Cheryl Shops

 I'll admit it – although I live and work in the heart of San Francisco, I still haven't mustered up the courage to brave the crowds that still remain outside of Uniqlo's brand-new Union Square store.... but Theory's new capsule collection with the international mega-store may have just given me a reason to bite the bullet and get myself in there! The "T Down" collection offers up a series of revamped puffer jackets, perfectly versatile for the chilly weather ahead (no matter where you live!), that provide modern updates like colorblocked panels and contoured silhouettes while still staying true to Uniqlo's love of basics and understated sportswear. As the temperatures drop, it's hard to resist a winter staple jacket that's casual-cool, comfy, and budget-friendly with prices ranging from $129-$149 (totally affordable considering it's a jacket you'll practically want to live in!). The only hard part? Actually tracking one down once they hit stores November 15th, before they're gone for good! — Alexandra Gambardella

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops.

The Calypso for Target collection just hit the shelves last week (for the record, I ordered two dresses, a hat, and a bag, and I plan on checking out more of the line in person this weekend), and already Target is announcing its next big designer collaboration: Missoni for Target! Like Calypso, this will be a major, multi-department event, with 400+ items for women, children, and the home. I am particularly excited about linens and flatware, as I've been lusting after the real deal for years. Look for it in stores September 13 through October 22.

Hot on the heels (pun intended) of Sophie Theallet's line for Nine West comes Giles for Nine West. Now, Giles apparently has a character called Eek, a cartoon who decorates everything from totes to jewelry in the line. I find the shoes (like the wedge sandal at left) more exciting; Eek's presence makes the bags and jewelry a bit...young. Fashionista has a preview of the entire collection, which hits stores sometime in August. 

Speaking of shoes, the Pierre Hardy for Gap Design Editions spring styles are now live, and the Charlotte Ronson for Uniqlo collaboration hit stores today; Sugar Rock Catwalk has a full report on the latter.

Finally, this may or may not be related to the fact that Patrick Robinson got canned from the Gap [subscription required], but J.Crew took over as the sponsor of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, and thus will feature collaborations with winners Billy Reid, Prabal Gurung, and Eddie Borgo. Fashionologie was at the launch party, and while there was no preview available, word on the street is that all three designers will re-create pieces based on old collections, in new colors and fabrics. Gurung's five-piece collection will retail for under $500 and hits stores in June; Borgo's will be available in July; and Reid's 7-piece menswear collection is live now. I will, of course, report on the women's lines as soon as they're live, but in the meantime, why not treat that special guy in your life to this good-looking henley?

The Calypso for Target collection is due in stores May 1st, and since that's nearly two weeks away, Target has released a lookbook featuring images of the entire collection--women's clothing and accessories, girls' clothes, and home items. There's a definite bohemian vibe, with strong tie-dye and elephant motifs running throughout. Fans of Calypso should be pretty happy, particularly if you love maxi dresses and ruffles; there are also some very summery woven tote bags and lovely beach hats. Clothingwise, my favorite item is this $36.99 dress, which I intend to wear as a swimsuit cover-up (I am incredibly in need of a new one); really, I'm the most enthralled with the home items, like the $59.99 pouf, a similar version of which Calypso Home sells for--I kid you not--$3,000. Prices range from $1.99-$79.99, and according to Racked, which has the full lookbook posted, quality is pretty high. Let's hear it for masstige!

Last week Uniqlo announced its upcoming three-part Designer Invitation Project [subscription required]. It kicks off with the return of Costello Tagliapietra next week on April 21, Charlotte Ronson arrives on May 5, and Vena Cava follows on May 12. Supposedly items will remain in stores until May 21; I have a feeling they'll sell out long before then, especially since every piece is just $29.99. The Cut has a full preview of the collection for your shopping-strategy purposes; hands off this Charlotte Ronson design--it's mine.

In shoe news, a reminder that the Swedish Hasbeens collection for H&M hits stores April 20; and always a favorite, the spring Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes are high-heeled, pointy-toed, colorblocked, and totally right up my alley. Fashionista has the scoop; shoes are due in stores mid-April, which means any day now!

