Target

RSVIP: Target Turns Standard Hotel into a Starry Close Encounter

If you were turned away at the Standard Hotel on Wednesday, August 18, blame Target.

The hip and successful, if downscale, fashion purveyor rented all the rooms on the south face of the architecturally spectacular hotel that straddles the High Line, a set of defunct railway tracks turned into an above-ground park in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. For one night only, Target transformed the rooms of the hotel into a Spielberg-worthy light, fashion, and dance spectacular.

"It's a really fun twist on a traditional fashion show," explained Trish Adams, Sr., Vice President of Merchandising, Apparel and Accessories for Target. "Yes, we rented the hotel, we booked the rooms, and it is a fashion show and light show choreographed to music with 66 dancers working in the windows of the hotel rooms with a runway show at street level."

For celebrities such as Mary-Louise Parker of "Weeds" fame, "Gossip Girl" hunk Penn Badgley and 30 Rock's Katrina Bowdin, grandstands cushioned with yellow pillows were built across the street from the edgy-stylish Standard Hotel Biergarten. And a tower modeled after the hotel was added as a runway for models wearing Target fall fashion.

But, do the glitterati even shop at Target? Apparently, yes. "I shop there for the entire family," admitted Nina Garcia, a judge on "Project Runway," now pregnant with her second child. And as for Garcia herself, "I love Liz Lange," she said, referring to the queen of maternity wardrobe, who designs that entire Target department.

Tags: mary louise parker, nina garcia, penn badgley, rsvip, target

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Justin Timberlake's William Rast Line To Be Sold At Target

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

William Rast, the clothing line founded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala is the latest to go the Target route. A limited edition of apparel for men and women will launch in December at most Target stores nationwide and will also be sold online. The collection will only be available from December 19 to January 22, 2011.

The brand was first dreamed up by Timberlake and Ayala in 2005 as a new denim label. The line launched the following year and has since expanded into leather jackets, outerwear, wovens and knits. The brand is sold in department stores including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales as well as several William Rast retail stores.

Tags: celebrity fashion lines, justin timberlake, Target, Target Corp., Trace Ayala, william rast

Jean Paul Gaultier Collection Debuts At Target

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Today marks the debut of the Jean Paul Gaultier Designer Collaborations line at Target. The French designer is perhaps most famous in the States for styling Madonna for her "Blonde Ambition" tour but he has also the house designer for Hermès. Gaultier's line for the American department store is designed to pay "homage to the wide range of personalities that make up the diverse styles of American women." The line includes simple pieces like a black strapless dress, belted trench coat and a classic Gaultier striped shirt. Other styles include tattoo leggings and a tattoo-print t-shirt, swimsuits and a cropped leather jacket, the most expensive piece at $199.99.

Will Gaultier succeed at Target? There is a possibility that some of the pieces may be to edgy to connect with the core Target shoppers. It also tends to depend on the store. Targets in more fashion-friendly places will probably sell out fast but in certain Targets I saw the recent Rodarte collection lingering in the clearance racks, so a designer name is by no means a slam dunk for fast fashion success at Target.

Gallery: Jean Paul Gaultier For Target

Tags: jean paul gaultier, jean paul gaultier target, Target

Target Buys Smith & Hawken

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Last summer garden and outdoor entertaining company Smith & Hawken went through a rough time. Corporate parent Scotts Miracle-Gro Company said that it would call in the liquidators for its 56 stores unless the brand was sold. Now comes the news that Target has acquired the Smith & Hawken brand and other intellectual property from Smith & Hawken. Target already sells Smith & Hawken's outdoor furniture and other lines. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed but Scotts had bought Smith & Hawken for $68.5 million in 2004.

Tags: smith and hawken, smith hawken, SmithAndHawken, SmithHawken, target

How Does Your Garden Grow, Bette Midler?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green

Our sister blog, WalletPop recently interviewed the fabulous Bette Midler on her New York Restoration Project. The non-profit, which works to revitalize parks and public spaces throughout New York City, built a community garden in one of New York's toughest neighborhoods, in the Bronx. The garden opened October 6 and will also host cooking demonstrations, gardener workshops, summer concerts and community movie nights.

Most of the plots of land will go to school children at neighboring P.S. 73 so they can learn more about gardening. Midler is working on establishing green jobs in New York City and the New York Restoration Project has a goal to plane one million trees in New York in ten years. They recently celebrated the planting of the 250,000th tree. Target has funded the project, backing both the Target Community Garden in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn which opened in 2007 and the Target East Harlem Community Garden which opened in 2008 Target also established a fund to help maintain the gardens. Check out more from Midler in the video above.

