Case of the missing Cynthia Vincent for Target shoes

They've been splashed across glossy magazine and ad pages for months. But good luck finding them at a Target store. The retailer's latest cheap chic collaboration, a shoe collection by L.A. designer Cynthia Vincent, is a near sell-out.

When I turned up at my local Target on La Cienega on Sunday, there was plenty of the hideous Jean-Paul Gaultier for Target collection -- at 30% off -- and even some Liberty for Target baby floral print stragglers. But in the shoe department, all I found were a few overturned boxes of Vincent's $29.99 black, studded toe-ring sandals, the least-desirable style of the bunch.

There was not a wedge sandal in sight -- no gladiator wedge in sunshine yellow, or multicolored print wedge with Velcro closures, which I intended to buy as the lynchpin of spring's techno tribal trend for my wardrobe.

What a buzzkill.

The Target stores in West Hollywood and in Culver City were no better. Sold out. Completely. And forget online. As of Sunday, the $29.99 gladiator wedge styles were sold out on Target.com. By Monday, they were being listed as available in stores only. Which is great if you're a size 9 1/2 and you live in Conway, Ark., but not if you live anywhere near Los Angeles.  

I reached a spokeswoman for Target by e-mail who said that certain styles (including the cognac-colored gladiator wedge) will be replenished in stores mid-May, but that the black and yellow gladiator wedges were exclusive to Target.com and have sold out. And despite the fact that the stock in no way approached the level of hype, she said distribution went according to plan.

So no, you cannot blame your spring shopping letdown on an Icelandic ash cloud.

"While we planned aggressively, the Cynthia Vincent program has dramatically exceeded expectations."

I'll say. If Target is going to continue its strategy of whipping shoppers into a frenzy every few weeks over a new designer collaboration, it's  going to have to deliver.

If you're still smarting from the shoe slight, you might consider similar styles from Cynthia Vincent's own Twelfth Street line, such as the Luella gladiator wedge for $396. But hurry, they're going fast.

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Cynthia Vincent for Target multicolored wedge sandal. Courtesy of Target.

Comments

[Janet P.]

I've been seeing this style/pattern for sale on eBay recently though.

[jtbwriter]

Thank you for finally noticing the nasty little trend Target and other chains are pursuing-advertise something nice for the budget-stretched and then suddenly "sell out" when the sale finally happens! Note the Liberty for London issue-really stylish and affordable clothes and accessories, but not a plus size or even XL in stores and the cute accessories mysteriously "sold out" within a day of being advertised! But like the Cynthia Vincent items-check out E-bay and other for-sale sites-and see that lots of "Target exclusive" merchandise is available for almost 50% more! Obviously Target is delivering to someone-just not to the general public!

[alex]

totally agree! all i wanted were the ballet flats and it's like they never existed.

[SD Shopper]

I got the wedges pictured only because I happened to be in Target as they were setting up the display but it was also the Wednesday before the release date. I've noticed this trend before with other designer collaborators.

[Melanie Petruzzi]

Was at my target by 9am. Really wanted the ballet flats, but the targets in my area didnt get them in store. Only had the black strappy sandals and the wedge, but to high for me.

[Delfloria]

Want to grab the Target designer stuff? Go online at midnight and keep checking the Target website until the listings are posted and then place your order....by Sunday morning of the listing, the only size left in the flats was a size 11 and that sold out within two hours.

Even with all the Target stores in the greater LA area, I've given up trying to find stuff in the stores; unsure of sizes, just order two sizes online as you can return any online purchases to any Target store.

Satisfaction guaranteed and no driving around to different stores !!!

[alexandra]

my bf sent me this link. i stayed up until past midnight on target.com and was able to purchase all three pairs i wanted. (learned my lesson from past collaborations) i have an extra pair in yellow, size 7 if you're intersted :)

[Jenna]

Umm... when did we start stalking TARGET at midnight for stuff?? I guess their ploy is working since we're staying up late to buy shoes and talking about it on LA Times!!

[Bummed]

I've been reading a lot of random blog comments that the shoes were in stores before the actual launch date. What's up with that? And yeah, I don't really feel like stalking target online at midnight but I might have to...

[Karen]

Wow--those are ug-lee!

[for serious?]

"missing Cynthia Vincent..."
is this actually an article?

these shoes were popular and sold out. mystery solved.

you were probably never going to get your hands on them trying the we ho location anyway. get off the beaten path, or hit the website in a timely fashion if you really want a limited-edition product.

also: "If Target is going to continue its strategy of whipping shoppers into a frenzy every few weeks over a new designer collaboration, it's going to have to deliver." or what...? you'll boycott? i doubt target or cynthia vincent will care.

i am pretty shocked that the LAT website is wasting space on this, and aghast, frankly that it is still positioned on the front page. this is easily the most idiotic thing i have ever read on this site.

[Mary Hall]

Check Target.com. The Cognac Wedges were restocked yesterday, also the tribal wedge. You can still get them.
But overall, the strategy, I believe, is to lure you to the store. The stock is limited, but once you are in the store, maybe you'll buy something else , right?
I think that is the goal.

[DGW]

I live next door to a Target in Atlanta, they NEVER got them in the store. I went every day, the lady told me that they have shipments on Monday,Wed and Sat. I went every day and not a thin. All they have is the initial delivery of one face out and that is gone and never had any of the wedges. Target you messed up with this one. And I went to 2 other stores in the area, same thing. Public Relations lies.

[Kathleen]

I got my brother to grab me a pair from his Target in upstate New York. If you really want a pair (and aren't willing to pay eBay prices, as I am not), check out the Targets in the more rural areas where friends or family live. There's a "find it in store" feature on the website.

[Ann]

Target screwed up royally on this one.

I usually love Target, but this really pissed me off. I complained to them twice online, but received lame responses.

[Jessica]

Alexandra. I'm interested in the Yellows size 7 if you still have them?

[Mary Alice]

I found the tribal wedges, in my size, and they were so super cheap looking I passed on them.

[theshoppingdiva]

I broke my neck and found the last 6 1/2 after calling five Target stores in my surrounding area which were all sold-out. I told them to hold it for me at Guest Services and if those shoes were missing when I got there, somebody would catch hell. I drove like a bat outta hell to get there. Mission accomplished! The Ebay leeches are selling them for like $50 to $60 dollars.

[Elena]

I, too, was really sad about missing out on these cute wedges! It is really not fair for those of us that stalk the stores and wait patiently for the release date to find out they are sold out already! I haven't even seen a pair in real life because all the sizes are gone!

However, I did find and buy a really cool alternative. Come check it out on my new blog:

http://mamaliustyle.blogspot.com