New at Target: Cupcakes & Cashmere Planners

While walking through Target the other day, I noticed a new endcap for 2020 Planners by lifestyle blogger and influencer Cupcakes & Cashmere. In cute prints (like Dalmatian dots and sporty stripes) these fun and functional planners are just $7.99 - $13.99 each, available in select stores and online on Target.com. You can also click here to discover some of C&C's favorite things to buy when she goes on a Target run.

The Target 20 collab hits the clearance racks...

If you've been waiting for the Target 20 collab to go on sale, now's the time. Yesterday I noticed the clothing (as shown here) crammed on a rack with a 'clearance' sign, but none of the price tags had markdown stickers on them yet so I wasn't sure what the discount was. Then I went to a different Target store today... same situation (in that the tags weren't marked down) but when I scanned the tags, the markdown was 30%.

I noticed very few housewares left; the bulk of the leftovers seemed to be the Harajuku Mini kids' clothing, several Lilly Pulitzer and Isaac Mizrahi dresses, a smattering of Missoni, and the Phillip Lim trench coats and leopard print items. I didn't find anything I wanted/needed, but will keep my eyes open for deals before this collab disappears from stores.

Fab Find: Universal Thread Leopard Belt

I picked up this stylish belt at Target the other day. I love that fact that it's not too skinny, yet not too wide. It'll be the perfect "pop" of leopard for my Fall outfits without being too overwhelming (as I sometimes feel when wearing animal-print clothing). Best of all, it's just $16.99, in stores and online.

The Target 20 returns are trickling in...

Did you miss out on a coveted item in the recent "Target 20" designer collab? If so, check your local stores, as the returns are trickling in. Actually, in some stores I've noticed them flooding in, like the rack shown here that was "sold out" of most items one week then fully packed the next.

Another thing... have you noticed that the quality/fabrications have changed this time around for some of the items? I purposely fanned out the Jason Wu Cat Scarf here because this is definitely one item that I can tell the quality has gone downhill. I have the original scarf, which is made of a soft polyester that mimics the look/feel of silk. The new version of this scarf feels rough, scratchy and cheap. I also don't recall the Patchwork Missoni Sweater Dress having a "sheen" to it, and I have noticed in stores that this item (plus the matching cardigan) seem to snag really easily.

And as we approach the one month mark since the debut of this collab, I wonder how soon the leftovers will hit the clearance racks - ?

Target ditches Simply Balanced & Archer Farms...

The other day I was bummed to discover that my fave Simply Balanced brand sparkling water (at Target) has been replaced with a new in-house brand called "Good & Gather". While G&G offers most of the same flavors I've grown to love (like this Ginger Peach variety) I'll miss the tall, elegant can from Simply Balanced.

That led me to some Googling, only to find that Target is in the midst of replacing both Simply Balanced and Archer Farms with their new flagship food brand Good & Gather. According to the Star Tribune, this new line will be Target's largest in-house brand across its store with more than 2,000 products to be rolled out over the next 18 months.

With Good & Gather, Target expects to increase its overall penetration of private-label sales in the grocery aisle. The new line, which has been in the works for a couple of years, will be free of artificial flavors and sweeteners, synthetic colors and high-fructose corn syrup. Some of the products will be similar to their Archer Farms and Simply Balanced counterparts, with some will be upgrades. For example, the lime flavor in the Simply Balanced sparkling water was allegedly reformulated to taste better in the Good & Gather version. Other products are completely new and are aimed at better addressing the changing tastes of today's consumers, such as avocado toast salad kits (with the mini-toasts serving as croutons) and beet hummus.

The downside to all this? With the expansion of Good & Gather in Target stores, some national brands might get less shelf space in the process.

Fab Find: "Not to be trusted..." Tee

Calling all Target fans! Check out this adorable tee I saw in stores last week. From Fifth Sun brand, now you can show your love for Tar-shay with this tee proclaiming "Not to be trusted alone at Target". Just $14.99 online and in select stores.

Target's 20th Anniversary Collection drops tomorrow; are you ready??

With much fanfare, around 300 retrospective pieces are returning from Target’s archives for the 20th Anniversary Collection that launches this Saturday. So what can you expect tomorrow? Well according to Vox, there will be “Black Friday level” excitement for this launch. I'll assume that the Missoni offerings in particular (pictured here) will be a sellout.

