Prabal Gurung's Target Collection Is So Pretty, So Not Prissy

Target's Prabal Gurung collaboration is coming, and I haven't been this excited about the imminent arrival of anything, except for, say, the season 3 premiere of "Downton Abbey." Okay, so that was only a few weeks ago, but don't lead me to lead you to believe that my excitement about Downton (DON'T DIE, MRS. HUGHES!) is capable of diminishing the amount of floral joy the Prabal Gurung x Target collection, which launches February 10, is giving me. I'm just as into the thoroughly modern, edgy, McQueen-leaning holographic prints and painterly garden party prints as Mary is into the idea of being a superficial bitch. It's all of the pretty without any of the prissy. The Prabal, that is. Not Mary. She's all of the pretty and all of the prissy.

Short-Sleeve Dress in First Date Print/Black, $39.99  Miniaudiere in Nolita Print, $34.99  Floral Necklace in Multicolor, $39.99  Crystal Teardrop Pendant Necklace in Black, $19.99  Crystal Teardrop Necklace in Black, $39.99  Wedge Sandals in Apple Red, $29.99

Dress in First Date Print, $34.99; Miniaudiere in Nolita print, $34.99

Blazer in floral crush print, $49.99, Long-sleeve tee in floral crush print, $19.l99, Shorts in floral crush print, $26.99, Ankle-strap pumps in black, $39.99

Jason Wu For Target: The Key Cat Pieces

I KNOW I'm not the only person out there so excited for Jason Wu's Target collection that I could practically pee in a cat box. (No? Just me?) Hi, it's INSPIRED BY A CAT! A black cat named Milu.

So, naturalamente, my favorite pieces involve cats:

Striped jersey dress, $34.99

Milu the cat tote, $39.99

Milu print scarf, $19.99

Missoni For Target Fashion's Night Out Pop-Up: I SURVIVED!

Fuck what you heard about Irene. Missoni For Target took New York City by storm at Fashion's Night Out, and I braved the HOARDES OF HOARDY SHOPPERS to cover the pop-up for MTV Style.

It was daunting, it was packed, it was 1 MILLION DEGREES in the shade, but I went in, and came out with two diaphanous black pleated maxi skirts, two pairs of black-and-white zigzagged pajama pants (TOO HOT! TOO CRAZY TO TRY ON ANYTHING, so I bought two sizes), one silk(-ish) robe and $212 broker.

Check out my experience bravely shopping the Missoni For Target pop-up shop for MTV Style, and don't miss the collection when it hits Target and Target.com Sept. 13. (Like you could miss it.)

One of These Things Is notLike the Other

The post seems to have disappeared, but Sugar Rock Catwalk recently discovered a striking similarity between some pretty damn ubiquitous Dolce Vita wedges (that's the DV version, the "Pali") and Target's Mossimo "Pilar" sandals. Interesting. Looks like Dolce Vita's not the only brand with whom they're, uh, taking the collaboration a little further.

Last spring Target had what I thought was a pretty cool collection by Cynthia Vincent. Unlike with Dolce Vita, they don't have the brand's shoes in stores right now, but check this out:

Cynthia Vincent "Roma" gladiator wedges, a pair I recently admired on the feet of a coworker and then web-stalked. They're amazing.

Annnnnnnd, exhibit B:



Mossimo "Priya" wedges.

Pretty blatant, I'd say.

For the record, I still want the CV version.

Spring Beauty Forecast: Tom Ford Lavender Palm, Topshop Polish + Dark Circle-Busting Concealer

Ohai! Beauty Blogging Junkie's Amber and I have once more joined forces to bring you some of our favorite beauty products for spring. (Review our favorite winter beauty products if you need a moment.)

Anyway, neither one of us should be allowed in front of anything that has the capability to record us because we will NEVER STHU. OKAY! Watch our new spring beauty "forecasting" videos, and check out my favorite spring products below!





Here are the beauty products I'm INTO.

($4.99, Sonia Kashuk, Target)

 

Tom Ford Lavender Palm EDP is $250 for 50ml, $950 for the 250ml decanter (I KNOW!) and available only at Tom Ford Beverly Hills. That's SO Tom Ford of him.

