Bogus sentence in Target cart crime

In an update to a story I first reported back in November - in which two 12-year old juvenille delinquents shoved a Target shopping cart over a railing at East Harlem Plaza, hitting an Upper West Side real estate agent four stories below - one of the perps was assigned a sentence that is basically a slap on the wrist.

According to the NY Daily News, one of the boys was sent to a group home Tuesday for as little as six months. The sentencing came as a lawyer for cart victim Marion Hedges, 47, said that she is out of a coma and talking but is a “shadow of her former self.”

Family Court Judge Susan Larabee sent the now 13-year-old, referred to in court papers as "Jeovanni R" (actual name Jeovanni Rosario, as has been previously reported by various news outlets) to Graham Windham, a low-security therapeutic home in Westchester County, for a minimum of half a year and a maximum of 16 months. “He’s finally going to get help . . . I thank God for that,” Jeovanni's tearful mother, Rosemary, said.

As a reminder, the other assailant - Raymond Hernandez - did not plead guilty back in late November, and his case was adjourned. So in short, there is no real justice for the poor victim in this case.

Merona Spring Lookbook: coral, crops, and strange styling...

The Budget Babe has posted the Spring 2012 Merona Lookbook (from Target) and I have to agree with her: there's some strange styles shown here! Lots of coral tones and crop pants - which are regular staples for Spring - but the way they're shown just seem "off". I'm also not getting the black cardigan on black shorts ensemble, as the monotone color combo looks too dark for spring.

Earlier in the week The Budget Babe also posted Mossimo's Spring Lookbook, and while the looks are a bit better, they still seem lacking something. Is Target slipping in the fashion department?

Target bans denim sandblasting

Jeans with the "lived-in look" comes at a price to the garment workers who make them. That’s because sandblasting – the process of weathering denim by blasting sand onto jeans using high-pressure machines – contaminates the air workers breathe and can lead to an incurable lung disease called silicosis.

Worker advocacy organizations such as the Clean Clothes Campaign have been working with industry leaders to change this practice. As more designers, manufacturers and retailers recognize the harmful consequences of sandblasting, safer processes are being adopted. Levi Strauss & Co was among the first to ban sandblasting as part of its commitment to its workers, and now Target has joined them in a stand against this technique.

By the end of this year, Target will no longer carry any products that have been sandblasted during the manufacturing process. But fans of the distressed look need not fret; while Target is banning harmful sandblasting technologies, they will still employ alternative methods - such as hand sanding with safer tools – to result in denim with the same broken-in look.

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?

How Target learns your secrets...

The New York Times published a very enlightening article this week called "How Companies Learn your Secrets". While I've encapsulated the gist of it below, I encourage you to read it in its entirety, as it's pretty darn scary to hear the lengths that retailers will go - Target, in particular - to learn your buying habits.

For decades, Target has collected vast amounts of data on every person who regularly walks into one of its stores. Whenever possible, Target assigns each shopper a unique code — known internally as the Guest ID number — that keeps tabs on everything they buy. “If you use a credit card or a coupon, or fill out a survey, or mail in a refund, or call the customer help line, or open an e-mail we’ve sent you or visit our Web site, we’ll record it and link it to your Guest ID,” says Andrew Pole, statistician for Target. “We want to know everything we can.”

Also linked to your Guest ID is demographic information like your age, whether you are married and have kids, which part of town you live in, how long it takes you to drive to the store, your estimated salary, whether you’ve moved recently, what credit cards you carry in your wallet and what Web sites you visit. Target can buy data about your ethnicity, job history, the magazines you read, if you’ve ever declared bankruptcy or got divorced, the year you bought (or lost) your house, where you went to college, what kinds of topics you talk about online, whether you prefer certain brands of coffee, paper towels, cereal or applesauce, your political leanings, reading habits, charitable giving and the number of cars you own. All that information is meaningless, however, without someone to analyze and make sense of it. That’s where Andrew Pole and the dozens of other members of Target’s Guest Marketing Analytics department come in.

You can read the rest of the 9-page article here.

Jason Wu for Target coming to Toronto for one-day only

News for fashionistas to the North: Target is offering its recent limited-edition collection by designer Jason Wu by hosting a one-day only pop-up store in Toronto. The pop-up store will be located at 363 King St. West and will be open to the public Feb. 23 from noon on, while quantities last. Target will donate an amount equal to 100 percent of the sales from the Jason Wu for Target event to United Way Toronto. This is Target's first contribution to a charity in Canada.

