Cheryl Shops

So much has happened in the world of masstige since my last update! This is going to be a long post, so let's jump right in.

Target has released images of all the Go International Designer Collective dresses (otherwise known as Go International greatest hits) due to hit stores March 13th. Racked National posted the entire lookbook for all 34 dresses, so you can make a plan of attack. Going through it was a fun trip down memory lane for me; I will definitely be ordering the Thakoon dress at right (I already have the batik-print one that's also part of the collection) and the Rogan leopard-print dress--those were two of my absolute favorite collections ever, and who doesn't love a second chance in life? And even better, all dresses will retail for $50 or less!

And speaking of Target, their spring collaboration with Dolce Vita is already live--there are 20 or so styles (some are left over from winter and are on clearance), many of which are very similar to DV's main line. I have my eye on this nude wedge espadrille ($29.99!).

Forever 21 has also gone masstige-crazy recently; a Rollergirl-themed Petro Zillia collection debuted last month, and as of today, Rory Beca's collection is live on their website. Both lines are reportedly available in all 250 Forever 21 stores, but as you know, finding something specific at that store is, to paraphrase Clueless, like searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie. Regardless, I find the Rory Beca line to be more on the wearable side; I might just order this romper--not bad for $28.

Also available now, but of a slightly elevated masstige level is Steven Alan's collaboration with Dockers. There are three pants and a skirt for women, and three pants styles, one short, and one shirt for men; prices range from $128-$148--higher than usual for Dockers, but much lower than Steven Alan's usual prices. Everything is pretty basic but sure to please Steven Alan's many devotees.

If you missed out on voting for the upcoming crowd-sourced Derek Lam for eBay collection during Fashion Week, here are the 5 looks that will be produced. Prices range from $175 for the black sheath (one of my favorites) to $295 for the floral-print maxi dress (my other favorite), all styles come in sizes 0-16, and all will be available for purchase staring May 10.

Finally, apparently Vena Cava let slip at a Fashionista-sponsored panel that they're collaborating with Uniqlo. No details are available yet, but based on Vena Cava's numerous past collabs (Gap, Bloomingdale's, Via Spiga) and Uniqlo's, I have a feeling it will be pretty awesome. Of course, I will provide more information when I have it, so check back soon!

MasstigeWatch: Thakoon for Target
Yesterday I dragged MW to the Atlantic Center Target; it was the first day for the Go International collaboration with Thakoon, and I was so excited about it, I wanted to go to the store instead doing my usual online ordering. Since our neighborhood (and Manhattan, for that matter) had been dead since we got back to the city on Saturday, I was assuming Target would also be deserted; I was wrong. I was, however, glad I went to the store, because not only is this the best collection since Rogan, but the dress I had wanted is already sold out online, so I'm lucky to have grabbed it while in the store. The dress in question is the shibori shirtdress; I initially wanted the navy/white style featured in the ads, but I ended up with the black/white, whose pattern kind of resembles spiderwebs, giving it a kind of goth look. Also sold out online is the cyber floral dress; I think Target only had small and extra-small left by the time I was there, so I didn't bother trying it on. I didn't even see the chevron-stripe dress, but that's okay, because all of the other chiffon pieces in the collection are polyester and incredibly cheap looking (stick with the cottons). I also bought this zip-back floral top, which is nearly sold out online; the fit is kind of voluminous and makes me look pregnant from the side, but belting it or tucking it into a high-waisted skirt or pants seems to resolve the problem. The print is gorgeous, too, and I like the exposed back zipper. There are a lot of floral and striped tops; normally I am sucker for the latter, but the fit of what I tried on was on the boxy side (more on fit later), and since I already own so many stripes, I convinced myself to pass. I tried on the tunic, which was not bad, but the fabric felt kind of crappy to me (I thought it was polyester; I was shocked that it was cotton--it's kind of stiff and janky). The other piece I really liked was the shibori skirt; I thought it was incredibly flattering and well made, but since I was buying the dress in the same print, I figured one piece was enough. I recommend staying away from the tie-waist skirts, however, as they suffer from too-much-fabric syndrome and amplify whatever hippiness you may have tenfold.

So, like previous Go International collections, sizing is a bit wonky, but, if anything, it's on the side of being too large, rather than too small. In previous collections, a size 11 has often been too small on me (I wear a 6 or an 8 in real life), but when I tried on the shibori skirt above, even the size 9 was too big. I ended up with a large in the dress, but that was due more to inventory than anything else, and I think the slightly looser fit will allow me to wear a turtleneck underneath for the time being. I really, really love the dress, and at least for the cotton pieces, the quality and fit seems to be of much higher quality than recent collections (I'm looking at you, Jonathan Saunders). Since many of these pieces are selling out already, I highly suggest ordering now, or hitting your local Target ASAP.

Sadly, the Atlantic Center store did not appear to have any Hayden-Harnett bags; they are available online for pre-order, but early word on the street is that, like previous handbag collections, they're kind of cheap-looking.

MasstigeWatch!
Just two weeks ago, Alexander McQueen's collection for Target was confirmed; now, today, we have an article in WWD [subscription required], complete with pictures and interviews! Since you likely can't read the article, here's the pertinent info: The McQ Alexander McQueen Designer Collaboration will hit only 250 select Target stores starting March 1st, as well as target.com, and nothing will cost more than $129.99. Here's muse Lelia Moss modeling one look from the collection. Get excited!





In the meantime, we have Michelle Obama fave Thakoon's Go International collection hitting Target in November; Nylon has a sneak preview. I love the batik prints, and it looks like many of the pieces are cotton, which is a plus, since so many of the previous Go Internationals have suffered from Cheap Fabric Syndrome. More details as soon as they're available...

MasstigeWatch!
This is a quick one--Target has confirmed that Thakoon Panichgul will be the next Go International designer, after Jonathan Saunders in October-ish. Thakoon's collection will launch in December and be available in stores and online through January. It will be interesting to see how his kooky-librarian aesthetic translates to Tar-zhay's mass-market customer, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Stay away from the polyester, please!