From L.A. to Chicago, New York to Tampa, shoppers lined outside of Target stores on Sunday to grab whatever piece of 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Target collaboration they could get their hands on before herds of other fashionistas cleared the racks. In what was dubbed as “Limsanity,” the newest designer collaboration to hit select Target stores nationwide captivated fashion audiences across the country, and it did not disappoint.
I lined up outside of my local Target at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday in preparation to brace the expected crowds of fashion-hungry men and women waiting to storm Target’s doors for the 8 a.m. opening. Well, my Target lineup included just women––and a few at that––compared to big cities like L.A. where shoppers bum-rushed Target employees to get their hands on the bags.
The capsule collection of over 100 women’s and men’s clothing and accessories, full of classic pieces, ranges in price from $19.99 to $299.99, though most items were under $50 each. Some pieces were even inspired by Phillip Lim’s actual line. Lim’s iconic Pashli bag ranges in price from $650 for the mini and upwards from $825 for the medium and large. The Target doppelgangers? Only $34.99 for the mini satchel and $54.99 for the tote. A fashion steal, if I may.
In fact, the bags were the most anticipated pieces of Lim’s collection. Though not made of leather nor the same quality as Lim’s real bags, the Target collaboration bags were still of tremendous quality considering the price. The polyurethane shell is surprisingly soft and could have fooled me for real leather just off looks alone. The muted gold hardware is subtle and complements the color range of each style of bag, from a rusty red to black, navy, taupe and a golden yellow. The zipper gusset detailing on the Pashli-inspired bags offers wearers versatility. For a boxy look, wearers can zip the bag up and then back down to expose the penguin flaps and make the bag roomier.
Choosing to base pieces off of his real line was quite genius, actually. It truly takes the popular high-end designer collaboration and makes it a reality. Not only can consumers on a budget finally get their favorite designer’s clothing and accessories for reasonable prices, they can also get some of the pieces they covet the most, just a more affordable version. Lim has been praised for this because not only is he offering consumers his iconic designs, he’s also warding off piracy. Why buy a Pashli knockoff when you can buy an actual Lim-designed Pashli-esq bag for under $40? Other designers, take note.
Other pieces inspired from Lim’s real line include the “Boom” print sweatshirt and sweaterdress, at $29.99 and $44.99 respectively, inspired by his “Ka-Pow” sweatshirt from his pre-fall 2012 collection. Both were a must-have for anyone shopping the collection and truly the créme de la créme of designer collaborations.
Lim’s Target collab is timeless. From the navy tuxedo pants and blazer ($39.99 and $59.99 respectively) for women and classic khaki trenches for both men and women, several of the pieces are not only wearable now but 20 years from now. Even better, these clothes and accessories are top-notch quality considering their prices. The floral high-neck peplum top fits as though it has been tailored to your body. It feels expensive, like it was bought from a high-end department store, but it only costs $39.99. And did I mention the bags? I bought four. Sturdy construction and timeless details will make these bags last past fading trends.
The leather jackets ($249.99 for women in navy and $299.99 for men in ebony) were on the pricier side for the collection, but for good reason: they’re real leather. I’ve seen faux leather jackets with cheap construction cost more than that. These jackets are beautiful and biker chic, a great way to add edge to a fall outfit.
It’s no wonder why several of the bags and clothes sold out online before Target stores even opened on Sunday. Target’s past few designer collabs have not been so successful, specifically their partnership with Neiman Marcus for a holiday collection last year. But Lim’s collection was just as impressive as the Target and Missoni line from 2011, which crashed Target’s website and is by far the standard set for any designer and budget-friendly retailer collab.
Lim, a two-time CFDA award-winning designer, was approached by Target five years ago to do a collection for its GO International line, which offered high-end fashion designer collaborations from the likes of Zac Posen, Jean Paul Gaultier and Rodarte at budget-friendly prices. The successful line was discontinued in 2012 and replaced with a new system, introducing collaborations with Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Neiman Marcus with the CFDA and now, 3.1 Phillip Lim.
At the time Lim was first approached five years ago, he was hesitant to do the collaboration, but now says he’s glad he waited.
“When Target first approached me five years ago, neither of us was ready.” Lim said to thedailybeast.com. “The timing just wasn’t right. This time, it felt right for me and my own company and what we had to offer.”
If Lim’s line is any indication of Target’s future collaborations, wallet-conscious fashionistas should rejoice.
Jessica Keesse can be reached at jessica.keesee@theminaretonline.com