This fall, Swedish bargain retailer H&M will be selling the only thing better and more real than Madonna herself: an exclusive Madonna-approved nylon tracksuit! The Queen of Pop is now the Queen of (Discount) Fashion, and she will be featured in ads that start running around the same time as the tracksuits enter the stores.

Our pal at Made In Brazil got his greedy hands on these preliminary ad photos, and of course we wanted to share them with you. If Madge were any more airbrushed, she would be a drawing.

The Cheap Side Of Madonna [Made In Brazil]

Wearing this t-shirt will help defuse one of the most tired pick-up lines: "Do you have the time?" Obviously you do, and you wear it on your chest, so would-be suitors will have to get a little more creative. The digital read-out is powered by four AAA batteries hidden away in a washable compartment and utilizes what must be a very expensive technology as this shirt is not cheap.

You'll be sure to get lots of attention with the glowing green time on your chest, just don't wear the shirt in the backroom unless you actually want to see people's faces.

Digital Clock T-Shirt ($59.95) [Latest Buy via Popgadget]

If you have never been to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, you should run (don't walk) and do so the next time you venture into New York City. It's housed in the breathtaking Andrew Carnegie Mansion on 5th Ave. (at 91st St.) and is the only museum in the nation to focus solely on historic and contemporary design. We've seen a couple great exhibitions there: one on utilitarian textiles and one on the influence of color in fashion through the ages.

And after a hard day of walking around the museum, the shop is actually a pleasant reward. It's not filled with dinosaur-shaped pencil erasers and ceramic paper bags, but instead cases of attractive glassware, an impressive collection of art books, modern watches and accessories, and an ever-changing roster of art multiples.

Now for the news: you can visit the shop online in their new web store.

The Shop at the Cooper-Hewitt [Official Site]
The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum [Official Site]

We have friends that swear up and down that Fiji Artisanal Artesian Water is actually better than tap, and we let them believe it if it makes them happy. However, now there is OGO Water, which is pumped full of oxygen: 35 times more than normal water. The results are apparently a quick pick-me-up, but we aren't sure how long it lasts. It's kind of like a bottled extension of yuppie "oxygen bars," except it has water in it. Bottling air might just be insulting our intelligence a little too much.

Still, we want to try it when it becomes available in the U.S., as it could be the perfect thing after a long, hard day of blogging.

OGO Water [Official Site via Popgadget]

Now that summer is in full-force, it's about time to retire that old pair of flip-flops you bought on sale at the Gap three years ago, and why not upgrade to some real quality summer footwear? Enter Kai Kai Sandals, with all rubber soles that supposedly mold to your foot for an ultra-comfortable fit.

We like the Montauk Classic (pictured above), which for $49.99 isn't the cheapest flip-flop we have found, but the suede top won us over. We'll believe that "rubber molding to your foot" business when we try it ourselves.

Kai Kai Sandals [Official Site via Gizmodo]

Literally, nice package. We're big fans of Ginch Gonch, and not only because their roster of underthings is the offline alternative to searching for "wreslter bulge" on YouTube. Put simply: They make hot underwear. And their latest offering – the Red Bandana Sport Brief – is no different. Normally we'd call them on their blatant bandwagoning of the Brokeback Mountain theme (because anything cowboy related is now instantly cliche), but they've put a tasteful twist on things with this bandana print. We'll take two .. of the model. And then we're hitting the mechanical bull.

Ginch Gonch Red Bandana Sport Brief [International Jock]

Give Ron Klein a break: it takes a few days to measure public outcry and draft an apology. Klein is the CEO of Macy's, the gay community's least favorite department store this month after putting the kabash on a window display celebrating gay pride. Klein is sorry about that. And he wants your forgiveness.

Pulling down the window display was, indeed, a mistake. But, you see, it wasn't because Macy's is anti-gay — it was because of a "breakdown in communication." Which sounds plausible, until you remember it was a breakdown in communication that led to the events of 9/11. Not that we're equivocating, of course.

When the controversy arose over the content of our display, the decision was made to maintain the display with no changes. We wanted to stand firm in our support of Boston Pride Week and the GLBT community - just as we always have.

Unfortunately, as sometimes happens in large organizations, a miscommunication occurred and the controversial mannequins were removed. Again, they were not removed because of pressure - but because of an internal breakdown in communication. Macy's mistake - unquestionably.

Some can also call our decision not to return the mannequins to the window a mistake. Historically, our windows dedicated to causes and celebrations have always been executed through the use of text and props such as posters. We traditionally do not feature mannequins in these "community windows" because the introduction of merchandise has no role in our tributes.

I would ask the GLBT community to consider all that we did do - and have done - for Pride Week and the GLBT community.

Should Macy's get a pass on this one? As In Newsweekly points out, Macy's does have a decent history with the gays. Domestic partner health benefits in '97. Corporate sponsor of the AIDS Action Committee. Sexual orientation added to its employee non-discrimination policies. Forget all that over a window display?

Klein's full statement, after the jump.

