Madonna fizzled at H&M Libertine for Target, whose designers were once hailed as the new Galliano, is just a little bit boring. With each passing collection that hits the market we become a little bit more inured to the novelty of so much cheap design and with each collection the design starts to look that much cheaper itself. After all, a trend is always blandest at its most diffuse point and cheap chic collaborations have seared themselves into the collective conscience of a nation. Is it possible that collaborations are finally reaching their zenith? With each passing release we find ourselves less enamoured. So your humble editors ask, is design for all now design for no one?
Libertine for Target
But in some sense we are relieved. Certain styles and trends, dumbed down to its cheapest form, feels like a betrayal of honest living. Maybe there was a reason we did not enjoy pieces from certain designers, and the price wasn’t just it. The cut, the image, the aspiration, all sorts of elements could prevent a collection from matching the diverse livestyles of the American people. Design is now had by all but does making everyone subject to the same design somehow cheapen not only the design but ourselves? Your editor is not a Proenza Girl, she does not live a life meant for bustiers but somehow her new favorite dress is from the Proenza Target collection. So it makes us wonder, if we are not Proenza girls then why did Proenza have to design something that would work for us? And then why did we try to make ourselves over into a modified Proenza girl? We change our lifestyle a little to fit into a certain garment and they change their vision to make more girls fit into it. And then both of us are less interesting. And they design clothing and we own more clothing and so we have so much more and yet so much less.
And yet it is that very elemet that allows the most people to have design. That many more people fit into these new bell curves of trend diffusion. No one mobs the releases anymore. No one covets.
And so we have a boring skull sweater vest that anyone could wear and no one would question. And that seems like design made for nobody, in that it is for everybody. Ohh Target, what hath ye wrought?
[...] Photos for the Libertine for Target line are already out. And because I’ve been covering Target collaborations right from the start I’ve collaged those photos here for your viewing pleasure. Truth be told, I’ve become a bit jaded will all these collaborations sprouting left and right. But don’t let my opinion influence you. Take a look and see. There are looks for men! The line is expected for release on July 15. What do you think? Looks 13, 19, 4, 17, 9, 18 [...]
Yes, what hath Target wrought? It is a question for our age, one that we may not find the answer to until more and more generations come along and bear the repercussions of egalitarian design.
I loved what you said about all of us modifying our own style sensibilities to fit into a designer’s aesthetic, while they in turn modify their aesthetics to gear them toward our style sensibilities. It is very true, and even more true that we are all less interesting because of it.
I hate dilution! Give me the full dose of over-the-top, is-it-disaster-or-fabulous fashion… At least then I’ll know I’m making my own choices.
Does high fashion gone low fashion ever carry down some of the quality? For example, my Lacoste sweater is one of my favourite garments, because I’m a $20 sweater girl and I can feel the price difference even just putting it on, in the fabrics and tailoring.
So if, lets say Lacoste, decided to copy their cute stripey sweater dress at a $20 range, wouldn’t that be just like getting a knock off stripey sweater in terms of quality? Why bother for the authentic label when it’s obviously mall grade?