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Collaboration

Did Target Work Out Its Website Issues for the Jason Wu Collection? Not Really, According to Our Writer’s Firsthand Account

After the disaster that was Missoni for Target, one would assume that Target’s online team would have worked out all the kinks for the Jason Wu launch. Unfortunately for many who hoped to get their hands on a Jason Wu for Target piece, the experience was as frustrating as ever.

The first sign that perhaps things would not go well was the Target Style team’s response to the many inquiries about when exactly the collection would launch online:

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Cats

Why Should Dogs Get to Wear All the Cute Clothes? Introducing CatAtelier!

We already know there are cat fashion bloggers; so it follows of course that there would also be cat fashion designers.

A few days ago, a friend of mine (who obviously knows me really well) linked me to an Etsy shop called CatAtelier, which, naturally, sells a delightful assortment of carefully crafted ties, neckpieces and hats for felines. Both the quality of these designs and the fact that this existed completely blew my mind and I had to know more. So, I reached out to the obviously talented designer for an interview and she obliged. It turns out Julie Song went to Parsons and has a BFA in illustration as well as a very obedient cat. Click through to see her amazing designs and learn more about who she is, how and why she got into feline fashion design, and her plans to branch out into cat clothes!

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Collection

Sneak Peek: Banana Republic’s Releasing Another Mad Men Collection

Banana Republic’s Mad Men collab collection from last fall was a surprise hit for the retailer. And the demand for Sixties fashion shows no signs of slowing down, if the recent Chanel couture “airplane” and new TV shows like Pan Am are any indication. The retailer just announced today that it will release a second Mad Men-inspired collection. The collection, designed by Banana Republic in collaboration with Mad Men costume designer, Janie Bryant, will include 40 pieces of apparel and jewelry, for both men and women.

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Collection

Sneak Peek: Zara’s Spring 2012 Look Book Features Saskia de Brauw, Lots of Florals, and Really High Slits

By Dhani Mau Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012 / 2:15 PM

Remember the spring 2012 shows? If you need a refresher, look no further than Zara‘s spring 2012 collection, which will be rolling into stores shortly (we’re usually thrown off by spring clothes hitting stores in February, but with today’s bizarre 60 degree weather, it’s actually pretty appropriate). We’re not going to call out Zara for knocking off any specific designers, but the spring trends are there: mixed prints (especially bold florals), pastels, high slits, baggy silhouettes and mesh, to name a few. Read more »

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Shopping

Jason Wu for Target Doesn’t Go On Sale Until Sunday But You Can Already Buy It on eBay

Are you so eager for a piece of Jason Wu’s Target collection that you’d buy it on eBay marked up over 250% before it even hit stores? If so, some sneaky fashion editors are ready to take advantage of you. It seems that some attendees of last week’s launch party and pre-shop event have already put their purchases up for sale on the online auction site.

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Photo: WWD
Retail

JC Penney Unveils New Target-esque $800 Million Revamp, Nanette Lepore Collab

Wednesday, JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson unveiled details of a major overhaul that JCPenney stores are about to undergo. Based on WWD’s report this morning, nothing will go unchanged–save for the name of the store and its passable ecommerce component.

Johnson is focusing on the brick and mortar stores and his plans for those sound a little familiar. That’s because they’re similar to those of another mass retailer who recently announced a new retail strategy–Target. While JC Penney won’t necessarily have the same type of rotating limited edition collaboration component as The Shops at Target, their new selling floor format is the same idea. It’s all about “shops.”

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News

Victoria’s Secret Launches a High End Line: See the Full Collection

By Hayley Phelan Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 / 12:45 PM

Balconet push-up bra, $148; Sparkle thong, $48; Sparkle garterbelt, $68.

Behold, the full Victoria’s Secret Designer Collection. Wow.

