Target Gets Picky

Picture 3.png Everyone’s been a bit worried about Target losing Isaac Mizrahi to Liz Claiborne.

The designer’s been widely credited with building Target’s fashion cred, but we’ve always thought their success stemmed more from their GO International collections.

Apparently so do they - the company announced this morning that they won’t attempt to form another long term designer partnership and will instead focus on one-off collections.

Long term collaborations don’t have the best track record. No one ran to Kohl’s for Simply Vera, Kate Moss for Topshop always ends up on the clearance rack, and even my mom declared Isaac’s Target clothes “frumpy”.

The only reason I woke up at the crack of dawn for Luella and Proenza was because I knew I’d never have another chance. Had the clothes been on the racks for over a year, I definitely would have slept in those mornings and I probably would have lost interest.

Is it the novelty of one-off collections that makes them more successful? Or is it that the cooler designers aren’t willing to commit to years of mass market work?

posted by adoreaudrey

Apr 08, 2008 4:06PM

I think some of Isaacs stuff for target was decent, very classy which can be mistaken for frumpy. I think it is more in how you wear it.

Apr 08, 2008 4:08PM

posted by syako

Apr 08, 2008 4:23PM

I agree with you guys. The issac and vera and even SJP's bitten stuff just doesn't have that "i have to get it now" appeal like good ole' Proenza had.

It definitely is the fact that once it's gone it is gone.

posted by workandgirl

Apr 08, 2008 4:24PM

i agree with adore audrey. i have a lot of pieces from isaac over the years that have been great. particularly his shoes, dresses and suiting. (not ever his knits)

posted by Fassion

Apr 08, 2008 5:27PM

I think it is a little of both.

posted by guest

Apr 08, 2008 5:31PM

I think it's the fact that it's the limited time and not just the big named designers that make people flock to the store. In fashion anything that "limited edition" is much more coveted even people who don't even care for particular designers will buy.

http://www.bayareastylefile.com/

Apr 08, 2008 6:38PM

The one-off stuff is fun and great, but some of the Mizrahi things are really cute, cheap basics - they generally don't pop as much, but I have pieces I totally rely on as everyday pieces.

posted by divinecaroline

Apr 08, 2008 7:15PM

i'll be sad to see isaac go, but i do look forward to more of these so-called one-off collections. though i feel like the past several collections have been kind of disappointing. they were definitely strongest in the beginning.

let's hope they up the ante a bit.

Apr 08, 2008 11:37PM

I've always found more quality in the Isaac stuff than in the one-off collections, which always look cool in the ads but cheap up close. I will definitely miss Isaac.

posted by xnoelle25

Apr 08, 2008 11:49PM

ah! that's horrible. isaac clothes were made to mix and match perfectly. he brought so much to target. the store's whole appeal is never going to be the same.

Apr 09, 2008 12:32PM

I just got a bathing suit at Target from Issac and I just love it!

Apr 09, 2008 2:00PM

I don't know about the price points for Simply Vera, but the Kate Moss line is drastically more expensive than Topshop's usual stuff and certainly more than Isaac's stuff was, so that's not a good comparison. Not only did Isaac's stuff sale for all the reasons posted already, but price point had alot to do w/ it too. There was def a value for money aspect for Isaac.

The reason they only want "one offs" these days is you can get alot more money of of these "limited edition" pieces than having a "house" designer such as Isaac.