>> He's never been one for convention, but ever since Gucci Group asked Alexander McQueen to post a profit by the end of 2007 (which he successfully did), we've seen his brand become more and more corporate.  All the luxury brand money-making tactics are in place — two fragrances, design collaborations with Puma and Samsonite, the McQ diffusion line . . . the only step missing? Copious amounts of advertising.

McQueen's last traceable ad campaign was shot by Steven Klein for Spring 2003 (above), but McQueen revealed that he's finally ready to give it another go with his next collections.  If that indicates Fall 2008, the Alex McQueen ad campaign will for me be one of the most anticipated of the season, and likely one of the most coveted spots on the model end as well. 

*image: gainsbury and whiting

Bizarre hoodies, sunglasses to vogue in, and new Spring collections pepper today's Must Reads. Discover new Spring ideas in posts from:

Jewel History profiles Jiwon Han of JHan Design.

Cooperative Design piques Fashion Indie's interest.

Platinum Blonde Life features Orla Kiely's Spring/Summer 2008 collection.

Would you vogue in Vogue eyewear? Chic & Untroubled wants to know.

Hope Robertson wonders if this hooded jacket is beautiful or bizarre?

Normally when acne spreads we run for the benzoyl peroxide but in this case we can't get enough. Swedish label Acne Jeans has opened two new stores in New York’s SoHo on Green Street and Paris’ traditional The Palais Royale last week.

Scandinavian denim is taking over every market! A thirteen-piece denim line is set to arrive in stores this July by Norwegian children's line Appaman. The collection originally showcased in March at the ENK Children’s Club much to the squeals and glee of maternal fashion editors everywhere.

This fall Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B plans on releasing Aston, a Black Label line. The label will feature handbags at the high-end spectrum. Because tween consumers really need to trade up from cartoonish nylon bags to $1,495 carryalls inspired by sports cars. We wonder how LeSportSac feels about all of this.
Gwen Stefani's Aston Bag

This week Tomas Maier of Bottega Veneta hosts a dinner event at Barney’s Greengrass Restaurant in honor of filmmaker Albert Maysles and his new book “A Maysles Scrapbook.”


Research Assistant: Zoe Su

Summertime is quickly approaching and though we spend most of our energy thinking about Fall 08, we like to indulge in a fair amount of instant gratification. That said, if you've started building and editing your Spring wardrobe, chances are you thought for a moment on what shoes will get you from the ferris wheel to a roof deck dinner. These three styles which get our hearts racing will encompass any summertime activity you can conjure. They are the t-strap sandal, the thick-strap platform, and the open-toe ankle boot. These styles, in all of their breathing-room glory, are offered up by every label, from Givenchy to The Gap, so you've no excuses to keep wearing those Tom's all summer. Our spreads of the three styles below.

Our network partner, Wardrobe Oxygen, gave her reader's a practical run-down on buying a one-piece at a reasonable price. The post, which covers the one-piece veterans like Lands End and J. Crew, made us think of how many other brands are kicking it into gear with one piece suits. Thankfully, the one-piece swimsuit trend is being embraced by women of all shapes and sizes, no longer pitting us into corners of the slim versus curvy divide that swimwear often punctuates. Check out Wardrobe Oxygen's post on the classic one-piece finds, and our spread below, of some high end and indie offerings.

Have you found your perfect Spring handbag yet? You'll discover great styles in today's Must Reads from:

Viva Woman reviews Eucerin's new Anti Wrinkle line.

What's Haute found a girly-girl handbag with plenty of features.

Which flower sandal do you prefer? Find out the difference in the two at ShopDiary.

Style Eyes discovers Pollock and Walsh.

The Daily Obsession celebrates their 2nd birthday with a huge giveaway!

This is one beauty concept we can actually buy into. The new Bobbi Brown Quick Face Collection features six products that make for a complete makeup look. Bobbi Brown, admitedely, is one of our favorite makeup lines. The color palates, though they aren't as vibrant as, say, Heatherette for MAC, always seem to draw upon that 12-year-old, 'I just ran around in the woods for hours', glow that most women have trouble calling up when our diets, stress-levels, and exposure to UV Rays gives our skin a dull look. In a perfect world, we'd all be drinking gallons of water a day, and have the kind of makeup that enhances our wild, natural beauty. We think the six-product, Bobbi Brown fix, might be just the thing. The collection features everything you might imagine, a lip crayon, a classic black mascara, a long-lasting eye shadow, cream-based rouge, with colors in that typical Bobbi Brown range of nudes, berries, and browns. With Summertime approaching, and the birthday's flying by, we like the idea of sticking to a six-step makeup routine that reminds us of the days when running around in the woods was all that mattered in life.