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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!
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!
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!!
