While there was no indication of people camping out to ensure that they’d get the best pieces of this year’s H&M guest designer, Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons (CDG), there were certainly plenty of people waiting in line an hour prior to the opening of the store.  It wasn’t as crazy as I thought it would be. Perhaps it was due to the economy.  Or more likely, the cold, rainy weather. As soon as the store opened at 10 am, people rushed in and grabbed as many pieces as they could, even though they were limited to two of the same pieces.  It was almost a mob scene. And I was at the less busy store.  I could only imagine what it was like at the Eaton Centre (the OTHER Toronto store carrying CDG.  I know that it was absolutely crazy in Tokyo, which got the clothes several days earlier.  I heard that shoppers actually camped out for days!

I didn’t manage to get the jacket I had most wanted to get, but did get a gorgeous dress (see above).  This was only my second trip to H&M’s guest designer event – the last one was Stella McCartney’s line in 2005 – I was working far away from any H&M store in 2006 and I missed the Roberto Cavalli line last year because I was too busy at work – the Stella event was actually crazier than today’s.  That time, I was at the Eaton Centre, and women (they didn’t do guys’ clothing at the time) didn’t even bother to use the fitting rooms.  There was little of that this time, but many people were hanging around at the racks, hoping that people would return items that didn’t fit them.  I have to admit I was one of those people.

It’s interesting how some of the pieces were more popular than others.  When I left the store around 11 am, there were plenty of wool trench coats left, probably because those weren’t really made for Toronto weather.  They were very lightweight.  There were other pieces left too.  Last year, I stopped by the Eaton Centre store around noon, and only saw lingerie.

Some people are saying that shoppers are crazy for lining up to buy items that are more or less cheapened versions of designer clothing.  In fact, there are plenty of designers who prefer not to participate in collaborations like this for that very reason.  However, there are plenty of people who’d like to own something by a designer, and would otherwise never be able to afford it.  Also, many less-known designers may very well have better quality products.

I was very satisfied with today’s excursion.  While I’m not CDG’s biggest fan, I think this collection is probably the best once since Stella McCartney in 2005.  I can’t wait to see who H&M is going to work with in 2009!