Sure I would love to stock my closet with all the top designers from all the fashion magazines, but to be realistic, a shirt costs as much as my monthly mortgage payment. So that probably isn’t going to happen anytime soon without some sort of unexpected financial windfall. Thankfully, the trend in the last few years has been for major designers to offer low priced lines at many department and discount stores.

Target is probably the most well known store to embrace this trend. Issac Mizrahi kicked it off when he began designing for them five years ago, but since then they have had everyone who is anyone in the fashion world designing for them. Jovovich Hawk, Thankoon and Proenza Schouler have also designed for Target in the past. Up next at Target? Alexander McQueen releases a limited line named McQ that will be available in stores from March 1 thru April 11, 2009.

JCPenney has been another retailer on the forefront of this trend. Nicole Miller, Chip and Pepper, and Ralph Lauren all have lines in the store. Launching on Feburary 9th in their stores is the new I “Heart “Ronson line by Charlotte Ronson. Yes that would be the sister of Samantha, better known as Lindsay Lohan’s girlfriend. Her line of casual clothing will retail at a fraction of her designer line.

Finally, H&M has scored some of the world’s most well known designers to develop lines for their stores. Lagerfeld, Cavalli, Stella McCartney and most recently Comme des Garcons have all enjoyed success at H&M. Even Madonna had a short stint as a clothing designer for their stores. Now Matthew Williamson who is known for his bright, colorful pieces is launching his line in late April/early May.

So head on out to your local department store and pick up some designer duds at a discount price while you can!

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When Jill isn’t scouring fashion magazines to find out when Jimmy Choo is going to design for Payless, she is writing about life and motherhood over at The Diaper Diaries.