LA residents got their first crack at the Rogan for Target collection last night at Barneys. And just like in New York, the crowds went wild. "Last night, from 6pm-8pm, celebs, press, models, designers (including collection designer Rogan Gregory) and many, many regular folks came, they shopped, they drank lots of champagne, which probably made them shop more. Whitney Port looked like she was on a shopping mission; Tracee Ellis Ross was actually at the register paying for stuff; Becki Newton was enamored by some very adorable separates; Mena Suvari came wearing the line. Tons of other famous peeps were there, too: Rachel Bilson, Joy Bryant, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Gabrielle Union, Vanessa Marcil and others." [Racked LA]
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.
Rogan has been breaking some hot news lately, and our checkup on the progress of his second New York store at 330 Bowery at Bond shows that a May opening is imminent. Originally rumored to be opening this month, the store has only one thing in place so far: its jet-black, coffin-esque interior. The space was formerly the Bouwerie Lane Theater/Jean Cocteau Repertory, which up until early 2007 cranked out Off Off Broadway productions twice a year. However, a gander at the building's Wikipedia entry shows that the property is returning to its original purpose: "the storage of fabrics."
· Rogan Gregory [Official Site]
· Rogan for Target: Plan Your Buying Strategy Now [Racked]
· Rogan for Target for Barneys [Racked]
· RackedWire: Deets on Rogan's Bowery Shop[Racked]
· BREAKING: Rogan Bowery-Bound [Racked]
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]
EAST VILLAGE—The staff at Den has cleared out the store's inventory of Karen Walker to make room for their next guest: Robert Geller. According to Material Interest, "pieces from the Hamburg native's spring collection, as well as eyewear and neon-yellow denim" will be available there beginning tomorrow. [Material Interest]
BOWERY—Designer Rogan Gregorytalks to Style File about his soon-to-open Bowery boutique, which we broke news of a month ago: "Well, the space is automatically spectacular——the building itself is kind of a landmark. It's got character, and inside, there's 20-foot ceilings. I'm doing the whole thing in black, reflective surfaces, very clean and cool. I like that mix of the old and the new—soulful modernism, I guess I'd call it. I think I love designing spaces more than I love designing clothes, to be honest." [Style File; Racked]
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]
It's really all about the Bowery these days. Another designer has grabbed space on the formerly-gritty avenue, and we're pleased to tell you it's none other than Rogan Gregory of avant-garde label Rogan. According to rock-solid Racked sources, the eco-conscious CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund award winner will be setting up shop on the northwest corner of Bowery and Bond. It'll be his second NYC store; the first is located at 91 Franklin Street in Tribeca. We're told that the Bond Street boutique is slated to open sometime in April. He'll be in good company: the storefront is just a stone's throw from the new Oak outpost and a block from the much-ballyhooed John Varvatos shop that should be opening sometime within the next year or so.
· Rogan [Official Site]
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]
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EAST VILLAGE—The staff at Den has cleared out the store's inventory of 
