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MasstigeWatch! Target edition
Note: I am having trouble uploading images. My apologies for the visual boringness of this post.
I went to the Target in good ol' tax-free Salem, New Hampshire this weekend, and as happy as I am to have a Target nearby in Brooklyn, going to a Target in the suburbs is a completely different experience: the shelves are stocked, there aren't thousands of people everywhere, and, in all, it's a positively transporting experience. So I was happy to see, a day early, that their Richard Chai Go International collection was out on the racks--not every single piece, but a good percentage of it nonetheless. I only ended up buying this striped top (which is a lot cuter than it looks in the picture), but I tried on a bunch of other stuff. The voile top had the potential to be awesome, but on me, it looked like a maternity top. The floral-print dress, while not exactly my style, was really cute, and its classic shape will flatter a bunch of body types. I really liked this sleeveless black dress, but ended up not buying it because, really, the last thing I need is another black dress. I also really liked the long cardigan, but thought the color was going to be more of a dark purple, as opposed to a bluish lavender. Still, it's a cotton-cashmere blend, so the feel is very soft, and I like the longer length. I tried on the zip-front skirt too, and while it was cute, it was also about three inches shorter than what I can get away with for work. Although I had been really excited about it, I didn't try on the crinkled colorblock dress--it's 100% polyester and, well, looks it. The highlight for me, however, is that I was able to score a few of the far superior Rogan pieces--the romper and the mint green blazer--on mega-clearance. Yay for unfashionable New Hampshire!

While in Target, I also was able to check out all of the Botkier bags; the magenta and plain black bags were the best-looking; all of the metallics and animal-printed ones were jankety-janky-looking. Brooklyn's own Hayden-Harnett is supposedly the next accessories collaboration; let's hope they come up with better product than the last few.

MasstigeWatch!
The Botkier for Target bags are live on Target.com, a few days early, I believe (and based on the reviews, it appears they've been trickling into the stores too). Reviews are mixed so far, but I think the cracked metallic bags, like this silver one, are probably the best bet. I will most likely take a pass on the collection, but I am looking forward to the Richard Chai Go International line, due to drop August 3rd.

MasstigeWatch!
Target is proving to be the masstige power to be reckoned with: They've got bags by Monica Botkier in the pipeline, and now they've announced they're rolling out a one-two punch of Anya Hindmarch bags and Sigerson Morrison shoes, dropping October 12th. All of these names are very impressive, of course (Sigerson Morrison is, hands down, my favorite shoe brand), however, I've said it several times and I'll say it again: It's hard to reproduce designer bags and shoes at Target prices. In other words, I'm nervous. Case in point, the Cut also has photos of the upcoming Botkier collection, and all I have to say is: meh. I think these two, at right, are the best of the bunch, but that's not saying a whole lot. Botkier hits stores July 21st; maybe it'll look better in person?

MasstigeWatch!
WWD reports that Gap's Design Editions will be back this year [subscription required], featuring a drool-worthy lineup that includes 3.1 Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, Philip Crangi and Threeasfour. The line hits stores--and not just select locations!--April 15th. Because I love me some 3.1 Phillip Lim, I will be there bright and early. As for the designs themselves, sorry, this is the biggest photo I can find!

Want more good news? Monica Botkier is doing a line for Target! [Again, subscription required.] Word on the street is that it hits July 14th. I will, of course, post more info as soon as I have it.