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Tags: bette midler, BetteMidler, blogactionday, community gardens, CommunityGardens, green, new york city, new york restoration project, NewYorkCity, NewYorkRestorationProject, nyrp, target

Coach Sues Target Over Copycat Bags

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Coach and Target are at it again. In 2006 the luxury handbag brand took on the retailer over designs that looked similar to their offerings and that case ended in a private settlement. Now Coach is ready to step back into court with Target over a fresh set of designs that look just a little too close to their own much-more-expensive offerings. Coach filed a complaint last week in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. At issue are Coach's Ergo bags and the Signature Patchwork bags similar to the one shown at right. Coach says that starting this summer Target began to sell knockoffs of these bags.

The craze for the handbags has lead to a rapid uptick in a lookalikes in the past few years. Once a popular style hits the mainstream it is rapidly copied. While out-and-out counterfeits are illegal and relatively easy to identify the business of similarity is far muddier. Earlier this year Gucci took on Guess? Inc. for trademark infringement saying that the company's use of the "g" logo and interlocking G pattens were too similar and damaging to the Gucci brand. Both Coach and Gucci are seeking similar resolution in the form of damages, attorneys fees and injunctions against selling the similar designs.

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Tags: coach, copycat, handbag, lawsuit, legal, target

Anna Sui Designs For Target

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Designs from Anna Sui will be available at Target for a brief window of time this fall. She becomes the second designer to be part of Target's Designer Collaboration series, following Alexander McQueen. Sui will be creating a collection that is inspired by the television show Gossip Girl. The line will be on sale from September 13 through October 17.

Choosing a popular TV show will likely help Sui's line appeal to those who may not recognize the designer's name. As the WWD piece points out, Target's female clothing buyers tend to fall into two types, the trendy shoppers who are attracted by designer collaborations such as this and those featured in the Go International series and shoppers who are more interested in the more mainstream designs from Mossimo and Merona that form the bulk of Target's clothing. The short term collaborations attract attention and interest but it is the other lines that make the most sales and Target seems to be feeling the loss of Isaac Mizrahi who designed for the store for years. Is there a designer out there who can match Mizrahi's ability to combine wearability with a soupcon of flair to reinvigorate Target's clothing selections over the long haul?

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Tags: anna sui, AnnaSui, target

Cheap Chic: Orla Kiely Comes to Target

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

In her line of retro-inspired kitchen gear, Orla Kiely brings her trademark bold prints to Target early this February. The collection includes items you may expect -- plenty of cute and kitschy servingware, trays, coasters, table linens. But there are also supplies for closet organization (finally, cute looking shoe storage), a crisp little apron and plenty of other accessories.

Despite Revolutionary Road's rather anti-suburban message, Kate Winslet would look good in those matching oven mitts.

[via Apartment Therapy]

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Tags: cheap chic, CheapChic, kate winslet, KateWinslet, kitsch, orla kiely, OrlaKiely, revolutionary road, RevolutionaryRoad, target

Cheap Chic: Thakoon to Design for Target

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Thakoon Panichgul is the latest designer to collaborate with Target, according to WWD, in what is promised to be a print-heavy collection that will debut at Christmas. Favored by fashion insiders since his debut in 2004, Thakoon has reached a much broader audience after Michelle Obama donned his design at her husband's acceptance of the Democratic nomination for President.

It becomes one of those chicken-before-the-egg conundrums: much wider audience, then the collaboration with Target or vice versa?

[via WWD]

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Tags: michelle obama, MichelleObama, target, thakoon

Cheap Chic: Anya Hindmarch for Target

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

In its latest design collaboration, mass-retailer Target has teamed with handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, famous most recently for her cheeky and impossible-to-get "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" tote. This group of faux patent bags is a bit more styled and features options ranging from an oversized clutch to a chic yet roomy tote. Though the collection won't hit stores until October 12, shoppers will be able to purchase online at Anya Hindmarch's site from October 8 through October 12. Mouses, on your marks.

[via Racked LA]

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Tags: anya hindmarch, AnyaHindmarch, handbags, im not a plastic bag, ImNotAPlasticBag, online shopping, OnlineShopping, target

Cheap Chic: Target's Bullseye Bodegas Open Today

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Events

The much-anticipated Target Bullseye Bodegas officially open today at 10 a.m. in four locations throughout Manhattan, offering discerning shoppers a sampling of their cheap chic wares only until September 15th. The bodegas are scattered across the city in Union Square, Midtown, SoHo and the East Village. The mega-chain has culled 22 designers from its stable, including cult shoe gals Sigerson Morrison and handbag guru Anya Hindmarch.

And although the goods are priced to move, getting your hands on anything could prove difficult if last night's preview is any indication. This season's pop-up store exclusivity -- was it ever so good as Colette X Gap and Commes des Garcons at H&M? -- just might trump designer rags this fall.

