Target’s first GO International Collective, which brings together previous hits from their many individual designer capsule collections in one place, officially launches today.

GO International didn’t invent the designer/fast fashion collaboration, but in the US it was one of the first to offer clothes from emerging designers at Target prices (read: almost nothing over $100). {Target}

Over the past five years, the Target collaborations have expanded to more established luxury fashion labels like Mulberry for Target, Jean Paul Gaultier and Liberty of London, with collections selling out even faster than Target themselves anticipated. The young designers are where it all started though, and this year Target has decided to bring back the “greatest hits” of the past so you can score some of the must-haves you may have missed.

This Thursday in New York stars gathered to celebrate the launch of the upcoming design collective showcased at the Ace Hotel. Featured designers in the great re-release will include Luella Bartley, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe, Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Libertine, Alice Temperley, Erin Fetherston, Jovovich-Hawk, Rogan, Richard Chai, Jonathan Saunders, Thakoon, Tracy Feith, Rodarte (perfect timing with all of the Black Swan buzz), Zac Posen and Tucker – with all dresses on offer coming in under $50. We have no doubt the lineup will see a fight to the register or online checkout for those who missed out on the first versions.

We absolutely can not wait for the release of the 34-dress collection, which is scheduled to run through April 10th. Our advice? Wake up early and get a spot in line to ensure you get the dress you want, or bookmark the Go International page and click quickly.

Has the Collection Already Sold Out?

One important tip if you’re shopping online: it looks like Target hasn’t worked out all of the bugs as far as the website navigation goes, so the only way to get to the collection items is through the special section included on the main GO International page. If you click the links on the left to browse by designer or color, you may get a message saying there aren’t any items in the category. Rest assured, they haven’t sold out that quickly, but if you want a bunch of styles for yourself, you can continue to let everyone else think that’s the case. We won’t judge.

Happy Shopping!

This Steve Madden shoe is already the subject of a lawsuit, but that could just be the beginning once a new copyright law for fashion is enacted.

The opposing argument has always been that a today’s designers aren’t generating completely unique pieces anyway-drawing inspiration from many different places.

According to Johanna Blakely, the Deputy Director of the Norman Lear Center (a media-focused think tank at the University of Southern California), “Designers pore over vintage magazines and patterns and visit museum archives in order to find inspiration for the next season’s look, cherry picking design elements that feel fresh and in line with the current zeitgeist. It’s a refreshingly open process unhindered by legal consultations. Those archives could become battlefields where litigants try to find evidence to support their assertion that a design is or is not unique. It is worrisome that powerful people may attempt to limit access to particularly rich collections of design history and some unscrupulous types may destroy or hide rare materials that prove that their new design isn’t as unique as they claim. But just because copying is legal doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. In order to succeed, designers have to develop a signature style — a look that everyone will instantly recognize as theirs. Designers who have reputations as innovators don’t want to be accused of copying, so they have a strong incentive to come up with something new every season that’s unique to them and their signature style.” {Tech Dirt}

We couldn’t agree more. The fashion industry has always “innovated creatively” without copyrights and many hugely popular chains like H&M and Forever 21 have succeeded by imitating haute couture designs minus the runway price tag.

For now, designer labels and logos are legally protected through trademark law, however the shape and fit of the design are not. This gives retailers like Steve Madden (notorious for his almost identical shoe knockoffs) free-reign to copy, copy and copy some more. Admittedly, consumers on a budget thrive on stores like these because they care less about the name brand and more about being stylish and trendy. That doesn’t include consumers who can afford designer items, but just aren’t interested enough to pay designer prices for the style.

The breaking news is that Senator Charles Schumer recently submitted a revised copy of a bill called the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act (the original was rejected a couple of years ago), supported by the AAFA (American Apparel and Footwear Association) and CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed it yesterday, which clears the way for a vote that would make it law. {NY Mag}

We aren’t sure where it will go once heard by Congress but the fashion community is abuzz about what this could mean for fashion as we know it today. What do you think about granting designers rights to everything they design?

It’s official, for Spring 2011 white is the new black. Natural tones are the way to go year and the sensible and classy looks we saw strutting the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion week showcased just how red hot head-to-toe white can be.

The photos above are of nine different white looks from designers’ SS11 presentations and shows at Lincoln Center in Manhattan for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. This past week has flown by and the shows are getting great reviews. Clearly white is in for both men (at Lacoste) and women (at nearly every other show) next year as the crisp, clean shade is seen repeatedly on the catwalk.

We are intrigued by the range in proportion, drape and silhouette throughout the collections and the diversity in fabric and detail make for a really classically-dressed season.

Just some of the designers offering head-to-toe white ensembles in their Spring/Summer 2011 collections include Victoria Beckham, BCBG Max Azria, Doo-Ri, Christian Siriano, Frank Tell, Jen Kao, Calvin Klein, Julian Louie, Nicole Miller, Mandy Coon, Peter Som, Rag & Bone, Band of Outsiders, Jill Stuart, Lacoste, Rebecca Minkoff, Ports 1961, Prabal Gurung and Derek Lam.

Everyone knows Iman for her success as an international supermodel and cosmetics company founder. The inspiration for Yves Saint Laurent’s “Africa Queen” collection, for fourteen years the singularly named beauty graced the runways of the world’s most renowned fashion designers. Before Tyra, Heidi Klum and the other model moguls we know today, Iman was one of the first to capitalize on her modeling background with an entry into business via Iman Cosmetics.

Launched in 1994, the company focuses on products designed for women of color. In addition to her cosmetics line, Iman has also added accessories designer and TV host to her resume via stints at HSN (Home Shopping Network) and Project Runway Canada respectively. Today Iman is broadening her reach even further collaborating with Design Consultant, Carlos Mota on a new home fabrics line called IMAN Home.

Scheduled for its debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Iman had this to say about the project being showcased at such an event.

“I am so excited to partner with Mercedes-Benz on this project. We have worked tirelessly in preparation for the launch of IMAN Home and to have this forum, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, is a great way to unveil the collection.” {Talking Makeup}

Obviously Fashion Week is a great time to introduce something new because the audience is so broad. People look up to Iman for her fashion sense so it seems likely to be a hit. Look out for the new line sometime late September.