Sonia Kashuk Fall 2013 Limited Edition Collection

Sonia Kashuk has posted this collage (shown) on her blog of her Fall 2013 Limited Edition Collection, available exclusively at Target and on Target.com. Among the new items for Fall:

* The Fall Brush Up 10-piece brush set, with pretty purple tips

* The Fall In Love 3-piece mini nail color set, including "Wine and Dine", "Poison" and "Stormy Waters"

* New Couture Brush Kits in various sizes and vivid patterns

* An updated version of her Completely Organized Bag

Target's in-house brand book...

Target has posted a fun online guide to their in-house brands, including product pictures and the year each brand was established. In addition to the brands shown here, it also includes Market Pantry, Up&Up, Xhilaration and Gilligan & O'Malley.

I did happen to notice that Target's newest brand - the grocery line  Simply Balanced - wasn't included for some reason. If you haven't tried this brand yet, may I recommend their "Parmesan & Rosemary" popcorn; this snack isn't overly salted like some flavored popcorns, and contains only 35 calories per serving.

Clearance Alert: Method's "Tomato Vine" Cleaning Products

Yesterday at Target I notice several shelves of Method's seasonal scent "Tomato Vine" - done up in Orla Kiely's cute green print - on clearance for 30% off.  This pic captures just a small portion of the amount of product that was on sale, as in addition to the hand wash, the dishwashing liquid and all-purpose spray cleaner were also included. Since this was a limited-edition item, you should stock up now if you're a fan of this scent before it's gone for good.

Cool collabs at Target and beyond...

Already tired of the FEED USA + Target line, and longing for other cheap/chic thrills? Here's a quick rundown of other designer collabs on the horizon:

Lulu Frost for J.Crew: Lusting over this designer’s jewelry, but find $800 too pricey for a necklace? Find discount versions at J.Crew, where the New York-based line has joined forces with the company to offer limited-edition beautiful baubles for $300 and less. Some are even already on sale! Available now at www.Jcrew.com.

Liberty of London for NikeiD: Take your favorite Nike sneaker, add a fun Liberty print and choose your own swoosh, lining, laces and sidewall colors for the prettiest sneaker we’ve ever seen. Already available at www.Nike.com for $130 - $150.

Rihanna for River Island: The singer’s collab with the British label is slated to hit stores and online Sept. 12th. The ’80s fall looks, including pretty much everything from undies to leather jackets, will range from $15 - $300.

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target: A New York Fashion Week favorite, Lim’s modern looks are set to hit Target racks on Sept. 15th. Expect more than 100 items including handbags, dresses, shoes and coats, with menswear and travel accessories, too. Prices will range from $19.99 - $299.99.

Catherine Malandrino for Kohl’s: For the third edition of Kohl’s limited-edition DesigNation series, the Parisian designer is set to launch a collection in late September/early October featuring dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, sweaters and outerwear priced from $36 - $130. Shown here is a sketch from the upcoming line.

Isabel Marant for H&M: Dream of dressing like those chic Parisian girls with beaucoup bucks? On Nov. 14th, the styles of icon Marant will be available at H&M, featuring clothing and accessories for women, teens and – for the first time from this designer – for men.

L’Wren Scott for Banana Republic: High-end luxury designer L’Wren Scott (aka Mick Jagger’s girlfriend) is partnering with Banana Republic for a holiday collection including blouses, jean dresses, jackets and accessories, ranging from $39.50 - $165, hitting stores and online on Dec. 5th, just in time for Christmas.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/07/29/2912262/12-cool-collaborations-not-to.html#storylink=cpy

Fab Find: Mossimo Polka Dot Dress

The blogosphere is all abuzz about the new Royal Baby, drawing parallels between Kate Middleton's baby blue polka dot dress and the one that Princess Diana wore 31 years ago to introduce Prince William. Kate's dress - by British designer Jenny Packham - turns out to be custom-made and not for sale. But lo and behold, I found a budget-version at Target! Check out this blue, scoop-neck, dotted dress by Mossimo. At just $22.99, it also comes in a variety of other colors and prints.

Umberto gets a makeover...

The Umberto Beverly Hills line of haircare products has had a makeover. The line by veteran master stylist Umberto Savone has been sold at Target since 2006, and as he explained to Racked.com, "After eight years, it was time for a change. We wanted to refresh it." The previously-gold colored bottles now boast a new silver hue, a more user-friendly color-coded system and a sleeker shape.