Now the fine print... the Anniversary Collection will be available at all Target stores and on Target.com beginning Sept. 14, while supplies last. Designer collections and items will vary by store and purchases are limited to 5 identical items (same size and color). Prices range from $7 to $160 and will be offered in sizes XS-3X for women, S-XXL for men, XS-XL for kids and 0-3M-5T for toddlers and babies.

The designs featured in the Anniversary Collection are listed below along with the years their collabs were released:

Michael Graves (1999-2013)
Philippe Starck (2002)
Stephen Sprouse (2002)
Isaac Mizrahi (2003-2009)
Erin Fetherston (2007)
Proenza Schouler (2007)
Thakoon (2008)
John Derian (2008, 2010)
Anna Sui (2009)
Rodarte (2009)
Stephen Burrows (2010)
Zac Posen (2010)
Harajuku Mini (2011-2012)
Missoni (2011)
Jason Wu (2012)
Philip Lim (2013)
Altuzarra (2014)
Lilly Pulitzer (2015)
Mariemekko (2016)
Hunter (2018)

What's your plan, readers? Will you stay up into the wee hours to buy these items on Target.com (fingers crossed their site doesn't crash!) or try to brave the potential lines at stores?  I for one will be sitting this one out. I still have some of my Missoni items, including the candle shown above, zigzag print wine glasses and coffee mug, and outside of a few stray items by the designers listed above, there isn't anything I want bad enough to battle the crowds for. 

New at Target: Levi's Red Tab

Target’s partnership with Levi Strauss & Co. goes back nearly a decade, when they first started selling DENIZEN® from Levi’s® jeans. The brand quickly became a Target staple, offering exceptional fit and style at a great price.

Now Target is expanding their denim portfolio to include the Levi’s® Red Tab label. Starting today, Target will offer a curated assortment of men’s and women’s Red Tab products in more than 50 stores across the country near college campuses and highly-trafficked urban locations. The assortment of Red Tab products featuring jeans, tops and jackets is also available on Target.com.

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Clearance Alert: Hearth and Hand with Magnolia

I've found that Target doesn't like to advertise when their Hearth and Hand line goes on sale. In other words, you usually won't see this brand on their yellow clearance endcaps (unless its just a couple of random items) and instead, they quietly put it on sale in plain sight. So if you look really closely at this pic, you'll see tiny yellow 30% off stickers blanketing this H&H selection. Target is probably clearing it out to make room for their latest Hearth and Hand offerings, coming Aug. 18th.

Fab Find: Project 62 Moroccan Shag Rug

I wish the picture here did this rug justice! I just bought this runner from Project 62 at Target, as well the matching 2x3' size. These rugs have rave reviews on Target.com, and I can see why: they look like something you'd find at West Elm or Pottery Barn. And the wool/nylon blend rug is durable, yet soft to walk on.

Here's the description from Target's website: Playful colors and textures in the Moroccan Wedding Shag Area Rug from Project 62™ are reminiscent of art deco and architectural styles. Harsh lines are softened by plush outlines, which create a mix of high and low pile throughout the carpet. You'll find this makes the perfect complement to most decor styles, as it has some texture and depth, but remains neutral. 

Target is bringing back 20 years of designer collabs...

Vogue reports that Target is celebrating 20 years of its Design for All program by reissuing 300 pieces from the original collaborations. This new collection will be available from September 14 for a limited period of time both in stores and online. A documentary about the program is in the works. There will be an exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York opening in October. And lifting the curtain on everything is a collectible Rizzoli book, being published on September 3.

Vogue reports that if you never got that goth-glam Rodarte dress from 2009, or ached for something from the coolster-prepster collection that Proenza Schouler had in 2006, or missed out on 2011’s Missoni-mania, here's your second chance. Shown here is an image from Target's Pop Art Stephen Sprouse collaboration from 2002. For the full list of designer re-issues and more information, check out this article on A Bullseye View.

Fab Find: Red, White & Blue Stacking Bowls

Target is have a sale in the Dollar Aisle: buy 3, get one free on everything (not just the Independence Day holiday gear). That's where I spied these adorable stacking bowls in patriotic colors with cute sayings like "dip dip hooray". Best of all, they're just $3 for a set of two.

