Neiman Marcus for less this Christmas?

Is it really almost Christmas, and not April Fool's Day?

There, among the scores of pages of shiny, shiny ads in the fashion magazine I was reading ... no,  it couldn't be.

Ad copy reading, ''Ooh la la for not a lot of moo la la ... Coast through the holidays at remarkable rates ... The best gifts of the season for a song ...''  All enticements to bargain prices.

At Neiman Marcus.

Neiman Marcus? Needless Markup, bragging about its low, low prices?

If you still aren't a believer in bad retail times, these ads alone should do it for you.

Now, NM's idea of ''not a lot of moo la la'' is rather different from mine -- $297 leggings, a $145 sequined T-shirt. But maybe in the NM shopper's universe, that is like shopping at Target.

But they'd still have to move the decimal point one space to the left to make a Neiman regular out of me. That's a Christmas miracle I'm not even bothering to ask Santa for.

-- Patt Morrison

Shopping Update: Westfield Culver City unveils its makeover

At 4 p.m. today, the Westfield Culver City Shopping Center, formerly known as the Fox Hills Mall, officially re-opens after a 19-month extensive $180-million renovation with special promos and giveaways.

The Culver City Shopping Center, a short drive from Marina del Rey and Playa Vista, offers a slate of new tenants (Aldo, XXI Forever, Coach, Hollister and Target) and more to debut over the next two months (H&M, Express and Brooklyn Projects).

Westfield Culver City Shopping Center opening weekend promotions include a black quilted tote giveaway with $200 in combined same-day receipt totals from center stores shown to the Center Court concierge. Also at the Center Court, you can enter a drawing held next Monday (Oct.12)  for an iPod Nano 8G and four 30-minute music lessons, both courtesy of Best Buy. 

On Saturday (Oct. 10), Five Four, an L.A.-based menswear collection, launches its first retail store at the Culver City Shopping Center with a weekend promotion: Spend $50 or more and receive a complimentary V-neck; spend $100 or more for a woven shirt; spend $150 or more and get both. The store will have extended hours until 8:30 p.m. with a DJ spinning.

The Westfield Culver City Shopping Center plans to hold an Art Walk at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 to unveil three commissioned public art pieces including one by L.A.-based artist Jeff Kopp.

That way you can breathe in some high culture while stocking up on affordable fashions, Cinnabons and iPhones.

6000 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

-- Max Padilla

Photo: Five Four woven shirt, $92. Credit: courtesy of Five Four

Anna Sui for Target collection

So long to "Sex and the City’s" reign as pop culture’s sartorial zeitgeist. Anna Sui’s new collection for Target poses the question: Are you a Blair, Jenny, Serena or Vanessa?

Inspired by the characters on "Gossip Girl," Sui’s line for the mega retailer infuses the on-screen style of each Upper East Side, prepster/party girl with Sui’s signature vintage aesthetic. The result: Some really cute, kicky dresses that look to be short, short, short. Perfect for a pair of knee socks.

Anna Sui for Target lands in Target stores on Sept. 13 -- the day before the season premiere of "Gossip Girl."

--Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Looks from the Anna Sui for Target collection Credit: Target

From Bing Bang to Brides-to-be, Anna Sheffield creates something for everyone

Anna Sheffield is as versatile as she is busy.  From a diffusion line for Urban Outfitters to a collection  celebrating Cole Haan’s 100th anniversary, the New York-based jewelry designer has had her hands full with a growing brand and more collaborations on the horizon, most notably a line for Target which hits stores Aug. 30.

Sheffield’s has a fine jewelry and costume line, both of which have an old world, hand-hammered feel. The lower-priced Bing Bang collection has antique-inspired charms, draped chains and engraved rings, while her eponymous fine jewelry collection is daintier and incorporates rose gold, champagne diamonds and garnets. The designs have even caught the eye of several brides-to-be who appreciate the Sheffield’s subtle approach to using precious stones and metals in her jewelry. “I’m getting a lot of people asking for wedding rings,” said Sheffield during a visit to the L.A. Times  today. “They’re into using rose gold and champagne diamonds, not the usual stuff, something more unexpected.”  

I’ve noticed this with a few recently engaged friends, who’ve opted for using rose gold and nontraditional settings and stones for their engagement rings. If this trend sticks, perhaps we’ll see a wedding collection from Sheffield in the future…

Until then, check out her Anna Sheffield for Target collection, which hits stores Aug. 30th.

-- Melissa Magsaysay



Photos: Pieces from Anna Sheffield's Bing Bang Collection. Photo credit: Bing Bang

Coming soon from Target

Let us confess a certain fondness for Target from the outset. The Mossimo T-shirt is a wardrobe staple and we eagerly anticipate the next wave of designer collections.

OK, sometimes when our order arrives in the mail or we inspect our purchases after a long day of shopping, some of the enchantment fades. Perhaps those hoop earrings are not quite as fabulous as they appeared online. Maybe the fabric of the new dress is a little stretchier than we remembered.

No matter. Target is fun, and even though we’d never be caught dead in a fedora with a peacock feather, we’ll include it in a quick glimpse of some fall accessories. Because it’s going to look good on someone.

-- Alice Short

Photo credit: Target

Fashion Diary: The anti-Rachel Zoe

Gossip, first impressions, trends in-the-making, celebrities and style setters. A regular feature by fashion critic Booth Moore.

