The Target NYFW Style Tailgate put the retailer squarely at the centre of New York Fashion Week, with influencers and editors hitting the streets carrying the brand’s Guardsman Red shopping bag while the event itself drew some serious names.
Fashion week is a marathon, not a sprint. Long days, back-to-back shows, and the constant pressure to look sharp from kerb to front row. That is the context in which eight influencers and editors were photographed around New York City, each toting Target‘s red-and-white bullseye bag and talking through what is actually inside it.
What the Target NYFW Style Tailgate Actually Looked Like
Beyond the street-style shoots, Target ran a full event to mark fashion week. According to Target Corporate, Suki Waterhouse headlined with a live performance, while D-Nice and Kitty Ca$h kept the crowd moving with DJ sets. Isaac Mizrahi also made a special appearance at the Style Tailgate, adding a fashion-industry edge to what was already a high-energy lineup. That combination of live music, DJs, and a recognised name from the design world made this more than a branded pop-up.
It is a deliberate move. Target has been pushing hard at the intersection of affordability and style credibility, and showing up at NYFW with that kind of talent speaks to where the retailer wants to sit in the market.
Eight People, Eight Bags, Eight Different Stories
The shoot brought together eight participants, each with their own take on what gets them through fashion week. Angela Pham, 38, a photographer and content creator, said her bag always contains workout clothes, toddler snacks, and mugs. Courtney Blackwell, 37, a creator, listed double-sided tape as her fashion-week survival essential. Jasmine Hyman, 26, said her last impulse buy at Target was a new phone case, and her advice for first-timers at fashion week: ‘Take time to recover and prioritise rest.’
Jessica Neises, 30, a senior fashion editor, kept her survival list practical: a portable phone charger, blister bandages, and a lip combo. Lily Montasser, 33, an influencer, stylist, and writer, goes for lip liner, a sheet mask, and some kind of impulse snack. Her ideal end to a fashion-week day? A cozy, dimly lit natural wine bar in Brooklyn with friends.
Majo Diaz, 26, said the aisle she spends the most time in is beauty and hair care. Meg Uy, 29, a shopping editor, splits her time between makeup and bedding. And Sarah Ng, 29, a video editor, had the most personal answer on the colour red: ‘Beautiful and blessed. My mom always told me red was my colour. And it’s the luckiest colour in Chinese culture.’
Different jobs, different bag contents, same red carrier. The point Target is making is fairly clear: the bag travels everywhere and fits everyone.
Target’s Fashion Partnerships Keep Growing
The NYFW activation sits alongside a wider push on Target’s fashion offer. According to The PR Net, for the 2024 fall and winter collections, Future Collective will partner with Danie Sierra, Gezelle “GiGi” Renee, Paige Lorenze, and Tatiana Elizabeth. That kind of multi-collaborator model keeps the range feeling fresh and gives different audiences a point of entry, whether they are following a specific creator or just browsing the rails.
Pieces from the shoot are available to buy now, spanning tops, skirts, wide-leg trousers, dresses, and accessories, all from Target’s own brands including A New Day, Wild Fable, and Universal Thread, with prices ranging from $6 to $55.
With Suki Waterhouse on stage, Isaac Mizrahi in the room, and a crew of influencers and editors out on the New York streets, Target’s NYFW Style Tailgate landed its message: the red bag belongs at fashion week.