We all thought Wal-Mart had shed its apparel ambitions when the giant cut 30 merchandiser jobs in New York City and lost its upscale clothing executive. But the giant clearly has not ceded territory to Target yet. Norma Kamali has been tapped to create an exclusive collection for Wal-Mart. The licensing deal is long term, and the designer will establish a lifestyle brand under her own name that will encompass categories such as women's wear, children's clothing, accessories, footwear and home — all at Wal-Mart's mass prices.


So how does this dovetail with Wal-Mart's strategy of focusing on the basics in a time of slowed economic growth and depressed consumer spending? We have no fucking clue. Maybe her almost fetishistic BDSM bathing suit collection show for Spring 2007 is what turned the Wal-Mart executives on. We can think of nothing more perverse than average Americans donning her strappy one pieces. Talk about stimulating growth!

If you ask us, Lacoste is a line that's just better for S/S. It's the sort of wasp-y activity-based aesthetic that just merits sunshine and a tennis racket. At the end of the show, Lacoste busted out some seriously welcomed brights after a load of crisp white and black. Aside from a burst of color, the pieces that really made a difference were the 1920's style bathing suits (that New York girls will probably wear as jumpers this summer) and the super-loose sailor pants that just breezed down the runway.