Designer on the High Street – Missoni for Target

I’m a fan of affordable fashion, a second hand shopper and a high street girl through and though… but there are a few ridiculously expensive designer brands that I adore. Michael Kors’ all-American leathers, Diane von Furstenberg’s fabulously flattering wrap dresses, and Missoni’s chevron rainbow knits. I’m always on the hunt for cut-price pieces from these three – I scored a MK leather jacket in TK Maxx and very nearly ‘invested’ in a DvF dress during my trip to Bicester Village. So when I heard about the Missoni for Target collection, I was poised over my MacBook for three weeks waiting for it to drop. Well, not really. But I was excited.

Unfortunately Target.com doesn’t ship to the UK (which saddens me, as the site is awesome), but luckily I have a very lovely sister-in-law-to-be living in Chicago. When the collection went live, I ordered online, paid via PayPal and used her address for the shipping. That was my way around the shipping issue, but if you don’t have a kindly relative living in America you could use a mail forwarding service like Reship.com.

Missoni for Target cardigan, American Apparel t-shirt, Next jeans, flats c/o Bertie, Cambridge Satchel Company bag, pearl collar via car boot sale, Michael Kors watch

I ordered this cardigan and a coat from the range, but due to huge demand the coat still hasn’t been shipped. And this is where Target come into their own – they’re in regular contact via email about the status of my order, they ship each item when it’s available with no extra charge and they only take payment when each item is shipped. I’m holding on for my coat which is due in December, but I still have the option to cancel my order if I change my mind.

Post from the US is painfully slow so although I ordered this cardigan back in September and it arrived with my sis-in-law a few days later, it only came through my letterbox last week. As soon as I saw her familiar handwriting on the envelope, I squealed ‘it’s the Missoni!’ and ripped it open while Rob looked on blankly.

I’ve heard mixed reports about Target’s designer collaborations – similarly to H&Ms designer ranges here, quality varies and often you pay a much higher price just for the designer tag. I paid $49.99 (about £30) for this cardigan – it’s a rayon/cotton mix, super soft and fits like a dream. It’s well made, the colours are vibrant and the design is instantly recognisable. In short, I love it.

High street/designer collaborations are a great way to get your hands on a piece by your favourite high fashion brand without paying the hefty price tag. And although some partnerships fall flat, Missoni for Target got it spot on. Their famous chevron print is easily transferred to reasonably priced clothing, homeware, swimwear and footwear. I’m now planning a transatlantic flight to coincide with the next collection – I’ll be the crazy lady dragging a suitcase stuffed with bedspreads and bikinis.

What do you think of the Missoni for Target collection? Have you bought from a high street/designer collaboration before?