Since his products are manufactured in Los Angeles - not too far from his Beverly Hills salon - Savone says "we have control over everything in the bottle." Along with the updated packaging, several products also got a sulfate-free formula upgrade.

Orla Kiely returns to Target...

Orla Kiely fans will recall the fanfare when the Irish designer teamed up with Target back in 2009 for the Orla Kiely for Target home collection. The colorful, energetic assortment - which was soon a sellout - included items such as printed laundry bags, plates, tapered totes and tablecloths.

Then last Fall, Orla collaborated with Method on pretty-patterned bottles for their hand wash and gel products, available exclusively at Target. That collab continued this Spring, with new colors, prints and scents.

Now Orla is teaming up with Target yet again, this time to debut a fun, feminine collection of iPhone and iPad accessories. Shown here is a preview, and you can read a short interview with Orla about the design inspiration for this line here on A Bullseye View.

Clearance Alert: Sonia Kashuk's Spring Kits

Your local Target stores should have Sonia Kashuk's Limited Edition Kits (from her Spring line) on clearance for 50% off.  Items include, from top to bottom:

• "Part of the Tribe" brush and clutch kit (regularly $24.99, now $12.99)
• "Brush with Fame" hair brush set (regularly $24.99, now $12.99)
• "A Powerful Punch" mini nail-color set (regularly $9.99, now 4.99)

Beyonce hearts Target...

Guess which celebrity loves her some Target? None other than mega-star Beyonce! Yes, you read that right. Beyonce was spotted at a Houston Target store yesterday, checking out the accessories section.

Several people tweeted an image of the diva investigating hats in the accessories department with a shopping cart, complete with bodyguards lingering nearby. She had sunglasses on, but other than that appeared like a normal, bargain-hunting customer.

Target goes big for Back-to-School...

With Target stores already converting their patio & garden section to Back-to-School merchandise, it's no surprise that they plan to go big this year with their BTS promotions. WWD reports that Target will join the campus crowd with a freestanding glass-enclosed live dorm room custom-built on five college grounds in August and September. Fully-furnished with Target products, students who visit the structures will receive store coupons.

Another promotion - called "BullseyeUniversity.com" - sounds like an online version of “Big Brother". From July 15-18, popular YouTube personalities will co-exist in dorm rooms (furnished with shoppable Target merchandise) and be broadcast live on YouTube. The roommates - chosen based on their online reach and appeal to college-aged students - include Chester See, a producer, actor, musician and entrepreneur; Meekakitty (Tessa Violet), a vlogger, guitar-player and music video maker; Magic of Rahat, YouTube’s premier magician and prankster; Brooke “Dodger” Leigh, a gamer and DIY “nerd-craft”-obsessive, and Clothes Encounters (Jenn Im), fashion vlogger of style musings, tutorials and lifestyle advice. Shoppers can interact with the roommates, who will be gathered in the communal lounge when not hanging out in their own rooms. 

Target will also sponsor after-hours shopping events for incoming freshmen at select colleges and universities across the country. During August and September, about 90,000 students will be conveyed by bus from their campus to Target stores for entertainment, offers and shopping.

And for you DIY types: check out this feature on A Bullseye View with style ideas for your dorm room based on your fashion sense, be it boho, sporty, punk or glam (shown). Keep in mind the article is a couple of years old now - so the exact items featured probably won't be available anymore - but it can still provide some helpful design inspiration.

Reminder: Today is Target's "Bonus Black Friday"

Just a reminder that today is Target's "Bonus Black Friday", and you can check out the deals here on their website.  Some of the deals seem more like summer-season closeouts, with deep discounts on items like patio furniture and gas grills.  But here's an item worthy of buying now and saving for Christmas gift-giving: the complete DVD series of "Friends" for just $99.99 (regularly $202.98).  This even beats Amazon's price of $144.99.

Target's Bonus Black Friday deals run today & tomorrow - online only - and also includes "buy one, get one 50% off" on men's & women's clothes and shoes, and "save 20% when you spend $50 or more" on kids' clothing and shoes.

Double-Take: Pottery Barn vs. Target

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and match it against a lookalike - yet more expensive - piece. Today we have two similar large glass jugs (approx. 21.5" high) that can be used either as a vase or just on it own as a decorative accent.  But one of them is from Pottery Barn and weighs in at a whopping $149, whereas the other is from Target and only costs $44.99.  Which one is which?  The answer appears in the comments section below.

Target passes on partnerships this Holiday season...