Clearance Alert: Vineyard Vines

The Vineyard Vines for Target collection is now on clearance at 30% off - both in stores and online. While many of my local stores are pretty much sold out and don't have a dedicated VV display anymore, one store I visited today (East Palo Alto) did have a VV display at the front of the store with a decent selection of leftovers.

Targetgeddon: did you get caught in it yesterday?

Did you get caught in what Twitter dubbed "Targetgeddon" yesterday? On Saturday, the retailer faced a nationwide, 2-hour computer glitch, as outlined here by Time.com.

A company spokesperson said the outage was the result of a “an internal technology issue” and was not security related. “After an initial but thorough review, we can confirm that this was not a data breach or security-related issue, and no guest information was compromised at any time,” the spokesperson said. However, the outage caused a standstill at checkout lines all over the country, with many customers going to social media to share their in-store experiences as they waited for the payment systems to be back up and running.

I briefly witnessed the chaos; I stopped by a Target in another town (after a trip to the hair salon) to return a bunch of things,  only to find a frazzled store manager shouting to customers at the top of her lungs at the entrance that their entire system was down. She explained that the store was unable to do any transactions - purchases or returns - at this time, but that shoppers were welcome to shop anyhow and the store would "save" (or put on hold) their carts for them. Yeah, right.....who's gonna do that?? I quickly reversed my cart (with my returns) and went back to my car. 

How about you, readers? Did you get caught up in this mess, and if so, what was your experience?

New at Target: Versed

Target is adding a new skin care line to its beauty assortment. Their new brand Versed relies on powerful, clean ingredients that fight everything from dryness to acne to aging, Best of all, each item is under $20.

From cleansers to treatments to moisturizers, the collection is chock-full of proven ingredients like soothing eucalyptus oil, hydrating aloe leaf juice, brightening vitamin c and dozens more. Created as a cleaner alternative to traditional skin care solutions, Versed products were formulated without over 1,300 common toxins (move over sulfates, parabens and phthalates!), added colors and fragrances, and are vegan and cruelty-free.

The product packaging (made from low-waste materials) includes a set of prescriptive icons to help you pinpoint the right products for your skin. Plus, each item comes with helpful information about how to use the product, when to use it and why it’s an important part of a complete skin care regimen. Target’s in-store displays make selecting products even easier, with items grouped together by how they fit into your skin care routine: cleanse, seal, boost, treat, body.

You can shop Versed in Target stores or online at Target.com, at prices ranging from $9.99 to $19.99.

Target to try to limit higher prices...

USA Today reports that Target plans to lessen the impact tariffs will have on the retailer’s prices.

Company officials explained during the first-quarter analyst call on Wednesday that the Minneapolis-based big-box chain had contingency plans in place.

This month, the Trump administration increased the tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports from 10% to 25% and has threatened to add a 25% tariff on the majority of the rest of the $325 billion of merchandise the U.S. imports from China.

Target "has been able to manage through last year's tariffs with minimal impact, and we have plans in place to mitigate the impact of additional tariffs already scheduled for next month," said CEO Brian Cornell. "As always, we remain focused on being priced competitively every day, delivering value for our guests while judiciously managing our margins.

Vineyard Vines almost already sold out...

Good morning readers! Are you planning to shop the debut of Vineyard Vines x Target this morning? Well then I wish you luck, because online a majority of items are already sold out. And as with past Target collabs, the merch is already flooding eBay.

Now regular readers of my blog may recall that when I posted about this collab coming back in March, I wasn't too excited about it. Nonetheless, when I woke up at 12:45am last night (thank you, insomnia!) I grabbed my phone to scroll and find that several of the women's items were already sold out, including just about anything with the iconic 'whale' logo on it. Ditto on this tote that I wanted, that is $25 at Target but selling for $75 (and up) on eBay. In the wee hours I did manage to snag the navy polo shirt and the "Rough Seas" print dress, but a check this morning shows these items are now completely sold out.

The odd thing about this collab is that I didn't feel Tar-shay built up any "frenzy" around it like they did with past designer collections. For instance, I haven't been seeing the magazine ads leading up to the launch, nor the TV promos. In the past, The Today Show or GMA almost always did a segment the week before the launch, and there wasn't one (as far as I can tell this time.

