>> Target Lines Up Jean Paul Gaultier —Confirming rumors that have been circulating for the past month, Jean Paul Gaultier has signed on for the next installment of Target's Designer Collaborations, following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui.  His collection, set to be available March 7 through April 11, "pays tribute to the American woman, celebrating the forces of style both past and present in American pop culture," according to Target. [WWD]

>> Sneak Peek: Anna Sheffield for Target —Bing Bang's Anna Sheffield has a Target collection — full of charm necklaces and hoops with mixed metal multi-chains, rings adorned with colored stones, and stud earrings — hitting stores and online Aug. 30.  Prices range between $19.99 and $79.99, with most pieces under $40, and Lucky has a first look at the goods. [Lucky Right Now]

>> Kate and Laura Mulleavy are the latest emerging designers to collaborate with Target for its Go International initiative.  The 55 piece Rodarte for Target collection hits stores and target.com right in the middle of the holiday season on Dec. 20, staying through Feb. 6.  

The brand is known for its ethereal, handmade pieces, not a commercial aesthetic, but a Target spokesman claims that the collection stays true to the Rodarte spirit: 

“What you’ll notice is an amazing eye for detail. It’s very feminine, yet very modern. The collection incorporates a rich mix of patterns and fabrications and everything from sequins and bows to faux fur. The key with Rodarte is layering.”

The range in prices of the collection run from $9.99 for knee-highs to $79.99 for a leopard print jacket. Also included are “a variety of great holiday dresses,” according to the Target spokesman. “There are stand-alone pieces and pieces that can be worn together to create an ensemble by layering different patterns, textures and prints.”

>> Anna Sui's Target Collection Mirrors Her Runway Pieces —The lookbook for Anna Sui's Gossip Girl-inspired Target collection, in stores Sept. 13, just hit the web, and at least four of the dresses in the collection — including the example at left — are very similar to looks she's sent down her runway in seasons past. [Nylon]

>> IN PRODUCTION —The newest designers pulling up to the collaboration station: Anna Sui, who is following Alexander McQueen as the second designer in Target's Designer Collaboration series starting Sept. 13 with a Gossip Girl-inspired collection; Christopher Kane, who is doing his biggest line ever — "it's more than a capsule collection with bags, shoes, knitwear and dresses. It's nothing like any other work I've done in the past" — for Topshop, tentatively expected sometime in late August; and Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, who are taking their arts and crafts jewelry to Urban Outfitters under the label Hope Marian this July. [WWD, Grazia, Refinery29]
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>> IN PRODUCTION —The McQ Alexander McQueen for Target line doesn't launch until March 1, but the lookbook just arrived, full of jumpsuits, leather vests, shiny trenches, and full skirts, all within the $30-$130 range.  [Nylon, Is Mental]

>> IN PRODUCTION —Now that Thakoon is gaining national traction for his Michelle Obama-dressing coups — and being coyly vague about whether he's in the Inauguration Ball running — it's perfect timing for the full lookbook of his Target line, which drops Dec. 28, to arrive, full of those resort-friendly prints he does so well. [Racked LA]

>> Alexander McQueen's new McQ Alexander McQueen for Target collaboration was a shock to many — but the line, all priced under $129.99, makes sense to the designer, especially in these tight times: "I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

He was hesistant about the prospect at first — "I've never understood Target" — but he chose to launch a new designer initiative with Target over say, working with H&M or Topshop, because its just part of his renegade style: "We’d always been approached by people like H&M and other high street [retailers] in England to do things. I’m not very fond of following the norm. I didn’t want to follow Stella [McCartney] at H&M or Karl Lagerfeld at H&M. I didn’t see the point of it. I like to infiltrate an area that’s not really aware of me, as such."

That targeted area?  The Midwest: "Apart from the East and West Coasts, my company doesn’t have any visibility in the US.  I always liked the idea of people in the Midwest wearing my clothes.  There is no way the main line could go to Middle America. I’m not getting any [benefit from the Target association] for the main line. This is a great taste of McQ in areas where it doesn’t exist."

But enjoy the opportunity while it lasts, McQueen doesn't expect to make this a habit: "Target is just one season. I don’t like to repeat myself. It’s a one-off and that makes it an eclectic collection. It’s great as pieces that will never exist again, and for me it’s a good marketing strategy. If I do it all the time, it dilutes the concept."

A first look at a t-shirt, pants, mesh dress, and tank from the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target line.
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>>  IN PRODUCTION —It's perfect timing for Thakoon's Target collection, since Michelle Obama has been sporting his florals in the public eye.  The capsule collection is out at Christmas, priced between $20-$70, but the first look just arrived, full of those powerful Thakoon prints we know and love. [Nylon]

>> Ever the enfant terrible grown up, Alexander McQueen has already used his new McQ partnership with Target to thumb his nose at Topshop.  Now that the collaboration has gone public, the invitation for the McQ pressday, which read, "Chopshop, Higher Street Fashion," makes for an obvious dig, since McQueen is taking his British business elsewhere.

Speaking of the McQ-Target deal, a few more details have come to light.  The initiative that McQueen is kick-starting for Target, Designer Collaborations, involves established designers picking a muse to work from; Lee chose Leila Moss, lead singer of The Duke Spirit, to inspire his collection of studded sleeveless shirtdresses, zipper cardigans, tuxedo blazers, gray denim studded jackets, skinny jeans, and mermaid tattoo-printed strapless dresses.
*image: source