DRESS: JASON WU FOR TARGET | CARDIGAN: DESIGN HISTORY | LEGGINGS: SIMPLY VERA VERA WANG | PUMPS: MADDENGIRL | EARRINGS & BRACELET: FRANCESCA’S | STACKED BRACELETS: CHARM & CHAIN
LIP GLOSS: CHARLOTTE RONSON A PERFECT KISS IN ANNABELLE
Jason Wu for Target. We all loved it, most of us shopped it; it was the perfect marriage of designer and retailer, right? I shopped the collection online at midnight with Nnenna and Courtney, the three of us chatting on Twitter and sharing the pieces as we came across them in true scavenger hunt fashion. But this was, really, my first time shopping a capsule collection with hype of this magnitude. Aside from a Rodarte for Target piece, I haven’t bought into any of the others; Lanvin for H&M, Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse, Missoni for Target. Considering how enamored I was with Jason Wu’s line, it had me wondering why I hadn’t be interested in past collaborations between designers and retailers. But I think what it comes down to, for me, is that it’s not about snatching up just any designer name; it’s about the work and style of designers we admire being translated to practical, wearable pieces for our lives. And Jason Wu, besides being a favorite of mine prior to the capsule collection, managed to take the entire concept of a capsule collection and completely reinvent it. I loved that he made himself part of the collection’s marketing, appearing in the very cute television spot and sharing insights about his designs before the release. He took the idea of designing for a mainstream-budgeted audience very seriously, and the result was lovely. I chatted with Jenmarie while she shopped a local Target store on the day of the launch and we agreed that these collections can become very personal; it’s not about a label, it’s about how we’re affected by these designers on a personal level, and the chance to engage with them as consumers when our budgets otherwise wouldn’t allow us to. And I think Jason Wu really took the opportunity to engage with us as a merchandiser.
This particular dress – one of the few still available to buy online – wasn’t on my Wu Wishlist and I didn’t purchase it in my wee hour shopping spree: it was one of the few remaining bits hanging on at a local store, and I simply couldn’t resist. I hadn’t expected that it, as a shirt dress with little endeavored shape, would flatter me at all (I thought if it wasn’t one of the belted A-lines I wouldn’t go for it), but I quite like the result. Heaven forbid I waited until its intended season to wear it, either, so on with the leggings and cardigan!
So tell me: what are your thoughts on capsule collections and collaborations?
Thank you all for your support with Little Fashion Week these past days; I’ve had a wonderful time putting it all together. A full recap and thank-you will be happening on Monday, and don’t forget that there’s still time to enter the giveaway!
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
This is my favorite outfit of yours so far!!! The colors are perfect on you and the shape is so flattering. I really wish we had these lines available here in Mexico, it costs so much to shop online and most of us can’t afford it, otherwise I would be all over them! Hehehe…I love the color and shape of the pumps, it looks so elegant and it doesn’t ‘compete’ with the bold colors of the whole outfit. A winner, darling!
)
Ahh! Thank you, dear! So glad you like the look. I’m sorry you don’t have the opportunity to shop these collections in Mexico; while I don’t think a lot of them are worth the hype, this one felt very special to me. I saw on the Target Facebook page that one girl in Israel had even bought an internet card so she could go online to shop the collection when it went live. It’s amazing what these things can generate!
Cute dress! You look great!
Thanks so much, Heidi! (:
I love the dress on you! And I feel the same way as you about the collection – I haven’t gone in for anyone of the previous capsule collections but I was just so enamoured of this one.
Courtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com
Thanks, Courtney! I think it was an easy collection to love this time around; while others have been a little too specific to a certain style his pieces really had that ability to be worn any way, really catered to one’s individual style. But they still had character, which made it all the more fun!
love the look you put together, you look great!
Aww, thank you!
Casee, get out. You’re too gorgeous! ALWAYS do photogenic! The dress looks wonderful on you. It’s always nice to find potential in the unexpected.
I totally get you on the designer collaboration hype. I have yet to feel the NEED to go out and get a piece from any collection because I haven’t felt a connection yet. Til Alexander Wang or Philip Lim gets out there, we’ll see what happens, haha.
Eee! You’re so sweet, Melanie, thank you. (:
I know what you mean, it takes a special connection to really get into some of these collabs – otherwise you’re just getting it for the sake of having the label, which is rather silly. I think it’s really interesting to see what different designers do for the collections and it’s wonderful to see mainstream shoppers being introduced to some of the industry’s talents through them – a la Doo.Ri for Impulse, which looks lovely – but that doesn’t mean we all need to own a piece from every collaboration, or that the styles will necessarily be suited to us.
And I would love to see A Wang and Philip Lim get out there and do some capsule collections! How amaaazing.
So cute. With tights it’s great in the winter. With some sandals, it will be awesome in the spring and summer. Nice!
Thanks, Juju! I’m such a fan of reworking seasonal clothes for year-round wearability. It’s great for the budget, too!
I absolutely love the colors, this looks is great for you! I’m also a huge fan of the bright red lipstick, I just got myself some red lipstick a few weeks ago, and am still a little apprehensive about wearing it and pulling it off. You definitely pulled it off great, and have re-ignited my inspiration for it
Great Post!
