A compendium of our favourite secondary lines from high-end fashion designers.

Target GO International Designer Collective

34 Dresses, 17 Stellar Designers, 49 Days

34 dresses, 17 superstar labels, everything priced under $50—what’s not to love about Target’s marathon fashion event that kicks off this coming Sunday?

Target GO International Designer CollectiveCHEAP + CHIC | What do Zac Posen, Luella Bartley, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe, Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Libertine, Alice Temperley, Erin Fetherston, Jovovich-Hawk, Rogan, Richard Chai, Jonathan Saunders, Thakoon, Tracy Feith, Rodarte and Tucker have in common besides being some of the most buzzed-about fashion labels in the western hemisphere in recent years? Target, that’s what.

Since 2006, Target, through its GO International fashion program, has enlisted these and other haute couturiers to sprinkle their pixie dust over the ready-to-wear crowd. And this is precisely what they’ve done, with high-fashion low-end collections noted for their dramatic silhouettes, signature prints, details that surprise and price point, which they always rock because everything is (almost) cheaper than dirt.

Now, for 49 days in March and April, Target will re-release 34 of its most popular dresses from the labels listed above (view them with our link below). Read more

Lanvin for H&M

Lanvin For H&M: See The New Collection Right Now

The fashion world is aflutter—Alber Elbaz of the House of Lanvin has introduced his exclusive collection for the House of H&M.

Lanvin for H&MCHEAP + CHIC | The most frequent criticism you hear about low-end couture, my term for the guest collaborations between haute couturiers and budget emporiums such as Target and H&M—is that it is never as creative as the designers’ “real” collections. Honestly, I don’t know why anyone would expect it to be. At the very least these retail lines—Alexander McQueen for Target, Sonia Rykiel for H&M, Jil Sander for Uniqlo—are more interesting and imaginative than a lot of ready to wear and almost always decently made. After that, any extra bit of originality is a bonus. Read more

Moon Overcoat by Alfred Sung - C. Phaisalakani

3 Star Pieces From The New Moon Fashion Line

A fashionista identifies 3 stars among Alfred Sung’s new Moon fashion basics.

Moon Overcoat by Alfred Sung - C. PhaisalakaniBACK TO BASICS “What have you got for Canadian labels?” my American cousin asked last weekend when she was up from Portland, Oregon. Hannah works at Nordstrom and has a closet full of very nice clothing including some statement pieces. “I’m thinking inexpensive basics,” she said.  “Gap, Banana: a lot of countries have well-priced basics lines; what’s the Canadian version of these?” Read more