LIBERTY OF LONDON FOR TARGET

My Recessionista Review on the Liberty of London for Target is still work in progress because I have so much to say about this collection. I promise it will be really good and it will be published within the next couple of days.

For now, check out their gorgeous spreads:

Recessionista Review: Jean Paul Gaultier for Target

The name Jean Paul Gaultier a.k.a JPG has been in my fashion dictionary for a very very long time. I have not personally owned anything from JPG till now. All thanks to Target again! Before I went to Target today, I did my research and there were many pieces that I loved and have a high chance of adding to my wardrobe. Then again, with every Designer for Target Collection, there is a hit or miss syndrome.

My verdict:

1. Pass on all the dresses in this collection unless you have lots of cash to spare. They were all either plasticy, papery, or yucky polyestery material....I don't even know a word that can describe it, but you get the idea. The floral eyelet one here that I loved a lot was also disappointing. If you don't believe me, go see them for yourself.

2. If you have $199 to spend, definitely get the leather jacket. It is comparable to the contemporary labels you see at Saks or Neiman Marcus.

3. Don't just trust the photos you see on Target.com, try it on! That was how I found that this nautical inspired top was a gem! The detailing on it is unique, and the stripes are so JPG! For $19.99, it was a steal! Great with leggings too I must say!

My 2 winning pieces out of the 8 pieces I tried on from this collection. I will not post the photos of the remaining 6 pieces because they were too horrid to be seen by the general public.

Not to be worn together but I did it to save time

So what did I get from the Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection?
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Jean Paul Gaultier for Target Anchor Braid Knit Top - Navy/Cream $19.99

I will seriously consider getting the leather moto jacket...if they still have any left....which then means that it was meant to be mine, but it was hard for me to swallow that $199 price today.

Recessionista Review: Carlos Falchi for Target

The long anticipated wait for cheap designer chic from my favorite store Target is finally here. I am talking about Carlos Falchi. The famous designer known for his exquisite exotic skin handbags that can cost more than your rent. In my previous blog entry, I promised to post photos of the Carlos Falchi for Target photos, so here you go.

I have been eying the little purple fellow in the center, and so I went and checked it out in person. As I walked towards the accessories department, I saw this huge signage and I headed straight for it. From a distance, the purple cross-body bag looked so enticing!

As I leaned forward to grab the purple bag, I realized that I was actually touching a plastic piece of patchwork. All I can is one word - Disappointment.

Maybe I was expecting too much, secretly hoping that this will be a real investment at a steal price of $24.99. I knew it wasn't going to be real snakeskin, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so glossy and plasticy. In my many years of being a Fashionista, I can now say that when it comes to handbags, you get what you pay for. For $24.99, I believe other Fashionistas out there might appreciate it more than I do. Clothing on the other hand, I can still get by with cheaper options of designer couture. Thank goodness! If not, I don't think I can remain a Recessionista.

Review: Anna Sui for Target Inspired by Gossip Girl

Top Row (L-R): 1 2 3 4 5 Bottom Row (L-R): 6 7 8 9

Here is the long awaited review of the Anna Sui for Target collection inspired by who else but our 4 favorite (or not so favorite) girls of Gossip Girl. I was the guinea pig last Saturday, trying on every single piece of this collection that was available at the stuffy Target store. There were definitely several hits and misses in this collection which I am about to give my 2-cents worth here. Let's start with the 9 outfits shown above. Amongst these outfits, my favorites before heading to the store were 1,2,3,6,7,8.

Top row: The white dress (1) was no where in sight, so disappointment number one as that was my most favorite. Grey dress (2) looked like a piece of gray carpet with shiny spikes on it, so another disappointment, 1 out of 5 stars. Black dot sheer dress (3) was better than what I expected, it is actually cute with leggings, definitely at least a 3/5 stars and worth the $44.99. For sizing, do get at least one size up if you have bigger hips or thicker arms or you will rip the chiffon fabric when you sit. Outfits 4 and 5, don't bother because they are not flattering and the fabric isn't good quality. They both get 2/5 stars from me.

Bottom Row: The sheer black/white/red dress gets 3/5 stars because it has a cute print, but not really worth the $49.99 price tag in my opinion. The sizing runs big though, so do get a size smaller than your normal size. Outfit 7 is a winner, 4.5/5 stars! I loved the leather jacket (which I didn't get to try on because there wasn't any in my size) and the black dress is so Blair and looks well made. See my photo below wearing that black dress. Do get one or two sizes up if you have a smaller waist and bigger hips because this dress is made to fit someone who has a straight figure. I give a thumbs-up for outfit 7! Outfit 8 and 9 are 3.5/5 stars because even though they are cute to look at, they didn't do me justice at all.

Pardon my tummy I just ate a full meal :P

My other favorite from this collection that is worth consideration is this wrap dress below. I didn't get it because I had a budget of $100 and I could only choose 1 dress.

