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Buy It: Alexander McQueen skull ring
I recently started subscribing to the Alexander McQueen website's mailing list, and every time I open an email, I wonder what kind of extravagantly beautiful yet totally unaffordable gem it will contain. So when I got an email about his skull cocktail ring, I clicked through out of morbid curiosity (pun intended). I was expecting something north of $1,000, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the actual price: $330--definitely not cheap, of course, but a veritable bargain by McQueen's standards. As for the ring, it's definitely a statement-maker: oversized, with pearl eyes and Swarovski crystals at the mouth and the bee's wings. I'm also glad skulls aren't so trendy anymore (remember when they were plastered on everything from socks to bermuda shorts?)--thus the ring just looks badass, not fashion victim-y. This is definitely the type of accessory that could become a signature piece. Maybe it can become mine.

TheFind Guest Post: King of the Nip and Tuck - Alexander McQueen Belts

Alexander McQueen is one of the reigning bad boys of fashion and most recently was a buzz with his McQ for Target line. This season is all about dramatic accessories - the more daring the better. The naughty haughty prince of fashion sets the catwalk on fire with not only his clothes but also his cheeky bold accessories. Most recently Alexander McQueen's belts have caught our eye. If you are averse to laying down thousands for one of McQueen's fab frocks consider snapping up one of these bold belts to finish off everything from jumpsuits to pencil skirts and fitted shift dresses.

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops

MasstigeWatch!
Lots of news in the world of masstige since I've been gone! As you probably already know, Alexander McQueen for Target is now available in stores and online. I actually scored my lusted-after jumpsuit (and the ankle-zip leggings) at the pop-up shop that was open during Fashion Week; the asymmetrical gray dress was already sold out by the time I got there, so I was hoping to find it online, but no such luck. The cropped leather vest--which was one of the most expensive items--is also sold out. I think I might actually order the gray skinny jeans, which I gave up on at the pop-up shop since the fitting-room line was so long. Then again, I probably don't need another pair of jeans. As for the jumpsuit, it's everything I wanted and more, but I recommend ditching the crappy thin belt that comes with it and using your own instead. Also live at Target: Erickson Beamon costume jewelry, which is getting bad reviews for cheapness but otherwise looks fun, and Orla Kiely housewares, which look kitchy-cute and are getting good reviews.

One more Target note: Fab Sugar has photos of the upcoming Tracy Feith Go International collection, several of which are modeled by Allie from The City, coincidentally. Tracy Feith is one of those designers where, when I see his clothes, I first think, "Hmm...interesting," but then they really begin to grow on me, and that's pretty much how I feel about this collection. The prints are offbeat, the silhouettes are quirky, but somehow it all works. I particularly like the cropped motorcycle jacket, and I am in love with this ruffled bikini, and, luckily, the collection hits stores May 17th, just in time for summer.

I will admit, I love Urban Outfitters' catalogues. They are always so stylized and cool-looking, I turn down the corner of every other page to mark the stuff I want. (However, then I go to the store and realize the persuasive power of good photography, because the stuff looks like crap in person.) In the latest catalogue, I noticed a new line, Cool, Casual by Slow and Steady Wins the Race. Turns out this is a designer collaboration; while not super-expensive, Slow and Steady Wins the Race is a fashiony, high-concept line of basics that's normally found at stores like Oak and Opening Ceremony. So far, there are five Cool, Casual pieces available; I have a feeling the leather tee will get all the attention, but I have my eye on the silk tunic, which looks just about perfect to me.

Finally, Racked reports that Adam Lippes for Mango is in stores now...however, prices are more prestige than mass: The cheapest item is a $49 tank top; two dresses top out at $260. They're silk, but still. The outfit at right, which was my favorite of the bunch, will cost you $310 before tax. Yikes! Let's hope those prices are due to wonky exchange rates and not the utter cluelessness of Mango.

MasstigeWatch!
As was leaked last month, Uniqlo has a very downtown coterie of designer collaborations lined up for spring [subscription required]: Steven Alan for women and Opening Ceremony for men hit stores in March; Shipley & Halmos for women and Gilded Age for men bow in May. Price ranges for all four lines will be a very wallet-friendly $19-$79. So while none of these lines are really anything to go crazy about, I'm sure they will be well made and quietly cool, as the previous Uniqlo designer collaborations have been.

If you're more excited about the McQ for Target collection, Target already has a microsite up and running; it helpfully counts down the days until the March 4th launch, and you can also preview a few looks and listen to a song by The Duke Spirit (singer Leila Moss was McQueen's inspiration for the line). But if you're like me and realized--oh, shit!--you're going to be on vacation when the collection hits stores, you're in luck: Racked reports that Target will open a pop-up shop, called the Target McQ Market, 2/14-15 from noon to 10 p.m., at 330 West Street, in the far West Village, a block north of Houston. Yep, it will be packed with all the fashionistas in town for Fashion Week (I'll have to strategically time my visit during one of the big shows that I'm not invited to), but, damnit, I must have that jumpsuit!

