In May 2008, Donatella Versace declared she would never follow in the footsteps of Lagerfeld, McCartney, Cavalli and so many others by creating an inexpensive collection for a mass retailer. This fall her modestly priced diffusion line reaches H&M; stores nationwide. Versace's change of heart may have been inevitable. Though once viewed as a crass dilution of haute fashion brands, diffusion lines have become virtually de rigueur for iconic designers in search of a few populist credentials. Here, a look at some of the most memorable meetings of upper-crust fashion with low-price retail.
AUGUST 2003
Isaac Mizrahi for Target The first...