My three daughters all celebrate birthdays within the first 35 days of the year. Last Sunday, we celebrated with a brunch out and a day of thrift store shopping at mom's expense (vicarious thrifting anyone?).
It would be mid-afternoon before we located one of the handful of stores in the KC metro that stocked the new designer collaboration by Jason Wu and by then, it was pretty picked over.
My girls, perhaps to their credit, did not know who Jason Wu was. I had known him primarily as the designer of Michelle Obama's inaugural ballgown and had seen the promos of this line, featuring a back cat, Milu. To my eye, the clothing seemed simple and crisp, though the only item in the collection I thought I might purchase would have been a scarf. By two in the afternoon, the collection was pretty picked over at this location, where the store was already in disarray due to a remodel.
K. imagines herself in this blouse, while P. holds up the separates I had taken for a dress in the promos. We visited briefly with a young woman who had apparently visited Targets all over town (there are 14 in our area) and told us she had been up all night wrestling with her computer and the Target web site.
My girls were far more interested in the shoe clearance. While M. tried on the shoe above, P. bought a pair of these "booties" in black and K. purchased the boots on the right.
When the girls launched into a perusal of the clothing racks, I suggested we hit a second thrift store and without any complaint, we left--with NO Jason Wu.
Here's how momma looked by the end of the afternoon. The top is by "BKE". Jeans by Wrangler. (thrifted). Cowboy boots, Durange, gift from DH.
While I intend to explore this discount retailer in far more detail
next week, I'm wondering how many of my readers like these designer
collaborations Target sponsors. I know I've had pieces of Isaac Mizrahi
and Liberty of London and Alexander McQueen for Target I've purchased
at thrift stores, but the clamor to be the first to snag inexpensive
designer goods is lost on me.
Did any of my readers snag any Jason Wu?
I liked the look of some of the Jason Wu for Target stuff shown in the ads, but I completely forgot about the collection coming out on Sunday. Not that I'd rush to get there if I had remembered; the few times I've seen items in person after the rush, I wasn't terribly impressed.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm missing whatever is supposed to be so special about these collections.
I never really looked at the quality of the items, inside seams, etc. as I had no intention of buying, but I was a bit curious about the scarves.
DeletePerhaps these collections feed the illusion of owning something "designer."
We don't have any Targets around here, but that's okay, I'll live vicariously through you. Your daughters are beautiful! Looks like you had a fun day.
ReplyDeleteI like your top with what looks like a stencilled yolk. It's perfect with your jeans and cowboy boots.
Melanie--it seems I read somewhere in the past couple of days that Target has bought out some Canadian store...so you may eventually have a similar store in your area. The yolk is sort of a cross between lace and crochet. I shall have to wash it carefully.
DeleteAhh, I wish I wasn't so broke! I really wanted the red blouse featured in the ads. Probably never find it now! All your daughters look so much like you! Quite a good looking family :)
ReplyDeleteI've decided that I'll likely never find the scarf I wanted...unless I go to eBay. You're likely the age of my daughters.
DeleteMy local Target was also picked over, and, like Gracey, I may be missing the special-ness of these collections. Your daughters are lovely, and indeed resemble their mom! Love your black top and boots.
ReplyDeletePatti--you know, I never really payed much attention until the Missoni collection got so crazy. I think I was more interested in the collection from an anthropologists perspective.
DeleteI've only seen a few of the target "designer" items and they always look pretty junky to me.
ReplyDeleteGreat mother/daughters outing.
Yes, I know that have outings like this too with Miss Em. It's difficult nowadays to find a time that all of us are free to shop at the same time. The one dress that I was even remotely interested in proved to be pretty sheer.
DeleteWhat cute daughters! It sounds like a very fun day. I have one Missoni sweater and matching scarf that I really like. (After they couldn't sell all that stuff on Ebay, a lot of it was returned to Target and marked down substantially.) My daughter enjoyed all the collections, trying to find at least one thing she wanted, until the Liberty Collection. She thought the clothes were made out of "icky" material. I got a few cute Liberty bowls.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even go to see the Jason Wu collection, since his gown for the Inauguration was the only design of his I had ever seen.
Beryl--In preparation for this post, I was surprised to discover that Wu basically began his designer career designing dolls and their clothing. He designed a line of dolls for RuPaul. Apparently he continues in his design work for the toy company that originally employed him.