"Target's known for creating memorable moments and we've been looking for an opportunity to bring our new Canadian guests a taste of what they can expect when we open our first stores in 2013," said John Morioka, senior vice president of merchandising, Target Canada. "The buzz surrounding Jason's line for Target has been incredible, and, given his ties to Canada, we thought this collection would serve as a great introduction to Target's take on affordable design."

Target's pop-up store will feature an assortment of the Jason Wu for Target collection, along with a Target-branded tote bag created exclusively for the Canadian pop-up store. Prices for the collection range from $10 to $45, and to accommodate demand, Target will limit purchase quantities to three items per guest.

"Working with Target has allowed me to reach a much broader audience and I'm so excited that my Canadian fans will have a chance to experience this collection for the first time," said Jason Wu, who grew up in Vancouver.

Clearance Alert: Sonia Kashuk Luxury Lip Color

Eagle-eyed shopper Camelia alerted me earlier this week that in some stores, Sonia Kashuk's Luxury Lip Color has hit the clearance bin at just $2.60 each (down from $8.99 regular price). I say "some stores", because out of the three Target stores I visited this week, only two had them on sale. And unfortunately, the sale doesn't extend to Target.com.

This has me wondering whether Sonia is re-vamping her lipstick collection to phase out the current colors and offer new ones? I also noticed that a bunch of Sonia Kashuk lipsticks have hit eBay, which may be another indicator that Sonia is planning to introduce a new lip collection soon.

UPDATE, 2/23/12: Readers, I emailed Sonia at her blog, and she kindly emailed back this confirmation that her current lip color collection is being phased out, and a new one is one its way -

Yes, the first week of March all new Spring 2012 product will hit stores including a brand new lipstick formula. There will be some similar colors to match fan favorite shades from the previous collection but I would definitely recommend stocking up while you still can and giving the new lip colors a try as well!

Double-Take: Target vs. Pottery Barn

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from the Bullseye and match it up against a similar designer piece. Today we're pitting two lookalike lamps head-to-head. One of these is “The Surveyor’s Lamp” by Pottery Barn (shade included) and it’ll set you back $309. The other is the “Surveyor Lamp Base” from Target Home for $39.99, paired with Target’s burlap/cotton shade for $15.79 – bringing Target’s total to about $56. Can you guess which is which? Admittedly, this one is pretty much a giveaway due to the stylized photo, but I’ll still post the answer in the comments section.

Jason Wu for Target: fit problems & quality issues

Now that "Wu mania" has died down a bit, I notice that my local Target stores are slowing being replenished with inventory, assumingly from customer returns. I'm not surprised, as the sizing on the Jason Wu for Target line is all over the map. In general, it's running larger than previous Target designer-collabs. But I've also found inconsistencies within the same size. Case in point: I bought this blouse in red (far left) and loved it so much that I ordered the same one in gold (in the same size). However, the gold one fits totally different than the red one, and seems to be running a full size smaller than the red. Same thing with the t-shirts I've ordered: I got the gray lace tee in a size Small at the store, then ordered the Milu cat tee in a Medium (as that's the smallest size they had left) and found that it fit exactly the same. The size Medium Striped tee I ordered, on the other hand, runs bigger than both of them, and seems to fit more like a Large.

And regarding quality: my fellow blogger The Recessionista reported last week about issues like rips and tears on the more delicate blouses. I've noticed several complaints about quality on Target.com as well.

What about you, readers? Any fit or quality woes with Wu?

Target ranks 4th among big box stores

Consumer Reports recently published their ranking of the top 10 big-box stores. Based on facets like quality, selection, value, checkout, service and layout, the list finely parses the experience of shopping both online and in the store, scoring the stores on a 100-point scale

Surprisingly, Costco came out on top, with excellent quality, good value and a easy-to-navigate layout. Even better, the website scored well on almost every facet of customer service and quality.

Target - with blockbuster designer collabs like Missoni - came in at #4 on the list, after established itself as a fashionable and pleasant shopping experience. However, the in-store experience only shines in store layout. In other areas, like customer service and online shopping, Target does just so-so.

Their key rival, Walmart, rounds out the top 10 list. Despite Walmart's big PR push, it still comes in dead last. The checkout experience and service are terrible, and the quality and selection aren't much better. Online, the value and checkout experience are good, but everything else is just OK. Plus, Walmart was the only store to score really poorly on the quality of clothing.

You can check out the full list of best - and worst - big box stores here.

