Lord & Taylor to Kick Off Designer Collaborations with Yoana by Yoana Baraschi, Z Spoke

By Erin Donnelly 02/16/12 at 11:00 AM

Photo courtesy of WWD

The Yoana by Yoana Baraschi Aztec-print pencil skirt ($190).

Lord & Taylor is ready to join the designer collaboration party—and it's bringing along one hell of a plus one.

The department store is kicking off its series of contemporary capsule collections with Yoana by Yoana Baraschi, a 12-piece line that will be priced under $200, Women's Wear Daily reports.

"[The line] crystallizes the playfulness and chic of my signature collection and makes it available to a broader customer base," Baraschi tells WWD of the collaboration, which will be sold in 11 Lord & Taylor stores, with five dresses available in all stores nationwide.

As opposed to a one-off partnering, Baraschi and the retailer have plans to team up for the next four seasons, with Spring 2012 offering python-print shirtdresses ($188), printed pencil skirts ($190), sportswear ($150 and up), and double-knit dresses ($198).

"Yoana has a sensible and playful design aesthetic that will appeal to our core contemporary collection clientele,” says Liz Rodbell, executive vice president of merchandising at Hudson’s Bay Company, the store's parent company.

Zac Posen will also be getting in on the action, with a Z Spoke collaboration slated for April. Beyond that, who knows?

"We don’t have a specific number of collaborations planned, but we believe it’s a new opportunity and will grow in the future both at Lord & Taylor and The Bay,” adds Rodbell.

Any designers ready to step up to the plate?