the past month I've been double-charged for the same item. In fact just yesterday, I was charged for two Breathe-Right packs, when in fact I only bought one. This may sound trivial, but at almost $13 a pack, it adds up.

2 - Also, please check the expiration dates on food items. A couple of weeks ago, my mom bought a 4-pack of Activia yogurt... only to get it home and realize that it had expired back on February 10th :-(

Target & Levi's partner to offer dENiZEN

Levi Strauss & Co. has announced the expansion of its global dENiZEN™ from Levi's® brand. Launched initially in Asia in 2010, dENiZEN jeanswear will be sold by retailers in the U.S. and Mexico starting this summer. Currently, dENiZEN is only sold in China, India, Korea, Pakistan and Singapore.

In the U.S., Target and Levi Strauss & Co. have partnered to offer dENiZEN exclusively at Target and Target.com beginning in July 2011. The dENiZEN line offers jeanswear and other fashion essentials that are modern, stylish and well-made at an affordable price.

And the meaning behind the curious name? According to the Levi's website, dENiZEN™ means to “inhabitant”: living in a place, living on earth, or just being.

Nicky Hilton hearts Target

Thanks to The Budget Babe, we know that Nicky Hilton hearts Target so much that she recently went shopping in Beverly Hills wearing this Xhilaration tribal-print sundress (shown). Available at Target.com for just $19.99, she paired it with flip-flops and a Balenciaga bag.

This isn't the first time Nicky's shown the Bullseye some love. Just about a year ago, she was spied wearing a Zac Posen for Target sailor dress to the Nylon Magazine anniversary party.

The Men's Medicine Cabinet...

I found this article on Esquire.com and just had to share. In their recent Style Blog column, they went on a shopping trip to update the manly medicine cabinet... and found that they could either buy a couple of products for $60 at Sephora, or buy a fully-stocked cabinet for just over $40 at Target (enough to last through Labor Day). Here's everything you need without breaking the bank:

Hair:
• Styling pomade ($2.69) by Suave. A versatile, everyday styling product.
• Anti-Dandruff Clear Control Shampoo ($4.79) by Garnier. Keeps you flake-free and controls your itchy scalp, yet it's mild enough to use daily. Plus: the herbal, fresh scent is a merciful improvement over the medical-smelling alternatives.

Shave:
• Fusion ProGlide manual razor ($9.99) by Gillette. The Fusion upgrade is redesigned with a bigger, better-controlled grip and helps keep your skin comfortable with thinner, finer blades.

Skin:
• Active Protect Face Lotion with SPF 50+ ($8.99) by Neutrogena Men. The do-it-all moisturizer. It nourishes, it protects, and it's ultra sweatproof.
• Body & Face Lotion ($5.79) by Vaseline Men. Great for chronically dry areas like the elbows and knees. Or for treating sunburnt skin. And it dries in 15 seconds, so it doesn't slow down the morning routine.

Body:
• Excite shower gel ($3.99) by Axe. Just like the commercials say: She wants you to smell like this.
• Clean Comfort antiperspirant ($3.99) by Dove Men+Care. A subtle, fresh scent suitable for any occasion that promises 48 hours of odor and wetness protection (although you should still apply daily). Plus: It also contains Dove's outstanding skincare benefits like irritation prevention.

Clearance Alert: Go International Dress Collection

Well that didn't take too long! Target's Go International Dress Collection is already on clearance at 30% off. I first noticed this in-store yesterday, and there seemed to be plenty of Proenza Schouler, Libertine, Rogan, Tucker, and Zac Posen left on the racks.

I was most surprised to see the Jovovich-Hawk chiffon dresses (like the one shown here) still hanging around. Not only did they sell out the first time (back in 2008) but the Jovovich-Hawk brand is now defunct, so I had assumed that collectors would be snapping them up (which is clearly not the case).

The Calypso St. Barth for Target Lookbook

Target must have read my post from the other day, because they finally released their lookbook for the upcoming Calypso St. Barth for Target collection. From the looks of it, Calypso's offerings seem to live up to it’s beachy, bohemian style. What does seem to be missing, however, is Calypso’s trademark beading, embroidery and detail - which makes sense given the prices at Target.

I've posted a few pictures here, but you can check out the entire lookbook here on Target's web site. Or - for an even better view - check out this slideshow on examiner.com.

New Miss Trish of Capri at Target!

Attention fans of the Miss Trish of Capri line at Target! The Bullseye has FINALLY introduced some women's styles for Spring. You can check them out at this link on Target.com. Shown here are two of my favorites: the black patent Jaguar flat (very reminiscent of Cartier's iconic panther, don't you think?) and the Seahorse wedge.

Counting down to Calypso for Target...

Curiously enough, Target has yet to publish their look-book with press images for the Calypso St. Barth for Target collection, which launches online and in stores on May 1st. Target usually releases the look-book a month ahead of time, and we're now just 3 weeks shy of the line's debut date.

So in the meantime, check out these colorful ads from the May issue of Lucky Magazine. Calypso's "tropical island-inspired" line includes home accessories ($1.99-$59.99), women's apparel ($19.99-$49.99), and children's clothes ($12.99-$19.99).

Are You Target's Biggest Beauty Fan?

Calling all beauty buffs! Target is inviting you to share your video to become one of "Target's Biggest Beauty Fans". The biggest "fans" can win a bag of "beauty booty", filled with free products, tool, and other fun stuff. So if you're passionate about beauty, and want to share your fun, creative, or crazy tips, head on over to the TargetStyle Facebook page to enter. At the very least, check out the page to see the cute video featuring Target's Beauty Experts Sonia Kashuk, Jemma Kidd, and Napoleon Perdis.

Target Celebrates Earth Month

To celebrate Earth Month, Target is having a "Refresh Your Nest" sweepstakes, with a chance to win a $50,000 home makeover by Sabrina Soto, HGTV designer and Target's resident Home Style Expert. To enter to win, just fill out the form on Target's web site.

And on Earth Day itself (April 17th) Target will be giving away free reusable bags in stores (with purchase) to the first one million guests (limit one per guest). Last year, most stores ran out within just a few hours, so be sure to get there early if you want one!

Sonia Kashuk on Oprah's "Best of Beauty" List

O Magazine's "Best of Beauty Awards" for Spring 2011 is out, and one of the 30 awards for best new products was bestowed on Sonia Kashuk's lip gloss. Sonia's Ultra Shine Sheer Lip Gloss in "Cheerful" - a warm, peachy-pink shade - came in at #2 on the list. And for just under $9, you can nab your own at Target.

Target Ranks #2 on Interbrand's List

While still not in the top spot, Target now ranks #2 (just behind Walmart) on Interbrand's annual "Most Valuable US Brands" list for 2010. This is impressive, as Target ranked #4 last year, so they've upped their brand value by 49% since 2009. This is what Interbrand had to say about the Bullseye:

Target’s enduring blend of style and mass discount proves that value and hip are not mutually exclusive. Although traffic and same-store sales slid this year, the company improved its financial operations and market forecasts are positive. While the shopper experience is not completely brand integrated, the new up & up private label is strongly on-brand, as is the purchase of the Smith & Hawken name. Additionally, its Archer Farms grocery brand introduced a new budget nutrition line, which should only bode well for the brand. The company will invest US $1 billion in its P-fresh food-oriented concept, renovating stores to drive frequency. Target continues to differentiate and create excitement with limited-edition soft goods from an ever-changing roster of high fashion designers.

For the full report, click here.