Versaci Debuts at H&M

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First it was Missoni for Target. Now comes one of the hottest pairings  of all - Versace for H&M.

The uber hip retailer H&M debuts its Versace collection today at stores across the country. It's the latest luxe for less pairing, as high-end fashion brands increasingly unveil their clothing to the shopping masses at discount retailers.

Branding high-end names with discount retailers is a hit, breathing new life into brands and exposing them to a new customer base they might not have otherwise reached.  Missoni for Target was a smashing success, selling out in mere minutes online and in stores. (I was lucky enough to snag a Missoni shirt for less than $15 a few weeks later on the clearance rack.)

And other pairings such as Mizrahi for Target, Vera Wang for Kohls and even Stella McCartney for H&M have all been met with the seal of consumer approval.

In Versace's case, their H&M line is priced at a fraction of its regular retail cost -- $20 to $400. It's all Versace, with plenty of leather, studs and the Versace "print" they are known for. The line was introduced in the U.K. last week, and sold out.

Today, the retailer will showcase its U.S. collection in select stores in New York, Georgia and California and other states. Customers in NYC lined up 24 hours before the store opened.

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If you've always wanted Versace, but couldn't afford the price, now's your chance, Hairnistas. Don't expect to buy the entire line, though. These fashionable pairings usually feature a limited selection of designer wares and when they're gone, they're gone.

In Versace's case, customers will be limited to two of each item at H&M. I heard on Good Morning America that customers will only have 15 minutes to shop each section.

Happy shopping!

Missoni for Target Shuts Target.com Down!

High-end fashion designers' collaboration with department stores is all the rage: Lanvin for H&M, Vera Wang for Kohl's and now (drumroll, please!) the most popular of them all -- Missoni for Target. That's right, Missoni shut down Tar-jay's site for most of yesterday and even part of this morning.

Target shoppers lined up in droves and mobbed Target stores to get their hands on the new Missoni digs - with their trademark, colorful zig zag patterns --- and home decor. The website crashed and the collection? A good chunk of it sold out in mere minutes, yup, minutes.

Usually, this is reserved for Black Fridays, not a Tuesday in mid-September.

We may be in a recession, but HairNistas love a good bargain, especially when it's from a luxury Italian knit designer like Missoni. Really, the 400-piece collection at Target is a steal at $2.99 (stationary), $59.99 for coats and $599.99 for patio furniture.

Normally, Missoni's luxury knit goods fetch $595 to $1,500.

And, if you weren't among the lucky few to get it, you may be out of luck. The collection was available a limited time, until late October. If you do get it, you'll have to cough up the dough: Already, folks have uploaded their Missoni bounty on eBay, asking double the price.

Were you able to get Missoni at Target?