If you haven't noticed, Usher brought his sexy back when he kicked off his One Night Stand -Ladies Only tour several weeks ago looking extra dapper... thanks to Canadian twin design team Dsquared2. The design duo, brothers Dean and Dan Caten, were elated at the opportunity to provide custom wardrobe for the sexy R&B star from their Spring 2009 runway collection, which was presented in Milan earlier this year. Is Usher the man for this or what?

Two design illustrations for Usher by DSquared2

The white tuxedo and what they call "barbershop styles" inspired by the seventies compliments Usher's slick dance moves and famous slow jams quite nicely. In one set he gives boudoir bad ass in a custom silk robe and slippers with his back-up dancers wearing Dsquared2 lingerie. "We are extremely excited to collaborate with Usher and his concert tour," said the Catens. "We are both huge fans of his music, and are thrilled that for this special event he has chosen looks from our collections that we think are perfect for a One Night Stand." If you haven't been to his show yet, get ready to get turned on and fantasize about your one night stand with the buffed b-boy with the sexy voice and chiseled six-pack.

Usher with DSquared2 designers Dean & Dan Caten

Women's shoe designer Courtney Crawford was feted recently by Italian handbag company Furla after he was chosen by the company to design shoes and bags for them as part of their Furla Talent Hub. The recognition hurls the usually low-key Crawford into the spotlight despite his penchant for staying under the radar. The Andre Leon Talley protégé' already has quite the celeb and fashion following (Mariah Carey is a fan).

Courtney Crawford for Furla shoe

The Furla Talent Hub is a program that honors emerging designers by providing them with an opportunity to design special pieces for the 80 year-old brand. For fall 2008 line Crawford designed footwear, which was featured recently in Harper's Bazaar, and for next spring handbags. "Furla has always been very careful about supporting young people," said Michele Furlanetto, the company's president. "These are our designers, and we love them so much because we see the passion that they put in it." Crawford described them very simply, "Sexy. Unapologetically sexy".
The 27 year-old St. Louis, Missouri native who attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City has designed for Missoni's Spring '07 shoe line, won two awards from fashion trade publication Footwear News and was named one of PAPER magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People'.

Courtney Crawford

It seems mass retailer Target has echoed the famous phrase made popular by supermodel Heidi Klum, 'either you're in or you're out' on her hit show "Project Runway". While the bad news is that designer Isaac Mizrahi is out, the good news is Alexander McQueen is in. That's right; the hi-end British designer is slated to produce a capsule collection for Target's next collaborative initiative called Designer Collaborations. Whoo-hoo!

McQueen will create a version of his secondary line McQ, called the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target. The brand, in his words, is a "younger and more renegade [than the main collection], but always signature McQueen." McQ Alexander McQueen for Target will feature lightweight sweaters, skinny jeans, bubble dresses, slim skirts and cuffed shorts, a coated cotton poplin black trench, a rock 'n' roll gray denim cropped studded jacket, a men's wear-inspired tuxedo blazer and a color-blocked one-shoulder dress with bubble hem, swimwear and print scarves; all in a muted color palette of black, white, gray and tan with hints of bright blue and bright pink. Accents include studs and mesh to give items an edge. Price points were not yet available.

When Mizrahi announced he will no longer produce collections for Target, loyalists moaned and groaned. He was one of the first to create affordable chic pieces for the masses allowing us to grab household products, home décor, electronics and clothing all in one shopping swoop. Since then others followed suit after his undeniable success but for the Go International series: Proenza Schouler (my favorite) Erin Fetherston (divine!), Luella Bartley (another fave), Thakoon (arrives next month!) and Patrick Robinson, to name a few. You can't front on Target, they keep bringing the hits.