DeleteTerri, to be honest, the whole hullabaloo just turns me off. While I love Missoni, part of what I love about it is it's unique-ness. When it's promoted and sold enmasse at Target, it just loses that quality. Pretty soon, you're wearing what everyone is wearing and to me, that's just trendy. I'd probably be glad to thrift any of those items a year or two from now; I won't be standing in line to get the first pickings.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, how fun are your girls?! I think the one with the long blonde hair favors you the most, however, ALL of you are just gorgeous!! You look FAN-STINKIN'-TASTIC in the jeans, boots and black shirt. Sooooo classy and elegant and yet still casual comfort. LOVE it! Hugs to you my friend!!! Happy Weekend! ~Serene
Serene--You've hit upon the very thing I've wondered about. If everyone owns a piece of these inexpensive collections...what's the fuss about. Scarcity would seem to be the name of the game.
DeleteThe middle daughter P. on the far left is built most like me and people say that we look the most alike. Both M. in the middle and K. on the right look remarkably like their fathers.
I have a hard time buying designer at Target...target to me is great deals; dresses for $6.00, cardigans for 10.00 so NO Wu for me.
ReplyDeleteBella--In my post for next week, I did linger over several clothing items that gave me pause. A bright blue pencil skirt in particular...
DeleteYour daughters are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe whole Target collaboration thing is starting to PO me. I checked early Sunday morning and there were already items from the collection on eBay for atrocious prices. The website was already picked over too.
You look lovely in your outfit. Love the boots! I have got to start wearing mine more often.
Debbie--You were a step ahead of me by checking on eBay. I see these designer collections as a sort of marketing phenomenon and they interest me as anthropology.
DeleteActually, my cowboy boots are one of my most comfortable pairs of shoes and on shopping expeditions like this, comfort is important.
There are no Tar-Jay stores here in Britain, so I'm saved from the faintist whiff of temptation. While I follow that Wu is a NAME like Missoni or Versace or whatever, and it's w. cool to be recognised as wearing Armani or D&G, I'm confused about wearing clothes that obviously came from Target. Where it the cachet in that? If the clothes were well made, in good fabrics with interesting design ideas I wouldn't care if they came from the city dump and had the name asdfggh on them, but the whole point of Target is CHEAP and it's not possible to do those things at Target prices, not as far as I know. So, this is just a money-making venture on the back of 'fast fashion' and no credit to either Target or to the designers involved. Or am I being too harsh?
ReplyDeleteI envy you your lovely daughters and the good times you obviously have with them.
I have no compulsion against wearing Target clothing, but I tend to look for sturdier items of clothing. Most of these designer knock offs I've seen could not withstand more than a couple of wearings. Like you, I tend to look for quality fabrics whether I recognize the name or not. It IS a money-making venture on the back of "fast fashion." You are not being too harsh.
Deletei didn't really know jason wu's designs, so i wasn't interested in the collab. didn't even know when it was. but, i did check out the missoni collab. because we are several hours behind, i was able to view the collection online the night before (instead of waking up early) as it came available...boy was it a mess. after quite some time waiting for everything to come online, i finally had my items in the cart, and the site crashed at checkout. i lost everything. it was 1-2am already and i said forget it and went to bed. i tried the next morning, everything i wanted was gone and i was kind of over it by then!
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
I know that I lurked on the Target website for a bit the night before but nothing had gone online yet...so I didn't have the pleasure of frustration like you describe.
DeleteHi Terri
ReplyDeleteWe do not have Target stores yet in Canada, but they bought a Canadian chain called Zellers and soon will be opening under Target's banner, so i am very excited to see what they will have for us in Montreal.
Right now we have H&M collaboration with designers, i never buy the pieces because i find them too expensive for my taste.
Looked like you had a fine day with your girls
I love my shopping expedition with Izzy
I will make my first visit to H&M as part of my window shopping project this year, so my judgment is out on that. You're right that when one is used to thrift store prices it is difficult to spend on fast fashion in retail and to pay more for it.
DeleteOh, Sud-Est, Are you serious that there will no longer be a Zellers? When I lived in Seattle, it was so fun to go to Canada and shop there.
