I was in my hometown this past weekend to pick up my dog and had some time to kill on Sunday, so I ventured to the Target near my parent’s home. Being it was the day of the launch and I was in Niagara Falls, NY…I knew I would be able to see the line in it’s entirety and completely by myself.
Sure enough, by 4 pm Sunday…every article in every size was mine for the asking ("What’s Libertine?"). The apparel was untouched. I am not so much a fan of Libertine personally, but do remember some friends were nuts about their artsy meets punk silk-screened jackets from a few years back. Even though I didn’t wear Libertine, I respected it. So when I heard the next Go International designers were Johnson Hartig and Cindy Greene of Libertine, I really didn’t know what to think. How was this edgy line going to translate to the masses?
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Then I saw the PR photos on Target’s site (which we posted last week) and commented, it didn’t look promising. Self-described as "edgy-elegance" I wasn’t seeing in the promo shots. After seeing the line, I realized the stylized looks were horrid because the models were dressed in the clothing head-to-toe. Mind you, I think the whole skull/skeleton thing was overplayed last fall and shudder to think it may last another season. Notwithstanding…there were a few items that I liked more than previous collections at Target.
Here are some I saw in person and even tried on (OK and even bought a couple).
Libertine for Target Silk-Screen Jacket. Not the greatest quality, but a signature all the same. I’d pass.
Libertine Skull-Print Argyle Sweater Vest $24.99. I’m afraid we will see this everywhere and it’s sorta funny, but sorta stale and cheap looking. Please skip this one.
Libertine Lace-Front Crepe Shirt $34.99. My location only had this top in black, but I was surprised how cute it was. Seriously, I would wear this. In the color shown though.
Libertine Eyelet Woven Shirt $24.99. I tried this on and because it’s junior sizing I had to go up a size. It is surprisingly very fitted. I didn’t like it enough on me to buy it.
Libertine Embroidered Shorts $24.99. I think these are a hoot (check back with me in a month when I have seen them everywhere though). I tried on a pair like these, but a bermuda length in khaki with orange embroidery which oddly, are not on the site. I actually liked the fit.
Libertine Embroidered Skirt $34.99. Ditto above. Also comes in white with navy embroidery.
Libertine Shirtdress in Fog $29.99. The fit wasn’t bad, but it had a Sgt. Pepper’s bib-front that was a little restrictive and the center of the buttons had a tiny crystal which I didn’t care for. What is the color ‘fog’ you might ask? Basically it’s a khaki hued off-white which washed me out and made me look like a corpse.
Libertine Woven Tank Dress $26.99. Cute, but a little short for anyone over 30. Again, I had to go up a size which bummed me out.
Libertine Eyelet Apron Cami $29.99. Adorable and my size fit, so I bought it. It’s perfect for kicking around the rest of the summer.
In conclusion, I’d say get a piece or two if you desire, but please use sparingly. Oh and remember junior sizing can cause distress in the dressing room. Trust me on that.
All items available at Target.com
signature is misspelled in the jacket caption…i’m not trying to be a butt, I just read your site a lot and I’m a copy editor. Sorry!
I would wear the dress if it was a few inches longer, maybe just above the knee (and I am under 30). But re: the sizes, that shouldn’t be a component of your self-esteem. As you said, it’s junior sizing, and you aren’t a junior, so why stress out over wearing a larger size? The numbers are arbitrary anyway.