Always pairing with new designers to roll out great lines, Target is now showing Uptown a little love, both literally and with its Harlem Designers Series collection. This limited-edition series, commemorates Target’s first Manhattan store located in East Harlem, and features designs from Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Stephen Burrows and chef and Chicago favorite Marcus Samuelsson.

Tar-jay will be donating 5 percent of each product’s purchase price to a Harlem non-profit of the designer’s choice. The colorful items range in price from $3.99 to $34.99 and will be available for purchase in the East Harlem store beginning July 25, followed by select stores and on Target.com on August 1.

Here’s a sample of the collection:

Placemats designed by Marcus Samuelsson

Swimwear (and beach towel) designed by Isabel and Ruben Toledo

Colorful dress designed by Stephen Burrows

That dress makes me think of West Side Story. I feel like it belongs in the “America” scene. Right?

-kb

Blogger extraordinaire, Afrobella, just posted the details of a Rachel Roy giveaway on her site! Per Bella’s site, my NYC socialite counterpart and amazing designer will be giving “one lucky reader a head-to-toe look chosen from her Fall 2009 collection.” The estimated value of the look is $600. *swoons*

To make it even better, for every entry collected, Rachel Roy will donate $1 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To learn more about the giveaway and to enter, head on over to Bella’s post!

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P.S. Check out her recap of The Red Pump Project’s World AIDS Day event!

Join NYC’s fashionable crowd for “Fashion for Action,” a four day charitable fashion event, silent auction, and sample sale that raises funds for Housing Works’ services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Fashion for Action is co-sponsored by designer Derek Lam and sponsored by Essence Magazine.

Derek Lam and one of my favorite Essence covers (Beyonce)

Over 150 top designers have donated $1 million worth of merchandise that will be sold at 50 to 70 percent off retail prices. Participating designers and brands include Acne, Balenciaga, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, DVF, Fendi, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren, Theory, Yves Saint Laurent and many more.

Gilt Groupe, the official on-line sponsor of Fashion for Action 2009, has donated hundreds of fashion items for the sample sale and high-end designer merchandise for two special window installations at the Chelsea Thrift Shop (143 W. 17th St). The first window will be up until November 19, 2009. The second shop window will be installed on November 13 and run through November 26, 2009. All window items will be up for auction at www.shophousingworks.com.

Attendees of the opening night benefit will have the opportunity to take part in a silent auction of some amazing items. We’re talking a head-to-toe makeover, a designer outfit provided by Gilt Groupe, tickets to the Oscar de la Renta, BCBG MAXAZRIA, Tracy Reese, and Rebecca Taylor shows during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2010 in New York City, and tickets to the Essence Music Festival 2010 and a three-night-stay in a hotel in New Orleans?

Interested? The details are below…Enjoy!

What:   Fashion for Action, Opening Night Benefit
When:  Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7pm – 10pm
6pm – 7pm VIP preview shopping event
Where  Event: Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street
Silent Auction, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails from The Works Catering
Private Shopping: Chelsea Thrift Shop, 143 West 17th Street
Details:  Tickets starting at $100.Tickets available at www.fashionforaction.com

What:    Fashion for Action, Public Sample Sale
When:   Friday, November 20, 2009 – Sunday, November 22, 2009
Where:  Chelsea Thrift Shop, 143 West 17th Street
Details:  Free. Complete details at www.fashionforaction.com

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To celebrate and breathe some buzz into the NYC retail/fashion industry, the “Capital of the World” is hosting the 1st annual Fashion’s Night Out. On September , participating NYC stores and boutiques will keep their doors open until 11p and offer shoppers great deals on merchandise. Fashion’s Night Out is sponsored by Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing and tourism organization.

Fashion's Night Out Tee, $30

This shopping extravaganza wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to be selfless. There are three ways for NYC-ers to show their style and give back.

-Purchase the official Fashion’s Night Off tee for $30 at participating retailers. 40% of the proceeds will benefit the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.

-Drop off gently worn clothes at various locations to benefit the NYC AIDS Fund

-Volunteer your time with Clothing Drive tasks or other FNO-related activities

Sounds like this will be a fun night! On the website, I counted about 500 shops (across the 5 boroughs) that have signed up to participate. I suggest that you create a plan of action to help you with your game plan. Or you can check the FNO site on 8/17 and find out some of the special events and discounts being offered. That may help too!

To learn more about FNO, visit www.fashionsnightout.com!

