Fashion
Returns and Now Clearance: Victoria Beckham for Target
It’s been three weeks since Target launched their collaboration with Victoria Beckham. The buzz in major trade press has faded and only a few bloggers (The Budget Babe, Target-Addict) wrote reviews on the good, the bad and the ugly of the collection. But if you visit your local Target store, the odds are you’ll find quite a bit of Victoria Beckham for Target back on the sales racks. There’s also a lot of Victoria Beckham x Target back in stock on Target.com at 30% off.
Victoria Beckham for Target is now 30% off in-store AND online. Image via Target-Addict Blogspot.
I predict that soon, you’ll see quite of bit of it on the Target clearance racks (note as of May 3, 2017, some of my readers reported seeing the collection now on clearance–see the comments here.) On eBay, there were once over 6,000 listing for Victoria Beckham for Target. Now there are far fewer eBay listings for Victoria Beckham for Target with just over 2,000 items for sale. Many of the listings have zero bids.
Three weeks after the launch there’s a lot of Victoria Beckham for Target on the racks at this Los Angeles Target store.
Clearly, this collection wasn’t the sell-out that Target wanted and that the mainstream fashion press predicted. What happened? Many consumers don’t like the style or the fit of the collection. I have heard from many of my readers about this via comments and direct messages on Twitter. While there are some pieces I bought that are well done for a Target collection (the black & white sweater, the bee scarf and the blue lace applique sweatshirt) there are many pieces that are absolute misses (mostly the women’s dresses.)
Lonely shift dresses from VB x Target on the racks at a store in Los Angeles.
I’ve visited several Target stores in California and North Carolina where there is plenty of Victoria Beckham for Target left languishing on the racks. The mini-skirt styling, boxy cut with no variance for bust, waist or hips of the Victoria Beckham dresses are a fail for many women. When women buy clothes, they want to buy clothes that are figure flattering and make them feel good about themselves. Unless you’re a sample size with no curves, the odds are a Victoria Beckham for Target dress won’t look good on you.
Raeanne Jones, a US size 10, models a Victoria Beckham for Target dress. (photo credit SEBASTIAN BISVAL, The Sun newspaper)
“I can honestly say I have never felt so ugly than when I looked in the mirror at myself wearing her clothes,” Target customer Raeanne Jones told Britain’s The Sun paper. Ms. Jones is not alone in having negative sentiment about the quality and fit of Victoria Beckham for Target. My friend and fellow blogger Target-Addict described the fit of the Women’s Blue Stripe Poplin Gathered Waist Dress as like a “flour sack.” One of my readers, Kate noted in a comment on my review, ” The long black pants were a huge disappointment as they were cut without any room for actual hips-very specific body type only. I too found the dresses to be impossibly short and in particular, the few skirts were insanely short.” Most women want their skirt or dress to allow enough fabric so that when they sit down, it covers their butt. A longer skirt is also more flattering on the majority of women.
VB x Target Pink Dress and Shift Dress at a store in North Carolina
The Victoria Beckham for Target short dress with the flounce are replicas of the flounce hem dress from the Victoria by Victoria Beckham line, but the flounce hem dresses work in the Victoria Beckham ready to wear line because the colors are more muted and the dresses are just above the knee in length, not mini.
The result is a better fit with the Victoria by Victoria Beckham dresses, because of the stream lined silhouette and the allowance for the curve of the hips. However, the Victoria by Victoria Beckham dresses are several hundred dollars more than the Target dresses. Could Target perhaps have replicated the original dress design by allowing a bit more fabric, cutting it a bit wider at the hips and then charging a little bit more for the extra fabric? Yes, but then Target probably couldn’t have sold the dress for the cheap price of $40.00.
One of my readers, Victoria Graham noted, ” The quality of the bee blouse is shocking the fabric is cheap and the collars don’t sit right my guess is they cost $2 to make. The fabric creases like a dish cloth. Great quirky design and print but the blouse/shirt is so so cheap looking really hard stiff fabric. Such a shame as had such high hopes for this cheaper brand. Both the Cala Lilly and bee scarf are divine though.”
Bottom Line–Target is getting a little bit of a wake up call from consumers. They get an A+ for marketing & advertising and a C on execution, fit and product. This Target collection may have had been a great idea, but at the end of the day consumers aren’t buying the hype and are returning the goods.
PS– see the comments below, my readers are reporting that it is already on clearance as of May 3 in-stores.
Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of
Target-Addict
May 2, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Thanks for the shout out, and thank you for this post! I totally agree: for the first couple of weeks, my local Target kept “mushing” all the VB returns on to one small rack. It was completely overflowing, so finally this past weekend they added another rack, and now both racks are jammed with returns. Surprisingly I’ve seen a number of returns on the girls and toddler clothes, too, in addition to the womens wear. I wonder how long it’ll take for this stuff to hit the clearance racks??
