designer for less: missoni for target

It took superhuman self-control but I managed to clear out of the Target website with just two things: the sleeveless shift dress on the left below and those cute printed shorts on the right.

My shipment arrives sometime next week so I'll let you all know what the real deal looks like. The website keeps going down but I had a few precious minutes of good luck at around 1:30pm today. As of that time, there were still a good amount of shift dresses, shorts, skirts and bags. The hoodie above is still haunting me but I decided I don't need to be in head to toe zig zag, do I? The adorable Missoni bike is all but a memory but there are still iPhone cases, homeware and luggage all ready to wreck your budget ...

If you're able to get on, make sure to shop as quickly as possible as the website is still pretty shaky! Good luck!

designer for less: target redux

A little bird named Avery shared some exciting shopping news with me today. To celebrate 5 years of bringing designer aesthetics to the masses, Target is re-releasing 34 of its most popular GO International dresses. I own one Target GO International dress from the Tracy Feith collaboration that I still love very much and has been worth every single one of the 39.99 dollars I spent on it. So I'm a fan of Target's GO International stuff. I hope that this time around I'll get a chance to snag one (or all three) of the dresses below: the wrap dress from the Thakoon collection ($39.99), the Proenza Schouler bustier dress ($44.99) and the Behnaz Sarafpour minidress ($44.99).

The dresses will be available at stores and at Target.com on March 13. Don't miss out!

theyskens' theory

Is it just me or were we already wearing the silhouettes seen in Theyskens' Theory circa 2003? Low-slung wide-legged pants that hugged the hipbone and almost completely obscured pointy-toed heels? Check. Capris worn with aforementioned pointy-toed heels? Check. Navel-baring tee? Oh those were the days when the only prep required for a bikini-clad weekend at the beach was maybe eating a spoonful less rice during dinner; when my belly seemed impervious to the beers I love to chug. Yup, an oh-so-wistful check there, too.

Olivier Theyskens, who previously made stunning clothes at both Nina Ricci and Rochas, described his Theory collection for T magazine's blog as clothes he would wear if he was a girl; his intention is clear with the line's seamless blend of masculine edginess and feminine sensuality. The clothes are definitely pieces I'd love to have in my closet but I somehow find myself wishing I'd held on to my pinstriped wide-legged pants and reliable flared jeans rather than have to cough up the dough for these. That's the problem with moving between three continents and numerous apartments since 2003 ... there are no fashion heirlooms in my closet. I'll have to cough up the cash and get some new flares and capris eventually, if this trend persists.

There's nothing quite like seeing trends that I wore the first time around crop up again to hammer in the realization that I'm no spring chicken anymore. I feel like my mom when I say things like, "Doc Martens are in again? Why I used to live in my 8-holed Docs when I was fourteen." *shudder*

Theyskens' Theory will be available at Net-a-porter starting next week.

lanvin ♥ h&m

I hope you've dusted off your boxing gloves because it is sure to be UTTER MADNESS tomorrow when H&M releases it's highly anticipated collaboration with Lanvin. I'm glad I'm on a shopping hiatus because I like my eyes in their sockets, thankyouverymuch, and I'm not willing to risk decapitation for one of those beautiful one-shoulder dresses.

I was trying my best to ignore the whole thing because I do so love Lanvin, and the fact that Alber decided to throw us a bone and do a collab with H&M does tug at my heartstrings. But with six more months and numerous trips and adventures to embark on for 30 Before 30, I just don't have money to spare. This morning though, Metro NY (yes, I am cheap and therefore only read free "newspapers") flung a full page Lanvin ♥ H&M ad in my face so I gave in to curiosity and finally checked out the collection.

If money (and holding on to my eyeballs) wasn't an issue, I would splurge on these gorgeous dresses. They don't exactly come cheap at $199. While the design is fiercely Lanvin, I somehow doubt that the quality would be so amazing as to warrant that pricetag. I could be wrong though. It's up to you, H&M to put some dresses in my hand to prove me wrong. Just saying.

The only things from this collection that I may allow myself to have should they miraculously be available when I wander into H&M one of these days are the shirt and skirt below ($49 and $59 respectively). That skirt is so beautiful and is something one could get more use of than a highly memorable dress.

What are you gunning for? To see the full lookbook with prices, click here.

vena cava for aqua

The Vena Cava for Aqua collection went online today, and it looks pretty good. Designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock lent their aesthetic to Bloomingdales' private label for dresses and separates that are at half the price of an original Vena Cava. I love the color blocked dresses, and I don't know if it's because I've been freezing my butt off in a chilly office for weeks, but that faux fur vest in the middle looks pretty enticing ...