Black Silk Wrap Dress $59.99

So after an hour in the fitting room, I walked out of Target that day purchasing these 2 Anna Sui designed items for under $100.

Black Seersucker Dress with Lace $59.99

Fringe Bib Tee $24.99

As for the rest of the collection that were not mentioned here, I didn't quite care for them either because of the design, the fabric, the cut, or all three. You may like something that I don't, so I hope that this review has helped you in making your purchases from the Anna Sui for Target collection.

Anna Sui for Target Pop-Up Store

I have always been very on the ball when it comes to Target's Go International or Design Collaborations, but this time I didn't get the chance to check it out till Saturday September 19th...almost 6 days after the collection hit all Target stores. My reviews on this collection is coming in the next couple of days, please be patient because I want to do a good review like the previous one I did for Tracy Feith for Target, which Target loved and retweeted my tweet on Twitter!

I was planning to stop by the Anna Sui for Target Pop-Up Store (which was a private SoHo townhouse) on Crosby Street on Fashion Night Out, but never made it to SoHo from Fifth Avenue. I didn't make it there myself, but that doesn't mean I can't blog about the bohemian-chicness and ultra-coolness of this purple and black color themed pop-up store. Check this out!

Custom wallpaper, ornate chandeliers, antique mirrors

This is so Mod!

Newspaper wallpaper - cheap & chic!

Did you know that our favorite Gossip Girl cast members were also at the Anna Sui for Target Pop-Up Store to check out the collection that was inspired by their own Gossip Girl characters?

Carlos Falchi to Design for Target

Woohoo! That was my first response when I heard the news that Carlos Falchi will be the 8th handbag designer to create a limited edition line for Target. Target never fails to disappoint me in my shopping wishes. I have dreamed of getting a Carlos Falchi handbags for a long long time, and now I can finally get my very own Carlos Falchi handbag at my favorite store - Target at a recessionista-friendly price.

Carlos Falchi Pearlized Python $2675, Crocodile Fringe, Floral Python $2025

Carlos Falchi is well-known for his signature faux and genuine snake skin handbag designs. His SS06 collection was the most luxurious as well as the most expensive to date; utilizing exotic skins like deer, alligator, crocodile, python, and goat hand-dyed in colors ranging from pastels to jewel tones to neutrals. First Ladies and Celebrities alike love Carlos Falchi's designs. In his early career, Jackie O Kennedy, Nancy Regan, Madonna and Cher were some of his biggest fans. His celebrity fan base now includes Sienna Miller, Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria.

The Carlos Falchi for Target collection promises the same decadence of luxury but at a fraction of its cost. His 13 faux snakeskin handbags consist of gorgeous juicy jewel tones in reds, purples, greens, along with a couple of collage and patchwork styles. Mark your calendars! This collection will be in Target stores and online from October 11th to December 27th. Target has not released photos of the collection yet, but I will post them on my blog as soon as they do. Stay tuned!

Shopping Haul + Review: Tracy Feith For Target

The long awaited arrival for Tracy Feith's collection is finally here! After I blogged about this collection in a previous entry, I was counting down the days to its launch. I had a wish list with me when I headed to my Target store. I knew in my previous experiences that it is always a hit or miss with Target's Go International. My original plan was to get 3 out of these 6 items:

1. Hawaiian Floral Canvas Print Jacket $44.99
2. Oxford Cobalt Strappy Dress $44.99
3. Ebony Embroidered Dress $39.99
4. Hawaiian Floral Canvas Dress $39.99
5. Ebony Canvas Dress $39.99
6. Leather Biker Jacket $139.99

Arrival at Target Store:
First disappointment of the day! The Tracy Feith leather biker jacket that I have been dreaming about was completely gone! It was also sold out online, so I thought maybe I can get it at the store, I was wrong! Bummer! So I decided to go for my next jacket choice - the Hawaiian Floral Canvas Print Jacket. So, that was item number one to try on in the fitting room. Then I picked up the cobalt blue strappy dress, ebony embroidered dress, hawaiian floral canvas dress and the ebony canvas dress all in one swoop!

Fitting Room Time:
1. Hawaiian Floral Canvas Print Jacket $44.99
OMG! It screamed Tory Burch but 5 times less the price! It was so cute, I didn't want to take it off! I tried on the XSmall and Small. The XSmall was tigher in the arms but the overall fit was better than the Small, so I got the XSmall. Number 1 item in my Tracy Feith stash! See my rating and review on this item below here.


2. Oxford Cobalt Strappy Dress $44.99
Next, it was the cobalt blue strappy dress, the color was gorgeous, but I had to adjust the zipper several times before it was centered between my bosom. This dress could have landed up in my stash, but it failed miserably with the zipper and the ruching at the bosom part. The fabric and cut of this dress actually made me look heavier than I really am. For some reason, in the photo below, the model looks so much skinnier than me in this dress. Oh well! Maybe it's because of the leather jacket she has on - the one that I didn't get to buy! On a serious note, I think the dress the model is wearing might be in a totally different fabric and different cut than the one I tried on at the store. Hers seems more like silk and mine is cotton, and hers was more A-line while mine seemed more straight. See my rating and review on this item below here.


