How Was the Phillip Lim for Target Launch? Mayhem Or Meh?

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Launch September 15, 2013}

First of all, let me tell you.  I barely slept last night.  I checked and checked online starting around 11pm my time hoping for the Phillip Lim for Target launch.  I convinced myself I didn’t care and finally went to bed around 230 am.  After randomly waking up and trying to order 3 items online at 5 am (only got two after checkout actually occurred).  Here is my experience of the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Launch.

I then proceeded to lazily walk outside the hotel I was staying in, celebrating my 3rd anniversary with my husband and didn’t see anyone in line outside of the Target store.  Since I had 15 minutes until the store opened, I wandered over for a mocha at Starbucks and then ended up being about 25th in line.  Idiot.  People were pretty well-behaved, I think a few broke into a run.  But, in the end there were about 20 purses total in the store.  I was kind of disappointed, but more so in myself for my caffeine addiction taking over.  So, I ran to my car and drove five minutes away to another Target in a less affluent part of the city.  I don’t know if this has anything to do with my experience at the second store, but I do find it worth mentioning.

At this store, I walked in at 8:12am , and there was one lady in the Phillip Lim area.  I about screamed with delight.  Instead I grabbed a cart and picked out one of every purse that was there.  Now calm down, I didn’t buy all of them.  Here is what I ended up with for myself:

{Purple Large Tote}  

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Tote with Gusset – Purple $54.99}

Right now, this is, in my opinion, my biggest score from the collection.  It was not in stores and only online for about one hour.  I hope it’s just as amazing at it looks when it comes to my doorstep.  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Black Large Tote}

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Black Tote with Gusset $54.99}

What can I say, you can never have too many totes that can do double duty.  I plan to use this for work and looking smashing with skinny jeans and chunky scarves (my fall and winter wardrobe).  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Black Top Handle Satchel}

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Black Top Handle Satchel $44.99}

This one grew on me while it was in my cart.  It wasn’t one of the items that I was really coveting before the launch, but it is now one of my favorite items.  It is the perfect size and since it is structured and jet black, it looks much more expensive than it really was.  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Taupe Top Handle Satchel}

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Taupe Top Handle Satchel $44.99}

I am not sure about this one, this may go back.  I just don’t love any of the pieces from the collection in this color.  It looks a little less high fashion and quality to me.  But that being said, this is still a well-planned and structured bag for everyone.  So if you don’t have anything like this in your closet, hopefully you grabbed one.  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Black Mini Satchel}

{3.1 Phillip Lim Black Mini Satchel $34.99}

I know everyone is obsessed with this small version of Pashli by Phillip Lim which retails at 30 times the price of the Target version.  But, I just don’t love it.  Maybe it’s too small for my taste, since I usually adore large totes.  But, I can’t put my finger on it.  There’s something not super fab about it.  The one thing I do love about it, is that you can eave the side zippers open or zip them up and it basically looks like you have two different purses, which is great.  I love things that can look like different versions, it extends your wardrobe, without costing a penny more!  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Yellow Mini Satchel}

{3.1 Phillip Lim Mini Satchel in Yellow $34.99}

I grabbed this one because everyone else online and in the store was wanting the yellow anything.  Still not in love.  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Black Zippered Clutch}

{3.1 Phillip Lim Target Zippered Clutch $19.99}

The least expensive accessory in the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection packs a lot of punch.  The clutch can be used alone or thrown in a larger tote for keeping your life super organized.  It has tons of interior storage with slots for credit cards, business cards and I think it could even fit a small nook or kindle, but I haven’t tried.  You can never go wrong with another black larger clutch in your fashion accessory arsenal.

{Leopard Print Scarf}

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Leopard Patterned Scarf $19.99}

I bought this to wear with the navy skirt listed below.  I wasn’t originally planning on buying it, but when I saw it, I could just imagine it around my neck looking retro chic.  I’m not sure I can pull this color off with my pale skin tone, but I will try to make it work.  This item was sold out at the time of this posting.

{Navy Blue Skirt $29.99}

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Navy Blue Skirt $29.99}

At the time of this posting, size 8-16 are still available online.  Which kind of surprises me, because this is an ultra flattering piece for all body types and its in one of the best colors ever.

I am still not sure I will keep all of it, but I was happy that I got to get my hands on some of it. What I decided to put back:

{All-In-One Clutch}  

{3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Men’s Travel Organizer $34.99}

I thought this looked like a men’s shaving kit I had just seen at the Goodwill.  Plus, at $34.99, it needed to knock it out of the park, and I just didn’t think it had the details to make it amazing.  It’s going back.

{Nearly everything in that taupe color}

As I said, previously, the items in taupe just didn’t look as quality to me, it also was a weird color in terms of integrating into my wardrobe.  Plus, I was on a budget.  I can’t have it all…

See a few of my extra items listed on ebay here.