If, like me, you're salivating over the Derek Lam for eBay crowd-sourced collection, good news: You can pre-order it now before it technically goes on sale to the public on May 10. And, finally, for the patterned-leggings fans out there, Topshop collaborated with Meadham Kirchoff, a London duo known for flowy, trippy, magpie-ish creations like, well, this. Proceed with caution.

 

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!

Just when I thought I was Masstiged out, there are some new and exciting collaborations to look forward to this year. First up, more details have emerged on Calypso for Target, and Racked has word that, based on the press preview, it looks very promising. First of all, this is a "lifestyle" collaboration, a la Liberty of London last year, so there are clothes and accessories, plus items for children and the home, all with Calypso's signature bohemian-bourgeois aesthetic. Racked also notes that--haleluah!--the collection is heavy on soft cotton voile with some silk and linen thrown in. As you guys know, my biggest complaint about the Target lines tends to be about the janky fabrics, so this is welcome news. And all for $1.99-$59.99! My calendar is marked for May 1st--May Day indeed!

Also hitting stores May 1st is Sophie Theallet's line for Nine West, which is actually part of a bigger initiative called...wait for it...Shoelaborations. According to WWD [subscription required], Theallet's line will be priced similarly to Nine West's usual fare ($79-$109), and she'll be followed by Giles Deacon in fall 2011. (Whenever I hear of Giles Deacon, I think of Henry Holland's cheeky "Get your freak on Giles Deacon" T-shirt. But I digress.) Of the images released so far--a straw bag and an espadrille-ish heel--the line looks very summery and chic. Which, considering the weather outside, is practically making my mouth water.

In even more exciting shoe news, H&M is collaborating with Swedish Hasbeens, a line of which I am quite fond. No boots--this is a summer line--but lots of chic sandals, and at just $59.99-$69.99, they're less than a third of what the real deal costs. Fashionista has photos of the entire collection, which hits H&M stores on April 20; I have my eye on these strappy red sandals.

Finally, if you just can't wait till spring to get your Masstige on, Racked has the full scoop on the latest +J collection, which hit Uniqlo stores this morning. Word is that it's selling briskly and heavy on Egyptian cotton. As they say, shop early and shop often...

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...

Just weeks ago I reported Uniqlo was collaborating with Velvet, and now, as of this morning, that collection has hit the store. Racked reports that everything is very soft and under $20, and that there are still a ton of pieces in stock. It may not be reinventing the wheel, but I'll take a nice pair of jersey harem pants or a cute tank dress any day.

On a slightly more exciting note, Fashionista has pictures from the upcoming Mark Fast for Topshop collection, which lands in stores next Friday, June 25. Prices should be in the $!00-$200 range (unless Topshop decides to jack up the exchange rate), and, um, I will take one of these, please. (Side note: Fashionista has vastly improved after hiring the knowledgeable Lauren Sherman as its editor. If you had given up on it, I suggest giving it another try.)


Not quite masstige but definitely on the more affordable side come two items of good news. One is that Viva Vena, Vena Cava's lower-priced line, has released a lookbook, and Elle has it. Everything will reportedly retail for under $200, and the line is due in stores this fall. In even better news, one of my favorite designers, Yigal Azrouel, is repositioning his Y Yigal line as Cut 25 [subscription required], a broader contemporary collection with more separates and more of a cooler, downtown-girl aesthetic. The line should retail for about a third the cost of Azrouel's main collection, and it will debut exclusively at Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Intermix in July.

Hot off the heels of their collaboration with Costello Tagliapietra (which is still in stores now), Uniqlo is teaming up with Velvet [subscription required] for a line of knits. Called Uniqlo + Velvet, it features 14 jersey pieces retailing for a very nice $15.90 to $19.90 and hits all 950 Uniqlo stores worldwide on June 17. Expect a casual, Southern California vibe. The collaboration also includes a line of six cashmere pieces that will hit stores in September and retail for $99.90 to $129.90.

Ever since he got unceremoniously dumped from Nina Ricci, the fashion flock has been speculating as to where Olivier Theyskens would end up next. It's not Ungaro, and not Hermes but...Theory. Theyskens is designing a capsule collection for Theory [subscription required], set to hit stores for spring/summer 2011. No further details are available at this time, but as soon as I have some, I will of course share them.

Finally, Pierre Hardy's summer Design Editions shoe collection has hit Gap.com. The four styles range from $65 for the denim espadrilles to $110 for the lace-up wedge sandals, which I have my eye on. Now all Gap needs to do is send me a coupon code, and they will be mine.

