Despite a slow start (no line outside the store this morning?), we're going to go out on a limb and declare the Rogan for Target collection launch at Barneys a success. Though no one seemed up for waiting hours and hours in front of the store in the rain, within 5 minutes of opening time shoppers swarmed the doors. Once in, everyone made a beeline to the elevators, and then to the Rogan racks on the 7th floor. A few styles were totally gone within the first ten minutes, and within 30, all of the smaller sizes had been picked off the racks. We got mixed reports on replenishment: one sales associate asserted that everything they had was out, another told us that there was stock in the back. Trust no one.
· Live Early Report: Rogan for Target at Barneys Debuts [Racked]
· Rogan for Target Insanity at Barneys Press Preview [Racked]
Despite the insanity less than 24 hours ago, all is very quiet at Barneys this morning, where in a few short minutes the Rogan for Target Go International collection debuts. Maybe it's the weather or the fact that things happen more slowly above 57th street—or perhaps it's that the people just don't understand how good this junk is. Whatever the case, we'll know more when the doors open. You know the routine: Developing.
Last night, at 6pm, Barneys welcomed members of the press to their Madison Avenue store for a preview of the Rogan for Target collection. It was not a refined affair. In fact, the whole thing resembled a sample sale: it was hot and sweaty, women were stripping down to their undies (At Barneys! On Madison Avenue!) and everyone was grabbing frantically at the clothes.
This is shaping up to be a very busy day for designer Rogan Gregory: this afternoon, without too much ado, his Roganboutique at 330 Bowery and Bond opened for business and tonight he's being feted at Barneys for the launch of his Target collection (rolling out at the high-end department store tomorrow). A select few were invited to the store's pre-opening bash last night, and the doors swung wide this afternoon; a Racked correspondent dropped in to suss out the scene, and to take some photos of the very dark interior (galleried above). The thorough report:
I stopped by the new Rogan store today, which the nice salesguy said had been open just about two hours. He'd mentioned an opening party the night before, and the space still seemed to be recovering from it (there was a big black trashbag sort of shoved in the back and only about half of the merchandise had price tags attached). It was really dark (read: all black interior) despite the big windows which gave the merchandise a sort of heavenly/spotlighty glow.
You can shop Target.com all you want, but nothing beats actually ogling and touching their private collection and various collaborations in person. This weekend Racked headed to the land of milk of honey (meaning department stores and 3% sales tax): Jersey City. Still within sight of the Empire State Building sits not just any Target, but the microcosm that is a Target Greatland. With only one week until the Rogan for Target debut at Barney's, and two weeks until it hits actual Target stores, we were flabbergasted to find so much detritus from past collaborations. Small pockets of everything from Loeffler Randall to DwellStudio popped up around the store, with even some Jovovich-Hawk jammed into the clearance racks.
Our frighteningly detailed review of the state of Target's Collections:
It's quite impressive that Rogan Gregory's line for Target has been picked up by Barneys. This isn't the first time that the high-end department store has flirted with fast fashion: the Co-op stores have been stockingKate Moss' efforts for Topshop for a year now. But Kate's clothes are still priced in the hundreds—the cost of Rogan's garments will be much lower than that. The 100% organic collection is launching in two-and-a-half weeks on the Co-op level of Barneys' flagship on Madison Avenue, and ten days later in Target stores nationwide. A few questions, though: Will Barneys mark the pieces up at all? How much of the collection will they stock? Above, a comprehensive gallery of Rogan for Target to get you excited for May 8th. UPDATE: A critical addendum to this post, gleaned from Target PR: The Rogan for Target collection will launch to press on May 8th. The public gets a go at it the next day, May 9th, when the store will open at its regular hour of 10am. The Co-op level should be receiving the entire collection, and it won't be marked up at all. Whew.
· Rogan for Target for Barneys [Racked]
· Rogan for Target Update [Racked]
Yesterday was the official launch day for Target'sGo International Private Collection, a fashion-forward, limited-edition line designed in-house. Either this one was more anticipated than we had realized, or it dropped much earlier than it was supposed to (or both), but by Sunday afternoon the racks at the Atlantic Terminal Mall in Brooklyn were pretty well picked over. Surprising, because the clothing really wasn't good. What we saw was, frankly, awful. This could be chalked up to materials used—some of the silhouettes were nice, and the prints weren't bad, but cheap fabric made many dresses and tops just unwearably tacky. There were a few successful pieces, including a cotton criss-cross dress (warning: it's cut way small), and an ombre stripe top, but on the whole, we weren't terribly impressed with the collection.
What Target did still have a lot of, though, was Loeffler Randall flats—which were released back in December. There were shelves and shelves of them. So if you regretted not scooping a pair up when they first came out, you still have time to do so.