DeleteFirst of all, you look great! I love your outfit and wish I could wear those leopard shoes. The last Target event resulted in so many bloggers wearing the same zig zag outfits...they were so excited about their purchases so i guess it was a good idea for them...but I have not seen anything that made me want to go fight crowds for the looks. I suppose this is mostly for younger women who do not care if they all look the same, but just want to have something by said designer. I really don't understand the ones that go on Craig's list and buy the Target Designer line for more than it sells in the stores! (Hope this doesn't offend anyone! If you are happy with it then go for it)
ReplyDeletePam--I've actually been lurking for some leopard ballerina flats. After the wedding, I told myself no more 4" heels! You're probably correct that they are targeting a younger consumer, perhaps on a more limited budget. I suspect that some of the eBay shoppers for these items live in places where there are no Targets.
DeleteI am only familar with Jason Wu b/c of the ads I have seen recently on tv with the black cat, I love the ads. I don't shop at Target b/c 1: it is not nearby and 2: I don't like the clothes (maybe b/c I have an XL woman's body). I also don't think their quality is that good, but that is just me. BTW I bet you and your daughters had a great afternoon!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteLinda--briefly, I toyed with the idea of tying a red ribbon on our black cat, but our cat is fairly cantankerous and I decided it would likely prove to be an exercise in frustration. One thing I noticed there was that the women's department was every bit as spacious as the juniors department. We did have fun.
DeleteLooks like you had a great birthday celebration with you gorgeous daughters! I don't stand in line for clothes anymore, not even at estate sales. The only piece that I have from a designer collaboration with Target is a Eugenia Kim straw fedora. It's timeless and I'm happy to have it! Great casual outfit Terri. Very relaxed yet oh so stylish!
ReplyDeleteJudith--yes, I've noticed that Target carries some interesting hats. I've snapped photos of a few for next week's post, but didn't try any on.
DeleteWhat a fun tradition and a fabulous day together for the four of you, all gorgeous! Makes me think I should arrange something with my 3. Love the "money's no object" largesse that thrift shops allow.
ReplyDeleteMater--well, some of our expeditions have been retail ones. The girls and I only do this about twice a year now and every one comes home excited by the new possibilities in their wardrobe. I bought just one piece!
DeleteI like the idea of the Target collaborations, but their extreme popularity defeats the whole purpose. When it becomes a mad rush to snap up items that sell out instantly, the fun ends there, for me. At the end of the day, this is still "fast fashion." How can the quality of the clothes possibly live up to the hype? The fun of these collections should be that you can pick up one or two more fashion-forward items to mix in with your other clothes. How can you do that if you can't get your hands on them, or everybody recognizes them because of the publicity, or everybody else is wearing them?
ReplyDeleteAnne--I agree with you, I am not willing to fight a crowd to shop anything. In fact, on special days at the thrifts I've been known to enter, assess the crowd and turn around and walk out. I had hoped that the scarf I had my eye on would be a "safe" choice.
DeleteIn the past I've been interested in some of their collaboration lines but that's waned. I, like you, had a few pieces I got from resale shops but they didn't stay in my wardrobe long. Most of the quality I've seen has been pretty bad, they're UBIQUITOUS not only on blogs but in real life and it's still sweatshop labor without any attention given to being ethically made otherwise so I don't consider them a win. (I will still buy some fast fashion if I can't find an affordable alternative and I think it's well made enough to get lot of use out of it.)
ReplyDeleteI think I still have the Liberty of London blouse I thrifted that was part of a Target collection and I will wear it again this summer. Because I've thrifted the pieces I've owned, I have worried less about the ethics of the purchase.
DeleteI like your outfit very much, simple and elegantly casual. And your daughters are delightful.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE those leopard print shoes (probably couldn't walk in them though...)
H&M do those collaboration ranges, there have been Karl Lagerfeld, Madonna and Stella Macartney collections which shoppers apparently queued for and raided the rails, but I have to say they are of little interest to me. I agree with the various people above who have said the ranges are too expensive and not well made enough to demand the price tag. And they aren't special or unique if a hundred women have just grabbed the same pieces from the shop! xxx
Curtise--I have yet to investigate the H&M designer collaborations. We have a new H&M store in our area and it is on my list of places to visit on my window shopping project, but I'm not hopeful about what I'll find. Trying to keep an open mind though.
DeleteNo, no Wu for me. I can't deal with the hype and/or having to fight over stuff. I might feel differently if the clothes were very well made, but since that's not the case, I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note: I love what you are wearing! Very chic!