($23.99, Graftobian.com)

Seriously, Graftobian makes the BEST concealer/ corrector OF ALL TIME. Believe me when I tell you this. Because it's true. This is like the Susan Boyle of beauty products: plain-looking but deceptively skilled.

($28, Rodin, Barneys.com)

If you're not the kind of girl who'd spend $28 on lip balm, you will be after reading my Naag.com review of Olio Lusso.

Oh, and I TOTALLY screwed up the name of brand of the shirt I'm wearing! It's Wkshp (pronounced "Workshop.") Good thing I don't have to appear on any red carpets in the near future. Reporters would be like "WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?" I'd be like "IT'S LANCOME" instead of LanVIN or something! Anyway, Wkshp's tees are the comfiest, slouchiest, cutest tees I've encountered in my entire history of t-shirt curation. And that's really saying a lot. CandyStore Collective, Free People and Nasty Gal carry Wkshp tees.

($39.50, Wkshp, FreePeople.com)

 HORSE shirt alert, by the way! That wasn't lost on you,w as it?

($40, Wkshp, Shopnastygal.com)

+ And by the WAI, Topshop Sandy Lane nail polish is coming soon!

Finally, here are the products AMBER is into!
+ Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum
+ Elemis FreshSkin Make-up Cleansing Wipes
+ Revlon CustomEyes Palette in Smoky Sexy
+ Josie Maran Blemishes R Gone Argan Acne Clearing Pads
+ Neutrogena Skin Clearing Blemish Concealer
+ Pixi Week Of Wake Up Makeup ($30)

Lust List: Rachel Roy & Keds Hi-Tops, Tie-Dye For Non Hippies, And The Best Summer Bag EVAR!

Welcome to my weekly lust list -- my fantasy shopping list of things I'd happily purchase right this moment... if only you were paying.

($99, Rachel Roy)

It was love at first click for me and these Rachel Roy blue Adinah hi-tops, created with surfer Karina Petroni. Love the summery surf fabric and I love that they're slip-ons. Honestly, being vehemently anti flip-flops (they're terrible and cheap!!! Step your GAME up!), these are a perfect substitute. 

($264, Collina Strada, DearFieldbinder)

I mean... a better summer bag has never existed. Leather, canvas, a happy little shadowy tic print, and plenty of compartments.

($19.99, Calypso For Target)

I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I'll keep repeating it if need be. Tie-dye can be HORRIBLE. TERRIBLE. Any Jerry Garcia-leaning swirls-and-fractals tee makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a brooch, straight-up Oedipus style. The ONLY way to do tie-dye acceptably is ONE color with few circles or stripes. For example: the tie-dye tops from the Calypso for Target collection. I'm pretty stoked for a super easy orange tie-dye tee (I think they come in a bright pink too). The collection hits Target stores May 1.

($90, Alexis Bittar)

That little pop of fuchsia in there? That's love.

($70, Keds)

Keds is rolling out their "How Do You" road trip series, which pairs (har) a pair of urban-inspired, limited-edition Keds with a city and a charity. My favorites of the collection are the hi-top foldover Champion LA Keds. They're lightweight, and, once again, perfect for flip-flop skeevers like myself.

Spotted At Target: Bigfoot

Like any white-blooded, middle-class American, I LOVE Target. But I DO NOT love the fact that from Target, you can procure not one but TWO different Bigfoots (Bigfeet)?

There's this horrifying Bigfoot costume FOR ADULTS:

($74, Target.com)

 

I have nightmares about waking up to something like watching me in my bedroom.

And then there's this Bigfoot toy, which is an exercise in pure terror.

($97.99, Fisher Price, Target.com)

Per the description, this ONE-HUNDRED DOLLAR (!!!??!?!) Bigfoot comes with a remote control that "allows him to walk forward and backwards and the 6 buttons are Happy, Angry, Sleep, Fun, Ball and Exercise." WHAT? "Angry" button? Where's the "Total Panic Attack" button?

I do not BELIEVE this picture of a little boy playing with Bigfoot. You know they Photoshopped a photo of a happy little boy face after the actual little boy shat his pants and ran off, emotionally scarred for life. Could you blame him?