The line, which launched just yesterday, has been flying off the shelves, according to WWD. And we can see why: From unlined lacy bras, to chiffon teddies, the new collection offers a refreshing (and sophisticated) change from Victoria’s Secret regular, more playful fare. Don’t get us wrong–we love us some neon thongs–but the lacy underthings in their designer collection is stuff we could see actual, grown women we know wearing.
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Adventures in Copyright

H&M Accused of Stealing a Local Atlanta Artist’s Work

By Cheryl Wischhover Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 / 11:23 AM

Photo: Regretsy

Fast fashion retailers often get accused of stealing other designers’ work, but this case is a bit different. H&M is being accused of stealing an original design from the work of a East Atlanta-based artist, Tori LaConsay. Tori emailed Regretsy to point out that a sign she had painted in 2008 as a love letter to her “tight-knit” neighborhood was swiped by H&M and subsequently used on things like bath towels and door mats. The items in question were sold on the UK’s H&M site (see above), but we don’t see them there now, not surprisingly.

LaConsay wrote to complain to H&M and got he following response from a customer service rep: “We employ an independent team of over 100 designers. We can assure you that this design has not been influenced by your work and that no copyright has been infringed.” After that, she sent her tale to Regretsy and H&M has now responded to the controversy via social media. Read more »

Adventures in Copyright

Adventures in Copyright: Topshop Fancies Fred Perry

By Hayley Phelan Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 / 3:30 PM

There’s nothing so synonymous with Brit label Fred Perry as the laurel wreath. Hell, it’s been their logo for sixty years–the brand first stamped the symbol on their famous polo shirts in 1952. So imagine our surprise to find the above left cream-colored sweater for sale, not on Fred Perry’s site, but at other Brit label Topshop’s. Read more »

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Shopping

It’s Friday the 13th, But Don’t Fear: Here Are Some Lucky Looks To Get You Through

Today is the first Friday the 13th of 2012, which if you’re very superstitious, makes today a very ominous day. (Add this traditionally unlucky day to the purported ending of the world in 2012, and you have a panic attack on your hands.)

If you’re going to be superstitious, you might as well look good while doing it, so put away your garlic cloves and old rabbit foot and invest in some of these fashionable items that will bring you luck and ward off evil spirits in the new year.

There’s everything from cross shaped sunglasses (for fending off vampires and/or Twilight fans) to a Wednesday Addams inspired dress that’s just plain adorable.

Find the best lucky items to buy today after the jump.

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Photo: Cameron Krone
Shopping

Moda Operandi’s Founder Talks Strategy, Taylor Tomasi Hill, and Average Transaction Price Per Customer (Hint: It’s Over $1000)

Moda Operandi, the online trunk show that allows shoppers to buy straight from the runway, burst onto the e-tail scene last February with plenty of buzz. It was a totally new concept in online retail–place orders for designer looks immediately after they’re shown–and an answer to the flash sale sites that were on the wane. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the site was founded by socialite and Voguette Lauren Santo Domingo and ex-Gilt Group exec Aslaug Magnusdottir–two women with all the fashion connections and experience you could hope for in launching a new fashion venture. And when the company closed their second round of funding with $10 million from venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates, it was clear they were getting something right.

In the last few weeks Moda Operandi has poached names from the top of the masthead of major fashion glossies (Marie Claire‘s Taylor Tomasi Hill is the site’s new artistic director and Nina Garcia is a new addition to the advisory board) and established retailers (Roopal Patel of Neiman’s and Bergdorf’s). No question about it, Moda Operandi is growing like crazy and we wanted to know why. So we chatted with co-founder Magnusdottir to find out the site is doing, what they’re planning to do with all these new hires, and why people want to shell out for designer clothes online.

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Photo: Via NBC
Collaboration

Updated: Target Is Launching Rotating Collabs With Off-the-Beaten-Path Shops, Opening Apple Boutiques Within its Stores

As if we weren’t already obsessed with Target for giving us affordable duds from the likes of Jason Wu and Missoni, their new venture has officially pushed us over the edge: The “Shops at Target,” which the retailer announced today, will be an ongoing program that tries to recreate the ambiance and products of small boutiques within their own mega-stores and online. New shops will be introduced every two to four months. And, of course, it’ll all be affordably priced, reports NBC.

The first batch of stores partnering with Target includes The Candy Store, Cos Bar cosmetics shop, Polka Dog Bakery for dog accessories, Privet House home and The Webster; they’ll debut May 6 of this year.

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