It’s been a while since I have felt inspired enough to do a fashion post… and even longer since there was a Target collab that I was excited about. But… when I heard that Target was teaming up with Kate Spade, well, my heart leapt.
Known for their clean and classic designs, Kate Spade creates handbags, jewelry, eyewear, office supplies, and home decor. I have been a long time fan, drawn to the brand’s use of vintage inspired silhouettes, fun and feminine details, and of course a copious amount of polka dots. There’s something about the brand that just suits me completely. I have purchased many items from the outlet, lots of stationery from Barnes and Noble, and have invested in some pieces from Kate Spade boutiques. Plus, my absolute favorite pair of eyewear is Kate Spade. (I’ve upgraded the lenses twice already, since the frame is no longer in production.)
The Kate Spade x Target collection was set to drop at 2 AM Central on April 12. They started previews a week before their launch online. The line included hundreds of products… party supplies, home decor, patio decor, jewelry, bags, and even a bicycle. Most excitingly, clothes… IN PLUS SIZES! Kate Spade as a brand does not offer plus sizes, so I was thrilled to have the chance to try some things. (Eloquii has done a couple of Plus Size collabs with Kate Spade, but the items were quite dressy and would be much more of an investment.)
I combed through the site, ad nauseam, and created a list to easily click and buy what I wanted on launch day. I know from previous experience that these can be a bit of a feeding frenzy! I set my alarm for 1:45 AM and sat, barely coherent, on my toilet with my finger poised over the Target app. When it was go time, I furiously started trying to ensure my cart worked and began the checkout process… but then, the inevitable frustration set in. My card was being picky and I had to reset some things. By the time it worked, I missed out on a few of the things I wanted, including the Strawberry Hoodie (blast it!!) and all of the handbags (sigh.) I checked out anyway, and went back to bed, feeling mostly accomplished.
When I woke up again at 7:00 AM, my kind and enabling husband suggested we could go to our local Target when they opened to see what we could get in the store. (Gee, twist my arm, buddy!) We arrived around 7:45 AM and were third in a line that continued to grow. As soon as the doors opened, I made a beeline for the handbags and secured the polka dot and the strawberry bag I wanted. (The bags were seriously wiped out in 30 seconds.) Then I browsed the rest of what our store had, picking up a few accessories. Honestly, I feel bad for anyone who thought they could pick up anything after 8:30 AM. It was GONE!
I absolutely love both bags I was able to pick up! I’ve wanted a Kate Spade novelty purse for a long time but could never justify the price. But, at under $50, it doesn’t matter if my wicker strawberry doesn’t hold a lot! It’s so stinking CUTE!!! The black and white polka dot bag, paired with the bag charms and the card holder I picked up will make a perfect little weekend bag too.
But… let’s talk about my online haul. I bought a LOT of stuff, knowing I would return most of it, just so I would have the opportunity to try things on. There were no stores near me that were carrying any of the Plus Size collection. I spent around $1100 online and ordered 9 dresses, 4 tops, 6 bottoms, a romper, 2 sets of earrings, a brooch, assorted party supplies, a planner portfolio, a record player, and a patio umbrella. Everything arrived in a few different boxes just days after ordering.
I was so excited to open everything. The colors were vibrant and the polka dots were joyful. I love the party supplies and can’t wait to use them on winery picnics this summer. I love the earrings and the brooch and have already worn them a few times. The record player is even cuter in person, AND it’s wireless, so we can use it in our back yard!
Then, there’s the clothes. Let me reiterate, it was a THRILL to be able to even try on Kate Spade clothing, albeit Target quality, in my size. Those of you who are not always shut out of a brand may not understand that. But I am telling you, the effort really did matter. That being said, I knew not everything was going to work.
All of the clothes were made from the same few patterns and color schemes… vibrant greens and pinks, plaids, and polka dots… with mix and match possibilities. Some pieces were fitted in numeric sizing (0-28), while others were general sizing (XS-4X). That means that fit is going to be a bit different depending on which sizing the item uses. I also thought that the size chart ran a bit smaller than standard Target sizing.
And now to review… let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. The quality of the clothing is not terrific, but I wouldn’t expect high quality for the price. Most of the dresses are not lined, which made some colors rather see through. Patterns are not thoughtfully lined up at the seams. There were loose threads lying on some of the clothes. All of the tops are cropped and didn’t work with my body. I tried a pencil skirt that was NOT made for curves. And the jeans, which were the most expensive clothing item I tried, were still like cardboard and laughably small.
All in all though, I was really pleased with the fit of the dresses. The size chart was fairly accurate for both numeric and general sizing. The tops of the garments were definitely generous. That was ok for me as someone who is large chested, but could definitely be a problem for some people. Some of the dresses were shorter than I feel comfortable wearing, but would definitely not bother others. The biggest fit issue was that some of the garments were a bit large in the armpits and will need some work to fit properly.
The strangest thing I encountered was with the satin shift dress. I ordered it in three different colors, all the same size. The black was a little baggy and frumpy, the green was so tight I couldn’t pull it over my butt, and the pink was just right. I shouldn’t have to Three Bears it… note to Quality Control.
I decided to keep 6 of the 20 items I tried on. My absolute favorite item was the black romper with white dots and a huge shoulder bow. It is elegant and made me feel incredible.I also kept the pink satin shift because it was vibrant and fun… ready to party! I kept the white dot peplum top and shorts. They work so well together and give a romper effect, but can both be worn separately with a solid piece for a completely different look. I kept the plaid midi dress, which will be perfect for summer picnics. And I kept the strawberry shorts, even though I was not lucky enough to snag the matching hoodie, because they were soft and comfy for lounging around the house.
Overall, I was really happy with my Kate Spade X Target launch experience. I was able to find quite a few pieces that fit well and made me feel pretty. I hope that the Kate Spade brand takes note that Plus Size customers would spend money on pieces they love… if they were only available. I was also able to find some cute accessories and home pieces that I will work into my decor and will coordinate well with the Kate Spade I already have at home. I’m not a huge fan of the extremely limited item craziness, but at least this time around it worked in my favor.
Forty Fat and Fabulous 