Alison Lewis Dress Sneaks into Target in Stealth Mode

Alison Lewis is an up and coming NY designer, and creator of vintage inspired print dresses and tops.  Her label Lewis was recently selected for the CFDA’s NYC Fashion Incubator program.  I’ve heard that items from her Lewis line retail for about $400 US.  But quelle surprise her Target dress retails for $89.99.   That is rather pricey for Target, but their designer lines have been going up in price. So, who knew Alison Lewis was doing a deal with Target to design an exclusive, limited edition dress? Not me.  Maybe some print fashion magazines, that get exclusives.  Bloggers, like me, find this stuff via Google Alerts, and wonder why?  The above dress is Alison Lewis for Target. The print is colorful umbrellas dancing across a chiffon, floaty dress.

Amazingly for Target, the dress is 100% silk chiffon and is dry clean only.  The print is inspired by a 1964 French film, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg or  The Umbrellas of Cherburg starring Catherine Deneuve. The film is a musical, and was rather unique when it was released. Most people don’t necessarily break into song over unwanted teen pregnancies, but then again, when it’s Catherine Deneuve, the plot is secondary in my opinion.

More people in the United States probably know about the dress being at Target than the French film it pays homage to, and that is not saying a lot 🙂  Forty years plus later, who knew a homage would come sneaking into Tar-jay in stealth mode? Of course, if you read the Target online reviews, then you know a Target reviewer does watch French films and knows that the Umbrella print, is from a French film classic. The same reviewer also reads Lucky Magazine!

Having said that, the dress is cute and is almost sold out. The two online reviews are good, but has anyone seen this frock in person? Although it is inspired by a French film, it looks very 1960s English to me.  Very Celia Birtwell, especially the tie-bow. (Postscript: I ordered the dress, and I am returning it.  The print is adorable, but the fit is poor, with a very small opening for the head, and a quirky design.  Shame, as the pictures were so cute.)

Ps–there is another designer secret at Target too, check out the Exclusive Geren Ford Dress in the Red Hot Shop for $89.99. Check out Geren Ford’s Facebook group for the offer of a belt to go with her Target dress, good until July 15th.