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Can we get a big, white smile from all the fastidious gays out there? Now there is one more way to eliminate germs in your home. The VIOlight toothbrush sanitizer and storage system is like Fantastik for your toothbrush. You just stick it in headfirst (the VIOlight fits all toothbrushes, including kids and electric ones), push a button, and the ultraviolet light kills 99% of germs and turns itself off after ten minutes. It sure beats boiling them.

VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer [Amazon via Uncrate]

Now that we have ordered the t-shirt we want, we can safely tell you about the APC summer sale that started yesterday. French label APC makes nice-fitting clothes that aren't obscenely expensive, especially when they are up to 50% off like they are right now. If you've been looking for the perfect pair of skinny pants, this could be your last stop, and it could maybe even be a bargain. Check out their sexy "overdyed narrow jeans" if you want to show off all your assets and still look classy.

If you live in New York, stop by their only U.S. store at 131 Mercer St. between Prince and Spring so you can try on your savings.

Summer Sale [APC]

Since we've been in a cuddly mood ever since yesterday's Reality Bedding, we thought highlighting the latest in faux intimacy would be appropriate. The Buddy Throw, from designer La Tete Au Cube, is a 85 percent wool concotion designed so you don't have to spend your days watching the World Cup on your 52 inch wall-mounted plasma screen all by yourself. Beside, who needs Andriy Shevchenko when you've got a faceless piece of fabric to hold you close?

Plaid Buddy Throw [La Tete Au Cube]

Let's say you're intent on sleeping with, say, Lukas Podolski, Chad White, or Carlos Bocanegra. Yeah, well good luck with that. But you can get one step closer with Reality Bedding, an innovative take on traditional bedding.

The company takes a titillating image (read: scantily clad models) and prints it on a comforter, letting you sleep with a 10 when a Friday night at a dive bar usually only scores you a 6. Currently, only a small selection of women are offered, but we spoke with Reality Bedding co-owner Michael Cardamone: "We have some guys in the works!" he promises. "The gay/lesbian community has reacted well to the product so far."

Reality Bedding

The designers at Adidas have officially crossed over into Crazytown, and we love it. These Stan Smith Adidas sneakers come in pink and green editions that sport either Miss Piggy or Kermit the Frog, and they don't short-change you on the details. In addition to the printed Muppet portrait on the side, there is an original Piggy or Kermit autograph beside it, plus fuzzy detailing along the edge, and a transparent portrait on the sole of the shoe. We are turning pink and green in anticipation.

Miss Piggy Adidas [Karmaloop]
Kermit Adidas [Karmaloop via Productdose]

We asked, and you answered. Last week's panning of Macy's for their gay window display removal doesn't seem close to ending — so we wanted to hear how else you, our readers, were reacting.

Writes in Queery reader Phillip:

I called Federated (Macy's parent corp.) and asked to speak to someone in the PR department. I got a woman on the line who seemed to have spent a while giving people the official response to 'the incident in Boston", and this was that there was a communication error internally, that it wasn't ordered from on high that the mannequins be taken down, and that it was a huge misunderstanding that they regret. Macy's supports the gay commuity, blah blah blah.

She assured me that giving the finger to gay pride was NOT their intention, even if the mannequins were pulled due to a miscommunication — she mentioned that they participated in the parade, that they had fair employment practices, and so on. I pointed out that it seemed a little disingenuous for them to push the whole thing over with a "whoops! we goofed" if that REALLY is their position, and the public had largely made up its mind that Macy's failed to manifest any sort of a spine when pressed on the matter.

The display had apparently been scheduled to be taken down due to the end of Pride anyhow (though I'm not sure when this is for Boston…so I can't verify anything). And they are planning to make a big showing in New York Pride to leave no doubt in the public's mind that they are actually supporters. At this point I suggested that they ship the mannequins in question up to NYC and put them on the Macy's float. She thought that was a pretty good idea, at which point I thought "good enough" and thanked her for her time.

After the jump, a few more first-hand accounts..

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When it comes to checking out Christina Aguilera's new tracks, we're still rocking the iPod mini at the gym. Given that it's discontinued, we like to call it a "classic." But that doesn't mean its look could use an upgrade. And your black iPod nano? Everyone's got one of those. Perhaps it's time for some customization?

There already are hundreds of iPod accessories companies out there willing to glam up your mp3 player. But Gelaskins is the first we've found that not only offers aesthetically pleasing customizations, but delivers an add-on that's also protective of our audio investment (the skins encase the screen, too). They offer dozens of remarkably attractive skins for all iPod models and, should the mood strike you, buying three gets the fourth free.

Keep in mind, however: Gelaskins are made for one-time use only. So when that crocodile iPod begins to lose its appeal, your $15 investment goes with it.

Gelaskins

Behold, a fondue pot that you will actually use instead of leaving in your cabinet for years thinking you might someday find the energy to go buy fuel for it at the hardware store.

The Double Chocolatier is electric, and allows you have two different kinds of chocolate with independently controlled heat elements. We aren't sure if you could put cheese in one, but that would make this gadget just about perfect for parties.

Deluxe Chocolatier [Sharper Image via Shiny Shiny]