Fans of Uniqlo's +J collection, rejoice: Jil Sander has renewed her contract with Uniqlo [subscription required]! The notoriously detail-oriented German minimalist is so pleased with how her first two collections for the fast-fashion chain have turned out, she will continue to work with Uniqlo indefinitely. With her confidence in the future of fashion at a price, it just goes to show how visionary she remains. In related news, Uniqlo is taking over the old Brooks Brothers store at 666 5th Avenue, and the store, which probably won't open until next year, will be more than double the size of the original location. So, in the meantime, don't forget--the Costello Tagliapietra collection hits the Soho store May 20.

Isabel Toledo's shoes and bags for Payless won't hit stores until September, but Nitrolicious has sketches from the upcoming collection, which will include 7 shoes and two bags. Whimsical, no?

Speaking of shoes, Refinery 29 has photos of a Pierre Hardy for Gap fall design; the lace-up boots are reportedly from Gap's main line, but the gray peep-toe booties are Hardy's. All I have to say is: WANT! No details on price or when they hit stores, but as soon as I know anything, I will of course share it. In the meantime, Hardy's spring collection is due in stores next week (May 4th, to be exact). This time, I'm not waiting for my friends & family coupon--those nude wedges must be mine.

And, I totally forgot to mention this last week; bridal is not an area I typically cover, but this is pretty major: Vera Wang is designing a line for David's Bridal [subscription required}. Vera is obviously one of the best-known names in the bridal biz, and David's is, well, a place to go for a relatively inexpensive gown. Wang's dresses can easily run into the five figures, but her line for David's will retail between $600 and $1500, with most of the 20 dresses under $1200. The jury is out on whether this will impact Wang's high-end business; while I would venture that most people who shop a designer's namesake collection don't necessarily shop their masstige collaborations, a wedding dress is something you wear for one day only, and when it comes down to spending $10,000 versus $1,000 for two very similar dresses, I personally would go with the cheaper option. But that might just be me--after all, there's a multi-billion-dollar industry built around giving women their Perfect Day*. Regardless, this is likely to make a lot of brides, who otherwise couldn't afford Vera Wang, quite happy. The line hits David's Bridal stores next spring.

*I haven't yet acknowledged this here, but while I'm on the topic of weddings, I guess this is a good time to note that MW and I are engaged! I hadn't planned on blogging about my wedding, but if anyone is interested, I can talk about dress shopping and the like here. (Several people have asked me if I'm going to start a bridal blog, to which I just laugh.) If you have any opinions on the matter, leave them in the comments below!

I was going to post about this last Thursday, but my Internet was down (thanks, Time Warner!), but luckily now there's even more good masstige news to share.

Last week Target hosted a Zac Posen Go International pop-up shop for slightly over 24 hours at the New Yorker hotel, and I was lucky to attend the press preview. By the time I got there at 8, the racks were already dilapidated; I managed to snag my favorite dress (the one I had blogged about earlier this month) in an XL, which was far too large. However, as is always the case, it's good to make friends with the salesgirls, because it turned out they had a bunch more in the back. So I ended up with my favorite dress, in my size. My only quibble is that it's polyester, but it's pretty nice polyester (is that an oxymoron?), and for $39.99, I suppose I can't complain too much. There's also a cute version of this dress in solid pink, a navy grommeted dress that went quickly, and a safety pin-print dress was extremely popular. The one-piece swimsuits looked pretty good to me too, however I can't wear them (I have a freakishly short torso). The Zac pop-up shop is long gone, but the collection hits stores this Sunday, April 25th.

In the meantime, Target's Cynthia Vincent and Eugenia Kim collaborations are now available on the site--in theory. All that's left of the Cynthia Vincent shoes are the strappy heel and the flat sandals (the wedges are, unfortunately, long gone). It appears that most, if not all, of the Eugenia Kim hats are still available, however.

In super-exciting news, Brooklyn-based designers (whom I saw walking down Clinton Street Sunday afternoon) Costello Tagliapietra are designing a line for Uniqlo! The lumberjack-ish duo are known for their gorgeously draped dresses, and they set out to create a work-friendly collection, which will retail for a very nice $29-$39, so you can buy two or three or everything in the line, which I am contemplating. The dresses hit Uniqlo May 20th. Looks like I'll be, ahem, late to work that day.

