Beach House Chic

Target's latest Threshold collection of home decor definitely has a "beachy" vibe to it. From pillows with starfish and seashell motifs in cool ocean hues, to sea urchin urns and whitewashed wicker stools, this selection definitely screams 'summer'.

And if you're looking for a brighter color palette, in stores I've noticed that Target is featuring a nautical collection in magenta pink and denim blue, like this kitchy striped lobster pillow.

Target remodels with "lifestyle settings"...

Remember the "vignette" style of displays I told you about back in December?  Well it looks like they tested well, and Target is now rolling them out to stores nationwide. My local store (shown here) is going through the remodel, and I have to say they've done a good job with it. Besides the home furnishings/decor department, my store also has these displays in kitchen/housewares and bed and bath. The idea is to showcase Target products in a "lifestyle setting" to allow customers to imagine now the products might look together in their own home.

How about you, readers? Has your local store been remodeled yet, and if so, do you welcome the change?

New at Target: Target Collective

Today Target introduces Target Collective, the retailer’s first curated design-focused collection tailored to men. According to A Bullseye View, this limited-edition assortment – a mix of the brands’ existing products and items co-created in partnership with Target’s internal design team – provides access to impeccably-crafted, U.S.A.-made goods including hand-tooled leather belts, durable canvas bags, graphic tees and irreverent stationery from partners Billykirk, Owen & Fred, Taylor Stitch, Duluth Pack, Locally Grown and Terrapin Stationers.

All of the Target Collective brands have compelling “About Us” tales to tell, from Duluth Pack’s 19th-century heritage to Terrapin’s triumph over the digital age. And Billykirk was founded by two brothers with a passion for built-to-last leather goods that get better with age. Priced from $10 to $270, Target Collective will be available on Target.com starting March 15.

My take, after viewing the products online, is as follows:

Billykirk seems to have some nice handcrafted leathergoods, which is reflected in their price points.  

Owen & Fred has some fun, kitchy men's accessories, a few of which (like the luggage tag and laundry bag) can be unisex. 

Taylor Stitch may be well made and durable, but at $45 for a plain t-shirt and $98 for a pair of chinos, I don't think this stuff is going to fly off of shelves. 

Duluth Pack has even higher price points than Billykirk, mostly $100 and up. It may be "handcrafted since 1882", but I'm not sure it fits Target's demographic. 

Locally Grown is a selection of t-shirts and trucker hats, reasonable priced. 

And Terrapin Stationers has some cute offerings, but they cost at least double what Target's in-house stationery costs (and Target's brands have some quirky, fun motifs of their own).

Overall, I think this is a collection aimed at gifts for dads & grads, and a niche few who may want something handcrafted and original. But if that's the case, then why not just order directly from these retailers vs. Target?

Coming Soon to Target: Tori Praver Seafoam

Swimwear designer Tori Praver will soon debut a new line available exclusively on Target.com. Called Tori Praver Seafoam, the 30-piece collection of mix-and-match bikini separates and swimsuits features soft, sun-warmed colors, exotic prints and Tori’s signature ruching technique.

Tori (who grew up in Maui) launched her eponymous label in 2009, and became an instant favorite with the fashion press and discerning resortwear retailers. The Seafoam collection for Target will embrace everything the designer is known for: durable fabrics, alluring, vintage pin-up girl details and refined, feminine silhouettes.

For a short Q&A on her upcoming Target collab, check out this article on A Bullseye View. The Tori Praver Seafoam collection - priced from $24.99 – $54.99 - will debut on Target.com starting mid-April.

Double-Take: Birkenstock vs. Mossimo

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it against it a pricier designer piece. The Birkenstock (or comfort footbed sandal) trend isn't going away anytime soon, so today we're looking at two very similar options. Only one of them are actual Birkenstocks (available at Nordstrom) and will set you back $134.95, whereas the other is Mossimo's version (at Target) and costs just $24.99. That's over $100 less! Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

Target's Transformation...

Target's new CEO Brian Cornell is planning a transformation for The Bullseye. He is the retailer's first CEO to be recruited from outside the company, and faces the huge task of revitalizing a brand that's recently seen such setbacks as a retreat from the Canadian market and a major hacking incident. A lengthy profile in Fortune provides details on Cornell's background, and Racked.com has posted some of the highlights:

* Improving Target's apparel, home decor and beauty offerings are priorities for Cornell. "The categories we’re going to stand for, the ones I call our signature categories—they’re the ones that can differentiate the brand going forward. So you’ll see us elevate our focus around our style categories, apparel, home, beauty—critically important categories for our guest—and we think we can differentiate in that space," he said. 

* Cornell is the first Target CEO to attend New York Fashion Week. 

* Cornell made the call to shutter all of Target's Canada stores after he took a solo trip to visit Targets in Montreal the Saturday before Christmas and found them painfully empty. 

* In some Target stores, Cornell is testing out replacing those $1 bins with a "first impressions" area that highlights certain items. 

* He's giving himself three years to deliver on the improvements he wants to make at Target. He tells Fortune, "there’s nothing we’re talking about where someone’s going to say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen that before...they will add up to a very bold change for the brand and the business … If we execute the plan over the next few years, you will say, ‘Boy, Target made a huge transformation.’

New at Target: Sonia Kashuk's Spring 2015 Collection

Today  is supposed to be the launch of Sonia Kashuk's new Spring 2015 line, but so far the products aren't available yet on Target.com nor Sonia's site. According to Target's official press release, the collection will include a new scent in her Bath & Body line called "White Etheriana", described as "a fresh, light scent with top notes of Sicilian lemon, Brazilian acai and tulip accord. The sweet mid notes of provence mimosa, bamboo and dewy violet combine with patchouli, tree moss, peach skin and musk to sensually round out the scent.".

The collection will also offer new beauty tools including the Brush Couture Five-Piece Brush Set, a Synthetic Concealer Brush, a Contour Brush, a Precision Pencil Brush and Full Allure False Eyelashes. There will also be new Spring shade additions to SK's current lip color and nail polish lines, and the introduction of a limited-edition "Sahara Sunset" collection (shown here).

UPDATE: Sonia's new Spring line is now available on Target.com, and on A Bullseye View you can read more about her Art of Beauty line – a collaboration with her longtime friend and legendary artist Linda Mason .