MasstigeWatch!
Every fashionista worth her skinny jeans let out a collective shriek this morning upon reading this glorious item in WWD's Fashion Scoops:

It looks like Alexander McQueen could be the latest designer name — and one of the most prestigious — to link up with Target’s Go International program, which showcases capsule collections by guest designers. According to industry sources, the British designer is in talks to work on a collection for the Minneapolis-based retailer. A spokeswoman for McQueen declined comment Wednesday.

If the designer does ink a deal with Target, he would join an ever-growing lineup of marquee names who have produced collections for the brand, including Luella Bartley, Alice Temperley, Proenza Schouler and Richard Chai. In addition, Anya Hindmarch and Sigerson Morrison both have collections in the pipeline for the retailer.

While McQueen launched a denim-based diffusion line, called McQ Alexander McQueen, in fall 2006, he’s not yet notched up a collaboration with a mass retailer during his career. As well as his ready-to-wear collection, McQueen designs a footwear collection for Puma and a capsule luggage collection for Samsonite’s Black Label.


That's right: Alexander McFuckingQueen and Target. WWD must have a well-planted spy somewhere at Target, because every single Target-collaboration rumor that's popped up in this column has come true. So I think we can all start to mentally prepare ourselves for plaid, corsets, bustles, and sharp tailoring from fashion's former enfant terrible. Now, the only thing that gives me pause is that the Go International collections have widely varied in terms of quality and fit, whereas, say, H&M's collections have been pretty stellar across the board. Nonetheless, I pray that if this is indeed true--and, for the love of François-Henri Pinault I hope it is--that McQueen stays away from the polyester.

And, not necessarily masstige, but on a similarly budget-conscious level, Alexander Wang has announced that he's creating both a line of shoes and a lower-priced line of knitwear (the latter will most likely retail for under $100). WWD has the details [subscription required]; the shoes look a little scary, but the knits look pretty good to me, kind of like a grown-up, less shrink-prone version of American Apparel. Sadly, both the shoes and the knits won't hit stores until spring 2009, but in the meantime, there's always his full-priced line, which you can find at Barneys, Nordstrom, and Shopbop.

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