Finally, if you can't wait till May (or till this weekend), here's a masstige collection you can shop right now: Richard Chai and Jeremy Scott have teamed up with Alternative Apparel to create knits exclusively for Refinery 29. Prices are a big higher than your usual masstige collaboration, but tops like the one pictured are a luxe modal/silk blend and thus a step above the average. The line will be available only for a month, so shop now or forever hold your peace.

To many, this coming Sunday, March 7th, is the Oscars. To me, it's the day Jean Paul Gaultier's Designer Collaboration hits Target. Racked National has a selection of images; some of the complete looks are a bit much, but there are many great pieces, such as this sunshiny yellow sundress.

Equally as exciting, a week later, Target drops its Liberty of London collaboration on Sunday, March 14th. The line is filled with swimsuits, rompers, accessories, and this fantastic maxi dress, all in the British department store's signature floral prints. (Are maxi dresses over? When they're as awesome as this one, who cares?) Check out a very robust preview at Refinery 29.

Racked NY was at Uniqlo this morning to cover the latest J+ arrivals; you can read their report here. As for Uniqlo's other designer collections, my friend The Shophound reports that this year's collaborations will be all Japanese designers, although whether they'll actually hit the Soho store remains to be seen. Then again, when you have Jil Sander, do you need anyone else?

Finally, if you haven't checked it out already, there's still plenty of inventory left in Narcisco Rodriguez's collection for eBay. Prices are a bit higher than the average masstige effort, however, this is Narcisco we're talking about, and, really, can you find a hotter dress than this for $250?

It figures just when I write a MasstigeWatch post, big news drops the next day. Nevertheless, Fashionista reports that Tucker, designed by Gaby Basora, will be the next Go International designer, following Jean Paul Gaultier's designer collaboration in March and Zac Posen's Go collection in April (Fashionista estimates Tucker's line will hit stores mid-summer). This is significant for two reasons: 1) Tucker is probably the least-known designer yet that Target has selected (I will admit, I had to do a search to put an aesthetic with a name), and 2) Fashionista broke this news (usually Target leaks news to Women's Wear Daily). It should be noted that Fashionista has a new co-editor, Lauren Sherman, who, having worked at Forbes for years, likely has an extensive network of business-side fashion sources. I look forward to reading the new Fashionista.

And speaking of Target, the first camera-phone leaks of Jean Paul Gaultier's upcoming designer collaboration have hit the interwebs, via Fashin's live journal page. From what I can tell, it's stripes, jersey, trench coats...in other words, very Gaultier, and very promising (I hope). Gaulter hits Tar-zhay le 7 de Mars (or March 7th for those who ne parlent pas francais).

Finally, the latest installment of Jil Sander's +J collection for Uniqlo hit stores this morning, and the best coverage of what's available comes to you from Racked. Reportedly the spring collection will be rolled out gradually (as opposed to being dropped all on one day like fall's was), which will hopefully allow people like me a chance to buy something this time.

MasstigeWatch!
This morning, Target hosted a press preview of the upcoming Rodarte Go International collection; I was not there, but Lucky was, and while they were forbidden to speak specifics, they say it's "beautiful, ethereal, and lacey, and won't be priced above $80." Also, Tavi was there. If, however, you'd like some photographic evidence, Racked has photos that Paper's blogger Julia Frakes posted on Twitter (and which she's since taken down). This is one of them.

Also, last week The Cut swung by Uniqlo's showroom to check out Jil Sander's +J line, which hits stores October 1st. They report prices start at $29.50 for accessories and go to $149.50 for outerwear. They also have a handy slide show of select looks; I think longtime Jil Sander enthusiasts will be, well, enthusiastic. The collection is very minimal but looks incredibly well cut; I have my eye on, among other things, these pants.

Coming later this week, I'll have a preview of the Anna Sheffield for Target jewelry line, which hits stores August 30th.

MasstigeWatch!
Having worked with Adidas, H&M, and Target (in Australia), Stella McCartney is no stranger to mass-market collaborations. So it makes sense for her to partner with Gap to create a children's line [subscription required]. It hits select Gap stores in the U.S., U.K., France, Ireland, and Japan later this year.

