I should have seen this one coming.

Express -- the overpriced mall store that everyone has fallen victim to at one point -- wants in on all of this inexpensive designer capsule collection madness. Their first partner-in-crime? Celia Birtwell -- the British printmaker behind the legendary Ossie Clark (her late ex-husband who designed for such pretty young things as Twiggy and Marianne Faithfull in their hay day).

Staying true to Clarke's style of the romantic and beautiful, the Celia Birtwell for Express collection will consist of flowing sheer tops and dresses made of Birtwell's trademark prints, Floating Daisy and Lily.

Although the pieces are lovely and Topshop immediately sold out of a similar cheap-chic collection made by Birtwell once it hit their stores, I'm not sure if this line will have the same fate stateside. Why? Because the pieces retail -- gasp -- between $79.50 and $128.

There is absolutely nothing "cheap" about that. Sure, an original Clark gown can set you back almost $8,000, but isn't that the whole point of these one-off lines like this one: To provide the masses with extremely affordable versions of fashion that they would usually have to skip mortgage payments to afford otherwise.

Eh, I think I'll try my luck at catching the red blouse on sale. For all those willing to jump the gun a bit earlier, the Celia Birtwell for Express collection will be making its grand debut on April 7.

[via LA Times]