It was a beautiful day when we finally ventured out of LatestBeauty HQ and into the wilds of Los Angeles to examine some of the products that we had been hearing so much about at our local Tarjay. Meagan and I were both Target aficionados already, of course – but we still had yet to see a lot of their new fashion and accessory goodies for ourselves, so we were understandably excited. Would the Gryson bags live up to the hype? What of that adorable black trench with cutout detailing that Meagan’s had her eye on? Could the Subversive collection really deliver beautiful, unique jewelry at Target prices? We could hardly contain ourselves on the car ride over!
GRYSON BAGS
MEAGAN: Well, I was all pumped for this bag discovery. I wrote about it, I posted a picture of one of my faves and I’ll tell you….this was such a bummer! The Target we went to did not have a wide selection of the bags – there were only two styles. So I’m hoping the cute ones all sold out and that these were the runts of the bunch. You can’t tell from Target’s site but the “leather” is shiny and cheap looking which is not something I want to carry. But worst of all is the branding of the bags. Check out this giant bronze plaque that comes emblazoned on your bag:
I’m sorry, I’m not really into showcasing labels as it is and the whole point (to me) of getting a Gryson bag from Target is so that it doesn’t look like I actually got it from Target. Kind of hard to deny that when it is engraved in large letters “GRYSON FOR TARGET” on your bag. Sorry, but that was a huge let down.
ISAAC MIZRAHI TRENCH
MEAGAN: I went on our trip fully intending on purchasing the trench that I had drooled over online. It’s a good thing I didn’t buy it online! I would I have been sorely disappointed had I paid shipping and handling for this trench that was more of a tent on me. I know I’m little but I was not expecting the small to be so huge. Take a look for yourself – I’m drowning in fabric. Strike two.
CONVERSE GLITTER SLIP-ONS
MELISSA: These adorable, sparkly silver skimmers by Converse were a welcome surprise in an otherwise disappointing trip. I had actually seen these featured in a magazine, but they didn’t translate as well in print as they do in person – up close, they’re adorable! My penchant for glittery shoes is already well-established, and I’ve been a Converse fan since junior high (observe the cranberry-colored pair I wore on the trip to Target below!). They would go great with anything, from jeans to a casual dress (I also love the idea of pairing them with opaque black tights under a short skirt) and they’re comfortable to boot. I must have a pair of these for myself!
SUBVERSIVE JEWELRY
MELISSA: This collection was laid out in a display case near the entrance, so it was one of the first things we saw. Underwhelming is an understatement! I thought a few of these pieces had a fun, unique quirk when I looked at them online, but in person, they just look cheap. Everything is made of plastic (or appears to be made of plastic, in any case) and the chunky, oversized quality of most of the necklaces and bracelets make it look like kids’ costume jewelry – something you might’ve worn while playing dress-up when you were 8 years old. I guess designer jewelry is one area where you just can’t scrimp.
THE FINAL WORD?
MELISSA: While this particular trip to Target was a bit of a bust on the fashion front (I remember Meagan sadly wailing, “It’s like finding out that Santa Claus isn’t real!” at one point), we did have some luck with our beauty purchases (see our joint Product Reviews). Plus, the location we visited was apparently lacking in the Jovovich-Hawk GO International line, so we still have more frugal fashion to look forward to! As of right now, however, it seems that Target will continue to be the go-to store for affordable cosmetics and cute fashion basics, but it’s still no substitute for a designer boutique and a platinum credit card.
MEAGAN: I blame the Target we were at. I still think it is possible to find some gems at Target – I think the right Target that isn’t picked over is going to have more options. And as they keep churning out the GO International lines, I am going to still be excited to check out the designer duds on the cheap. But I’m going to have to approach it with a little more skepticism.
