Low-priced retailers to feature more haute couture fashions

Arrival of designers collections jump-starts a fashion trend.
Knight Ridder Newspapers
You want to look haute couture when your budget is stuck on low. Here are reasons to smile.
The fashion world is buzzing about the new collection from Paris-based designer Stella McCartney, daughter of Sir Paul, which arrived at 12 trendy, low-priced H & amp;M U.S. retail stores in November.
Although H & amp;M has no stores in this area, it is still good news. McCartney followed Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld, whose 2004 collection sold out within days.
As for Stella, the trade paper Fashion Daily says the first customers began lining up at 3 a.m. the first day, and New York fashion editors who were allowed first dibs bought almost half the collection in the first half-hour.
Prices went up to about $99 for a velvet dress, and a $79 banded sweater dress nearly caused fights. The collection will also be available in Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
In the works
If it works for one retailer, why not another?
Maybe that is why, for the month of December, Target brought in a limited collection of Fiorucci, the Italian denim line that made big fashion news in the '80s. Prices start at $7.99.
And nobody is talking details yet, but early next year, Luella, a clothing group from English designer Luella Bartley (as in whimsical handbags) is also expected to hit Target floors.
Then consider Wal-Mart. The retailer is trying to pump up its fashion image with the collection Metro 7. It's not just about denim or career. It has ruffled skirts and silk camisoles. A velvet jacket is about $30