
All image AI generated by Nakia Reine
I still remember the thrill of writing my first blog post in 2007, excitedly sharing the news of the Proenza Schouler collaboration with Target. At the time, I was still working in the fashion industry, and the idea that a designer of this caliber would create designs at a Target price point was captivating. It opened up high fashion to the masses and introduced these designers to people who might not have known them otherwise. I thought it was genius.
How did I buy my clothes from the same place I buy my paper towels?
Now, here we are in 2024. I’m standing in a Target aisle with a cart filled with paper towels and toiletries, trying to decide which matching short set I like best. How did we get here? How did I buy my clothes from the same place I buy my paper towels?
From a convenience perspective, this checks the productivity box—milk, eggs, and a new pair of shorts—all in one stop. But from a quality perspective, I know this linen blend short set will barely make it through the summer if I wash it too much. I miss the days when things were compartmentalized: groceries from the grocery store, shoes from the shoe store, and clothes from a store that sold only clothing.
Because I believe in transparency, it feels hypocritical to criticize a place I once praised so fervently. But as I slide into my 40s, finding that I can no longer shop at Forever 21 for obvious reasons (not the midriffs, but the quality), I find myself shopping at Target and other big-box department stores. Is this really what fashion looks like for women in their 40s?

All image AI generated by Nakia Reine
Let’s talk about when clothing was just that—clothing. Pure, 100% cotton and linen garments, not the hybrid materials we see today, are designed for quantity over quality. Yes, we get them at a lower price, but is it worth it? If you look at Target's trajectory of collaborations as they "Celebrate 20 years of Designer Collaborations", you’ll see it’s been a while since they’ve teamed up with a big designer. Just recently, they collaborated with Diane von Furstenberg, who I adored as a fashion kid. Fun fact: I used to sit in her store’s seating area in Soho, hoping she would walk through the store to see her. Did I buy some of the pieces from her Target collaboration? Absolutely. However, I was disappointed because the materials had to be changed to meet the price point for the masses. I walked away with two pieces and the sting of disappointment.
Big-box stores like Target give the masses a chance to experience fashion through these collaborations, but the reality is that the label is as close as you’ll get to the designer piece—the quality just isn’t there.
So, let’s end with a conversation starter: What’s your take on buying clothing where you buy your paper towels? What do you think of these drugstore collaborations, and have you participated in any? Let’s chat!
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