USHER - USHER TO LAUNCH MENSWEAR

R+B star USHER is taking advantage of the latest musical trend by launching his very own clothing line.

The singer wants to style his line on the formal designs of menswear giants PRADA, GUCCI and ROBERTO CAVALLI.

He says, "You know what, to be perfectly honest with you, I'm really a suit man, if it's not Prada, it's Gucci, Roberto Cavalli

"I'm really into Italian designers as well as American designers, as a matter of fact I'm heading in that direction.

"So any event, when I do start a line, which I am going to start it. I don't have a date, but 2006 I'll have it out."

Earlier this month Usher revealed his ambitions to branch out into business and create an Usher empire - in the same mould as RUSSELL SIMMONS and SEAN 'P DIDDY' COMBS.

He said, "Something that you should know about me is that I'm a businessman before I'm anything else.

"Look at the capabilities of MARTHA STEWART or Russell Simmons or Sean 'P Diddy' Combs or even 50 CENT with G-UNIT. Look at what they did with their licensing.

"This is my opportunity to do the same. Clothing and shoes are kind of the standard nowadays, so I'm trying to figure out how I can come at it from a different angle. Watches, clothes, perfume, cologne, facial and acne products. There are so many possibilities."