Speaking of the Gap, Racked reports that the Design Editions will be hitting the 5th Avenue flagship (at 54th St.) at 10:30 next Tuesday, 6/16. As a bonus, the designers--Patrick Robinson, Alexander Wang, Albertus Swanepoel and Vena Cava's Lisa Maycock and Sophie Buhai--will be there to celebrate (and maybe offer tips!). But if you can't make it to Midtown, don't despair; it hits other Gap stores the following day, 6/17.

Finally, if you missed Uniqlo's masstige extravaganza earlier this spring, they still have multiple racks of Shipley & Halmos dresses on sale for $39.99 (the jersey dresses are still regular price, at $39.50). The sale dresses are polyester, but they were rather cute, and I am a firm believer that a girl can never have too many little black dresses.

MasstigeWatch!
The big news this week is that Anna Sui will design a Designer Collaborations collection for Target [subscription required]! Even more awesome is the fact that the collection is inspired by Gossip Girl, specifically the four female leads. While Sui's namesake collection is more contemporary-priced than that of most of Target's designer collaborators (her dresses are downright affordable if you can find them on sale), this masstige outing will definitely let her reach a broader audience. No word on prices--and no pictures yet--but the line will hit a select 250 Target stores (and target.com) on September 13th, just in time for back to school (and, one would guess, the new season of Gossip Girl).

Speaking of Target, the Tracy Feith Go International collection hits stores next Sunday, May 17th!

Today, the Shipley & Halmos and Gilded Age collaborations hit Uniqlo, but, as Racked reports, well, no one really cared.

Finally, the summer portion of the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection hits most H&M stores next Thursday, May 14th. Unlike the previous portion, this less luxurious, more mainstream batch will be available in nearly every H&M store worldwide, and it also includes men's looks. You can preview the collection on the H&M website--it's indeed very summery, with caftans, swimsuits, and lots of great dresses, many with a peacock motif. It's very luxe-bohemian, which makes it perfect for summer. While Williamson is generally not quite my cup of tea, I have my eye on several pieces from this line. Hopefully it won't sell out as quickly as the last!

MasstigeWatch!
Matthew Williamson for H&M hits the following stores tomorrow (Thursday) at 9 a.m.:

Atlanta: Atlantic Station, 231 18th St.
Boston: 100 Newbury St.
Chicago: 840 North Michigan Avenue
Los Angeles: Beverly Center
New York: 34th and Broadway
New York: 51st and 5th
New York: 59th and Lexington
San Francisco: 150 Powell St.

I will be sleeping in, as I have the day off, but if you are a Williamson fan, you can preview the collection online and strategize; expect Racked to have play-by-play commentary.

In Target news, the Loomstate for Target collection is now live, as are Ashley Paige swimsuits, Felix Rey handbags, and Miss Trish of Capri sandals. I will be checking all out in person this weekend when I hit my local Target in Chicago. I will, of course, report back.

Speaking of Target, this tasty tidbit was buried in last Thursday's Fashion Scoops in WWD [subscription required]:

EASY TARGET: Anna Sheffield is spreading her seeds. The jewelry designer, whose Bing Bang line launched Bee 23 with Urban Outfitters last year, is once again hitting up the masses, this time with Target. Rumor has it she’ll be designing jewelry under the name Anna Sheffield for Target, presumably for the retailer’s Go International program, which has seen the likes of hip, downtown designers such as Rogan Gregory, Richard Chai and most recently Tracy Feith. The jewelry hits stores this August.

Yay for that! I love Bing Bang, although I've found Bee 23 to be a little on the disappointing side. Let's hope the Target collection is a bit more successful.

Hitting Topshop April 28th is the Barbara Hulanicki collection. For those of you not well-versed in 20th century fashion history, Hulanicki was the creator of Biba, one of the most influential boutiques of Swinging London. The line is very bohemian and chiffon-y; you can view photos here. For the dudes, Refinery 29 reports Richard Chai, Phillip Lim, Christopher Shannon, Juun J, JW Anderson, and Henry Holland will interpret the classic white T-shirt, with a mini-collection hitting stores May 28th.

Finally, Nylon has a preview of the upcoming Shipley & Halmos collection for Uniqlo, which hits stores May 7th. I feel as neutral about it as I did about the Steven Alan collection, but maybe it will be cuter in person.

