Preview pics have surfaced for the upcoming Jason Wu for Target collection... and early reviews are all over the map. As shown at left, the first pic is a nautical themed dress (courtesy of T Magazine), the second shows a black/white printed dress (via Glamour Magazine's website) and the third shows a pastel striped frock (from an ad in Lucky Magazine). Racked.com and Fashionista both gush over the collection, with Racked calling it "something to look forward to in the cold, bleak month ahead", and Fashionista calling it "flirty and feminine" and stating it's "the first designer collab that we’ve really, truly wanted to buy many things from in a while". My fellow blogger The Recessionista, on the other hand, calls herself "underwhelmed", and as a fan of Wu's full priced line, misses "the floral abstract prints and the feminine touches of the Jason Wu pieces I've seen at Saks Fifth Avenue."
I'm not as familiar with Wu's work (outside of the pieces he's done for Michelle Obama) so for me, the jury's still out. As with most of Target's designer collabs, it's really hard to tell from just the preview shots, as they're always so posed and stylized. I'll need to see the goods in person and check the quality, cut and fit before I weigh in. I do like the retro-feeling I'm getting from his designs, though. Wu was quoted as taking his inspiration from French New Wave films and actress Jean Seberg, which means we can expect pleated frocks, sailor-stripes, blouses with neck ties and collars, and tennis skirts. "My goal was not to duplicate anything from my main collection. Instead I designed completely new clothes and accessories that reflect my taste and have a voice of their own,” said Wu, referring to the collection's vibe as “gamine chic.”