Target ends longtime partnership with Michael Graves

After a fruitful 15-year collaboration, designer Michael Graves and retail giant Target are parting ways. Last week Target announced that Graves' latest line of designer products, to be unveiled in March, will be his final works for the Bullseye.

Graves has designed more than 2,000 consumer products - from toasters to watches to ironing boards - that were sold exclusively at Target stores. The famous pairing helped give Target a reputation for cheap chic that distinguished it from discount-store rivals like Walmart and Kmart. It also kicked off a series of partnerships with other noted designers.

Graves was already a celebrated architect and designer when Target approached him for a project that had nothing to do with retailing. Back in 1997, Target was lead corporate sponsor in the effort to renovate the Washington Monument. Target sought out Graves, who then designed an innovative and attractive scaffold system that became so popular during the renovation that some observers hoped it would remain. That success led to a another collaboration between the designer and retailer as Graves remade a series of everyday items, including a Pop Art Toaster, a Spinning Whistle Teakettle and even a toilet brush. The thought of a high-style toilet plunger drew plenty of snickers over the years, but Graves always liked the idea that everyday items could be stylish, too.

In more recent years, the novelty of Graves' work for Target has faded, and Target has introduced limited-time, high-profile deals with designers like Libery of London and Missoni that have extended to the housewares category. But the Graves collaboration gets credit for establishing a stylish new frontier in discount retailing.

"Michael Graves was Target's first and longest-standing design partner to date," said Stacia Andersen, Target's senior vice president of home, merchandising. "While this partnership is coming to an end, Target remains dedicated to bringing our guests innovative design in new and meaningful ways."

Shown here: Michael Graves Easyfill Tea Kettle, available on Target.com for $26.19.

And as long as I'm ranting about Target's web site...

...can they please - PLEASE - fix this typo on their account login page that's been there for MONTHS now? It's a sneak peek, not "peak". Geez...

Target edits negative comments from their web site...

Uh oh. Censorship is never good. And it looks like Target has done just that: eliminated free speech by removing all the negative comments on the Jason Wu for Target cat tote bag (as shown by the screen capture at left).

How do I know this? Well, because out of frustration after the Jason Wu wipeout, myself (and several other disgruntled consumers) left this bag only one star, chastizing Target for making so few of them in the first place. Other negative comments included requests to limit the amount of designer merchandise you can buy in stores (as to deter the eBay vultures) and complaints that Target wasn't restocking this item. I recall I was about the 5th or 6th negative review, and my comment added the fact that their in-store finder is COMPLETELY inaccurate. Not sure if my message got through to them or not, but I am sure that my comment (and others) were all removed, as this item now has 18 five-star reviews.

New at Target: PixiGlow

As I reported last November, Pixi Beauty's Petra Stand has developed a new collection inspired by none other than Peter Pan's fairy friend, Tinker Bell. In collaboration with Disney, Petra has created PixiGlow, which is now available on Target.com. So far, only a sampling of products - including body glitter, pink nail polish, and a tote bag - are for sale online. I assume the full collection will be available when the line hits stores in March.

Michelle Obama hearts Jason Wu for Target

She famously wore his frothy white design to her husband's inauguration ball, propelling Jason Wu's name into households around the world. And now Michelle Obama is supporting Jason Wu again - albeit on a rather smaller scale - while watching her pennies. The First Lady chose to wear a Jason Wu for Target dress - costing around $40 - to a home visit in Ocoee, Florida, where she ate dinner with a local family over the weekend.

The navy floral chiffon dress cost a fraction of what the Taiwan-born designer usually charges for his coveted frocks, which run into the thousands of dollars. Michelle chose to pair her dress with a red belt instead of the yellow one that came with it, and topped it off with a blue cardigan. Unfortunately, this dress is now sold out online, but you still may be able to find it in stores. I was lucky enough to find it in my size (warning: it runs big!) and can't wait until the weather gets warmer so I can wear it.

Jason Wu's dramatic showing at NY Fashion Week

Hot on the heels of his sold-out line for Target, Jason Wu is American fashion's designer of the moment. And he didn't disappoint with his Fall 2012 collection at New York’s Fashion Week, which was high-drama with Hollywood special effects.

The show had a cinematic opening, with two large red lacquered doors swinging open at the top of the runway, and models stepping out in a rolling cloud of fog. Wu, who grew up in Taiwan, used Chinese imagery as his inspiration, from the Mao jacket, which he rendered in a gorgeous hammered red satin, to the military green wool cape coat, trimmed in delicate black lace.