MasstigeWatch!
Chalk one (or, like a million) up for Uniqlo: uber-iconic designer Jil Sander will oversee the men's and women's lines, as well as design a special collection for fall [subscription required]. All I have to say about that is: wow. And, also: I will be shopping at Uniqlo a lot more.

Speaking of which, Uniqlo's latest designer collaborations--from Steven Alan and Opening Ceremony--hit the store on Thursday. I will try to make it there on my lunch break and report back. If I don't have time for a full post, however, there's always my Twitter feed, so please stay tuned!

MasstigeWatch!
As was leaked last month, Uniqlo has a very downtown coterie of designer collaborations lined up for spring [subscription required]: Steven Alan for women and Opening Ceremony for men hit stores in March; Shipley & Halmos for women and Gilded Age for men bow in May. Price ranges for all four lines will be a very wallet-friendly $19-$79. So while none of these lines are really anything to go crazy about, I'm sure they will be well made and quietly cool, as the previous Uniqlo designer collaborations have been.

If you're more excited about the McQ for Target collection, Target already has a microsite up and running; it helpfully counts down the days until the March 4th launch, and you can also preview a few looks and listen to a song by The Duke Spirit (singer Leila Moss was McQueen's inspiration for the line). But if you're like me and realized--oh, shit!--you're going to be on vacation when the collection hits stores, you're in luck: Racked reports that Target will open a pop-up shop, called the Target McQ Market, 2/14-15 from noon to 10 p.m., at 330 West Street, in the far West Village, a block north of Houston. Yep, it will be packed with all the fashionistas in town for Fashion Week (I'll have to strategically time my visit during one of the big shows that I'm not invited to), but, damnit, I must have that jumpsuit!

MasstigeWatch!
H&M might get the big names and Target is all about frequency, but when it comes to designer–mass market collaborations, Uniqlo gets the coolest designers. Case in point: The Fashion Informer, in this interview with Steven Alan himself, casually let drop that Alan is launching a collaboration with Uniqlo in spring 2009. (Note: This is not to be confused with Lark & Wolff, Alan's somewhat underwhelming line for Urban Outfitters.) Racked investigated, and according to the Uniqlo rep, who could neither confirm nor deny that Alan is on board, the designers will be announced at the end of January. In the meantime, Refinery 29 reports that Opening Ceremony will be another one of the designers. Now all we need is for Oak to get in on the action for a perfect uber-hip downtown boutique trifecta.

MasstigeWatch!
New York Magazine's excellent The Cut blog reports today that Steven Alan is doing a lower-priced line for Urban Outfitters, and it will hit stores as soon as July 4th. This is excellent news for those of us who love Steven Alan's neo-preppy rumpled shirts but not their three-digit price tags, as the line, called Lark & Wolff, will retail for a mere $50-$128. Urban Outfitters has stepped up their game recently with Geren Ford's lower-priced line, Hawks; coming up, the retailer will be debuting special collections from Paul & Joe Sister, Bing Bang jewelry, and Charlotte Ronson. So yay for all of that.

Also, sorry for not having written about Alexander Wang for Uniqlo sooner, but my parents were in town last weekend and so I got a little sidetracked. Anyway, I hightailed it to Uniqlo after work on Friday (I have summer Fridays, thank god) and was happy to find all five dresses in my size (they had plenty of all sizes at the time). The funny thing was, though, that the dresses I thought I'd like the most--the vest babydoll dress and the pleated drop-waist dress--were the ones that looked the worst on me. The colorblocked dress was not terribly flattering either. In order to pull off Wang's slouchy, boyish silhouette, it helps to not have boobs, and, well, yeah. I ended up with the shirtdress and the sleeveless black dress, both of which are cut incredibly well. The shirtdress is a cotton blend and the sleeveless dress (as well as all the other dresses) is polyester, but it's actually a pretty nice poly, and it at least fooled me into thinking it was silk. I have no idea if anything is left (rumor was that Uniqlo was restocking today), but this is one of the best masstige collections I've seen in awhile, so I highly suggest checking it out (or surfing eBay, where there are already multiple pieces listed). Here's where I could make a joke about getting so much Wang for so little, but I'll refrain.