Gigi Guerra - Target Collaboration Curator

Gigi Guerra, Curator, Design Partnerships, Target

There are three words that can instantly get our hearts racing: Target designer collab. Because with a history of making labels like Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, and (soon) Phillip Lim available to the masses, the team at Target is kind of like our best friend from afar. Here's a member you can call by name. Gigi Guerra holds the curator and design partnership position and works to scout the next, must-have luxury label à la the big, red bull's-eye. But it's Guerra's own sartorial journey that we find most exciting.

A fashion-industry vet, previously working on the editorial side with Lucky and Sassy (RIP), Guerra would later shift in her career to become Madewell's marketing director in 2008 — a positon that allowed her to help make the brand the powerhouse it is today. And, all along, with a chameleon-like approach to style and knowledge of the most amazing indie designers around, it comes as no surprise that this long-standing figure behind some of our favorite brands and pubs has mastered the perfect high-meets-low mix. Blending lively colors, interesting construction, and — yes — Target, Guerra proves she's one style star who hits every mark.

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My style in six words or less:
"Subject to change daily."

The greatest style lesson I've ever learned:
"My mom told me never to pluck my eyebrows, and she — wholeheartedly and supportively — encouraged me to dress however I wanted. The latter was advice I ran with. One night, back during my ‘90s-college-club-kid days, I took her to Limelight and made us both crazy outfits to wear: Mine was basically a bunch of toasted Wonder Bread glued to a hoopskirt, and hers was some sort of Little Bo Peep getup, which she gamely wore without question."

My first major, big-ticket style purchase:
"In 1988, I saved up all my babysitting money to fund a haul that included an Esprit shirt-and-shorts set, a Dooney & Bourke bucket bag, and a pair of Guess overalls. I remember my mom drove me to Dallas to get it all (we lived out in the country), and I insisted we stop at Hard Rock Cafe for lunch."

My favorite up-and-coming designers:
"I love Olympia Le-Tan’s bags; swimsuits and rash guards by Seea; Venessa Arizaga jewelry; shoes by Alexander Siradekiana, Chrissie Morris, ETS Callatay, and Sophia Webster; and William Okpo, Dusen Dusen, and Henrik Vibskov. And, I think, a lot of the eponymous lines that boutiques are doing are great: Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Gargyle, Aloha Rag, and Creatures of Comfort."

My style theme song:
“'Go Where You Wanna Go' by The Mamas and the Papas."

My definitive summer go-to outfit:
"A colorful, hand-silk-screened Gravel & Gold dress (I’m wearing in one of the R29 shots). And a Target Xhilaration raffia baseball cap, which is only $13 — people always ask me about it and then go out and buy, like, three of them."

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If I were 80 years old today:
"Honestly, it’ll probably be pretty much the same way I dress now. My future grandchildren will no doubt be horrified."

Styled by Laura Pritchard, Hair by Bethany Brill, Makeup by Tiffany Patton

Look 1: Gravel & Gold First Falls Gemini Dress, $170, available at Gravel & Gold; Vintage coat; Xhilaration for Target Straw Baseball Hat - Black, $12.99, available at Target; Vintage earrings; Walter Van Beirendonck watch bracelet; Kate Young for Target Neema Pump with Flame Detail - Black, $39.99, available at Target.
Look 2: Target acid-wash skirt; Moschino Cheap & Chic vintage cloud blazer; Wouters & Hendrix Beige Agate Dot Pendant Necklace, $166, available at Shopbop; Metropolitan Museum of Art star necklace; Wouters & Hendrix Copper Dot Ring, $159, available at Shopbop; Wouters & Hendrix Red Brown Agate Stone Ring, $159, available at g.COLTON; Jennifer Fisher Pulse Bar Ring, $1,600, available at Jennifer Fisher; Robert Clergerie Vicole Crochet Raffia Lace-Up Wedge Oxfords, $395, available at Saks Fifth Avenue; Marc Jacobs pink pouch; Walter Van Beirendonck watch bracelet.