The Waves--thank you for the compliment on the outfit. It is a bit of a breakthrough to allow this little bit of my bra straps to show. I'm of that generation that was taught that a lady doesn't allow this...hard principles to unlearn.
DeleteIt sounds like a fun day out, and you look lovely in jeans, and the lacy black top. And not end-of-the-day rumpled at all!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of Jason Wu either. And the idea of fighting other people for stuff; I don't think so... :) 14 Targets in your area; that is a lot!
Carolyn--the metropolitan area near me probably has a population of 2 million, so 14 stores isn't actually too many. I am proud to say I have never put myself in a shopping situation that required fighting!
DeleteI guess the concept Target has, is the same as H&M has with some designer NAMEs.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, not interested in those.
But you, You look really good!!
So great about the " quality time ", you had with your lovely daughters : )
Mette--I have yet to visit an H&M so I really can't compare. Just this past year H&M opened a store in my area. The quality time with my daughters is hard to achieve now that they are adults and have their own busy schedules.
DeleteI did not actually go to Target and buy things, but I have to say, that collection looks pretty gorgeous. Cat scarf!
ReplyDeleteHis girl friday--the cat scarf was the ONE thing I had an interest in. No luck finding one.
DeleteI like the Target designer collabs, but I don't go out of my way to purchase items from the collections. So if there are pieces left when I just happen to go to Target (which I admit is quite often) then sometimes I pick them up. I wanted to check out the Jason Wu collection, but when I went to my Target yesterday they didn't have anything. (They must not have been one of the one's carrying it.) As much as I like what I saw on the website, and there were a few pieces I really wanted to try, I'm not going to hunt all over the city. It's just not worth it to me.
ReplyDeleteShea--I'm like you. I was stunned to see some of the Missoni left in the Oak Park Target long after the initial clamor last fall. One clerk told us that the Mission store had the collection they thought to help keep up sales during their remodel.
Deletei didn't even go to target...i knew it would be crazy! i heard that someone went to one store and bought everything they had of his. ridiculous! your daughters are beautiful, by the way!
ReplyDeletewhoa--everything? That would have been a pretty penny! I'll relay the compliment to my daughters.
DeleteI've never heard of Jason Wu, either! I love that picture of your beautiful daughters and that outfit you're wearing is stunning, one of my favourite ever looks, I think. x
ReplyDeletePS You should try my hairstyle, it would suit you. I centre-parted it, put it into bunches and wrapped them around themselves, pinning them into place.
Vix--thanks for the tips on the hairdo. I'm going to try it, but I suspect that my hair is not quite as thick as yours. I chopped it off about three years ago and since it's grown back it is NOT as thick as it used to be, a function of aging I'm afraid.
DeleteYour daughters look like dolls !
ReplyDeleteand i have lost interest in collaborations as i am never able to gt anything. I tried to get a few items from the Missoni collectin for target and failed, i also failed at the Versace for H/M so i basically just quit. I think its crazy ! and it makes me upset that I retailers lose control over the situation as i think they should limit pieces per customer as many end up on ebay !
Your daughters are beautiful! Mamma ain't too shabby either! I love the casual look of your jeans and a black shirt...one of my go to outfits. I'm not much into these collaborations...it doesn't help that I live so far away from malls and stores. I'm not into fighting the crowd either...I'm just too old for that! :)
ReplyDeleteI was at Target today keeping my husband company while he bought fancy rainbow popcorn, and there was lots of Jason Wu, including scarves. I bought the cute straw bag for my daughter and one of the blue printed scarves for me. All the rest looked nice, but the styles would be so easy to sew.
ReplyDeleteThis event counts for sweet memories and it's the best gift for your daughters.Thanks for having me on your mind this week.It was a hard week and today I feel like my country lost a war and the worst is that we don't know how or when exactly that happened.citizens are still full of rage.See what happens.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous and different.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, Terry. I bet you are proud!!!
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Nope I didn't snag any of Jason Wu's dresses. I regretted not to get that boots on clearance but I did get the red and the leopard shoes for just $8.00 each ^_^
ReplyDeleteCanada
I like the idea in theory, but I'm never gonna be that girl waiting in line for "okay" clothes, or well probably any.
ReplyDelete