MasstigeWatch!
I'm going to cut right to the chase: Nylon has a preview of the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target collection (as I reported back in August and November), and it's very, very good. But if I could pick only one piece from the collection, it would be the jumpsuit, which is a very close approximation of this McQ tux jumpsuit, currently on sale for $614 at La Garçonne. It will be mine--oh, yes, it will be mine. The best part? The collection hits stores March 1, just in time for my birthday. If that's not serendipity, I don't know what is.

MasstigeWatch!
Just two weeks ago, Alexander McQueen's collection for Target was confirmed; now, today, we have an article in WWD [subscription required], complete with pictures and interviews! Since you likely can't read the article, here's the pertinent info: The McQ Alexander McQueen Designer Collaboration will hit only 250 select Target stores starting March 1st, as well as target.com, and nothing will cost more than $129.99. Here's muse Lelia Moss modeling one look from the collection. Get excited!





In the meantime, we have Michelle Obama fave Thakoon's Go International collection hitting Target in November; Nylon has a sneak preview. I love the batik prints, and it looks like many of the pieces are cotton, which is a plus, since so many of the previous Go Internationals have suffered from Cheap Fabric Syndrome. More details as soon as they're available...

MasstigeWatch!
There are not many sure things in the fashion industry, but a pretty safe bet is when any rumor about Target's designer collaborations is leaked to Women's Wear Daily, it's likely to be true. They reported back in August that Alexander McQueen was in talks to design a Go International collection for the retailer; that rumor has now been confirmed, somewhat. The line, McQ Alexander McQueen for Target, will be based on McQueen's lower-priced McQ contemporary line, and it won't be part of Go International, which has traditionally showcased up-and-coming designers. Instead, the line will be the first installment of Designer Collaborations, an ongoing initiative to bring established high-end designers to Target shoppers (and, presumably, to help fill the void left by the departure of the Isaac Mizrahi line). Inspired by Leila Moss, the smokin'-hot singer of The Duke Spirit (pictured above), McQueen's collection will have a rock-and-roll edge, with lots of skinny jeans, bubble dresses, studded trim, and graphic tees. It arrives in stores March 1st--just in time for my birthday--and stays for six weeks. Mark your calendars!

MasstigeWatch!
Every fashionista worth her skinny jeans let out a collective shriek this morning upon reading this glorious item in WWD's Fashion Scoops:

It looks like Alexander McQueen could be the latest designer name — and one of the most prestigious — to link up with Target’s Go International program, which showcases capsule collections by guest designers. According to industry sources, the British designer is in talks to work on a collection for the Minneapolis-based retailer. A spokeswoman for McQueen declined comment Wednesday.

If the designer does ink a deal with Target, he would join an ever-growing lineup of marquee names who have produced collections for the brand, including Luella Bartley, Alice Temperley, Proenza Schouler and Richard Chai. In addition, Anya Hindmarch and Sigerson Morrison both have collections in the pipeline for the retailer.

While McQueen launched a denim-based diffusion line, called McQ Alexander McQueen, in fall 2006, he’s not yet notched up a collaboration with a mass retailer during his career. As well as his ready-to-wear collection, McQueen designs a footwear collection for Puma and a capsule luggage collection for Samsonite’s Black Label.

That's right: Alexander McFuckingQueen and Target. WWD must have a well-planted spy somewhere at Target, because every single Target-collaboration rumor that's popped up in this column has come true. So I think we can all start to mentally prepare ourselves for plaid, corsets, bustles, and sharp tailoring from fashion's former enfant terrible. Now, the only thing that gives me pause is that the Go International collections have widely varied in terms of quality and fit, whereas, say, H&M's collections have been pretty stellar across the board. Nonetheless, I pray that if this is indeed true--and, for the love of François-Henri Pinault I hope it is--that McQueen stays away from the polyester.

And, not necessarily masstige, but on a similarly budget-conscious level, Alexander Wang has announced that he's creating both a line of shoes and a lower-priced line of knitwear (the latter will most likely retail for under $100). WWD has the details [subscription required]; the shoes look a little scary, but the knits look pretty good to me, kind of like a grown-up, less shrink-prone version of American Apparel. Sadly, both the shoes and the knits won't hit stores until spring 2009, but in the meantime, there's always his full-priced line, which you can find at Barneys, Nordstrom, and Shopbop.