Feelin' It: Dolce Vita for Target

A weekend trip to New Jersey means a trip to Target, which is cause for celebration enough. Add in Labor Day weekend, and suddenly it's back-to-school shopping (without the school): double yay! Then, the cherry on top: a designer collab I'd completely forgotten about and, to be frank, kind of written off. I saw the pics for the Dolce Vita for Target collection a few weeks back but wasn't really into them, even though I'm a fan of Dolce Vita shoes and have a bunch of them. Somehow, in person, the boots didn't seem quite so pirate-y, and the flats were a little more special.


Lace-up boots, $34.99. I'm not usually one for lace-up boots, but I decided I could try to be one. Like my fearless coblogger! Also these have a handy diagonal zipper up the side that means you only have to fix the laces to your liking once (they're still functional). And the faux leather is of pretty high quality. Beware, this shoe for some reason runs at LEAST a full size large; I got a 7 when I usually wear an 8.



Studded ballet flats, $29.99. The major selling points for these are the tiny understated studs and the square ballet shoe–like toe. These run a tad small; I should probably have gotten a half-size up, as I now see the reviews are telling me. Why can't they standardize the sizing? Cute, though. Sold!

Some other back-to-school finds:


Mossimo boyfriend cardigan, $20. Leggings, boots, done.



Mossimo lace inset cardigan, $22.99. Cardigans are pretty much a staple of my fall wardrobe, so. Why not?

Anyone else feeling the DV for Targs?

Late to the Party: Cynthia Vincent for Target

Peeps, these Cynthia Vincent for Target shoes kinda rock. Looks like the black gladiator wedges sold out (boo), but I picked up a pair in brown at an upstate Target this past weekend. I am so glad Carl indulges my Target fixation. Anyway....



The straps on these gladiator wedges, $29.99, were kinda loose on my regular size, but a half-size down solved the problem. Yay!



I also tried on the strappy ring flats, $24.99, in a half-size up (which was actually fine), but the straps were flopping all around, so I passed. Maybe a half size down would fix it also? I might actually go for these in white, since I just bought yellow sandals.



And I'm digging the hot pink studded thongs, $24.99, though I'm wary of the toe strap. Seems like just ASKING for trouble.



Surprisingly, the tribal-print wedges, $29.99, are still available. Weird! They're so cute!

I'm gonna hit the Matt Bernson sample sale on Friday, and if I STILL need sandals, maybe I'll order up some of Cynthia's and hope for a good fit.

Then all I'll need is some NICE GODDAMN WEATHER. Seriously, why so winter???

Give Me Liberty or Give Me...A Chop't Salad

I wish I could say a lot of things about the Liberty of London for Target pop-up shop at 42nd and 6th here in N.Y.C. I wish I could say I popped in and was delighted by the impossibly cute teapots and knickknacks and dresses. I wish I could say I was transported to a magical Alice in Wonderland-ish world of colorful cuteness, available for no more than the cost of a few cups of tea. I wish I could say I took a turn around the block on a flowery bike. Mostly, though, I wish I could say I popped in at all. I wish I did NOT have to say what actually happened, which is that I waited on line for 30 minutes, determined I'd be on line for another 20 at least, and that my life would be more improved by a Chop't salad and some tissues (this cold!) than by a floral piggybank.

I will try again in the morning, and Tamar and I are all set to road-trip to Jersey on Sunday for the official launch (this is serious business), but for the moment, here are my picks, based on Target's tiny pics:


Halter dress, $29.99. This is THE piece of the collection as far as I'm concerned. Kudos to the designers for making a beautiful dress that a woman can bend over in without worrying about flashing anyone, and kudos to Target for pricing it at $30 instead of the $50 and $60 and even higher I've seen in other designer collabs.


Tankini, $19.99 per piece.


Peacock swimsuit, $34.99. Maybe.


Flowerpot, $9.99. Because terra-cotta is kinda boring.


Piggybank! I lied; I totally need a floral-print piggybank. How else am I gonna save money? Deciding between this and the black and white. It's $9.99.


Chemise, $17.99. Uh, chemise, really? You wear this shit to bed? But it's so pretty! And she's wearing shoes! Further investigation required.

And that's just my picks of what's on the press page, which I think is incomplete. I see a lot more pillows and bedding, for instance, in the videos. And since my new cat has pissed on most of our throw pillows (thanks, Louie!), it's time to stock up.

