You've likely heard the hullabaloo and frenzied hubbub over the Missoni for Target collection, which will land in Target stores and on Target.com on Sept. 13rd, bidding customers adieu on October 22nd. The expansive collection includes women's, men's, and kid's apparel, as well as accessories, footwear, beauty supplies, home accents, linens, pillows, furnishings, tableware, stationery, luggage, and even a bicycle. Many of the pieces in the collection, as might be expected, incorporate the chevron patterns that have become synonymous with the 58-year old Italian couture brand, as well as kaleidoscopic floral prints and mosaic-like geometric shapes.
So does the collection live up to the hype? Yes and no. Though many a fashion blogger has raved about the clothing options in the collection, I was disappointed by the drab coloring and the overly preppy shapes (tons of dainty cardigans, bulky sweater dresses, and frumpy maxi skirts. Sure, there are a couple of highlights: a sharp, slightly retro, black sweater dress with grayish teal vertical stripes and beige, mustard, and brown strips of color zig-zagging across the waist and hemline; a matching sweater coat that's for a polished look and a versatile color palette; and a V-neck, chevron-print chiffon sweater with matching knit shorts. Still, you won't find anything as funky as the low-cut cardigan Kate Moss donned for the brand's SS11 ad campaign or the bell-sleeved chiffon dress with the pleated skirt she flaunted for their Fall 2004 ad campaign. And you can forget about anything akin to the tribal-inspired pieces showcased in the Missoni Resort 2011 show. Basically, the Boho chic look that I associate with Missoni and that I so relish is rather absent from this buttoned-up, soccer mom-like clothing cluster. Even the footwear options are limited, as customers can basically pick between a blah pair of ballet flats like those pictured above ($24.99) or shapeless, albeit cute, rain boots ($34.99).
The collection's saving grace, then, is its colorful array of home offerings, which include such standouts as the 5-Piece Espresso Set pictured at top ($39.99); the Chevron Toss Pillow ($29.99) and Loops Toss Pillow ($29.99) pictured fifth from top; the whimsical Laptop Sleeve shown sixth from top ($29.99); the Floral Boxed Candles pictured last above ($12.99 each); the painterly bath towels and Mod shower curtain (as shown after the jump); and the various appetizer trays, stoneware plates, cereal bowls, tumbler glasses, and serving trays (some of which are shown after the jump). A simple throw blanket over a brown leather couch is likely to liven up an otherwise minimalist living room, and a set of square-shaped, chevron-patterned plates and striped glasses with pops of burgundy, aqua, brown, coral, khaki, yellow, and gray will make family dinner feel like a true fête.
Also of note are the glass photo frames, cosmetics cases, hostess-ready wine boxes, and plush towels _ all of which exude the joie de vivre that we associate with Missoni.
Check out more pieces from the collection after the jump!
Full/Queen Duvet Set, $99.99
4" x 6" Glass Pieced Frame, $12.99; 4" x 6" Wooden Frame, $12.99
4-Pk Stoneware Salad Plate, $31.99; 4-Pk Stoneware Dinner Plate, $34.99; 4-Pk Stoneware Celead Bowl, $29.99; and 4-Pk Stoneware Mugs, $29.99.
Throw, $39.99
Wine Boxes, $9.99 each
Small Glass Vase, $29.99; Glass Votive, $9.99
Tote, $34.99, and Clutch, $22.99
2-Pk Skinny Headbands, $9.99; Barrettes, $9.99 each; 2-Pk Barrettes, $9.99 each
Melamine Dinner Plate, $3.99; Melamine Large Tumbler, $3.99; Melamine Cereal Bowl, $3.49; Melamine Salad Plate, $3.49
Shower Curtain, $34.99; Hand Towels, $10.99 each; Bath Towels, $12.99 each
4-PK Melamine Appetizer Plates, $2.99
Travel Tote, $49.99; 21" Twister Carry-On Luggage, $169.99
