I Tried Everything in the Parke x Target Collab

It wouldn’t be a Parke collection without amock-neck, and this one swaps the signature “Parke” patch logo for an embroidered one — a decision that probably made it possible for the sweatshirt to be priced at $40 instead of the usual $130. The mock-neck is a thinner version of the terry sweatshirt that’s usually available on Parke’s website come summer. I’d say it’s worth the buy for theParke collectorand anyone who’s been curious about Parke sweatshirts but couldn’t justify the price point (and the $10 shipping fee). It’ll be available in four colors: white, navy, peach, and gray.

Over the years, Target’s swimsuit section has saved me whenever I’ve been in need of a last-minute bikini, so I’m not surprised that Parke’s first line of swimsuits would launch at Target. The bikini will be available in this darling gingham pattern and awhite floral version, the first of which has ruffles that pair nicely with the gingham shirt-and-shorts set below. I also appreciate that it has a tie waist, back, and neck, so you can customize the fit to your liking. If I could buy only one thing from the collection, it’d be this (and considering I’ll have to return everything once this article goes live, I just might add it to my cart).

Parke’s one-piece feels like the sexy version of a lifeguard swimsuit. With padded cups, a deep open back, and rather cheeky butt coverage, I imagine it’d be the perfect suit to wear while snorkeling on a college spring-break trip. I just wonder if Parke fans will actually want the logo on something other than a sweatshirt.

I can imagine Lola Tung wearing this set in the forthcomingThe Summer I Turned Prettymovie. It’s feminine and flowy — everything you might want in a Cousins Beach outfit — but too oversize for my taste. The shirt bunches at my waist, and the straps threaten to fall off my shoulders; I think it’d be better in a size down. Still, I like the shorts. They’re double-lined so you don’t have to worry about your underwear showing through. They’d be the perfect bottoms to throw on over the gingham bikini while biking to the beach or pool.

The one time I tried a pair of Parke jeans, I was unimpressed. The thick, spaghetti-like white threads at the bottom of thedark-wash, low-rise baggy pairlooked like a cheap attempt at a frayed bottom. In comparison, these bow-tie jeans feel substantial and, for what it’s worth, on trend. I’d pair them withkitten heelsand a cute top since they’re slightly too long for me. I’d buy these before I buy anything else in Parke’s actual denim collection. But if you’re short, it’s probably best to skip them, as they’re only available in one inseam.

This medium-weight denim button-up is the platonic ideal of a swim cover-up: It goes about halfway down my thigh and is soft enough to wear during a beach nap. Even in a size small, it fits me oversize, so if you’re looking for a more slim fit, I’d recommend sizing down.

For $5, this is a solid claw clip. It’s cute and comes in a floral pattern in addition tosolid light blue,cherry red, andpeach. Don’t expect it to hold your hair up for extensive periods of movement, but it’ll keep flyaways out of your face while sitting at a desk. (It did just that as I wrote this article.)

I bought my sister one of Parke’s baseball caps for Christmas this year, and the Target version feels comparable — for a much more reasonable price. (Never had I ever spent nearly $50 on a baseball cap before buying her thelimited-edition Chicago Parke hat.) It has a velcro strap on the back to adjust the fit.

As a lover of stripes, I must say I’m taken with the tote bag. The thick canvas exterior is comparable to what you’d find on an L.L.Bean Boat and Tote or a Lands’ End tote, but it has charming red-and-blue striped pockets on the inside that would look right in place in a New England summer rom-com. There’s a key clip, too.