Prices range from $78 for a jeweled tank top to $188 for the faux fur vest above. That's pretty much Aqua's price range, but that being pretty close to Vena Cava's price tags, why not just splurge on the real thing? I love this classy dress, which is priced at $295 at Saks.

Or better yet, hit the Bloomie's sales rack, which has the Vena Cava dresses below from $78 to $165 dollars. There are still plenty of extra smalls and size 0s and 2s!

What would you get?

target + gilt groupe

I haven't shopped for the sake of shopping in such a long time that I am just completely out of the loop! If you've been following my 30 Before 30 Project, you've probably figured that all funds have been directed to travel, surf lessons, pole dancing lessons and whatnot rather than fashion items. So I was pretty stunned to receive the email below today ... Target has a new line coming up with Mulberry?!? WOW. I'm underwhelmed with the bags I've seen so far, but looking forward to seeing what else they have in store. There's also a clothing line from Tucker, which I must admit I know nothing about but seems to make very pretty dresses. I really like the vintage look of the ones they've done for Target, so far. Decoupage king John Derian also returns with a fresh new collection of homeware. I am already smitten with that flowered melamine plate in the image below.

So the big news is that Gilt Groupe members get a headstart on shopping Target's new designer collaborations this Friday at 12 noon. If you haven't registered for Gilt Groupe yet, then what rock have you been hiding under? Get on that right now and click here.

Happy bargain shopping!

missoni for converse

I've been thinking for about a week now about getting Chuck Taylors. I don't really wear sneakers but for some reason, it's been crossing my mind lately that it wouldn't be so bad to hang out in miniskirts and high top Chucks for the warmer months. Of course, right when I'm about to take the plunge on these reasonably priced sneakers, I find out that there's now a very chic version in one incredibly irresistible print:

Of course they're only available in two areas, and one of them happens to be New York (the other one is  Beverly Hills). And of course the Missoni boutique on Fifth Avenue is just a quick walk from my office. The damage: $200—expensive enough to make a significant dent on my monthly budget, but maddeningly low enough that I could potentially whip my credit card out in a weak moment.

I am actually hoping that I will be so busy at work this week that I won't even be able to think about walking to the Missoni store to take a look ...

on target

Target, you sneaky devil you. I look away for a second and suddenly you have all sorts of cool summer designer collaborations! 

There are gladiator wedges for $29.99 with Cynthia Vincent, plus a host of cute strappy sandals for $24.99.

And for the summer horse races, polo matches, picnics and barbeques—cute little hats in collaboration with milliner Eugenia Kim. I'm specially liking that throwback of a straw hat two pictures down with the green trim and $16.99 pricetag.

I'm a lot less excited about the Zac Posen/Target collaboration. Nothing appealing enough to spare hanger space for. But I might just make room for a little straw hat and some wedges if I run into them at a Target store ...

costello tagliapietra for uniqlo

Hitting stores on May 20th: UNIQLO's capsule collection of dresses in collaboration with Costello Tagliapietra. I loved the Brooklyn duo's Spring-Summer 2010 collection of pretty dresses in lush colors and feminine draping. Their collection for UNIQLO follows those same lines, but at a much more pocket-friendly price range of $29.50-$39.50. I want all three dresses above badly! They seem like a reinterpretation of this dress below from Costello Tagliapietra's SS2010 show, don't you think?

God bless the brilliant mind that came up with the idea of designer collaborations!

designer for less: sonia rykiel for h&m

Jesus, I really do have a one-track mind. When I'm preoccupied with food and ... well, stuff ... I just completely miss out on things. What rock have I been hiding under? I completely missed the fact the the Sonia Rykiel for H&M collection dropped last February 20! This is kinda embarrassing because I walk past an H&M to get to my train station everyday. *facepalm*

I want some of the stripey cuteness!

So glad that the prices are not too steep. I was not a fan of those ridiculously overpriced H&M designer collabs (*cough-Jimmy-Choo-cough*) (*cough-Viktor-&-Rolf-cough*). Of course that might mean there'll be nothing left on the racks when I go tomorrow. If I could just have a pair of those crazy striped tights or socks, I'd be fine really. I don't ask for much. 

Did anyone else manage to hit up H&M? Was it utter madness? Do tell!

designer for less: liberty of london for target

Twenty days and counting til the Liberty of London for Target collection drops and I am beyond excited! By May I'll be moving into new digs in the Financial District and I can hardly wait to start decorating. From the ads it looks like they're doing the iconic Liberty prints in clothes and homeware. I'm digging the shams and sundresses, and am dorkily excited about the piggie bank, teapots and mugs!