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Personally, I know that I can’t afford to buy a $300 gala ticket AND a $1000+ gala gown. At least, not yet

That’s why I was so excited to learn about Borrow a Dress Couture located here in Chicago. This cute boutique stocks this season’s couture gowns from designers such as Oui Oui Couture, Lavender Label by Vera Wang, Alexander McQueen, Herve Leger, and many more. Even better is that you can rent the gowns for 3-days and return them like *snap* that!

To learn more about the boutique, check out my Chicagonista article by clicking here!

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In partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Jimmy Choo is launching Project PEP, a collection of limited edition items, to benefit the Simelela Center in South Africa. You can find more information over at Flypaper, the official blog of Bluefly.com.

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I remember looking at the pics from the NYC premiere of Valentino: The Last Emperor, and dreaming of walking the red carpet rubbing elbows with NYC’s esteemed socialites and fashion gurus. Not only did I want to don an amazing gown, I wanted to take a peek at this fashion flick and prepare myself to be wowed away. I have yet to see the film, but if you are in Dallas then here is your chance!

This Friday, the 8th, Parkerhawn Vintage and Christine Williamson Events are hosting a screening of the film along with an after party to benefit Operation Smile. All the specifics can be found on the flier below! If you’re interested, you must RSVP by Thursday, May 7th!

If you’re looking for theatres in your area which are showing the film, you can visit www.valentinomovie.com for listings!

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If you’re in the DMV area, you are probably already familiar with “Fashion Fights Poverty.” Fashion Fights Poverty is a campaign “that celebrates the work of socially responsible designers, and organizations which use fashion, artisanship and creativity to build sustainable economic opportunity in the world’s poorest communities.” This great initiative is the brainchild of the Style Image Network (SIN), a boutique PR firm based out of Washington, D.C. Every fall, they host a fashion show featuring both stateside and international designers (I’ve heard great things), but there are also various events which lead up to the main event.

Guess.com

This Thursday, April 30th, Guess and Teen Vogue are inviting DC’s style mavens to the grand opening of the new Guess store located at 1155 F Street. From 6:30-8:30p, guests will enjoy mini-makeovers by MAC, manicures by Essie, and the opportunity to save while shopping. If you donate $5 to Fashion Fights Poverty, you will receive 20% off your purchases that evening.

Your purchase will also score you a Guess Green reusable tote bag full of products from GUESS, Teen Vogue, M.A.C. Cosmetics, philosophy, ESSIE, Rosebud Perfume Company and more! You must RSVP by Tuesday, April 28th by sending an email to RSVP@teenvogue.com.

You can visit FashionFightsPoverty.org to learn more about the campaign, the events, and the past beneficiaries.

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Okay, stylistas…Here’s a great chance for you to shop, mingle with a top designer, AND support a great cause. Cynthia Rowley will be in town on Friday, May 1st signing copies her book “Slim: A Fantasy Memoir,” while offering style advice to attendees! This soiree will take place at the Cynthia Rowley store in Bucktown (1653 N. Damen) from 6-8p. The party will also celebrate ART Chicago, an annual international fair celebrating modern and contemporary art at Merchandise Mart.

Ten percent of sales on men and women’s clothing and accessories benefit RxArt, a charity providing art for hospitals. To RSVP, send an email to publicrelations@cynthiarowley.com!

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Some might argue with me, but I think the mainstreaming of jeans has single-handedly changed my life. While that might be a slight exaggeration, I love wearing jeans. I will take a great pair of jeans over dress slacks ANYDAY. Dress pants don’t fit me right, and it takes too much effort to get it right! Does anyone else feel that way?

Regardless of your denim POV, I’m sure that we can all agree that discounted anything is a good look these days!

This Friday, 4/17, and Saturday, 4/18, the Designer Jean Company will host its first online fashion happy hour to benefit women’s shelters. From 5:00pm – 6:00pm PST each night, The Designer Jean Company will offer shoppers an additional 25% off the first 100 pairs of designer jeans.

DJC features the latest from designer jeans brands like True Religion, Joes, James, Red Engine, Paper Denim, Antik, Taverniti, J Brand, Chip and Pepper, Elvis and more at prices 40-70% below retail. And for each pair of jeans sold this weekend, The Designer Jean Company will donate directly to the Chrysalis Women’s Shelter of Phoenix.

According to the press release, 

By making a significant donation during the launch to local women’s shelters, DJC will be working to help those women most negatively impacted by the current economic times. Denim against domestic abuse.

Well put. Get your shop on by clicking here!

-kb