A Collaborative Success

   Reading through fashion magazines always makes me envious of the clothing I will never be able to afford. The fabrics, the colors and the intricate designs make me fall in love instantly, but then I soon come back to reality.

      Designer clothing can make people feel luxurious and elite, but the price tag on many designer duds is anything but cheap. This may be why designer collaborations have become increasingly popular.

      I know I always get excited when I hear about a new designer-for-less collection at my nearby Target and immediately begin picking out my favorite pieces from the online look books.

      Over the past few years, many retail chains such as Target and H&M have teamed up with well-known designers to create quality clothing at affordable prices. This allows shoppers to buy pieces that still have the designer’s aesthetic, but at a fraction of the price.

      Target has worked with designers like Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler, Missoni and Prabal Gurung while H&M has previously worked with Matthew Williamson, Versace and Karl Lagerfeld.

Model Abbey Lee Kershaw wears a few of the Versace for H&M looks from 2011. The collection sold out in 30 minutes at some locations.

      Many of these collaborations have done extremely well, some even selling out within the first couple days. The Missoni collection at Target created a frenzy in stores and online. Target’s website even crashed because so many people were trying to buy online. I remember how excited I was for the Missoni collection. Unfortunately, I never got my hands on any of the clothing.

      On average, designer clothing can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars, but these collaborations are a great and affordable way to look luxurious and fashionable. Celebrities like Emma Roberts, Katy Perry and Zoe Saldana even sport items for these collaborative efforts. 

      Target’s current collaboration is with stylist Kate Young. The collection has everything from shoes to dresses to handbags and is available in stores and online now. 

A model wears a look from the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection (left) and Katy Perry wears the same  peacock dress from the collection (right). Williamson's collection featured many brightly-colored and patterned looks. 

A model wears a look from the Prabal Gurung for Target collection (left) and Zoe Saldana wears a  sweatshirt  from the collection as she heads to lunch with a friend in Los Angeles (right). Shoppers lined up for hours before the store's opening to get a piece of Gurung's collection.