For my money (as yet unspent), this is one of the best Target designer collections yet. Don't sleep, kids! The collection launches in stores Sunday. Developing!

Anna Sui for Target: Better in Theory

So, everyone knows that most of the designer collections for Target pretty much suck ass. But everyone of a certain frugal-fashionista bent checks them out when they hit anyway. And so it was that I had the good luck to be in suburban New Jersey last weekend when the Anna Sui for Target collection debuted. I'd even totally forgotten about it, so it was a delightful surprise to see a few pieces at my mom's local Target. Bottom line: The collection doesn't suck ass, and indeed has some very fun, desirable prints, but I ended up at the register with only a T-shirt (and about $130 in cotton balls and leggings and hair spray and...you know how it goes). Let's take a closer look at the collections highlights:


Stripey silk dress, $59.99. I almost bought this. It was in my basket. It fit great, and I loved the spaghetti straps with the flirty off-the-shoulder sleeves. I thought I might wear it to a wedding in November. But thinking about it more, I realized stripes might not be right for a beach wedding, and I couldn't think of a single other occasion I'd have to wear it. $59.99 saved.


I also tried on this blousy blue dress, and I loved it, and thought about pairing it with a narrow belt instead of the big wide one it comes with, but it just made me look too busty and schoolmarmish and, well, fat, and that is NOT ALLOWED. If you have any curves at all, stay away from this one. $44.99 saved. (That said, I saw a tiny girl on the Brooklyn Bridge the next day wearing it, and she looked great.)


They didn't have this blocky herringbone dress in anything close to my size, otherwise I would have tried it on. Looks work-appropriate in a kicky way, methinks. Reviews, however, as with virtually all Target collaboration items, are kinda eh. Hey, another $60 saved!




As it turned out, I only dropped $24.99 on this collection, with no plans to revisit it (barring clearance sales, of course). The winner: this lace-fringe T-shirt. Totally cute. Nuff said.

Target Has a Fine Jewelry Department?

Don't worry. I'm not getting this. But for a sec, I thought this would make kind of a cool, funky wedding ring, maybe for someone with a square-ish engagement ring. And hello! Seriously budget-friendly!



Target 10-karat white gold .25 carat diamond ring, on clearance for $83.99.

The quality is obviously not going to be great. You don't even need to read the review to know that. But I might get a real jeweler to do something like that, though. And hey, this one doesn't resemble any genital parts that I'm aware of!

Binge Beauty Buy: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Rimmel's newest mascara, Sexy Curves, has a wand that looks like a sex toy (OR AT LEAST I'VE HEARD THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON TV), and while I think you're a straight fool if you don't curl your lashes first before applying mascara, the product, much like sex toys, does a good job of, um, hitting those spots other products don't. Despite its claims, Rimmel Sexy Curves doesn't plump lashes (or at least not mine), but it definitely does a good job of lenghtening, lifting and separating, if you will, so I'd recommend it as a base before you use other thicker mascaras out there, like Napoleon Perdis' Madame Curl Curl.

+ Pick up Rimmel Sexy Curves at CVS and Target.

Cutest Lil Patent Grey Target Sandals, WITH PYRAMID STUDS!

($24.99, Target)

Some super nice FashionBinge reader emailed me about these ADORABLAY flat grey patent sandals WITH grey pyramid studs. And you KNOW how I love a pyramid stud! Thanks, nice reader!

WHY, LQQK! It's The... Orla Kiely For Target: THE LOOKBOOK!

Let's take a closer look at the green pear subcollection within the super-adorbs Orla Kiely for Target collection that comes out in February!


There's the cute-n-comfy chair pad:

($13.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

Practical AND presh casserole oven mitt:
($4.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

I'm sure this works for cookie trays too!


Two-to-a-pack kitchen towels!

($5.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

Very pear-y tablecloth!

($21.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

Cutie-pie serving tray!

($19.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

Large canister!

I assume this is $19.99 -- the site currently says $1.99, which would be nice but probably is a typ0.

The highly coveted granny-chic apron, FTW!

($14.99, Orla Kiely for Target)

+ Check out more Orla Kiely for Target images, and view the entire lookbook here!
+ Plus: DON'T fergit to enter the FashionBinge Chloe & Jane Spa Perfect Spa Set Giveaway!