By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

Southwest Florida was not immune to the mass appeal and the insanity that followed the release of the “Lilly for Target” collection at Target stores nationwide and online on Sunday.

Lilly Pulitzer — the Palm Beach-based boutique brand known for its vibrant patterns on dresses, shirts, home-decor items and purses — released a line of 250 limited-edition items to be sold one time only. The Minneapolis-based retailer has been doing similar collaborations with designers occasionally over the years, and they have proven to be successful.

The appeal of Lilly resort-wear-like designs being sold at a fraction of the cost the merchandise sells for in stores like the one on St. Armands Circle and in the Mall at University Town Center brought loyal fans and newcomers to Target stores early Sunday — something eerily reminiscent of Black Friday madness.

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