Newsflash (okay, maybe not so much since it should be fairly self-evident by this blog):  I have waaaaaaaay too many clothes and splurge A LOT on them.  If I were to describe it in comic book terms, fashion is my kryptonite.

I get that not everyone has the same weakness.  I think designers realize that too, so a lot of them have done collaborations that are significantly more affordable (so you won’t get home feeling like your wallet has been attacked by Lex Luthor).  In the past two years, Target has done collaborations with two of my favorite designers, Peter Pilotto and Altuzarra.  And who can forget last year’s Balmain x H&M collaboration, which crashed the Website and sold out within a day?

One of my favorite collaborations has been Born Free, where 22 designers partnered with Shopbop and Vogue to create pieces that benefited a global initiative to end mother-to-child HIV transmission.  I got this Carolina Herrera shirtdress patterned in a print designed by Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu on Shopbop (http://www.shopbop.com) for about 1/10 the price of a typical Carolina Herrera piece.  It’s not only a fabulous dress at a fabulous price, but it supported a great cause.

So even if you’re a lot more rational than I am about fashion but would still love to own a piece by a top designer, keep your eyes open for these collaborations. Just a couple of additional tips to be a total superhero here:

• Pieces may be tough to get.  Collaborations are marketing campaigns, after all, and building anticipation is part of the process.  It’s good to know when the products will be posted online and be on the site beforehand.  If your size sells out online, call around to local stores first to see if they have any inventory left.  Sometimes people order online and then return to the store.  You can also try Ebay.  Even with a mark-up, you’re paying a lot less than a typical piece.
• The fit is not going to be as good given the production process, so I always encourage a little additional investment to have your pieces tailored.

Oh, and take that, kryptonite.