3. Ebony Embroidered Dress $39.99
This dress reminds me so much of Anna Sui and it was only $39.99! There was only a Small, no XSmall, so I decided to give it a try. This dress runs big, I had to tuck part of it behind me when I took this photo so it wouldn't look like a maternity dress. The embroidery and lace detailing were well sewn. See my rating and review on this item below here.


4. Hawaiian Floral Canvas Dress $39.99
I was really disappointed with this one. I loved this print so much and I already got the jacket, so I wanted to get the dress as well. Not that I plan to wear them both at the same time though (don't ever think about wearing them together unless you want to look like floral wallpaper...I smell fashion disaster!). The dress was like a huge canvas shopping bag on me. I don't even dare post the picture of me wearing it because it was just horrid! Some people reviewed it and said they love it, but personally, I think the fabric was too stiff and my figure was lost in this dress. The fabric looks so much softer and silkier on the model in this photo than the actual item.


5. Ebony Canvas Dress $39.99
Need I say more about this one? It was the same exact dress as the one above but with a different print. This was also a disappointment because I love its mod design and it reminds me so much of Twiggy. IMHO, this is definitely a miss for the Tracy Feith for Target collection. This dress on Target's website totally looked so much better than the actual dress in person.

So what did I eventually get from the Tracy Feith for Target Collection?

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The only item I got in the end was the Hawaiian Floral Canvas Print Jacket at $44.99! The other item I am now considering getting on Target.com is the Ebony Embroidered Dress. They didn't have an XSmall, or else I would have got that too. The only problem is I have to spend above $50 to qualify for free shipping, and this dress is $39.99. This means I might need another $10 on something else which I don't need, which honestly I am not really enthusiastic about. Decisions, decisions!

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5/18 Update: I'm going to stop by a few more Target stores today. I'm on a mission to find that leather biker jacket in my size Small. If anyone found it, tell me! Meanwhile, I'm going to grab a few Tracy Feith bikinis. They are good priced and cute as well. What more can a Recessionista ask for! :)

Target Designer Collaborations: Anna Sui (Gossip Girl Inspired)

I am a big fan of the CW hit show Gossip Girl and love many of the ensembles from my favorite characters Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen. It is a fact though that many of the gorgeous ensembles that these upper east side girls from the Constance Billiard School for Girls wear, come with pretty hefty price tags; including those from my all-time favorite designer Anna Sui.

So I literally shouted for joy when I heard that Anna Sui is going to release a capsule collection for Target Designer Collaborations - inspired by the four main female characters from Gossip Girl - Serena, Blair, Vanessa, Jenny! We will be seeing lots of metallic jacquard, herringbone, silk and chiffon and detailing with tulle, lace and sequins in this collection.

Hold your horses though because the collection won't be available till this Fall, and it won't be available at all Target stores (just 250 of them, so please check if it is going to be at the Target near you) and Target.com from September 13 through October 17.

I love Blair's Anna Sui Teal Chiffon Blouse!

I love Vanessa's Anna Sui Shape and Splendor Dress ($550 at Anthrpologie)

Target Go International Flights of Fashion: Tracy Feith

I have been marking my calendar for the past 3 years every time Target announces the next hot designer's collection for its GO International Flights of Fashion. My personal Go International collection started with Paul & Joe collection (sob...I missed the Luella Bartley collection), then Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Libertine, then Alice Temperley and into their most recent collection. In every collection, I would pick between 1 to 3 items based upon design, quality and cut. I missed some collections along the way, but for the most part, I own pieces from 9 out of their 14 collections launched so far.

I can't wait for the new Tracy Feith line launching May 17th. His line features beach separates, which will include swimsuits, dresses, shorts, and even a motorcycle leather jacket! This collection ranges from $14.99 to $44.99; with the leather jacket being the highest priced item at $139.99. I have to wait and see for myself if it is worth my moolah (which means money, a slang term I learned a while back). Oh, I am such a sucker for leather jackets, hopefully this one won't let me down! I am also eyeing some of the summer dresses. Feast your eyes on these photos while you and I count down to the day we can lay our hands on these affordable pieces.

Retailers like H&M and Topshop has been introducing their limited edition collections in Europe for years now, and I love their collections as well. The only downside is their pricing is a little on the high side compared to Target. I think Target has done a very good job in providing fast-paced, low-priced designer fashion to the mid-market American consumer. After having some success with their Go International Flights of Fashion line, Target also launched their new GO International™ label that has everything a girl looking to go glam on a budget needs. Now Target is launching Designer Collaborations, an ongoing program that will bring a series of established designers (Alexander McQueen being the 1st to kick this off) to the masses at low prices. When fashion is this affordable, nothing can hold a Recessionista back!