Cheryl Shops

I went to H&M and all I got was this lousy Comme des Garcons T-shirt
Okay, first of all, let me apologize for saying the stores were opening today at 10 a.m.--that is what the press release I received from H&M said. But, lo and behold, as I rolled up to the Penn Station store at 9:30 this morning and discovered there was no line, I realized the stores had actually opened at 9 a.m., and all that was left at that store was a rack of solid-colored button-down shirts. Bo-ring. So I hightailed it over to the 34th Street store, which still had a rack of the corset dresses, a rack of trench coats, more solid button-downs, solid T-shirts, and, thankfully, the deconstructed colorblocked tee, which was one of the things I had wanted. I snapped up the last medium, then I joined the crowd of 15 or so people hovering around, waiting for sales associates to bring back unwanted items from the fitting rooms. (I also spent this time glaring at the people who were hoarding about 16 or so items that they clearly could not buy all of, since there was a two-item limit.) No such luck. But, I did see a tiny Asian woman (seriously, she must've weighed 85 pounds soaking wet) try on my coveted inside-out jacket, and it was snug on her, so that made me feel better. I also saw another woman buying the drop-crotch pants, and they looked comically huge, so that made me feel better too. I didn't even see the deconstructed pencil skirt or the jodhpurs, but, you know, I have enough black skirts and pants, so I can live without them. That said, I am quite happy with my T-shirt--it's a nice wool, and it doesn't look as crazy as it does in the photos.

So, if you're interested in the dress, the trench, the shirts, or the tees, head over to Herald Square. If not, I'm sure stuff will start popping up on eBay later today...

MasstigeWatch: All you need to know about Comme des Garcons at H&M
So. Thursday, November 13th is the big day: The launch of Comme des Garcons at H&M. You can preview the entire line (plus prices) on the H&M website; I suggest using it to create a plan of action (I, for one, want the inside-out jacket, the asymmetrical T-shirt, the asymmetrical pencil skirt, and maybe the jodhpurs). Racked has photos from the store's Japan debut on Saturday, for another perspective. Now, stores open at 10 a.m. on Thursday; depending on how big a fan you are, plan on getting there early and waiting in line. The rumor, as reported by Fashionista, is that H&M is imposing a two-item per garment limit--if true, this will hopefully foil those who plan on buying in bulk and reselling on eBay (then again, it's bad news if you were one of those people hoping to buy on eBay). The collection is available only in eight stores in the U.S. (four in NYC); here's the list:

New York:
H&M Fifth Avenue at 51st Street
H&M Penn Station
H&M 34th Street at 6th Avenue
H&M Lexington at 59th Street

Chicago:
H&M North Michigan Avenue

Los Angeles:
H&M Sunset Boulevard
H&M Beverly Center

San Francisco:
H&M Powell Street

I'll post an update as soon as I get to work on Thursday (I'll be at one of the 34th Street locations, but I haven't decided which one yet). Good luck and godspeed.

MasstigeWatch!
After the so-so Viktor & Rolf collaboration and last year's trash-tastic Roberto Cavalli line, let me just say how excited I am for Comme des Garcons for H&M. Nitro:licious has the entire lookbook, and while I'm not too jazzed about the polka dots, I am pretty damn psyched about everything else--the jackets especially, but I love the deconstructed tee and pencil skirt, and, call me crazy, I am even intrigued by the drop-crotch pants. Of course, such awesomeness comes at a price; one of the dresses costs $349, but word on the street is that's the high end of the range. Still, I'd be willing to spend that on a CDG jacket--the real thing costs several times that amount. Nevertheless, I think this collection is definitely worth waiting in line for; it hits stores November 13th.

And if, like me, you missed last month's Bullseye Bodega pop-up stores and have been eagerly awaiting Jonathan Saunders' Go International collection to hit Target stores, Sunday, October 5th is your lucky day. I have my eye on this chiffon ombre skirt; many items have an '80s colorblocked look, if that's your sort of thing.

MasstigeWatch!
Much as I try, I can't seem to avoid reading Fashionista, which had a complete collection of images of the Comme des Garcons for H&M collection, but was later forced to remove them at H&M's request (spoilsports!). Here's the one officially released photo, appearing in this month's W. The polka-dot blouses are a bit twee for me, and the wide-leg cropped pants do not look too flattering, but I am all over the deconstructed black jackets. Look for it in stores November 19th.

Also, Dean Harris' jewelry collection for Target is now available online and in stores. The look is kind of earthy and organic and bohemian; I find the flowers and peace signs a bit cheesy, but there are some great pieces here and there. Of course my favorite piece is also the most expensive, this $99.99 sterling silver bracelet. (So much for masstige, Target!)

MasstigeWatch!
The big news today is that Comme des Garcons' Rei Kawakubo will design a line for H&M. Talk about a complete 180 from last year's designer collaboration, with the ultra-flashy Roberto Cavalli. I'm sure fashionistas all around the world are wetting their pants over this one, but I am both puzzled and intrigued by the choice--how well Kawakubo will translate her super-avant-garde (and super-expensive) creations for the masses remains to be seen. Regardless, I have a feeling suburban girls from Jersey won't be camping out at H&M stores overnight. The line will debut in the new H&M store in Tokyo in early November; it hits H&M stores worldwide a few days later. And of course I will post photos as soon as they're available.

Lest H&M steal all the Masstige thunder, Target announced their next designer jewelry collaboration, with Dean Harris. Who? Exactly. But in other Tar-zhay news, Gryson is now available online. I'm totally going to order the little pouch--for $19.99, you can't go wrong, right?