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.
The "diffusion line" (that's fashionspeak for "affordable") is the debut for a new series of limited-time collections at Target called Design Collaborations. Not to be confused with GO International, which features emerging designers such as Thakoon, Design Collaborations will court established names with higher profiles, and recur less frequently than GO, said Trish Adams, senior vice president for merchandising at Target.