Target + NM still available on Target.com

Sigh...  the randomness continues with the Target + NM collab.  I haven't been to Target yet today - so I'm not sure whether the collection has left stores or not - but a quick check of Target.com shows the collection still available online. Only thing is, now the return date is Jan. 15th (see screen grab at left) and not Jan. 5th as previously stated.  And over at Neiman-Marcus.com, the collection is finally discounted to 70% off, with a notice that these are now "final sale" items. Neiman-Marcus also seems to be sold out of many more items than Target, leading me to believe that Target had more inventory in the first place.

Target shifts focus to everyday staples...

Now that everyone's realized that their latest partnership with Neiman-Marcus and all those big-name designers was pretty much a flop, The Bullseye is shifting focus back to food items and household staples.  According to the Associated Press, Target plans to push its food, laundry detergent and other household necessities in a national ad campaign that pokes fun at high-fashion advertising by featuring models interacting with everyday products (as shown in this screen grab from one of the TV commercials).

In one ad, a model in a white dress and high heels struts by blueberry muffin and cake mix boxes that explode in different colors. Then she crushes an egg with her hand. "Dominate that PTA bake sale," a voiceover whispers. "The Everyday Collection. By Target." Another ad shows an $11.99 bottle of Tide laundry detergent and a model in a white dress dancing fancifully.  "We all yearn for something," says a voiceover as bubbles float by the model. "And that something is the other sock."

The campaign is part of a larger move by Target - better known for its cheap-chic clothing and home goods - to focus more on its grocery-store aisle. Walmart and other competitors also are expanding in that direction, which is why Target is following their lead.

UPDATE: to preview two of the commercials, head to A Bullseye View to view "The Matador" and "Laundry".

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/04/4524754/grocery-aisles-are-focus-for-target.html#storylink=cpy

Leftovers linger at Neiman-Marcus...

Yesterday my mom treated me to lunch at Neiman-Marcus at Stanford Shopping Center.  While there, we took the opportunity to browse a bit... and upstairs we spied a ton of leftover stock from the Target + NM holiday collab.  Shown here is just one of the many tables of merchandise we saw; there were also several racks of the Marchesa and Jason Wu girl's dresses and boy's rag&bone cardigans.  Curiously enough, the collection is only marked 50% off at NM, and not the 70% offered at Target.  Several readers have asked me what will become of the leftovers after Jan. 5th; I have no idea, and in perusing the TargetStyle Facebook Page, others are asking the same question and not getting a straight answer.

Double-Take: Mossimo vs. Moncler

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and match it up against a lookalike (and much pricier) designer piece. With Winter in full swing, I thought we'd take a look at a cold-weather staple: the puffer coat.  The problem with puffers is that they can add unwanted bulk, and let's face it, make you look larger than you'd like. That's why these versions - with a belt to cinch your waist - are brilliant.  Both come in black (as shown) as well as a deep wine color, and feature a detachable seatbelt-style belt.  But one is by Moncler (sold by Bloomingdale's) and is over $1000 (!!!) while the other is by Mossimo (at Target) and is less than $50.

And while you might be able to easily tell which-is-which by the stock photos, I still can't believe the price difference between these two coats.  So check the comments section for the answer!

Fab Find: Threshold Olive Bowl

As mentioned before, I'm a big fan of the Threshold line at Target.  IMHO, their offerings surpass many of the items in the Nate Berkus for Target collection, and they consistently keep introducing new items every few weeks.  So you can imagine my delight when I found this lovely little bird bowl sitting randomly on an endcap in the Home Decor section.  I was even more delighted when the bowl rang up on clearance for a paltry $1.79!  The sticker on the bottom calls it an "olive bowl", but I'll be using it on my nightstand to hold my jewelry instead.

Clearance Alert: Target + NM now marked down to 70% off

Attention shoppers!  If you've been hoping that the Target + Neiman-Marcus holiday collab would be reduced even further (from the 50%-off it was marked down to just before Christmas) then your wish has been granted. At my local Redwood City, CA store this morning, the entire collection was marked down to 70% off!  I can only assume that other stores are also reducing prices in order to clear this stuff out.

At that price, I broke down and got the Robert Rodriguez blouse (shown) for just $23.98. At my store, there were plenty of these still in stock, as well as the Lela Rose tops, the rag & bone sweaters, and the girl's Marchesa dresses.  Also in full supply were the Marc Jacobs Black scarf and Gold leather pouch, the Oscar de la Renta tote, the Carolina Herrera travel bags and stationery sets, the DVF jewelry boxes, the Altuzarra cocktail shakers and glass sets, and a ton of the Jason Wu ornaments.

Sadly, this sale doesn't seem to extend (at least not yet) to Target.com.     UPDATE: the sale now extends online to Target.com.  According to their website, Target also seems to be offering "free shipping" on all the items left in the NM collection.  But remember: regardless of the price, items from this collection have a return deadline of Jan. 5th for refunds.

Product Review: Maybelline's Baby Lips

Happy New Year, readers!  I don't know about you, but I always try to take advantage of some "Spring Cleaning" when the calendar turns to January.  So this week I'm tackling my makeup drawer and throwing out anything old and either replacing them with new stock or trying out new products.  One new product I tried recently was Maybelline's Baby Lips lip balm.  Previously I'd been using Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturizer when my lips were truly dry, and Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer when I wanted something with a little color to it.  Neutrogena's balm was pretty good, but I've never been thrilled with Burt's Bees, as it always seemed too waxy for me, plus had an overwhelming peppermint scent.  So after a lot of hype - I think Elle first broke the news 1 1/2 years ago that Maybelline planned to introduce Baby Lips late last year, and bloggers have been singing its praises ever since - I finally broke down and bought some for myself. 

My first purchase was a "two-fer" pack - probably a holiday stocking stuffer promotion - that I found on a Target clearance endcap about a week ago.  It contained two flavors: "Quenched" (shown here) and "Peach Kiss".  Quenched is clear, and has a faint lemon scent to it but no taste (as far as I can tell). Peach Kiss is a pale, shimmery peach-color with a slight peachy scent and taste (but again, very subtle, especially compared to other flavored offerings out there).  I thought both of them provided great moisture while feeling nice and light on my lips; the consistency isn't heavy, thick or waxy at all.  Plus, I was happy to discover they contain SPF-20 and are paraben-free.  The Peach one also delivered a lovely wash of color, so I went back to Target a couple of days later to pick up "Cherry Me", which looks bright red but goes on as a punchy pink. And unlike many "cherry flavored" balms, this one smells light and fresh without leaving any "chemical" taste in your mouth.

Baby Lips also comes in "Pink Punch", "Peppermint" and "Grape Vine", and retail for about $3.50 each.  I'm definitely a fan, and would recommend them if you want a light/non-greasy - yet deeply moisturizing - lip balm.