My little problem with Target

{Disclosure: I drafted this on 2/05/11 before I knew they would be reissuing some of these designers! Lol}

Remember a few years back, when Target began the guest designer series? It may have started with Libertine? I think that was when I first started paying attention. I was living in Spokane and had never really purchased clothes at Target before (2007?) and I remember seeing some of the designs online. And I had already loved Libertine's crazy plaid pants with the prints on top from around that time. I picked up a few items on clearance and was shocked at how perfectly they fit. Same with Richard Choi. Same with Jonathan Saunders. I mean, perfect, made-for-me fit! So I started paying more attention. I don't even want to know how much I have spent on these collections over the years. I have found some real winners, but I have also found some where I am not sure what I was thinking at the time!

After Choi and Saunders, Anna Sui came around and it had a Gossip-Girl theme (love!). I think by that time the twitterati were beginning to get a little crazy on the Next designers and were starting to stalk the stores for the release dates. I went on the first day and picked up several pieces which I still wear two years later. Then Rodarte. Ah, a few pieces. On sale. John Paul Gaultier. A little too crazy. Then Zac Posen. A little young, but for some reason I went in and got several pieces due to fit. Some, like the tuxedo jacket and a heavy draped skirt, truly were amazing pieces (see way below). But other things...let's just say I have a graveyard of some Target casualties that are just too young for my 30 something-ness!

A ribcage? Sigh. At my defense, I did buy it for $13.98 (actually all of these I got on sale, but that doesn't make it right if you don't wear them!)

Some of these pieces are beautifully shaped and body-conscious, but I just can't think of anywhere to wear them with my lifestyle anymore. I work at a university. And no matter how "free thinking" professors may act, truth is, they stare at you if you come to school wearing a bubble skirt and ankle booties, no matter what your legs look like. And the students here are jeans-and-tees (& Uggs) crowd. I am always surprised to have FD&M majors in my class because they look like everybody else. It might be due to the wind (so hard to wear skirts here) but I think it is mainly a West Texas thing.

Additionally, there is just something about the prints of these pieces that are not timeless like my wrap dresses. Something shouts "Fall '09!" and I am reluctant to take them out of that time period (at least for the next couple years). I only have one DvF dress like that (the Wonder Woman dress).

On the other hand, I have to say that Target has also produced some SUPER winners over the years! These are some of my absolute favorites!

 Zac Posen tuxedo jacket and a grosgrain skirt (I wear them separately but the weight and detail of each is just insane. I love both of these pieces.

These are older pieces (2007?) and some are more obvious that they are older. I loved this Go dress that was based off the Marc Jacobs tunic style that year. This dress was so comfortable to wear; it was made of heavy corduroy. The black and white Jonathan Saunders I wore with a white button up and black tights & ballets (loved the pockets) but it is too Japanese-Schoolgirl for me now. I loved the maroon plaid dress with the huge cowl; it almost went to your shoulders, and it was stiff enough to be able to style the neckline how you wanted it! These were regulars on me back in the day!

And then these are my darlings that I still wear at every month. The Richard Choi (2008?) clown top is my go-to if I am having a sad day. I can wear that and someone always says how much they love it and that will cheer me up! The colors are great too. It made me love orange. And I got it for $6.98 on clearance! It fits absolutely perfectly, and the white fabric is slightly sheer and striped so your skin makes it kind of glow. It's my favorite top in my closet. Second, the orange and maroon-ish Anna Sui has foil in it, so I don't think it has ever been washed or ironed. It is my #2 go-to item. I love it. It is also a little bit sheer but not in a trashy way.  Last, my Jonathan Saunders Matrix top with the yellow belt. This also fits perfectly and when I wear it with a pair of Express stretch Editors from 2007 (favorite pants ever, have been redesigned since, but I bought 3 pairs @ 20/ea!) and Choos, they make me look 8 feet tall.

I was surprised to see the Target reissues when I was in Dallas earlier this week; I had read they were coming to a pop-up store in NY but I didn't think they would be online and in stores. I didn't see anything I missed on the first time around (was hoping for more Richard Choi tops and Jonathan Saunders!) but only dresses were reissued.

I have been really good about not buying clothes this year (Sept 10-present), but I have to say I must check out any of the Next designers Target brings around, hoping for more of those magical pieces I have found throughout the years!!