>> If you're as much of a mag hag as I am, the prices of all those must-have glossies combined gets painful after a while.  Yes, I'm talking about you, $16 Vogue Paris.  Thankfully, V Magazine had pity — issue #52,  the one with the fantastic Gwen Stefani spread — is entirely online for free.  Nosh on that for a while.

What Spring trend has you flipping? Discover what the opinionated members of the Coutorture Community are flipping for in today's Must Reads from:

Vie Couture finds a craveworthy candy inspired necklace.

Do you wear pieces of your weekday wardrobe during the weekend? Ma Petite Chou wants to know.

High Snobiety highlights the latest Reebok release.

StyleBytes swaps an unloved pair of boots for a few designer duds.

Fashion Is Spinach flips for the maxi dress.

Our network partner, That's Chic, gave Spring the ol' collage technique. Presenting the trends on a splurge versus steal basis, and driving the point home with fashionistas in the periphery, we think, is a nice way to present what's up-and-coming. Here's our contribution to her acute sense of style, a 5-garment spread of our take on the trends. Now, put on some Sly and The Family Stone and pay close attention to that leather skirt by Marni, Cheap Monday V-trench Coat, and Ksubi Super Skinny Zip Jeans in Uzi Blue Vein.

Mulberry Canvas JacketWalt Whitman believed in the power of the American working class and yet his poetry is beloved by the British intelligentsia. We wonder if this strange dichotomy has a parallel in fashion. In fact so many humble materials, cuts and designs originally meant for workers seems to have been reinvented as a prominent features of intelligent British luxury labels. And no we don't just mean the classic Burberry trench coat. We think this Mulberry Canvas Jacket is emblematic of this peculiar phenomenon of working class values being reinterpreted by elites. The humble canvas spring coat was meant for warmth on a brisk morning while out in the fields, or at least that is the romanticized version we have in our heads. But the $1,119 price tag is justified by its smart yet relaxed aesthetic. And so we have the poetry of a simpler people sold to a rarefied cultural class. Leaves of Grass indeed. Naturally we highly suggest picking one up for spring.

More Immaterial

When our network partner, Fops And Dandies, put together an outfit in homage of Elton John, we thought to expand on the idea with a little razzle dazzle of our own. Luckily, we're long past the days where young women wear sparkly tank tops and 'wet curls' in honor of a night on the town. That doesn't mean, however, a little sparkle is impossible to conjure. Indeed, New York City can bring out the drag queen in all of us and as a general rule, no matter how wacked you think you look when you step out the door, we guarantee someone else will have taken it a step further. Below, our spread of some summertime gems that would look great layered with different textures and colors, for a wild and crazy, dare we say it, 'boho luxe' look. Opulence, afterall, is a trend bound for Fall 08, so consider it a wise investment, if nothing else.


Click for more Shoutouts

There has been hearsay about financial investing group Apax’s possible interest in buying out the majority of Escada’s shares. However, the Munich-based luxury fashion label confirms today that Apax is reluctant to take such action. Since last summer, Escada’s shares have dropped thirty percent. A new CEO will be assigned on April 17th in an attempt to restructure the fashion brand.


Known for his Indian-inspired work, English designer Matthew Williamson returns to Manchester to celebrate the exhibition of his 10 Years In Fashion at Urbis Centre. The collection of the designer’s contributions to the fashion industry has been featured at the Design Museum in London last October. Williamson was also the former creative director for Pucci.


British designer Anthony Cuthbertson is appointed to be the new creative director for German fashion house Rene Lezard. He has been the former creative director at Burlington and creative consultant for MaxMara. Cuthbertson will showcase both the men’s and women’s collections for Rene Lezard next fall.


A series of online journals called, 'Costumers And Plug Generation' is set to be launched by Ennio Capasa, mastermind behind Italian fashion label Costume National. This series of journals along with Capasa’s personal page will provide visitors the latest updates stemming from the fashion industry including campaign shoots and live commentary. Capasa is known for his use of subtle shapes, dark tones, and sharp tailoring, his personal page can be viewed here.


Delphine Arnault-Gancia advances to the position of Deputy Managing Director at Christian Dior Couture. Formerly Senior Vice President of Marketing, she has greatly contributed to the development of Dior Parfums. Arnault-Gancia is a billionaire business-savvy woman who also works with LVMH, the world’s largest luxury conglomerate.


Research Assistant: Zoe Su