Anna Sui & Gossip Girl for Target

On Sunday I went to Target to see if any of the Anna Sui "Gossip Girl" were in stock at my local place. I had looked at everything that was online but the creme lace dress wasn't in stock anymore so I thought I would give it a shot. I had put a bunch of the dresses in my shopping cart but thought it would be best to check them out in person if they wred there.

Well, there were a number of pieces in my local store... not that you would know it. There wasn't much in the way of signage. I flipped through the 3 racks of dresses and shirts and frankly, wasn't all that impressed.

Check it out.



I really don't "get" some of the pieces. And a lot of it seemed very poorly/cheaply made. I know we are at Target here folks, but compared to some of the earlier Go International pieces, the quality is down and the prices are way up.

But I thought I would give it a shot. I tried on the silk wrap dress, the houndstooth jacquard dress, the metallic grey "feather" sequin dress, and the herringbone dress.

The feather sequin dress fit really weird. The bottom belled out but was a bit tight up top. The sequins were very uncomfortable and the v-neck was very low cut.

The herringbone dress was okay but a bit stiff and not that flattering to me.

The silk dress was flattering and the pattern and fabric were okay. But I didn't really think it was worth $60 and as it was very lightweight, being silk, I didn't think I would wear it much during the Fall and Winter, which is what I am lookin for.






I did like the houndstooth jacquard dress the best. It's much more purple than it shows in the picture online. It also seems to be the best made. I considered it but at $70, I'm going to wait a while and see if I can get this on sale later. I just didn't want spend the money right now.



Overall the line did not impress me. I didn't like the shirts at all, especially the tulle tied one or the stupid acronym one. WTF was that about?

The most interesting thing are the billboard totes. I think I may end up getting one of these. They're cool and graphic and colorful.

I continue to be disappointed with these collaborations. These are great designers that should really be bringing a unique element and a high quality to a mass merchandiser but in the end they are horrible.

Is it Target doing it or is it the designers dumbing things down so much thinking that the mass retail audience won't appreciate their real work. I don't know. All I do know is that I won't really be buying any.

Fall Favorites: Luxe Layers

As you can tell from the previous Fall Favorites posts, I'm into excessive, embellished and decadent shoes from this season's offerings. We talked about:

- Rich Details

- A Focus on Heels

- Peek-a-boo Cut-outs

Of course, I think you can tell throughout that I like my shoes classically shaped but, how do we say... a bit over the top. This round is a bit different. More about the variety of materials. Still luxurious but in keeping with the clean silhouettes of the Fall/Winter season.

I know the silver pump version of these Balenciaga patent mirrored Escarpins bootie received more attention in the media but I like how the frosted material and the peach tone warms up the futuristic design.



Extreme platforms are not going anywhere this season (see Stella and Marni) and this Versace pump is right there. What I liked best about it is the color. I love how the lighter blue would play against black or brown. It's still dusky so it works but it's light enough to do a contrast. Plus you could wear it into the spring. I've become very fond of the mixing of the seasons for shoes with the use of tights. It's fun and practical.




These Alexandra Neel boots are just divine. I love love love the rich colors, the shape and the three button-y straps. Between these and the Chanel black and white booties, I don't know which I want more. These also have an almost steampunk vibe to them too.



Anna Sui has taken the oxford shape and created something ethereal. They seem heavily influenced by last season's Prada/Miu Miu collections but it's very fresh for this year. I think it's the unique mix of metallic leather and the oil slick patent. Such a contrast but both are so gorgeous. I would wear these with everything.



This is a complete understatement: I want these Manolo Blahnik booties. The color combination is amazing. Buttery leather and that heel shape... geez! I really need to get on the ball and try and track these down. They're very equestrian (almost jockey-influenced) but so urban too.



And, last but not least, my favorites - the two toned Chanel Carousel mary janes. And, oh yes, I got them. They're awaiting their debut and I am just ga-ga over them. They're luscious.



These are the kinds of shoes that totally speak to me. And they're the perfect investment-type shoes. The shapes are simple but the style is amazing. And sure to be noticed whenever you wear them... now or 10 years from now.