And although the collab seems to be selling well, I can tell you who's NOT thrilled about it, and that's die hard Vineyard Vines fans. My BFF showed me screenshots the other day of Vineyard Vine's Twitter comments, and fans seem outraged that the brand would 'cheapen itself' by associating with Target. Some even went so far as to say they were going to dump all their VV stuff in protest and stop buying the brand.

So what about y'all out there? Will you be buying this collab, and if so, what items?

New at Target: Method Spring Scents

Method brand has debuted several new scents for Spring at Target, both in gel and foaming hand wash varieties. Scents include Marshmallow Cloud, Rainforest Bloom and Fresh Pineapple (shown here) as well Sea Breeze. All the bottles include artwork from Method's Limited Edition Art Collection, their collaboration with Creative Growth, a non-profit arts center for adults with disabilities based in Oakland, California.

Target is really pushing the new Auden line...

The other day I blogged about Target's new size-inclusive lingerie line Auden. Then I got to check it out in the store, and as you can see from this pic, Target is really pushing this new brand, dedicating a lot of floor space to it and making it look more like a "department store" line than a discount chain one. With the amount of room Auden is taking up, I noticed that some other brands - like Gilligan & O'Malley and Beauty by Bali - have disappeared, although they still seem to be offered online. The large Auden footprint also has sacrificed the amount of space dedicated to Athletic Apparel, which frustrates me as Target was already reducing the offerings of my favorite C9 by Champion brand.

Overall, I think that Auden is nicely displayed, and comes in a nice range of colors and styles. However, I also don't think it's anything that special compared to other Target intimate brands. And as one of my readers pointed out in the comments, the size range is still lacking in some sizes. What do you think, readers? Have you checked out Auden yet, and if so, are you a fan?

Fab Find: Vine Shower Curtain

I was walking through Target yesterday and had to do a double-take when I saw this eye-catching shower curtain in a graphic vine print. For a nano-second, I thought maybe Target had renewed it's collab with Orla Kiely,  But no, this pretty print is by Room Essentials, and it runs just $14.99. But today only, you can get it for only $11.24, during Target's one-day only Bedding and Bath Sale, available online only. 

Target capitalizes on Victoria's Secret's struggles...

CNN reports that Target has launched a new bra and underwear brand for women and teenage girls called Auden, with bras at $22 and under.

Target is attempting to woo customers tired of Victoria's Secret's push-up bras and sexy supermodel image. Its new brand will come in a broad range of sizes and its marketing campaign will feature women "in all different shapes and sizes." The company is also launching Stars Above, a pajama brand, and Colsie, a brand for teens to rival Pink.

Victoria's Secret, owned by L Brands, is still the biggest player in the lingerie business, but it has bled market share lately. The company has lost 3.8 million customers over the two past years to rivals like Amazon and Aerie.

Target Announces Collab With Vineyard Vines

Yesterday it was announced that Target will launch a new collab this Spring with the purveyor of preppy, Vineyard Vines.

Vineyard Vines was founded more than 20 years ago by brothers Shep and Ian Murray. Inspired by their summers spent boating in Martha’s Vineyard, the duo dreamed up a colorful clothing brand marked by their now-iconic little whale logo. "Our goal has always been to be a cross between Warren Buffett and Jimmy Buffett," the brothers have said of Vineyard Vines, which began with ties and now features an extensive assortment of classic prep staples like button-down shirts and khakis as well as denim, dresses, hats, and other accessories. Gingham, stripes, and florals are popular patterns.

The Target x Vineyard Vines collection, which will debut on May 18th, will include more than 300 pieces and span categories like home, clothing, accessories, even pets. There will be whale-embellished clothing for man, woman, child and dog. Sizes will range from XS to 3X for women, and prices start at $2 and max out at $120.

Now a couple of friends texted me about this yesterday, but I didn't feel inclined to blog about it immediately because to me, this collab is kind of a big "meh". I'm not a huge fan of Vineyard Vines in the first place; to me, they're an overpriced version of J Crew or Ralph Lauren. Also, in thinking back on Target's last couple of designer collabs, they've been hit or miss at best. Last year's collab was with Hunter, with the misfortune of having to halt release of the women's rain boots - the crown jewel of the collection - due to poor quality. And the year before that, Target's collab with Victoria Beckham certainly wasn't the sellout they had hoped for. All this leads me to believe that Target has lost their edge when it comes to these partnerships, so I don't have a lot of faith that this newest collab will deliver. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong on this one!

