Cheryl Shops

The latest +J collection hits Uniqlo on Thursday, and The Cut has a preview, featuring Raquel Zimmerman, who makes everything look super-covetable (well, not like it wasn't already). Outerwear is $69.90-$229.90, dresses are $99-$149.90, sweaters are $49.90-$179.90, and bottoms are $59.90-$69.90. The store opens bright & early at 8 a.m., so don't forget to set your alarm.

Sunday may by the day of rest, but for handbag aficionados, it's the day Mulberry for Target finally drops. Nitrolicious has a scan of a Teen Vogue story that features most of the bags; as with previous Target collections, all are synthetic. These also come with a cute heart charm and feature "Mulberry for Target" on the clasps--you won't be fooling anyone into thinking these are real Mulberry bags!--but they're priced gently, at $49.99 and under. Blogger Couture & Crayons reports that some Targets already have the line; she scored the tote, which looks pretty good in her photographs (I'm going to ignore that she refers to it as a diaper bag). I think a trip to the Atlantic Center (or, if I'm feeling lazy, Target.com) might be in the cards.

And by the way, Women's Wear Daily published a story today about masstige [subscription required] and how everybody's doing it. The gist: Fashion is now democratic, not snobby. Well, it's still snobby, but, baby steps...

It's more crowded than the F train, most of the merch is dirty and/or old, and until the markdowns start, the prices are no lower than the final round of sales in store. And yet, every season, I traipse off to the Barneys New York Warehouse Sale in search of fashion valhalla. Sometimes I am lucky (Lanvin flats for under $100!), sometimes I am not. Still, it's worth it: Prices start at 50-75% off and can go up to 95% off by the final weekend. Ladies, take a small purse (otherwise you'll have to check it) and please wear modest undergarments, because everyone in the store is going to see them if you try anything on. Good luck and godspeed. It starts Thursday 8/19, with hours 8 a.m.-9 p.m. the first two days; 10-9 weekdays and 10-7 weekends thereafter. 8/19-9/6; 255 W. 17th St. (7th & 8th Aves.).

And online this Friday, 8/20, Gilt Groupe is partnering with Target for a first-ever preview of their upcoming masstige collections from Mulberry, Tucker by Gaby Basora, and John Derian. This is awesome, because those collections hit stores October 10th, September 12th, and September 5th, respectively. If you are not yet a member of Gilt Groupe (to which I say, really?), click here to join.

Score another one for Target: Mulberry for Target bags will hits stores October 10th [subscription required]. No word on whether there will be any Alexa-esque bags from the revered British house, but as soon as I get pictures, I will, of course, post 'em. Like all of Target's collaborations, these are sure to be of the synthetic variety, however, I can't imagine Mulberry designing anything remotely tacky, so I have high hopes for this one.

Next up on Target's roster is Temple St. Clair jewelry on August 29th, followed by a Go International collection from Tucker by Gaby Basora, which hits stores September 12th.

Cheryl Shops...Mulberry and LaROK/Elizabeth & James
Encouraged by Racked's glowing report of the Mulberry sample sale, I headed over to the Metropolitan Pavilion after work. The good: The sale is not crowded, there's a ton of merchandise organized neatly on tables, and Mulberry bags are gorgeously made out of buttery leather. But while prices are really good considering what they usually retail for (ballpark: $1,200), they were still way out of my reach. The least expensive purse is $199; most were around $499; but my favorite, the Roxanne, was still a painful $799. But considering how much inventory was left at 7 p.m., I'm guessing prices will be marked way down tomorrow, which is the last day. Hours are 10-7, and it's at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.), 5th floor.

After Mulberry, I headed over to the LaROK/Elizabeth & James sale, which is a few doors down the street. The space is large and well organized and labeled by size; all of the E&J is wisely in the front, with the LaROK in the back--I think Elizabeth & James (the Olsen twins' contemporary line) is really great, whereas LaROK is a bit too...Los Angeles for my taste. Anyway, while there was a lot of merchandise, none of it totally rocked my boat, especially in light of the prices: For E&J, tees are $25, shirts are $99, dresses are $125, and jackets are $175. LaROK had already marked down their prices by the time I got there--tops were $49-$69, dresses were $79-$99, and prices topped out at $109 for outerwear. Since the sale has two days left, hopefully more reductions are on the way. Through 12/6; 10-8; 145 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.).