Lean McQueen

Expect a fashionista stampede at some local Target stores Wednesday.

Alexander McQueen, the bad-boy British designer known for spectacularly dramatic runway shows, the "bumster" trouser that ushered in low-rider jeans, and curvy, couture-quality gowns, is the latest marquee fashion name to temporarily fuse with Target's.

It's actually not such an odd fit, given the discount chain's hip image. And it's a coup, because McQueen has retained both his design edge and the fashion world's respect, earning a slew of top awards and a fan base ranging from taggers to bluebloods.

"McQueen is the epitome of high-end rock 'n' roll, but he's also known as a technical master on par with Yves Saint Laurent," said Melissa Foss, fashion editor for the website stylelist.com. "The line is big on hard edges mixed with feminine frills, like studded belts to toughen up girly dresses. The color palette is right on trend with the '80s revival. Think black, white and gray with accents of cobalt blue and bright pink."

The line, called McQ Alexander McQueen for Target, deserves a less monotonous name. More punk than prim -- the opposite of Target's offerings from its last big-name partner, Isaac Mizrahi -- it's still McQueen with a measure of restraint. Intended as a trickle-down from his casual McQ line rather than his elaborate signature runway fare, the styles range from $30 leggings to a $130 leather studded vest. Standouts include a shrunken black blazer paired with cropped black pants ($90 total), a tiger-print silk shift dress in pink and black ($45), studded gray-denim low-rider skinny jeans ($45) and a 1950s/1980s pairing: a full-skirted blue strapless print dress ($80) under a studded gray-denim jacket ($60).

McQueen's originality is at play in the "harness strap" adorning both a sleeveless top ($27) and dress ($45), contrasting-color fabric strips that circle the shoulder. Given his meticulous obsession with tailoring, we can hope he insisted on high production standards, as well.

The line will be available at select stores (downtown Minneapolis, Ridgedale, Roseville and St. Louis Park) and online from Wednesday through April 14. But don't bet on that end date. With all the advance buzz it's been getting in style-savvy circles, it's likely to sell out pronto.

"We keep a running list of talent and go through a rigorous and selective process to ensure the partnership is going to be a good one," Adams said. "The McQueen Collection is fresh and helps us push the envelope a bit."

As his muse for the line, McQueen tapped Liela Moss, lead singer of the British comeback cult band the Duke Spirit, which also just released a CD sold only at Target. Screened images of Moss and her band appear on a couple of T-shirts. While GO International designs are generally directed at 18- to 24-year-olds, Design Collaborations are stretching that to 34-year-olds. So far, the designs have looked most fabulous on the huge-headed Blythe dolls in an advance ad campaign making the Internet rounds.

A party, complete with veddy British fish and chips, was held for the new line during New York Fashion Week. Several actresses, including Rose Byrne, Michelle Trachtenberg and Gretchen Mol, made appearances, some sporting styles from the collection. Despite his claiming not to give a toss about celebrities, many of them seem fond of him. His popular skull-motif scarf has been spotted on many boldface names, including Lindsay Lohan, but not every much-photographed McQueen creation has been a hit: for example, the ghastly transparent-topped gray dress that Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the 2002 Oscars.

In terms of economic timing, Target couldn't have wooed a better partner. The Alexander McQueen company, half-owned by the Gucci Group, turned a profit in 2007, when competitors' sales were starting to decline. His brand also sold pretty well the last time Britain's economy tanked, in the early 1990s.

Available for such a short time, the line isn't likely to offset Target's 41-percent sales slump. But it does keep the chain's cachet on top, as will future Design Collaboration partners, presumably. How successful will such lines be, as more stores offer them and as designer names get less important due to both the recession and fashion conglomerates' adoption of "brand-over-personality" strategies? They'll probably continue to do well, because style chasers always love the idea of getting a name like McQueen at an affordable price, and never more so than in a recession.

Kristin Tillotson • 612-673-7046

1 Blouse ($30) and high-waisted gored skirt ($50) from the look book for Target's limited-time Alexander McQueen collection.

2 Tiger-print shift dress ($45) and zip leggings ($30) from the look book.

3 Actress Brittany Snow in a zigzag print dress ( $70) at the Target launch party during New York Fashion Week.