Target is not Walmart. Whereas WalMart gives off a vibe of a place where style dreams go to die, Target gives the impression that they’re more of an incubator. Would a snob shop at Target? Hell no. But it’s more than possible to not just include basics from the big red box store, you could assemble an entire outfit there if need be.
Now Target is riding their rep a step further, by asking boutiques to stylistically influence a small line of mass produced goods. Target, the biggest of the big, is curating not just individual products, but instead the entire feel of these small shops, and producing items that are in line with Target’s prices. The first clothing line is from a Miami based boutique called “The Webster.” The full line is available on Target.com, and a few items were at the Target closest to the Dappered home offices for an in-person run:
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The positives: Really nice & crisp cotton. Attention to details like under collar contrasting and stripes at the functioning buttons. While it is lined, it’s lined in cotton. Great fit off the rack too.
The Negatives: The buttons. You’re either good with gold-tone buttons on a navy blazer, or you prefer something more tonal. And these are plastic, not metal. The button stance is also a touch high. Sleeves seem a little long and the functioning buttons will cause tailoring headaches. Equipped with side vents. Much more dressed up than the completely unlined Kensington, but head to head, the Kensington will win for most.
The positives: The 55%/45% linen cotton fabric is surprisingly nice. It fits so-so through the body, and if you like having those buttons and tabs to keep your sleeves rolled up, this shirt comes with those.
The negatives: It’s a super casual shirt, but it’s too long to leave untucked. Worse yet: There’s no slots for collar stays. If a shirt is long enough that it has to be tucked it, it should have collar stay slots.
The Positives: Like the blazer, the fabric and the attention to detail is real nice. Fit is good and hits above the knee for guys who don’t want to show a ton of leg. The buttons on these are like the buttons on the blazer, only in a deeper metallic tone (but they’re still plastic). Stitch line along inner leg is different, but not in a bad way.
The Negatives: Oh they’re bright. So you better like that trend. $30 is also getting pricey for Target.
The Positives: It has stripes. Yay for stripes.
The Negatives: It’s so feminine that it never came off the rack. Buttons on the shoulder are one thing (a nod to roots in Nautical functionality) but the material is so lightweight (slinky?) and the collar is thin and wide that the effect is if you have any meat on your bones, it’s gonna look like you’re wearing some sort of antique underwear. But if Mrs. Dappered wore a female version it’d be all kinds of sexy.
The Positives: These might be the best, on a budget pair of swim trunks out there this year. Yeah, $30 is “on a budget”. Swim trunks are expensive. These look to have no elastic around the waist, have some bright but not out of control colors, and the description mentions a lining. Nice.
The Negatives: Sizing says “men with a regular fit.” Didn’t see em’ in store, so…
The Positives: So, these aren’t from the Webster line. But they’re the one thing that got purchased on this trip. Often on sale for twenty bucks, the color is bright but not too bright thanks to the chambray fabric, and they’re a nice “tailored” fit without being tight. Hits right above the knee, so a little long for some, but a perfect weekend running around town short.
The Negatives: Description says “relaxed fit” online, but the tag says tailored in store. They feel like a straight fit.
Bottom line: Target gets an A for effort on this project. Here’s hoping they keep it up. Thoughts on “The Webster” line and the “Shops at Target” strategy can go below. Thanks to TJ for sending in the idea for a post via Style Tip. For an overall female perspective on Target’s “The Shops”, head to FullClutch, where Beth has also dug up a link to what shops Target will feature next…
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