Margherita Missoni in a preview for the MISSONI for Target collection

After our very early morning of shopping ‘til dropping, we raced back to our casa, where Jacob graciously unloaded the car, of our MISSONI for Target booty; whilst I grabbed a nap, before having to race-off, to make it to The Stirling Club for my luncheon at noon, with the other members of the Eva Committee for Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 2012 Black & White Ball.  To amped-up to sleep, I opted instead for a brisk shower and a TiVo-ed episode of Law & Order.

Ad for the MISSONI for Target collection

Now, as many of you know, it doesn’t take much to urge me to take over the conversation in any setting.  On this day, however, once I’d mentioned the activities of my morning, the direction of discussion veered sharply from Eva Longoria, and careened into the acquisition of the MISSONI for Target collection.  Which stores had I been to?  Did different stores have different merchandise?  All through lunch, a significant number of the ladies on the committee began strategically planning their assault on the Target stores in some of Las Vegas’ less seemly neighborhoods.  Those retailers couldn’t have prepared for these girls – decidedly of the Crystals at CityCenter variety – who were readying to descend upon Target like beautiful, well-manicured, Louboutin-shod, Chopard-wearing, Bentley-driving birds-of-prey.

In my kitchen, taking-in our MISSONI for Target bounty, on the phone with Angela Missoni (PHOTO: Benedetta Pignatelli)

I would’ve joined them, but I was exhausted.  So, I drove home, once more, expecting to drift blissfully into much needed sleep.  But alas, it wasn’t to be so.  My darling Benedetta Pignatelli, had told Angela Missoni about my exploits, that morning, and asked if she could come over and photograph me with my bounty.  So, I told her to come over, and pulled-on my new Zig Zag cardigan and matching pajama bottoms.  Upon arriving, she stared in stark amazement at my kitchen, which had basically exploded with zig-zags, and then called Angela, in Florence, and handed me the phone (at which point, she climbed up onto my kitchen counter and began taking photos).

Angela, Rosita, and Margherita Missoni at the launch of the MISSONI for Target collection (PHOTO: Gilbert Carrasquillo)

I first met Angela (a Shulman Says subscriber since the very beginning) and her mother (MISSONI co-founder, Rosita Missoni, aka “Mama”), a half-dozen years ago, when they came to Las Vegas for the annual Las Vegas Philharmonic gala, when Saks Fifth Avenue presented that season’s MISSONI runway show.  Angela and I had simultaneously snuck out of the ballroom to grab some air, and spent a few minutes kibitzing with Dave Hickey.  Then, later – as everyone was crowding around her, asking about the future of color and knitwear – I told her that my mother and I were leaving the following day for Italy, and could she and her mother recommend some restaurants in Rome, Florence, and Venice?  You’d have thought from the looks I received from Las Vegas’ society and lifestyle writers that I’d peed on their Wheaties.  But Angela and Mama were fantastic, and not only gave me a number of “real” restaurants to visit, in each city, but also some off the beaten path shops and sites.

Margherita Missoni in a still from the television commercial for the MISSONI for Target collection

Anyhoo – Angela and I chatted excitedly, for the better part of twenty minutes.  I found it rather funny that she’d had to buy the patio set (wouldn’t you think she’d “know a guy” or something?), and when was happy to report on the quality of the collection.  While it’s not “to the level of our signature collection” as she explained to me, I said that for these prices, I doubted anyone would be complaining.  Furthermore, I expounded, “While it may not be what you’d find at Neiman Marcus or Saks, it’s certainly at least as good as the stuff (I assume) one might find at Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s.”  This brought on a torrent of “Mille grazie!” mixed with happy laughter.  Then, I bid her a final congratulations and a fond “Ciao!” 

Meanwhile, we are knee-deep in this stuff, and despite what many think, it was not (entirely) purchased to resell through Jacob’s online store.  As a matter of fact, none of it has been listed yet, at http://Stores.eBay.com/YourGayBestFriend, because we’re still trying to figure out what we want for ourselves, and what we’re planning on giving as gifts.

Margherita and Angela Missoni on Fashion's Night Out, at the MISSONI for Target pop-up store in New York

So that’s it.  The ins and outs, the ups and downs, and (more on point) the zigs and zags of our topsy-turvy wild MISSONI for Target ride.

I’m pleased to report that everything we’ve seen is imbued with the fun, quirky, clever and stylish qualities found in everything MISSONI has created over the past half-century, yet at the sensible price-point that has made Target such a powerhouse in the retail industry.

MISSONI for Target

Get into it!