Nicole Trunfio showcases designs by Jean Paul Gaultier during Melbourne Fashion Festival. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images
HOW many times have we taken the mickey out of Target?
Yes, the ‘Tarjay’ tag has been used by many of us but last night the French accent rang true as fashion’s enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier, premiered the affordable collection he has designed for the chain.
The collection featured all of his signature styles — from classic striped tops, biker leather jackets, trench coats, corsetted pieces (yes, there was a nod to the infamous Madonna conical bra but he has totally underplayed it in an exquisite pink silk jumpsuit) and quite simply, ‘designer’ pieces that will definitely not break the budget.
Fashion flashback. Nicole Trunfio in a pink jumpsuit inspired by the famous bra worn by Madonna. Picture: Graham DenholmSource:Getty Images
Having critiqued these designer collaborations for quite a few years, I am already betting this will be one of the most successful we have seen when it goes on sale today. I mean, a ‘Gaultier for Target’ leather biker jacket for $299 as opposed to many thousands from his ready-to-wear collection? Yes, please.
Target we hardly recognised you. Samantha Harris wearing the $299 leather jacket from the Jean Paul Gaultier collection. Picture: Graham DenholmSource:Getty Images
In what is a growing trend in the fashion industry, there was a look-now, buy-now mentality with the entire collection going live, to buy online straight after the Wednesday night show.
Mega model Nicole Trunfio was joined by leading indigenous model Samantha Harris and current Target brand ambassadors Fiona Falkiner, Dannii Minogue, Jessica Mauboy and Sonia Kruger.
Hello, is that you Target? Model Nicole Trunfio in a crop top and denim and tulle skirt from the Jean Paul Gaultier collection. Picture: Graham DenholmSource:Getty Images
Target hosted its consumer show as part of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival — where the public can buy tickets for the shows as opposed to closed fashion industry shows.
The collection included styles for women, men and children.
Target executives, no doubt will be smiling like Cheshire cats as it was during Gaultier’s visit to Australia last year when he was exhibiting at the National Gallery of Victoria when the collection deal was struck.
There have been numerous names who have had successful collaborations, from Stella McCartney to Karl Lagerfeld to Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Peter Morrissey and the list goes on.
A chain like Target is also associating itself with ‘celebrity’ names and people with body shapes that are not always your quintessential long, lean model-types in order to ‘up’ it’s desirability factor to all age groups, body shapes, heights and weights.