· Photos of Unnamed Target Go Collection Surface [Racked]
You know that unnamed Target Go International collection we wrote about yesterday (Private Label 1)? Well, it's not Richard Chai's work—it's been designed in-house. 'Ranging in price from $16.99 - $49.99 the first collection, launching on April 13, 2008, includes a variety of updated wardrobe staples including long boyfriend blazers, printed tunics, wide-leg trousers and cowl-neck printed tees. Additional standout pieces include a long linen vest, satin romper, mod shift dress with circle pockets, square-neck kimono sleeve top and foil printed metallic swimsuits. Several GO International collections of women's fashion will be introduced in 2008 and each will be available for one month exclusively at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com/go.' [The Cut]
Target's been tossing so many designer names at consumers these days that it's hard to keep everything straight. Currently in stores is the boho, hippy, slightly-70's collection from Jovovich-Hawk; on the horizon is a handbag collection with Gryson (out April 6th), jewelry from Subversive (available online now, will roll out in stores March 23rd), a women's swimsuit line from Rogan Gregory (out in May), bags from Botkier and womenswear fromRichard Chai. Over on the Target pressroom site, images of the next Go International collection, to follow Jovovich-Hawk, have surfaced—but they're weirdly labeled Go International Private Collection 1. Is this Chai's work? The blue used in the Target collection does look just like the blue Chai showed on his Spring 2008 runway. Well whoever designed it, the clothing looks great. Click through our gallery for all of the images.
· Go International Private Label 1 [Target]
Saying that the shopping experience at the Atlantic Terminal Target store is unpleasant is putting it mildly—the place is, quite possibly, the portal to hell. After waking up at the crack of dawn yesterday to travel over there only to find the Jovovich-Hawk collection not yet hanging from the racks, we decided to call this morning to make sure the clothing was there before we made the early morning trek again. After being disconnected four times, we sucked it up and headed there again in the vain hope that the shipment had made it out to the selling floor. Happily, the effort was worth it. And though we had to sneak into the fitting rooms (there weren't any sales associates to be seen), and had to endure the strange rants of one of the cashiers, we ended up walking out with four pieces.
SOHO—A Racked source checks in to explain why the Hickey store at 96 Grand Street is still closed, almost two months after some 'ceiling malfunctions' forced it to shutter temporarily. The sad story: "The contractors said that they will probably be closed another 3-4 weeks due to the extensive water damage from one of the apartments above the store. It seems a pipe burst on the top floor of the 120 year old building and no body could get it to shut off. He said nearly all of the merchandise in the store was destroyed in the 'flood'. That's it. Nothing too crazy. I just didn't think it was going to take so long to get the store open—but I guess the damage was severe. " Brutal. Just brutal. [RackedWire Inbox]
CHELSEA—The Barneys Warehouse Sale, our home away from home, is ending this weekend. Reports indicate that the discounts have risen to 75% off, which means this lady is not going to go quietly into the night. [RackedWire]
NATIONAL—This Sunday will see the debut of Milla "Resident Evil" Jovovich's and Carmen Hawk's Jovovich-Hawkcollection for Target. As these things never really roll out perfectly, there's already been sightings of the clothing at a few stores, but a Target website search doesn't turn up any JH results yet. [RackedWire]
NATIONAL—Target's pressroom has finally released images of the much-anticipated Jovovich-Hawk Go International collection. The retroish designs don't disappoint—they're light, adorable without being twee, and perfect for summer. The line isn't supposed to hit stores 'til March 2nd, but there's a good chance that a few pieces will leak to Target.com before that date. Here's to hoping those dresses look as good on real people as they do on the models. [Target]
WWD's just posted an item speculating that Jonathan Saunders will be Target's next Go International designer. "According to industry sources, the Scottish designer is in talks with the Minneapolis-based retailer...Saunders, who is known for his inventive prints, is no stranger to cheap chic: His latest collection for the British high street retailer Topshop features jersey dresses printed with bold, primary color shapes. It will hit stores in the U.K. later this month. Saunders is also leaving London’s runways to show his fall 2008 collection during New York Fashion Week." Question: Will Saunders unveil his collection before or after Rogan Gregory? [WWD, subscription req]
NATIONWIDE—Someone finally bothered to scan the page of Harper's Bazaar that features the first images of Jovovich-Hawk collection for Target that's hitting stores in March. Here it is. Excited? [Sally Jane Vintage]
On Friday, we broke the news that the Jovovich-Hawk collection for Target wouldn't be hitting stores 'til March (which is much later than was anticipated). Now, a poster over at The Fashion Spot has pointed out that Target's picked March 2nd as the official drop date. Mark those calendars. [RackedWire]
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SOHO—A Racked source checks in to explain why the Hickey store at 96 Grand Street is still closed, almost two months after some 'ceiling malfunctions' forced it to shutter temporarily. The sad story: "The contractors said that they will probably be closed another 3-4 weeks due to the extensive water damage from one of the apartments above the store. It seems a pipe burst on the top floor of the 120 year old building and no body could get it to shut off. He said nearly all of the merchandise in the store was destroyed in the 'flood'. That's it. Nothing too crazy. I just didn't think it was going to take so long to get the store open—but I guess the damage was severe. " Brutal. Just brutal. [RackedWire Inbox]
