Jason Wu and First Lady Michelle Obama (creative commons)

Target has been hinting at the identity of the designer via Twitter handle @TargetStyle and the collaboration was confirmed this morning by Women's Wear Daily.

Wu, 29, is best known for designing Michelle Obama's gown for the Mid-Atlantic regional Inaugural Ball in 2009, and the First Lady has worn many of his ready-to-wear pieces to photo shoots and campaign events. In fact, Michelle Obama was seen shopping at a Target store in Alexandria, Virginia last week, a move which has been criticised as a possible PR stunt.  

 Following September's Missoni for Target collection, which sold out within a day and crashed the Target website, Wu's collection will no doubt be a milestone for the young designer, and is sure to create more fans of his elegant, ladylike clothes among women who may not have a First Lady's budget.

Wu told Women's Wear Daily, "The exciting thing about this limited edition collection of affordable women's wear and accessories is that it allows me to reach a wider audience and bring my designs to people who may not have been able to purchase them before." 

@TargetStyle recently posted this photo of a print that will be used in the collection, as well as this picture of Wu's muse, a cat named Milu. Harper's Bazaar posted this sketch by Wu to their Tumblr this morning. "My collection will embody my signature aesthetic of feminine sophistication, with a mischevious nod to the 1960s," Wu told Harper's Bazaar.  

The collection, which will include apparel, handbags, and scarves ranging from $20-$60, is planned to debut on February 5, 2012 in Target stores and at target.com. Target has also released a teaser video, which can be seen here. 

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