Major retailers seem to be the marrying type of sorts. Top 7th avenue designers are lending their couture fashion skills to mass retailers. First, it started with Target when it carried limited edition pieces from top designers such as Cynthia Rowley and Isaac Mizrahi. Then H&M joined in the fun when they partnered with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney with their exclusive lines (I still remember the crowds outside the fifth avenue store last year). They did it again this year with Viktor and Rolf and once again most recently with Madonna (although I guess you can’t really consider her a designer, but she has been a style icon for many years.) The latest is the partnership with the CFDA, Vogue Fund, and the Gap. Yes, I said it the Gap. The mass retailer known for relaxed casual styles commissioned a team of young designers to produce a limited edition line of white shirts. Doo Ri, Rodarte, and Thankoon, all designed a white shirt for the Gap that went on sale in New York stores and Gap online last week. As you can probably expect, most styles are all sold out. See my favorate by Thakoon below.
Some argue that for designers to design for mass retailers takes away from their prestige, others think that it's great for us mere mortals to be able to afford these looks. What do you guys think?
