Product Review: William Rast for Target

I was super excited for the launch of William Rast for Target as I am for most Target collections so I actually tried to check it out online it as soon as it went live on Sunday am, but since it wouldn’t let me shop at midnight, I decided to head to stores the next morning to see what I thought about the line in person.

The first items I headed straight towards were the leather jackets.  They were absolutely buttery soft leading me to believe that the leather used was actually lamb!  Lamb leather is usually quite pricey but these Target versions will only set you back about $200.

While the construction was great and I loved the red pop lining in the Fringe moto jacket, I found that there was absolutely no bust room.  Considering that I am not a busty girl by any means, I am not sure how these will fare for other ladies. Also, the fringe was fun but I felt a little bit costume-y trying this on. The Tan Biker jacket fared a bit better in this area.  Both jackets are cut quite snuggly which I’m sure that petite girls will appreciate.  Since my heart is still set on getting a black biker jacket I passed on both items as neither quite fit’s my specifications.

Next to the biker jackets was this bomber jacket that took be back to the early 90s, it had a waxy/stiff feel that was not really something that enticed me. I also spotted plenty of twill biker vests and cargo pants.  The vest is a little bit fussy looking for my personal aesthetic but on the right person I’m sure it could look really cute.  The cargo pants were great but the fabrication wasn’t as soft as I hoped.  I am so into comfort these days that I can scarcely manage to wear a pair of regular skinny jeans.

Items that I would have loved had they been made in silk are this silky snap front blouse and tank top.  The original line charts stated silk, but I think perhaps due to cost they were switched to Poly before they went to production. The items are definitely trend right, but the fabrication was a bit of a turn off.  Perhaps if they get marked down I will consider it, but I really would have paid a bit more for silk. Since I’m not much of a fan of dark wash denim, I didn’t really look at them too closely.

I initially thought this lace-up jacket was a really fun shape, but having lace-up detailing on the sleeves and the back seemed a bit overdesigned.  I would have liked it' more if they kept it to one spot.  However, it’s still an overall fun style.  From photo’s I loved the look of the Ponte High Waisted skirt and thought it could make a great replacement for my Jonathan Saunders for Target Skirt that is starting to shred.  On the hanger I was a bit disappointed because it looked flat, but on the body it really does look great and much better than I expected after my initial disappointment.  Another great item that is well made are these Ponte leggings, they are a nice thick material that might even be able to be worn alone (sans long tunic/dress)  The geometric flag pattern at the knees adds a sporty fun touch as do the ankle zips.

A couple of the best made items in the collection was the Ponte Biker vest and these Pleather shorts!  Both items were very cleanly constructed and felt great.

My sleeper fave item of the collection was these plaid shirts. Had I only saw them online, I never would have wanted them.  In real life the fabric is purposefully disheveled, soft, thin and has a great overall look.  I tried on a couple sizes just to see and I might size up on this one because my regular size fit my body, but again like the leather jacket there was very little bust room in them.  Finally for the chambray shirts, they are a great price for an overall great basic, however the little iron on studs on the pocket flaps bother me and actually detract from the shirt. Had the shirt’s not included the studs, I think I would have bought them in a heartbeat.