Thoughts On the Designer Collaboration Craze

Now that Missoni for Target has passed, here are three upcoming designer collaborations that I am excited about! Try not to go all crazy eBay hoarder before I get to see them in person this time, okay? ;)

Giambattista Valli for Macy's Impulse- Launches October 26, 2011

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Giambattista Valli is known as a designer-darling of high society.  His feminine party dresses possess a cross-generational appeal.  According to Vogue, his collection for Macy's Impulse will include "a lot of georgette, brocade, organdies, jersey, animal spot, and prints." A preview of the collection was just released yesterday, including the above photos, and I'm just loving the leopard! Macy's Impulse is definitely on a roll with their designer collaborations.  

Versace for H&M- Launches November 19, 2011

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According to the October issue of Vogue, Donatella "has tapped into her late brother's design legacy." The H&M collection will include pieces inspired by classic Versace designs, straight from the archives of Gianni Versace. Versace for H&M will include womenswear, menswear, shoes, accessories, and even elements for the home. Personally, I'm not a big Versace girl, but I'll admit that I might be getting a little excited over a couple images I've seen of studded dresses. Vogue predicts that we should "expect mob scenes" on November 19th. 

Jason Wu for Target- Launches February 5, 2012

I've got to be honest here--  I am looking forward to this one the most out of the three. Actually, I'm looking forward to this one way more than Missoni! The collection will include women's apparel, handbags and scarves, and is expected to stay true to the designer's feminine, '60s-inspired aesthetic.  I just adore Jason Wu, and I can't wait to see what he brings to Target! If his Spring collection for Target is anything like his amaaazing Spring 2012 RTW show, I better start saving up my money now!

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If you can't already tell, I am totally intrigued with the current world-wide obsession over designer collaborations;  not because they're not great... they're actually one of my favorite concepts ever.  In fact, some of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe have come from designer collaboration collections with stores like Target and H&M, some purchased back when I was in high school. But my past encounters with designer collaboration collections have in no way resembled my experience with Missoni for Target.  In the past, I might have found out about a collection from a brief mention in a fashion magazine feature.  Then I would visit the store and find a few treasures, sometimes even on the clearance rack.... no big deal.  But in the last year, launches like Lanvin for H&M, and most notably Missoni for Target, have totally exploded into a level of obsession that is bordering on craziness.  I can't help but wonder what role the world of blogs may have played in this...

I think that in the past, women who were already "in the know" when it comes to fashion were the ones who scouted out these hidden gems.  And maybe once in a while, women who'd never heard of say,  Erin Fetherston, for example, brought home one of her dresses from Target, not knowing they held in their possession anything beyond a normal Target dress.  But the media has so changed over the past couple of years, and people are now finding themselves totally overexposed to things which might not have even been on their radar in 2006.  I could go on and on, but I won't. I just find all of this so fascinating.

Anyway, what has been your favorite designer collaboration to date?  Do you think you'll shop any of the three I listed above?