The Budget Fashionista

Today we’re reporting that the industry buzz is that Target is not seeking out any long-term designer partnerships to follow up it’s recently severed relationship with Isaac Mizrahi (read the post here: http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/target-go-international/).

I, for one, will be very disappointed if this is the tack that Target is taking—their Go International lines (short-term designer partnerships, natch) are interesting but hardly ever produce anything that I, a 30-something professional and mom, however stylish, would be apt to wear. Demographic shift? Maybe—but why?

And what do you think this means for Target’s fashion future?

I don’t know what that is going to do to Target. They made a name for themselves with Isaac Mizrahi, and it changed the face of budget fashion for the better, but now…

I’m really hoping this is a change for the better. Isaac’s clothes never fit right. Most of Target’s clothes just look weird in person but not in the advertisements. I’m hoping that since designers don’t have a contract it will end their impulse to just put anything out there and try to make better clothes that fit people better and are age appropriate for more people. I know this is wishful thinking on my part but I haven’t bought any clothes from Target in a while because its all just garbage. It seems if you want good clothes you have to pay for them, there’s not really a lot out there to look forward to for people on a budget who need career type clothes.

Angela - 11 April 2008 09:43 PM

Today we’re reporting that the industry buzz is that Target is not seeking out any long-term designer partnerships to follow up it’s recently severed relationship with Isaac Mizrahi (read the post here: http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/target-go-international/).

I, for one, will be very disappointed if this is the tack that Target is taking—their Go International lines (short-term designer partnerships, natch) are interesting but hardly ever produce anything that I, a 30-something professional and mom, however stylish, would be apt to wear. Demographic shift? Maybe—but why?

And what do you think this means for Target’s fashion future?

Well that makes me sad. I live in Canada and can only shop Target every few years on a vacation, so I’m going to miss the partnership with Mizrahi. I think it is terribly shortsighted of them. I did buy Isaac M from them, and was very grateful for the quality of design and fabric that he brought to Target.

Look where the demographic is, and where the money is, and that is the market. Not the twenty somethings who can wear something outlandish and “designery” that would make the rest of us look like fools. Not every woman in that demographic has loads of money, and a lot of us shop at Target type stores because that is a great budget choice.

Too bad Target. I predict they will move to the mediocre offerings of Walmart and other discount chains.

I would imagine such contracts are expensive, however, just think of how many people went into Target who hadn’t before Isaac Mizrahi started his line. He did everything well, from linens to clothing.

I think this is a big mistake. I’d say every five years they should get a new big designer. I remember when they started with Michael Graves for housewares—he put them on the map in regards to housewares.

They need someone. The GO International passed by like a jr. sized blimp!