Get in the mood to shop with this adorable Liberty of London for Target advertisement:

The collection drops on March 14, 2010. So excited!!!

uniqlo + j

One of my regrets during the Japan trip was not being able to get something from the first collection designed by Jil Sander for Uniqlo. I tried, believe me, I did. But every other small boned Japanese lady seemed to have the same idea and I couldn't find the peacoats I liked in small sizes. The collection is supposedly in the Soho store too, but I swear to God, the sizes are smaller (and thus better for me) in Japan. I doubt I'll find the perfect fit here. So I'll just salivate ...

Uniqlo, you break my heart.

jimmy choo for H&M

Just when I thought designer collabs were getting old and uninspiring, H&M throws me a curve ball: Jimmy Choo for H&M! Holy smokes. I love the idea though I know I will never lay eyes on this product. If you thought people were vicious over the CDG, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney collections, I bet the grabbing and clawing over Jimmy Choo for H&M stilettos come fall will result in all out mayhem!

lela rose for payless

For some reason I thought about Payless today. I remember loving Payless when I was younger. If there were trends you wanted to try at little cost, this was the place to go. Even when I wasn't such a slave to trends anymore (yeah, I like to think I'm over it though the existence of this blog proves otherwise), I still liked Payless. I got the most awesome pair of tan, flat, slouchy boots from Payless in 2006 and wore them to death. I keep hoping they'll make them again so I can score a new pair ...

Moving on. I looked at the website today and saw some very cute flats by Lela Rose for Payless. They have a total 4th of July weekend feel to them:

At just $36 and $28 respectively, these cuties make for some nice and guiltless shopping this weekend.

if blair ever decided to slum it

This is what she'd wear, according to the Anna Sui for Target team:

As reported in New York magazine, the collection is inspired by Gossip Girls. I'm still pondering whether I buy the idea that Anna Sui actually watches GG. Somehow, I doubt it. The looks are named after Blair, Vanessa, Jenny and Serena. Just like the show, I only care for Blair. The Vanessa set comes in icky shades of orange and brown, and oddly combine dresses with puffer vests. EW. The Jenny outfits try to use every style influence known to man in one getup. And the Serena dresses are utterly blah (gotta love how NY magazine described them as not "nearly slutty enough"). As usual, it's all about Blair.

on target

I couldn't take it, I ordered a bunch of stuff from Target. Gotta rein myself in though because, well, I don't have a doorman anymore so I have to send stuff to my office instead and I don't want everyone at work to be privy to my shopping habits (says the girl with a blog! I dazzle myself with my own brilliance). Anyway, I figure the "I just moved into a new apartment and need to buy stuff for it" excuse can only last so long so I might as well utilize it. What I bought from Target:

I snuck an adorable little flowered bubble dress from the Tracy Feith for Target line into my "home" order. So excited to see this! Some reviewers commented that the dress is way too short, but that means it's perfect for a little munchkin like me! Only $39.99. There is a very tempting white dress too but as it is, there'll be hell to pay when the Visa and Mastercard bills come (plus that *gulp* loan I'm now paying for) so, Celine, hold 'yer horses.

My other purchase was a couple of throw pillows from the DwellStudio for Target collaboration. I've been loving these pillows for a long time. They're only $24.99 each, which is a nice price when compared to the $100-pillows DwellStudio actually sells.

When Target gets its designer collaborations right, you can really get some of the best deals ever!

designer for a *little* less

Most of the time, I love my job and I'm quite alright with the 9 to 5 sitting at the desk routine. Doesn't bother me at all. Except on days when H&M is releasing a fab-u-lous collection. On April 23, the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection drops and it makes me wish I was a still a student who could cut class to stay in line and join the melee. In my 2.5 years in NY, I've never joined the hoardes at H&M but I've never been insanely determined to get anything. But there are some pieces that I really like this time, and it annoys me that I'm this goody toe shoes who can't play hooky to line up.

But then again, maybe it's alright because I don't know that I could cough up $249 for an H&M dress—even one as cute as the one above. The long dress in the first picture is $349! Whoa.
Or even $129 for this cutie pie above. Maybe the belt. I'd spring for that $49.90 belt.

When did designer collabs get so darn pricey? Wasn't the point to make their pieces more affordable for the masses? At this point, I might as well just shop the contemporary section at Bloomie's rather than fight it out with the hordes at H&M. And good lord, at those prices, imagine how steep the markups will be at Ebay? Yikes.