A couple of weeks ago I was in Target and I noticed the displays for Adam Lippes for Target so I made my way over to check them out. Adam began his career at Ralph Lauren (one of my all-time favorites) before making his way over to Oscar de la Renta (swoon!) and eventually branching out and launching his own brand. I am a huge fan of his overall aesthetic and there were a couple of sweaters that I snagged immediately. I was getting ready to walk away when a lady wearing one of the chicest outfits I have ever seen in the aisles of Target approached me (her outfit looked like it belonged in the pages of Vogue rather than in the suburban big box store). This chic woman, whom I had never met before, thrust one of the pieces into my chest and in all seriousness said, “You have to buy this. It’s not impressive on the hanger, but trust me, we have the same build and this top is amazing.”
“Um, okay.” I stammered, not really sure of what to make of the situation. I mean, I love fashion and I can get as excited about it as the next girl, but I have never once in my life been so excited about a single piece of clothing that I would insist that a total stranger absolutely had to buy one too. The lady was holding one of the aforementioned tops in her hands staring at me, obviously waiting for confirmation of my answer. As soon as I made my acquiescence to buy one of my own, she seemed satisfied and trotted off to pay for her “amazing” new top (as well as several other pieces from the collaboration).
I stood there wide eyed for a moment and then shook my head and started to place the top back onto the rack but then I had second thoughts. What if it really did look as amazing as she said? I sighed and made my way over to the dressing room. The top really didn’t look very impressive (and looks even less so on the website… I’m not sure who styled the model in the shoot, but they did not do the model or the top any justice). The piece, the Shell Crepe Tank in Painterly Plaid Black, has a medium depth V-neck and long hemline with generous side vents. These types of shirts are rarely something I gravitate toward, but I tried it on anyway. I have to say, I was impressed. Maybe not thrust it into the arms of a totally stranger impressed, but definitely impressed enough to buy it. The v-neck is just low enough to be flattering but not low enough that you feel like you’ll be giving strangers a peep show and the length is perfect to wear either tucked or untucked (though never tucked into slouchy jeans like they have on the Target website. What is that?). Either way, thanks to the kindness of a stranger on an average weekday afternoon, I now possess a lovely, flattering, versatile (and inexpensive) top that I love.