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Tags: anya hindmarch, AnyaHindmarch, bullseye bodegas, BullseyeBodegas, colette x gap, ColetteXGap, commes des garcons, CommesDesGarcons, manhattan, sigerson morrison, SigersonMorrison, target

Do Your Target Shopping at Barneys

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

I'm a fan of the Go International limited edition designer partnerships and know that for some of the lines it is often a challenge getting them before they sell out in the stores. I'm not certain that I would go to Barneys to buy them but that's what will be happening with the new Go International collection from Rogan Gregory. The Rogan for Target line hits Target stores on May 18 but you can buy it at Barneys stores from May 9 to May 11. This is the first time Barneys has sold Target merchandise but fashionistas may jump at the chance to get the latest pieces from this designer for less. I wonder though if this move indicates that the Go International frenzy has run its course a bit. It also seems to defeat the purpose a bit, part of the lure of the Target Go International line is the fun of buying designer fashion at the same place you stock up on toilet paper and laundry detergent. This is not the first time Barneys has jumped into fast fashion, they also stocked the first line of Kate Moss clothes done for Topshop.

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Tags: barneys, expire-images2009-4-30, rogan, rogan gregory, target

Target Selling Prestige Brands, Whether the Companies Like It Or Not

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Does seeing a prestige brand in a store like Target or CVS change your perception of it? More and more it seems that the high-end brands are ending up in the local drugstore and big-box retailer. WWD reports that Clarins, Kiehl's, Origins, Bare Escentuals and Bumble and bumble are now showing up in Target stores (I've also spotted Bumble and bumble at CVS). The WWD article points out that these brands, which spend a lot of money guarding their name and their prestige positioning, are likely ending up in these stores through the so-called gray market. As department stores close stores and consolidate product many of these items end up in Target even though these brands have no official business relationship with Target. Some of these items such as Bare Escentuals and Bumble and bumble are also available on the Target website.

Bare Escentuals has also shown up in Costco and the CEO, Leslie Blodgett, has declared that the company will be working to tighten its supply chain and keep its products out of these stores. Target has a makeup brand of its own. They've worked hard to develop the Sonia Kashuk cosmetics brand. But these high-end brands have an instant prestige. While hair care brands seem to be fighting a losing battle against keeping their brands in salons only (remember those Paul Mitchell ads admonishing consumers about buying the salon brand's products in drugstores), so far high-end skin care and cosmetics have been less likely to show up in your discount store.

Target is also in a unique position in that in some ways it might be attractive to prestige brands. It has an odd cachet, and its association with designers such as Isaac Mizrahi , Liz Lange, Michael Graves and Thomas O'Brien as well as the designers featured through the GO International program have drawn many luxury shoppers to Target to save money on the essentials. But is Target making a mistake by selling the high-end brands against the company's wishes? In the WWD article statements from Origins, Clarins and Bumble and bumble indicate that the brands are not pleased with their products ending up on the mass market. I wonder though, if these brands prove to be successful for Target if a deal might not be in the offing. In the long run it doesn't seem that introducing brands that you can only obtain through the gray market is a good strategy for a large chain. In both CVS and Target I have been excited to find a prestige brand in the stores, only to show up the next time and have it nowhere in sight, which is frustrating. Also, as a consumer, I am aware of the ethical considerations regarding fake merchandise but not so clear on whether or not finding a department store brand in a place it shouldn't be is a bad thing or not. Perhaps it falls to the companies to educate the consumer on why they should purchase these products only from certain retailers.

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Tags: bare escentuals, BareEscentuals, bumble and bumble, BumbleAndBumble, clarins, gray market, GrayMarket, target

Dry Yourself in Style with Artist Towel Series 2008

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

If you aren't ready to invest in contemporary art, how about drying yourself off with it? Target and Art Production Fund have created this set of four beach towels for the Artist Towel Series 2008. The artists featured are Kehinde Wiley, Elizabeth Peyton, Cindy Sherman, and Jeff Koons. The towels are part of Works on Whatever items which are designed by contemporary artists to bring art into everyday life The 60 x 70-inch cotton towels will be available for $50 on Target.com and worksonwhatever.com starting November 19. The towels will also be the official pool towels at the Raleigh Hotel during Art Basel Miami Beach December 5 to 9. Proceeds from sales benefit Art Production Fund's support of major civic artwork projects and half of all proceeds from Koons' towel will also support the Koons Family Institute, which is a resource of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

Gallery: Artist Towels

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Tags: art, beach towels, BeachTowels, cindy sherman, contemporary art, ContemporaryArt, elizabeth peyton, jeff koons, kehinde wiley, target

Proenza Schouler for Target

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Continuing the very successful GO International line at Target this spring will be Proenza Schouler . The design team of Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough gravitate towards clothing that is young with a modern edge to it. In light of this, it isn't surprising to hear that they worked with Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs before joining up in 2002. The collection, from what we can see so far, looks fun and perfect for spring, with lots of bright colors and soft fabrics. Previous GO International lines have included Behnaz Sarafpour, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe and Luella Bartley.