A while back, reader Emma sent this question via e-mail. I wanted to delay posting it for a bit, until the Target/Missoni furor had died down a bit.

I saw the other day on Facebook that you prompted a short discussion on the Missoni for Target line, but I’d like to hear more of your and other people’s thoughts about the line in general.  Most people commented on the quality – or lack thereof – of the line, but what about the entire concept of affordable designer wear?  Since the line launched last week I have seen no less than 4 different women in very different settings wearing only 2 different outfits.  Although I’m not a person who can, or really wants to be able to, afford high end designer clothes like Missoni I can certainly appreciate the uniqueness and specialness of being able to.  Before the Target line if I had seen someone wearing the distinctive Missoni zigzags it would have meant something totally different than it does now.  Now all I can about is the LACK of uniqueness and specialness – like the equivalent of having a knockoff hand bag.  read more