Zac Posen loves to talk.
If it’s not about his line at Saks or his new collection for Target, it’s the future of fashion, the “magical” experience women will feel in his clothes and his burning desire for his own New York boutique.
He’ll get his wish — for 24 hours, that is — when his Target collection is sold at a pop-up shop at 481 Eighth Ave.
From 11 tonight to 11 p.m. tomorrow, Posen will give New Yorkers a sneak peek at his goods, set for nationwide launch on April 24. The shop will be stocked with everything from his Target line — with all items less than $100 (except a $200 red leather motorcycle jacket).
A downtown kid, Posen (inset), 29, grew up in SoHo. He interned for Nicole Miller and is best known for his flighty speeches and his dresses, worn by Rihanna, Naomi Campbell and Natalie Portman.
And his famous friends — including Maggie Gyllenhaal and Claire Danes — are all expected to pop by tonight. Posen hopes his collection for Target — a little bit Madonna, a little bit Tony Duquette and a little bit Andy Warhol, he says — will be the future of his brand: fast fashion at friendly prices, brought to the American woman en masse.
Only, he can’t stand the word.
“I don’t like the word ‘mass.’ I think of animals, of livestock,” he says.
“It’s not how I think of people. I like ‘larger demographic.’ Or ‘fashiontainment.’ I think the industry has become fashiontainment.”
According to him, the classic “perfume, shoe and handbag” business model used for growing a brand just isn’t enough to support a label anymore. Now, it’s all about a bargain.
But he’s not crazy about that word, either. “I don’t like bargain shopping, I like value shopping. Value shopping is not necessarily about getting it for the lowest price. That doesn’t turn me on,” he says.
This collection marks a series of firsts for Target, including a women’s tuxedo ($50 for the jacket and $40 for the pants) and a gown ($60). The fabrics are surprisingly luxe and the pieces are heavy on accoutrements — a heavy floral brocade skirt with an exposed back zipper is just $50, while the floral gown is made from a chiffon blend. A strapless party dress ($80 in black or red) comes with a removable poufy tutu skirt, and a fitted navy dress with snap and open lattice detail ($70) is perfect for cocktails at Kenmare — or shopping at Kmart.
“I’m ready for the next challenge: to dress a lot more kinds of women, especially at this price point,” Posen says. “We’ll see the demand and we’ll see if I can create at this price point or lower. It’s the wave of the future.”
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