The Hollywood version of Chinese glamour in films such as 1932’s "Shanghai Express" was a reference point for strong-shouldered gowns and short cheongsam-style dresses embellished with panels of silk brocade, tassel beading, cording or gold embroidery resembling tiny medallions. And the ending of the show was equally cinematic, with all the models walking out together like one chic red army.

And the winner...

...of my latest blog giveaway - for the Global Girlfriend cotton scarf - is reader Critifur! Critifur's entry was picked by the random number generator over at Random.org. Critifur, I've already emailed you for your address, and as soon as I get it, I can mail this out to you. And thanks again to everyone who entered and who continue to read my blog!

Last-minute Valentine's Day gifts...

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and if you need a last-minute gift for your honey, Target has boxes of Lindt Truffles and Godiva Chocolates for $19.99. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time Target has carried Godvia. In addition to the large box shown, they have a smaller heart-shaped box of Godiva (which I picked up yesterday) for just $9.99. I also noticed that Target is selling bouquets of roses this week - a dozen for $16.99 - in various colors.

Ann Curry hearts Target

Look who else loves the Bullseye? None other than Ann Curry, host of The Today Show, whom I spied this morning wearing the Jason Wu for Target gold peplum top (which was only available in stores, and was an early sellout). For a closer look at the top, you can check out video from this morning's Today Show here.

As for how she got the top: I'm sure Ann didn't battle the lines last Sunday, nor did she order online. I'm betting that Jason Wu himself probably gave her some swag when she interviewed him a couple of weeks ago.

More Jason Wu on eBay than at Target

According to Elle.com, there's currently more of the Jason Wu for Target collection on eBay than at Target stores and Target.com. And frankly, I'm not surprised. Among the 10,000+ eBay items, there's this insanely priced ($500!) straw handbag. The seller quips “The designer made famous by Michelle Obama has now taken on a new challenge, the first designer collaboration with Target after the Missoni for Target fiasco.” And the average eBay price of the $55 trench coat that Blake Lively wore to the NY launch party a couple of weeks ago (shown here) is running about $200.

Reader Giveaway: Global Girlfriend scarf

Yesterday’s post on Spring color inspired me host another reader giveaway. This time I’m giving away this bright turquoise scarf, currently available online at Target.com for $19.99. At first glance, it reminds me of one of the Calypso St. Barth for Target prints from last year, but this beauty is from Global Girlfriend. Global Girlfriend promotes fair-trade and eco-friendly accessories and apparael hand-made by women in communities in need, and you can learn more about their products here on their website.

To win, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post - along with your email address - by Sunday, Feb. 12th. This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only, and the winner (picked at random) will be announced on Monday, Feb. 13th. Good luck!

Brad Goreski is crazy for color at Target...

Let's move on from the Jason Wu wipeout, shall we?

Do you every peruse the racks of cute clothes at Target, only to be at a loss as how to pull outfits together? Then check out the latest video on a Bullseye View, where celebrity stylist Brad Goreski shows you how to mix, match, and inject color into your wardrobe. He's admitedly "crazy for color", and raids the racks of Target's spring offerings to create 20 must-have looks, including the three shown here.

“This is a great transition collection,” says Brad. “This is your chance to transition from the winter blues into wonderful, beautiful colors and the promise of spring.”

Couple wipes out Wu from Target store

Talk about a new low! The NY Daily News reports that a Miami couple enraged fellow shoppers when they bought out a Miami Target store of its entire supply of Jason Wu clothing and accessories on Sunday.

Customers who arrived at the store on the day the sale began in order to get their hands on the hotly anticipated Jason Wu for Target collection could only watch as the entire stock was depleted in one fell swoop. One shopper, who captured the entire event on her camera and posted it to YouTube (click here to watch) said that the couple planned to resell the items on eBay.

Frustrated shoppers unite on Facebook...

I love this! Frustrated shoppers, taking matters into their own hands, have started a Facebook group called "Jason Wu for Target :: Swap, Sell & Buy." The group currently has over 400 members attempting to locate the Jason Wu items they want, swap items for different sizes, and even take orders for strangers from their local store. Most of them would do anything but resort to buying from the greedy vultures on eBay. Speaking of which, there are now over 11,000 Jason Wu for Target items on eBay, some already having sold for three to eight times their retail value.

Link love from MSN and Styleite!

I promise you I won't let it got to my head, but my husband just called to tell me that right this instant there's a link called "Jason Wu sparks Target frenzy" on the home page of MSN that links to a Styleite article that quotes my blog. Almost makes up for the fact that I never got my Jason Wu tote bag!

