To Buy or Not to Buy: Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini Line for Target

Tee from Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini line for Target
Tee from Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini line for Target

I stopped by Target yesterday morning to pick up some paper towels, toilet paper and legwarmers, and I noticed this great sweatshirt in the girls clothing section with a chain and anchor motif in primary colors. I was drawn to it because it had a gender-neutral 70′s vibe that I found extremely stylish. When I went to check the price, I noticed the tag had Gwen Stefani's face on it. Then I laid eyes on the sweatshirt next to it, covered in a bright mermaid print, and I got sucked in. T-shirts, pants, skirts, all very cute, but sloppily sewn, most items made in China or Guatemala. Some of the cuts were a bit risque for little girls. I was all up in the Harajuku Mini line, "inspired by the cool kaleidoscope of colorful styles found on the streets of Harajuku, Japan."

Related: Forget the Super Bowl - Jason Wu for Target drops this Sunday!

Stefani (or her price tags, anyway) tells girls, "Be the fashion know-it-all you were born to be." I may not have the most developed sense of style in the world, but I have learned a thing or two about fashion over the years, one of those things being that at least half of what makes clothing sell is branding. (Woman cannot live on style alone. The devil is in the designer. Do I really want my 6-year-old to be a label lover?)

So I asked myself, as I held up a tee featuring a mermaid with a gorgeous afro, "If this flimsy bit of cotton - which was likely assembled in a sweatshop - was not designed by a pop star/fashion icon, would you even think of buying it?" The answer was no, and I was able to walk away empty-handed.

Take a look at the collection and ask yourself the same question, then let me know what you think:

Related: 25 fabulous party dresses under $50

Target Harajuku Mini Line
Target Harajuku Mini Line


Anchor Stripe Asymmetrical Dress
Saw this in-store and couldn't believe the cut was being sold in sizes as small as 4. $16.99

Target Harajuku Mini Line
Target Harajuku Mini Line


Pirate Pants
These are really fun and could work for both school and costume dress-up.

Target Harajuku Mini Line
Target Harajuku Mini Line


Star Maxi Skirt
Saw this in-store, thought about buying it, but then thought, "Do I like this?" Again, it's hard to tell. Hip? Frumpy? Both?

Related: The Budget Fashionista - 20 stylish picks from Forever 21

Target Harajuku Mini Line
Target Harajuku Mini Line


Blazer
This looks great in the photo, but I'm not sure the cotton/poly blend would lay right in real life. $24.99

Target Harajuku Mini Line
Target Harajuku Mini Line


Majorette Jacket
I adore the look of this. Funky, but age appropriate for my 6-year-old. I didn't see it in-store yesterday, but it's $24.99 and I would consider buying it online. Based on the sloppy sewing I saw first-hand yesterday though, I wouldn't be surprised if I was disappointed with the quality once it arrived.

For 10 more pieces from Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini line, visit Babble

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Family Kitchen | Babble.com
Family Kitchen | Babble.com

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