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!

We recently reported on the unfortunate circumstances leading up to the disbandment of the Luella brand, but Luella lovers all over the world have been banding together to help a much-beloved company.

There is already a “Save Luella” group on Facebook (which we have already joined and pimped on Twitter!), but the best way to show support is to skip over to the Luella website, where prices have been slashed — with some items lowered to half-price!

Now we’re confident (yet still crossing fingers!) that the company will be able to find a financial backer and will be [re]stoking the creative fires before the year’s end, but with prices like this it would be silly not to run — not walk — over to the shop and get a little slice of Luella pie.

Read the full story {Grazia}

Lauded by by Queen Anna herself as “a poster child for London cool,” Bartley was forced to close up shop when company investor Club 21 recently withdrew its financial backing.  Despite the popularity of Luella with celebrities and the fashion set, the company amassed a great deal of debt over the past year and the Club 21 decision was the final blow.

We will sincerely miss Luella and hope this mess will be sorted out soon.  As for Bartley, she has high hopes for brand rebirth: “The Luella girl,” she says optimistically, “can have an exciting future, whichever incarnation she takes on next.”

Read the full story {Times Online}