The Day has Arrived. Zac Posen for Target

By Laura Medina

*The Gia Coppola video of The Likes performing in Zac Posen for Target

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSeh7JbSwP8

*Zac Posen Demonstrating the many ways to wear the collection.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/04/post_16.html?mid=fashion-alert--20100415

The Likes channeling early Beatles and the Velvet Underground in Zac Posen for Target.

In a very informative video provided by New York Magazine, Harriet May Powell, New York Magazine's fashion director, asked Zac Posen why, after many years, he decided to design a limited edition capsule for Target.

He responded it was all about waiting for the right moment and the right environment to doing a collaboration with the upscale mass retailer. Paraphasing his answer, it was holding out for the proper time to release the best collection he can do for women. Yet, he realized that the customer has changed and so has the times. With those factors mixed in, Mr. Posen senses now is the time to team up with Target.

Ms. Powell was really astonished that Mr. Posen didn't sacrifice innovative tailoring and creative styling. Mr. Posen, "I'm a quality fanatic."

Target gave him the liberty to use their trademark red as a Pantone for one of the swimsuits and the most expensive item in the collection, a Eighties-influenced, washed leather motorcycle jacket at $199.99. He calls it "The Michael J."

The Snap Tape Dress and a spot of Mr. Posen demostrating many ways to style it.

Being aware of the current economy and the mindset of the Target clientele, he wants to make sure he puts a lot of bang for the most minimal of bucks allowed. This is where he's creativity, schooling, and experience come into play. And playfulness is what keeps this collection going, he wants a girl to have fun with her clothing.

With the Snap Tape Dress, Zac commented, “This is trust in a girl’s own creativity. Snap and Drape. Button and Bustle. Makes a nice satisfying noise. You get a lot. You get pailettes. You get evening.”

The multiple of looks is mind-boggling. With little snap buttons here and there, you never have to send this dress to the tailor for slight alterations. You can adjust the waistline or the neckline or move the hemline up or down. It is like a Legos toy of a dress.

Left, Zac removing Tulle over skirt. Middle, the whole 2 in 1 Dress. Right, Dress in action.

Another bang for your bucks outfit is what Mr. Posen calls the "2 in 1 Dress."

It is a tulle over skirt wrapped over the classic strapless Little Black Dress in washed Duchess Satin that you can button on and off in the back. It comes in the de rigueur black, a festive Target red, and a subversive navy blue.

Another Eighties-inspired garment is the Safety Pin Dress. Mr. Posen is proud to say this is the first gown designed for Target's GO Collection. In punchy pink, he makes it seem so tropical for the Summer.


The bronze glamourous swimsuit is the first time Mr. Posen has ever did a swimwear capsule. He calls it "his Esther Williams." A throwback when swimwear was elegant.


Those lucky celebrities. They have the jumpstart on the collection. Here's Nick Hilton modeling Zac's Tiger Stripe Dress while Dakota Fanning rocked his Tuxedo Blazer while pushing her break-through movie, "The Runaways."

Elizabeth "Z" Berg strumming in Zac Posen for Target Tuxedo Shirt.

"The Like," the power pop girl band paid homage to The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" and Andy Warhol's "Velvet Underground" for their "Fair Game" video.

Mr. Posen asks his pal, Ms. Gia Coppola (Sofia's sister) to specially direct a fashion video displaying the clothes in action. She, in turned, asks her old high school friends, The Like, to model the collecton in a video. They were happy to oblige.

In a black and white montage, the band is dressing and primping into the clothes. As the actual video begins, it is full-colored, flashing Mod in strobe lights, reminiscing Sixities early music videos.

The lead guitarist/vocalist, Elizabeth "Z" Berg, channels Edie Sedgewick in Zac's Tuxedo Shirt.

Laena Geronimo, bassist, does George Harrison in Zac Posen Floral Floral Dress.

As for his first, hopefully not the last, collaboration with Target, he quoted as he as saying, "When you are on your own creative journey, there are many different paths to explore and I am only 29."

He demonstrated that with his multiple Snap Tape Dress and his 2 In 1 Dress, he managed to bring haute couture craftsmanship to the masses. Very well thought-out.