Admit it. You could blow hours, perhaps an entire day, shopping the adorably affordable offerings of your local Target. While we love the mix and match tableware, the superb collection of greeting cards and the mod bathroom decor, it’s the frugal fashions we love the best (duh).

The beloved retailer’s mainstay collections, Merona and Mossimo , have launched their spring 2011 collections, and naturally, we were excited to check them out. Here are the need-to-know deets on the new lines

Mossimo

“This spring, Mossimo Giannulli offers a mix of fashion-forward, timeless feminine silhouettes for women,” says Target. “Attention to detail is evident throughout the line, ensuring the entire family is looking sharp this season.” As usual, the line features mix-and-match pieces for women, men and kids. Here are our top picks for you:

V-Neck Tee, $8, Mossimo for Target
Boyfriend Cardigan, $18, Mossimo for Target
Boyfriend Cropped Jeans, $25, Mossimo for Target
Phantom Dress, $25, Mossimo for Target
Metal-Embellished Thong Flat, $20, Mossimo for Target

We’re mad about cropped pants this season, and we think Mossimo’s boyfriend jeans are a steal. And who doesn’t love a dress that goes from day to night? Mossimo went easy on the trendiness in favor of versatile pieces that allow any woman to get the basics on a budget. The flirty, fresh collection features a look for every woman, for every occasion, and while there’s nothing earth-shattering or jaw-dropping about the clothes, they’re solid wardrobe staples. Investment pieces with little investment? Yes, please.

Merona

The Merona collection is more mature, more tailored than Mossimo’s laid-back approach to the season. “The lines combine timeless silhouettes and structured basics with spring’s latest color and embellishment trends,” say Merona representatives. The spring 2011 line focuses on tailored pieces and floral, plaid and checkered prints. Blue, khaki and yellow are the primary hues, very appropriate for boardwalks and cruise ships. The collection wouldn’t satisfy a fashionista, but a few of the pieces can be paired with bolder, trendier separates to form a statement-making ensemble. These are the looks we liked best:

Embellished Tee, $15, Merona Collection
Short Trench Coat, $40, Merona Collection
Button-Top Skirt, $25, Merona Collection
Boatneck Top $15, Merona Collection
Navy Trousers, $30, Merona Collection

What can we say, we like the nautical look right now. This short trench goes with pretty much everything, and we love blue as an alternative to black. The navy trousers are perfect for the office or the park, depending on what you pair them with. On the whole, we’re largely unimpressed with the collection, but that’s not to say we don’t like it. If you’re in need of spring staples, you may have good luck with Merona.

A common let-down with Target clothes is that they look much better in photos than in person, but we’re optimistic about this season’s good (though not great) pieces from Mossimo and Merona. Easy to wear, easy to wash and easy to pair with other separates, the affordable, no-stress looks of Target’s top collections are probably a triumph of function over fashion, but then again, this spring is all about comfort anyway. If you like what you see, give yourself a break from the tiny, tight and trendy. After the winter you’ve had, you’ve earned the right to strut around in cropped pants and breezy skirts for a few months.