Jason Wu for Target will possibly be re-stocked...

Take this advice with a grain of salt, dear readers, because I'm not sure how reliable it is. According to Examiner.com, a Target staffer has advised shoppers looking for the Jason Wu line to "check for returns and restock online". And to do that, they suggest "bookmarking the Jason Wu for Target page on Target.com – and place “Jason Wu for Target” in the search box (exactly like that, including the double quotes) on Target.com’s search box at the top right-hand side of the website."

Now I get bookmarking the page, but the search term seem redunant, as you're already in the Jason Wu section. In fact, I just tried this, and all it does when you search on this term is to refresh the same page.

They claim that searching the term "returns an easily searchable list of items that give up-to-the-second restock data, such as whether the item is 'out of stoc online” or 'available in stores' "... but honestly, I don't know how up-to-date this information actually is. Before heading to the last Target on my list yesterday, I checked that store's availability on some items, and when I got there the items were gone. Yes, they could have sold out in the 10 minutes it took me to get there, or they could be in the dressing room with other shoppers... or more likely, the online stocking information is only updated by Target once a day.

UPDATE: Do NOT trust Target's "in stock at store" finder! My sweetheart of a husband went to a store 20 miles away today to try to get me the cat tote (which Target's site was IN STOCK at that store) and not only didn't they have it, but a store clerk told him that their store never got any in the first place :-(

My review of Wu...

They don't call me the "Target Addict" for nothing ;-) So after limited luck in store this morning, and a reader tip that the Redwood City (CA) store had a good selection of Jason Wu for Target (albeit in larger sizes) I made one more trip out today to see what I could find.

I'm glad I did, as I was able to find this daisy print dress (shown) in a smaller size than what I had ordered online. I also tried on a bunch of stuff in larger sizes, and here's my take:

* Everything seems to run large, which goes against past Target designer collabs. I also noticed that some of the dresses go all the way up to size 16, which I believe is a first for Target's designer offerings. While I think this is great news for us who aren't a "size zero", if you figured the sizing would be small (as I did) and sized up, you may be in for a shock.

* Furthermore, the sleeveless blouses fit super-boxy, and the pink dot long-sleeved blouse is see-thru (meaning you'll have to wear a cami underneath). Similarly, the striped t-shirt dress is pretty sheer, and I'm mystified why it wasn't made of cotton instead.

* As I believe one reader commented already, many of the blouses look like something my Grandma would wear ;-) While the young teens and 20-somethings can get away with the granny look, this style can look dated on the rest of us.

* Most of the blouses are made of ultra-cheap looking (and feeling) polyester. Memo to Target: I'd rather pay 20% - or even 30% - more for a silk or natural-fiber blend than cheap poly.

* The t-shirts, on the other hand, are made of rayon... which in my experience doesn't hold up well and usually has to be dry-cleaned. The label says you can hand wash it and line dry, but again, I haven't had great luck with rayon tees in the past. This is a "one season item" at best.

Sadly, I wasn't able to get the cute kitty tote, which was the item I REALLY wanted the most. And even more infuriating, I missed a clerk putting out 3 last kitty totes (from "the back", they said) when 3 other women rushed ahead of me. There's one jacked up on eBay right now with 17 bids for $128, and I'm sure it'll end up going for even more. I refuse to pay the eBay vultures a markup, no matter how much I want it, and will hopefully stumble upon a customer return in store someday.

Jason Wu whizzes out of stores

Well, dear readers, I'm afraid we have another Missoni debacle on our hands. After my first post this morning, I raced to the Mountain View, CA Target store, where I counted approx. 50 people already in line at 10 minutes to 8. Not wanting to bet those odds (as I'm sure those in line would pick clean whatever Wu was in stock) I quickly made it over to the Sunnyvale store... only to find that at 8:02am, all the Wu was gone :-(

I commiserated with several frustrated shoppers who came in after me about how Target had again let them down. One woman said she had tried to order online in the wee hours, only to have items "disappear" from her cart, much like what happened to many online shoppers with Missoni. Another shopper - who was lucky enough to nab herself the striped t-shirt dress - said she got there right as they opened the store, but found very little Wu on the racks in the firstplace. A Target clerk confirmed to me that their store had received VERY little stock, so she wasn't surprised that what they had was gone in two minutes.