Fab Find: Dollar Spot Grow Kits

Target's Dollar Spot usually carries some sort of "grow kit", depending on the season. During the Holidays, they offered Christmas Basil and Mini-Pine plants. For Spring, Tar-jay has a selection of succulents and cacti; I also saw an aloe plant. They come in a cute grow pot, and best of all, they're just $3 each!

New at Target: Oreo "Most Stuf"

Are you in the camp that thinks the creme filling is the BEST part of Oreo cookies? Well then Target has a new product for you: Oreo "The Most Stuf". Since this is a limited-time only edition, shipping isn't available, so check your local stores for availability.

Fab Find: Target Novelty Valentine's Candy

Just like they did for Christmas, Target has brought back their mid-aisle holiday gift displays to push Valentine's merchandise. While I'm not a fan of these displays, it is where I spied some cute novelty candy offerings, like these marshmallow "fries" which would be perfect for any "galentines" on your list. Best of all, they're just $1.99 per pack!

Coming Soon to Target: Leanne Ford Lighting

Interior designer Leanne Ford - the vision behind Leanne Ford Interiors and co-host of HGTV’s “Restored by the Fords” - is teaming up with Target to shed light on one often-overlooked detail that can totally transform your home. “Lighting is everything,” says Leanne. “It's one of the most important elements in a space, if not the most important. And if you pick the right piece, it doubles as a work of art.” 

That's why Leanne’s created a limited-time collection of modern (and affordable) lighting options for Project 62 at Target. Project 62 + Leanne Ford boasts more than 30 simple, elegant pieces—from table and floor lamps to pendant and sconce fixtures—all designed with extra touches like fabric-covered cords and perfect bulbs. Watch for the collection to arrive in Target stores and on Target.com beginning Feb. 10.

New at Target: Smartly

Last Fall I told you about Smartly: a new essentials and personal care brand coming to Target aimed at the budget-conscious and space-constrained shopper with most items priced less than $2. Recently the brand has finally started rolling out into stores, and I'm seeing more displays (like this one shown here) showcasing the new products.

I'm still trying to figure out whether Smartly will replace (or at least reduce) the offerings from  up&up - Target's in-house brand created 10 years ago to deliver performance and value when compared to national-brand products.

Sale Alert: La Roche Posay

Target is having a BOGO on all La Roche Posay products this week - buy one, get one 25% off. This is a great opportunity to stock up on this brand's superior (but pricey) sunscreen products, like the SPF 50 Mineral Ultra Light Face Formula shown here.

My Review: Honest Beauty Lash Primer & Mascara

Back in 2016, I reviewed a couple of Honest Beauty products in anticipation of Target eventually carrying them (which they started to in March of 2017).  Since then, I've always meant to to go back and review the brand's Extreme Length Lash Primer & Mascara, and I finally got to do so this week.

I recall that every time I went to try this mascara, it was sold out on Target's website. And I don't think it was widely available in stores until the brand relaunched last summer with all-white packaging. I'm not sure if the formulation of the product changed from the original, but the current offering is highly rated on Target's website. Unfortunately, I had a different POV. 

It's not that the product is bad. It's just that it's 'meh' - nothing special. To me, it was your standard mascara/primer in one. And for dual products, it falls short of comparable products I've tried like L'oreal's Double Extend Mascara. Of course, part of the allure of Honest Beauty's version is that it's formaldehyde-free, phthalate-free, propylparaben-free, butylparaben-free, formaldehyde donor-free, nonylphenol ethoxylate free, and not tested on animals. So if you have sensitive eyes or allergies, it's worth a try; I just wasn't overly impressed by it. For me, it just didn't do much to lengthen or maximize my lashes. 

As an aside: I'm wondering if Honest Beauty might be leaving Target - ? This crossed my mind because Target.com (as well as stores) seems to be out of many of this brand's products, and I see they are now available for sale in their own shop on Amazon, in addition to the Honest Beauty website. 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, dear readers! Have you been shopping any of the after-Christmas sales at Tar-jay? I didn't really strike any deals there until today. Shown is my new Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Bud Vase (small size) that I scored for just - wait for it - 69-cents! It was 90% off (regularly $6.99) and my local Target had at least a dozen of them left. I also got the larger size (regularly $9.99) for just 99-cents.

How about y'all out there? Have you scored any great Target clearance deals lately?