According to the StarTribune, Target won’t be launching a another design partnership for this upcoming holiday season. While The Bullseye hasn’t completely ruled it out, creating an extensive line in time for December would be highly impractical asTarget normally needs a year or so to plan such an ambitious project. “We have no current plans for a holiday design partnership,” Target spokeswoman Katie Boylan said.

Target’s decision not to deploy its most potent weapon for the most crucial sales period of the year follows its failed collab with Neiman Marcus last Christmas season. Despite an ambitious collection — 50 products from 24 top designers — the collab fell flat with consumers. Weak sales forced Target to sell off excess inventory by slashing prices, something that in past years would seem unthinkable for the savvy purveyor of cheap n' chic.

By selling the collaboration through the first weeks of December, Target executives hoped to drive people into stores during a relatively slow period in the holiday season. The collection was meant to create excitement and allow Target to shift holiday shopping to something other than the lowest price.

In the end, Target executives say the Neiman Marcus partnership didn’t work for a variety of reasons. First, it was complicated, both from a marketing and inventory perspective. It was unclear whether Target and Neiman Marcus were selling the designers or selling themselves. Also, Target’s decision to start marking down merchandise left Neiman Marcus, a luxury retailer, in an awkward position since they sold the same products.

Target co-founder dies...

Target co-founder Douglas Dayton died Saturday at the age of 88. Dayton was the inspiration for the first Target stores and oversaw the development and early growth of the concept of an upscale discount store. Dayton served as Target's first president in 1961, and a year later opened the first Target stores in the Twin Cities communities of Roseville, Crystal, St. Louis Park and Knollwood.

After eight years of leading the Target business, Dayton returned to the corporate headquarters when his family owned department business merged with the J.L. Hudson Company in 1969 to form Dayton Hudson. After spending several years as a senior vice president there, Dayton retired in 1974. But the groundwork Dayton laid for Target helped establish a brand identity and unique value proposition that allowed the retailer to flourish. 

Dayton was the youngest of five brothers who joined his father’s department store business after being wounded in combat during World War II. Dayton is survived by his wife Wendy, his four children and six grandchildren.

Fab Find: Target's Market Tote

Forget FEED USA's burlap bags: I found something better (and cheaper!).  While at Target today, I found this "Market Tote Bag" (in the seasonal section) marked down to just $4.98 (regularly $9.99).  This roomy tote not only has bright coral cotton handles to coordinate perfectly with its woven jute exterior, it also has a convenient inner-pocket to hold essential items.

Happy 4th of July!

Hello Readers!  Happy 4th of July!! July 4th is one of those rare holidays when Target actually IS open, so feel free to hit up The Bullseye today for any of your last-minute celebration needs.

As for me: one of the things I'm doing this Independence Day is cooking up a batch of red velvet cupcakes with this cute nautical-themed decorating kit from Spritz (at Target). It includes 12 blue paper cupcake liners, red scalloped cupcake holders, and red and blue anchor toothpicks. I nabbed it on a clearance endcap yesterday ($3.48, down from $5) so there might be some left at your local store, too, if you're interested.

FEED USA + Target not made in the U.S.A...

Just in time for Independence Day is my revelation that none of the items from the FEED USA + Target collab are made in the U.S.A.  This probably shouldn't come as a shock, but it would have been nice if in addition to supporting domestic hunger-relief this collection was actually manufactured in the U.S., thereby creating jobs here as well.

Also no surprise: Target doesn't disclose this information on their website.  Under the details for each item, the country of origin is not listed, which led me to do some digging on my own. Shown here are closeups of some of the store tags I snapped today. I checked tags on clothing, housewares and kitchenwares, and all of them were made outside the U.S. - primarily China, although Indonesia, Vietnam and India also showed up.

Double-Take: Cost Plus World Market vs. Threshold

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and pair it up with a similar - yet pricier - piece. Today we have two trendy mercury-glass lamps, a stylish lighting accessory currently shown at retailers like West Elm. The two shown here are more wallet-friendly than West Elm's offerings, although there's still a price delta here. One is from Cost Plus World Market and will set you back almost $50, whereas the other is from Threshold (at Target) and is only $27.99.  Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

Fab Find: Nate Berkus Trinket Box

A couple of weeks ago I alerted you that the latest Spring collection from Nate Berkus was already on clearance at Target. Now that collection seems to even more deeply discounted, at least at my local store.  That's where I nabbed this nifty little chevron-patterned wooden box for just $3.98 (down from $12.99).  I also scored a stylish storage basket for just $5.98 (down from $19.99).