We got all excited when we heard that Loeffler Randall was Target’s next big haute-design-on-the-cheap victim — after all, we’d been obsessing over their ruffle-trimmed flats since the weather started to turn cool last fall. But as amazing an eye as starlet designer Jessie Randall has, we just can’t help but be disappointed by the clunky, plastic-y materials and awkward metal plackets declaring “Loeffler Randall for Target” on each piece — such as this woven hobo that, in another life, could have been cool; and this metallic clutch (pictured), which really doesn’t inspire us to bring it to any party at all. If Target’s mission is to offer high fashion for next-to-nothing prices, it negates the whole envy-of-all-your-neighbors factor if what your bag says about you isn’t “I have an excellent eye for just the perfect accessory, and I’m not afraid to splurge on style,” but “This is what was staring me in the face when I went into the chain superstore to buy toilet paper.” So we’ll sit this one out, thank you very much, and hope that Target encourages a subtler branding from their next great runway-worthy find. And while Loeffler Randall’s “For Target” collection is a near-total miss, there are still some great Erin Featherston pieces to be found in Target’s clearance section. As for Loeffler Randall, for us, it’s worth the $350 for the real thing.