Ohh, thanks so much! I’m glad you liked the post – and so glad you’re thinking of venturing into red lipstick. I always say the only thing you really need to pull off a bright red lip is confidence. I’m not even a particularly confident person, yet make-up is one thing I don’t let scare me. I don’t quite know why that is. I feel like I look a bit better in bolder make-up; the natural look has never really worked for me, and I’m actually not all that confident about wearing nude lipstick. So I guess I’m just not afraid to go bold because I know that’s what works for me. (:
The colours really stand out and are super flattering!
I loved most of the collection and actually was excited when Rodarte did theirs too, but alas, I never buy. Maybe I’m waiting for the ‘right’ one
Thanks so much! I know what you mean, for a while I felt like I was just watching the collaborations go by without feeling interested enough to commit to any of them. I didn’t even get the Rodarte for Target dress I have now until they brought it back last spring with a few other dresses from past collections!
That’s a fantastic dress! I love your hair!
Thanks so much, Franca! I’m about ready to chop my hair off completely, really. There’s so much of it and it’s not easy to work with. It was a bit out of control the day these photos were taken, luckily I got a few tame shots out of the deal!
looking, oh so lovely! adore the splash of red lips and that styling.. stunning sweets! x
Thank you so much, lovely! xx
I just adore your blog, and am so happy to have stumbled upon it! As a fellow Audrey Hepburn obsessed blogger, I can’t wait to read some more posts! Your style is so chic as well.
XO,
Elizabeth
tonicofwildness.blogspot.com
Oh, thanks so much, Elizabeth, and I’m terribly sorry I didn’t get to respond to your comment sooner. I’m so glad you like the blog! And it’s always wonderful to meet another Audrey fan.
This dress is fantastic on you and I think your red lipstick is the perfect complement to the dress. It was so fun twitter shopping with you and Courtney and I agree with what you said about this collection being special. I wasn’t nearly as invested in any of the other Target/designer collaborations and I was in this one and I really love (and I think will continue to love) every single piece I bought! Haha, and I think we all went a bit off our wishlist and picked up a little something extra
Aww, thanks, dear! I totally agree, where my style can tend to change a lot from time to time I know these pieces will always be interesting to me. I think it was partly for the versatility of the collection that I was so enamored!
Oh you know I really felt the same way about this collection as well. It felt personal and I felt the designs were really really true to Wu. You look smokin hot.
Haha! Thanks so much, girly. It’s wonderful how he affected so many of us the same way with this collection – I sort of like to think he set the standard for designer-retailer collaborations with it!
I love this outfit! So colorful, yet elegant and classic. I didn’t purchase anything from the Jason Wu collection. In my store there was nothing left, and online there’s not much. Aw, well, maybe next time!
Thanks, Gabbie! Supposedly some stores have been getting stock back in (a lot of people tried to buy it up to sell on eBay so now they’re returning the things that didn’t get bids) and I heard they were also releasing a few things again on the Target site, but I’m not sure. It turned out that my order wasn’t delivered correctly – I had bought one of the cat t-shirts, but they forgot to include it in the shipment, and of course that was one of the most-coveted items so it’s sold out. A shame, but I’m glad I got the dress! I quite love it.
Oh Casee! You look positively stunning! Your hair, your make-up and THAT dress on you! It’s so you! I’m really glad you decided to get it. It was so fun anticipating the collection and chatting about it on it’s debut day!
Aww, Jen, thanks so much! I’m really glad I got the dress, too, especially after the online shipment debacle. I think I would’ve been a bit disappointed otherwise, but the dress is wonderful and I never get tired of it! I’ve already worn it quite a few times, haha.
Oooh this is such a pretty outfit! I love it all! Loving your shoes! Woo!
I can’t wait until Canada finally gets Target! 2013! Although, I just found out that my city isn’t getting it in the first round… boo! Haha. But still! I won’t have to go across the border to get stuff from Target!
Haha, thanks dear! The shoes are faves – they’re so simple, they go with anything. Plus, they don’t kill my feet, which is always a plus.
I had no idea you didn’t have Target in Canada! I hope your city gets it soon – it’s definitely my favorite for one-stop shopping!
Jason Wu has always been such a talent from the beginning! I liked this collection. I’m looking forward to view the Marni collection up close and personal hopefully. You look amazing in the dress. Red is such a lovely colour, and love your beautiful makeup as well.
Thank you so much, Madison! (: I’m really curious to see more from the Marni collection. I feel like it’s one that will be best seen in-person so I’m hoping I can get to the store for a look!
Wu looks good on you! And so do red lips!
Like you haven’t bought into these collabs yet, don’t have a problem with but just didn’t want to put forth much effort. However, I do feel like I might freak out over Marni at H&M.
I completely missed Wu at Target
Thanks, Ashleigh! I’m sorry you missed the Wu collection; it was easy to do, it seems like it was gone in a flash. The Marni collection looks like it’s going to be wonderful – and have you seen Doo.Ri for Impulse at Macy’s?! I feel like that one’s gone under the radar for some reason, but I’m totally coveting the jumper and the “painterly print” V-neck dress. (The upside to its lack of hype, I’m holding out to see if I can catch anything when/if it goes on sale!)