Mary Hall
May 3, 2017 at 2:31 am
I think it will go to clearance in 7-10 days, otherwise they won’t be able to minimize the damage. It will get cold.
kate
May 3, 2017 at 2:43 am
It’s already 30% off.
Kate
May 2, 2017 at 4:25 pm
On sale starting today, May 2nd. I swung by an off-the -beaten-track Target and found most of the “best” and most popular pieces in stock, including a few of the treasured scarves. There were enough of the Wilma Flintstone orange scalloped rompers and dresses for anyone who wants one–those will go to 50-75% off, I think. I wonder if this will impact future collections? Maybe not so out-of-the-box and more wearable?
Mary Hall
May 3, 2017 at 2:30 am
Let’s hope it does affect future collections! Target is getting a strong message from shoppers.
Petunia
May 3, 2017 at 3:57 am
You give me hope that I might find a bee scarf!
Petunia
May 3, 2017 at 3:55 am
The clothes were not for me, but I do love the pink bunny sweaters I got for the kids. I am still regretting not ordering the bee scarf at the same time, but have not given up hope that I’ll find one, somewhere, buried in a corner.
Remember the Issac Mizrahi line? I got some great pieces from that collaboration. 🙂
Tally
May 3, 2017 at 4:01 am
Sorry Ladies, but I totally disagree with your reviews. Perhaps I’m lucky to have the “right” body type for her designs, but the quality – price ratio was pretty good!
I did buy a lot of the dresses and tops in size XS and S, but in order to make them work, these pieces do require styling and accessories such as belts and necklaces. I didn’t like all of the designs and some pieces could have had a better quality fabric but for the most part, I was really impressed! I’m from Europe and after living in many countries, I can tell the difference between well made clothes and cheaper quality. I give VBX collection an A!
Target-Addict
May 3, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Your other readers scooped me! I meant to post again yesterday that I saw the VB stuff on clearance for 30% off at a store near my work. I bought a top in the marigold color, but passed on the sea of orange and mint green. And there were TONS of the ‘bunny collar’ dresses.
As an aside: over the weekend was the first time I saw one of the VB pieces IRL. it was at a restaurant in Sonoma, and it was the sleeveless lily dress. I hate to say it, but the woman wearing it was TINY and the dress absolutely overwhelmed her. It wasn’t a great look!
Deb
May 7, 2017 at 7:19 am
Wilma Flintstone (from The Flitstones), Lucy (from the Peanuts cartoon), Jane Jetson (The Jetsons) and Velma (from the Scooby Do cartoon) …. these characters, and others, would have bought the entire Collection and loved it! BUT…. they aren’t real women. Unless you’re channeling your favorite cartoon character or your are 6 years old, this Victoria Beckham collection needs to be on a clearance rack near the trash dumpsters! Back to the drawing board Vickie! 😂
Brenda Lifsey
May 7, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Target in Hawthorne, CA all VB clothing was near the fitting room with racks of clothing in front of them. You couldn’t even see the clothing at all.
Mary Hall
May 9, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for the tip Brenda!
Sookie
May 9, 2017 at 1:33 am
I bought several pieces. I was so excited when this came out i got there at opening. Huge VB fan, and i have always wanted a few pieces of hers. I may a certain body type that works for it. I got the Cala Lilly dress, the white and black dress, black scallop skirt, white and black skirt, cala lilly scarf, bee scarf, navy flowered sweater, black and white short sleeved sweater, pink jacket… 🙂
I am very happy!
Today i saw this and checked was able to get the black pants, white collared shirt and black tank too!
So yes, some did like the outfits 🙂
Gab
May 22, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Kind of disagree loved the collective- have lived and traveled in other parts of the world including quite a bit in Europe and enjoy creative well made clothing. Yes I, echo the the other post which says perhaps I have the body – very little in the hip area.- but the clothes fit me well. Also, they r cute enough to invest in tailoring a few to fit better. Btw I am absolutely no thin person about a US 10/12 with extra in places. I appreciated the creativity and the way she raised the bar for target- yes I did not love every piece and some fabric was eh but fthat is target and any store for that matter. I have worn the orange dress and gotten a ton of compliments… I do plan for what it is worth to get a few items tailored to fit better and this is not an issue of VB this is to compensate for the heftier areas that are not in proportion with the rest of me.- and again that is something I do with all clothes. Don’t know much or care much about her celebrity but I do think she did a fantastic job and was happy to get to bring some great colors, cuts and designs to my wardrobe-for a fraction of the price .