After "stalking" some shoppers coming out of the dressing room, I was able to grab the gray lace t-shirt and this lovely scarf when someone returned it to the rack. I have to say that from the picture online, I would have passed on this scarf, but in person it's much more beautiful and intricate. I briefly considered trying a third Target store, but then realized it would be fruitless, and headed home instead.

Some of you have already written in to report similar incidents at your own Target stores: very limited stock, and greedy shoppers (probably eBay vultures) nabbing most of what was on the racks. A quick check online shows over 5,800 eBay listings under "Jason Wu Target" already, which is just plain disgusting. Target should really limit the amount of designer items one can buy at checkout. They've done this in the past on "bulk items" (like cases of Coke) so why not for other items as well?

I am thankful that I was able to place my early morning online order without any hiccups, otherwise I would be even more upset over my lack of luck in store. It looks as if most items are now soldout online. How about the rest of you out there? Did you score any Wu, or were you left emptyhanded?

Target's website hasn't crashed, but...

...I notice that 2-3 Jason Wu for Target items are already soldout online. And, curiously enough, some items that WERE previously available for order online - like this flared little black dress - are now mysteriously available "in store only". I had insomnia last night and so around 1:30 Pacific Time I order this dress as well as a couple of blouses. I have an order confirmation from Target, so hopefully these items will reach me. But many of the Wu items I want are available "in stores only"... so off I go to brave the possible crowds. I'll give you a full shopping report later today!

WWD hearts Target

The venerable Women's Wear Daily seems to heart Target... or at least the new Jason Wu for Target collection. Their "February Obsessions" includes the Wu line, which they give their stamp of approval:

"From Proenza Schouler to Thakoon to Rodarte, we never met a Target collaboration we didn't like. That said, we're especially excited for the retailer's latest designer, Jason Wu! Staying true to his feminine aesthetic, the collection is packed with sweet frocks, cute skirts, and lovely blouses. Though we're dying to get our hands on everything, our favorites include the Pleated Shift Dress ($40) in Blush Stripes, the Milu Print Scarf ($20), and the Woven Straw Mini Saddle Bag ($25) in Cream."

Not all Targets will carry Jason Wu...

I was reminded this morning that not all stores will carry the Jason Wu for Target line. While Racked.com has mapped out every single LA area store carrying the line, for other areas you'll need to head to the TargetStyle Facebook page. In the past, this information has been on Target's website, but now I guess they want you to sign up for their FB alerts. And on top of that, the "list" is organized by state, city and zip code - not street address. Meaning: if you're unsure of the location, you'll have to head back to Target's website and search their storefinder for the exact address.

Fab Find: Mossimo Sequin Knit Hat

Since this item is still available on Target's website, I thought I'd pass along my "thumbs up". This little hat may not look like much, but the sequins give it just enough "bling" to dress up whatever casual winter outfit you pair it with. It's also made of supersoft acrylic, which feels like cashmere. Another plus is that it actually fits my head, which may sound odd but many "skull cap" shapes like this actually "poof up" too much on top, making me look like a conehead ;-)

Although Target's website states this item isn't available in stores, that's where I found mine. And while Target's site has this cute cap on clearance for 50% off - at just $6.48 - I scored mine for even less: a paltry $3.88!

PS: Besides basic Black, it also comes in Gray as well.

Why I love Method brand...

Most people are familiar with the Method brand. Method makes home cleaning, personal care, and laundry products that (in their own words) "work, for you and for the planet, ones that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the nose". Their products clean without toxic chemicals, are safe and eco-friendly, and come in well-designed packaging.

So when I finally ran out of my stash of my favorite Method White Tea Body Wash - and noticed that Target's website indicated that all stores in my area were sold out of it - I wrote the friendly folks at Method to ask whether this fragrance had been discontinued, or whether they planned to bring it back. Not only did I get a response within 48 hours, but it was a personalized one as well:

Thanks so much for taking the time to write to us and for your interest in Method. We discontinued that line of body wash about two years ago. However, the good news is we're releasing a new line of creamy body wash in a few weeks, and white tea will be one of the fragrance choices. Check Target and online at www.methodhome.com in early February.

Hope that helps. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email me directly anytime. Take care and have a beautiful day!

Warmest regards,
Meagan

Thanks to Method, I'll eagerly await the debut of their new White Tea Body Wash. In the meantime, I'm using their Refreshing Body Wash in Sea Minerals (shown here) that has a fresh, beachy scent. You can try to get it at Target (where I nabbed it on clearance last week) or you can purchase it directly from Method's website.