5 Tips on Scoring Big with Designer Collaborations
There’s little I love more than designer collaborations with my favorite stores. You guys know what I’m talking about- when big name designers like Matthew Williamson, Christopher Kane and Zac Posen pair up with mass-retailers like H&M, TopShop and Target. The clothes produced are usually well-designed, super cute and seriously affordable: perfect for college girls!
Of course, there’s always the dark side of designer collabs- the small quantity of items produced! Many of you (including myself) have probably salivated over a dress or pair of shoes or purse, only to find out they’re sold out everywhere. Fortunately, this problem can be avoided! Here are five tips to help you score big with designer collaborations:
1. Before the Collection Hits
Gauge the hype.
Not all collaborations are made equal: some will generate much more hype than others. For example, the Roberto Cavalli for H&M collection was sold out worldwide in a mere two hours- but Jean Paul Gaultier’s line for Target is still available online and in stores.
So how do you figure out how much hype is surrounding a particular line? Do your research. Look at blogs (College Fashion, obviously, but also Fashionista, New York Magazine’s The Cut, Refinery29 and Nylon Blogs also usually profile the best collections.) Even a plain Google search will show you how excited (or not) people are about the collection. How does this help you? Well, for a popular collection, you might want to get there on the day of- on the other hand, you can probably wait longer to buy from a less hyped collection.
Check out the lookbook.
When you’re researching a designer collaboration, always check out the lookbook – these are images of the entire collection put online. With a few quick glances, you’ll be able to see what you like and dislike. Of course, many items look very different in person, but you’ll at least see what you immediately lean towards and want to look for most. Beware, though- some accessories and shoes aren’t in the actual collection. Before you walk into that store, you should at least know what you basically like & dislike and how major the collection is.
2. In-Store
Get there early.
If you live in a fashionable city, you can bet there will be other girls who want the same items you do. If the collection you’re going to see is one that has lots of hype (think any H&M collaboration), you might even have to wait in line for hours before the store opens! However, it’s a pretty good idea to get there around opening time. Most of the people who stock-pile items to sell on eBay are going to be there then too, and they are the ones who will most likely sell the collection out. If you get there at the same time (or before!) they do, then you won’t have to worry about them!
Go far away.
If you live in a fashionable city, the odds of people going to your local H&M/Target are pretty high, right? So if you’re really set on getting an item, try to go to one of these stores somewhere a little more unfashionable and out of the way- somewhere you don’t think as many people will go to. Jazzi of JazziMcG did this last December, and found the entire Rodarte for Target collection practically untouched at an out-of-the-way Target. It might be an extra hour of driving, but it can definitely be worth it.
I know some of you may be wondering – what about buying online? Although I write about online shopping, I’d advise you NOT to buy these collections online. You’ll be in for a few hours of refreshing, as not all stores put their merchandise up exactly at midnight. Unless you live much too far away to drive or don’t care much about the collection, just avoid the website and go in person!
3. After the Collection Launches
Wait before you eBay!
So you didn’t get the item you wanted in store? Don’t panic. Whatever you do, DO NOT EBAY RIGHT AFTER. In the days following a designer collaboration launch, sellers are banking on the hype- so they can justify selling items at 2x or 3x the price. So look on eBay 3 weeks to 1 month after the collection hits at the earliest. Yes, items will still be slightly more expensive then they were in the store, but they’ll be much more reasonable once the hype has died down!
What do you guys think?
How do you guys shop for designer collaborations? Do you have any strategies? What’s the best item you’ve picked up? Tell me everything and more in the comments!
Posted on on April 20, 2010 / Filed Under: Shopping / Tags: Designer Collaborations, Go International, H&M, Target, Topshop
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Katie
This is post is wonderful and rather ironic, as I am up at 8 AM calling my Target in my home town to put the Cynthia Vincent Cognac Gladiator Wedges on hold, since they are sold out everywhere else, especially in my area at college.
A few other tips I have: Keep up on wonderful blogs like CF, to find out when the collection drops. Further, if you are going to shop online, see if a blog will tell you what time it’s going to hit online. I was on Target.com on Sunday morning at 3 AM looking at the CV for Target collection but was going to wait until the morning to go to my local Targets and pick up the shoes. Now, I’m kicking myself for not just ordering them then because there was free shipping, free returns, and now they’re sold out EVERYWHERE!
2nd tip: Find out what locations are going to get the collection. When the H&M Garden Collection hit, there were only 2 stores in California that were getting “the red dress” and I had to call ahead to find out. Think the bigger stores in the bigger cities. Sometimes the website will tell you where the collection will be too. The Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection has an availability tab on the website. It wouldn’t be fun to drive around to your local stores, only to find that one isn’t carrying the collection. So do you’re research first! It’ll save you time and you’re more likely to get what you want! :)
3rd tip: Keep checking back in store and online! Even if everything is sold out in store and online, keep checking the website and calling the store to see when they’ll be getting more shipments. Target was sold out online and in stores of the wedges, but within a couple of days, some stock was replenished in store and you could browse what stores in your area had them. Behold, my home zip provided me with them!!! Thank goodness my little town isn’t as obsessed with fashion as I am…haha!
Thanks again for this post. It’s really helpful! I’m definitely learning from these designer-collabs and the best ways to get what you want!! :)
Zephyr - CF Editor
Katie – Amazing tips! I totally agree with you on finding out which locations are getting the collection – many of those out-of-the-way stores don’t get the designer collections, so it’s so important to check first before you drive all the way out there! And calling first is a great idea as well. Also, love your tip about checking back – I always forget to do this myself, and have probably missed out on some items I wanted as a result! Best of luck getting those CV shoes!! I’m jealous!
Kelsi
Also, if you live in a smaller town, I’d go to the store a couple days before the collection hits. I was at Target about 4 days before the CV collection was supposed to launch, and everything was already out. Its not the first time I’ve seen Target put merchandise out early.
Elizabeth - University of Missouri
Great tips guys- about the Cynthia Vincent shoes: Casey from TeenFashionista goes to my college too, and i found out she’d gotten the shoes before the ‘release date,’ so I went into my Target on Sunday morning. Long story shirt, the employee said she had the wedges in brown and black but she didn’t at all. I called Target yesterday and they basically said
“We were short on shoes, so we had all of this in the back and just put them out early.”
Annoying, right? But they thankfully put out more merchandise so I put the wedges on hold and bought ‘em.
Definitely call them! They’re usually really nice on the phone and they can even put things on hold for you.
Keep the tips coming guys :)
Katie
Thank you for the clarification on why they were out early. I was wondering the same thing myself.
They were super nice to me on the phone and are holding them until closing. I’m crossing my fingers that mom will have time to pick them up back home.
Oh, for the love of fashion! :)
Madeleine
I think the only designer collaboration piece I ever owned was a pair of black ballet flats by Isaac Mizrahi for Target. I don’t really seek out designer collaborations pieces, if I see something I like I buy it reguardless of who makes it.
Maxine
I can not wait for the Betsey Johnson store to open at Downtown San Francisco!!! I am so getting something there!