Super-stylist Jen Rade is the anti-Rachel Zoe, and the right stylist for right now.  We had breakfast together last week, and I was struck by how grounded she is considering the world she works in. “I’m not a label whore,” says Rade, whose star client is Angelina Jolie. She’s dressed her in everything from Hermes to Max Azria over the years, but the outfits always look comfortable and no-nonsense. “People are like, ‘It’s so great that you pull from Max Azria,’” she says. “But why wouldn’t I? I treat every dollar like it’s my own.”

Rade, who lives in the Valley, calls herself a jeans (J. Brand) and T-shirts (Target) kind of girl. And when she’s not in flats, she’s in Cole Haan pumps with Nike Air technology. “I need comfort,” she says. The most expensive thing she’s bought for herself lately is a $1,100 Gucci dress, but she’s thinking about returning it because she saw something similar at H&M.

Michelle Obama's National Prayer Service dress

You want to resist the urge to fixate on each and every thing Michelle Obama wears, but it's difficult when she keeps coming out in stunners like the 1950s style dress she wore to the National Prayer Service this morning at the National Cathedral. It's by Tracy Feith, an under-the-radar, New York-based designer who is known for his haute hippie surf style and his prints. He has a collection launching at Target on May 17. The dress is cheery, and reasserts her youthful, feminine approach to fashion.

-- Booth Moore

Michelle Obama's style: Change you can wear

Photos: First ladies' inauguration gowns

Should Michelle Obama borrow clothes and jewels like a celeb? Nancy Reagan couldn't.

Michelle Obama chose Jimmy Choo’s green 'Glacier' pump for Inauguration Day ensemble

Michelle Obama Chooses Jason Wu for Inaugural Balls

Aretha Franklin's inaugural hat trick

Photo: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Target does spring on the cheap

Coming on the heels of the adorable Thakoon for Target collection in stores now is today's announcement that the next Go International collection will be designed by New York-based Tracy Feith. You may remember that Feith had a store on Melrose Place a few years back. I always loved his surfer aesthetic with all its bright prints, not to mention the custom boards in his shop. Can’t wait to see what he does for Target. The collection goes on sale May 17.

Target also has a Go International private label that’s been looking pretty darn good. The spring range, in stores Feb. 1, has some great looking dresses. This one-shouldered watercolor floral dress (at left) is on trend and only $44.99.

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Target Go International private label dress. Credit: Target

The perfect prep school blazer

Maybe it was a backlash to yesterday’s slothfulness that caused me to wake up bright and early this morning with a hankering for some Target shopping.                

I hit my local store at 8:30 a.m., snapped a few things from the Thakoon for Target line and pushed my cart over to the little boys section where I sometimes find cute button-downs. There they had two racks filled with mismatched suit jackets and slacks in navy and black. I love the look of a shrunken preppy blazer, but the boys sizes at Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren are still more than $200.

Slipping on a boy’s size 10 or XL in navy, I immediately felt a rush of Hogwarts meets “School Ties” chic and the jacket was just $34.99. The only thing missing was the burnished gold buttons.

I stopped at a downtown fabric store that has bins of old buttons and found university-esque styles. I replaced the two buttons in the front and 2 on the cuffs. All 6 buttons cost just $3.

For under $40, I got the shrunken, prep school look I’ve been wanting. It also made for a fun and easy rainy day project -- perfect for today. 

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Target blazer "before." Credit: Melissa Magsaysay

Middle: Target blazer "after." Credit: Adam Tschorn

Bottom left: Ralph Lauren Rugby "little boy polo jacket" ($298). Credit: RL Rugby

Bottom right: Brooks Brothers little boys navy blazer ($268). Credit: Brooks Brothers

Thakoon rips off Thakoon

Now that New York fashion designer Thakoon Panichgul’s star is rising, thanks in part to Michelle Obama wearing his flowery frocks, everyone is eagerly awaiting his Target line, which arrives in stores Dec. 28. I recently got my hands on a few of the samples and they are adorable, but shockingly similar to his Spring 2008 collection — the blue and white shibori shirtdress, the “cyber floral” print circle skirt that ties at the waist, the preppy navy-and-green striped dress, they are all there, albeit with higher, junior-ified hemlines.

Thakoon ripped off Thakoon.

Which isn’t such a big deal, except for those of us who spent money on the real thing. I bought two skirts from the runway collection. And for what I paid for them, well, I could have bought the whole Thakoon for Target collection, with pieces from $16.99 to $44.99. So I’m not so sure how I am going to feel when I see watered-down versions of my skirts walking down the street in a few months.

Of course, the shibori skirt that I bought at Neiman Marcus was hand-dyed, instead of being printed, is constructed of one piece of fabric instead of two, and is lined. But who knows the difference? Like my skirts, the Target versions are hefty cotton, nicely finished, and the buttons are virtually indistinguishable. I know the difference and I guess that should matter. But really, I feel rooked.

But it's a good lesson. Because I’ve realized that the skirts I bought were too expensive in the first place. A cotton skirt shouldn’t cost $800, it just shouldn’t. I was on a spending binge like the rest of the world, and that mind set is partly to blame for the sorry shape we’re in now.

Does that mean I won't be going to Target on Dec. 28? Not a chance. The $29.99 yellow pleated front blouse is going to look amazing with my shibori skirt. High-low dressing indeed.

-- Booth Moore

Photos: On left, $1,350 shibori shirtdress from Thakoon's Spring 2008 runway collection. Credit: Fernanda Calfat / Getty Images

On right, $39.99 shibori shirtdress from Thakoon for Target collection. Credit: Target