Red Carpet Diamonds

Just a quickie.

SWEAT
Dirt Fitness Lunchtime Class
What: The 40-minute workout ($20), proven to burn up to 600 calories, progresses from warm-up to sets of sprints, kettlebell training, push-ups, band exercises, and balance techniques.
Why: Participants get access to MySpa’s locker rooms (showers, sauna, and steam room).
When: Every Wed., 12:30 p.m.
Where: InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plz., meet on the lower deck of the plz. lvl. (305-577-1000).

PAMPER
Tiano Salon Spa Beauty Break
What: Newbies get a manicure, pedicure, and half-hour seaweed facial for just $59.
Why: Whoa, that’s cheap.
When: Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 2840 Oak Ave., Coconut Grove. Reservations (recommended) to 305-448-6661.

SHOP
Under-$50 Finds
What: Swirl scoured its closet to bring you the best fashion under $50 from labels like Dallin Chase, Loomstate, and Isabel Lu.
Why: While you’re there, pop in to the Gar-de sale for up to 60 percent off simple tunics, sheer tanks, and solid dresses.
When: You’ve got nothing to wear.
Where: Online at swirl.com.

HYDRATE
Boxed Water Is Better
What: Made from mostly renewable resources, the carton ($2 a quart) is more ecofriendly than plastic and easier to recycle.
Why: Twenty percent of profits goes to water relief and reforestation charities.
When: Tues.-Sat., noon-10 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Where: Sweat Records, 5505 NE 2nd Ave., Little Haiti (786-693-9309).

EAT
Caffe Vialetto Back-to-School Menu
What: Neighborhood fave offers a three-course lunch for $20.
Why: Get your money’s worth with Caribbean risotto (sweet plantains, goat cheese, and roasted almonds) and The Bomb (chocolate cake stuffed with Heath toffee bar).
When: Mon.-Fri., noon-3 p.m.
Where: 4019 Le Jeune Rd., Coral Gables (305-446-5659).

Photo: Thinkstock

We’ve had a girl crush on model-turned-interviewer-turned-whatever-she-wants Alexa Chung for ages. So we’re using the upcoming launch of her amazing collection for Madewell as an excuse to subject her to the same brilliantly funny questions she’s asked celebrities on her beloved, departed MTV talk show, It’s On with Alexa Chung.

Here’s one you asked the cast of Glee: Let’s say you’re opening a chain restaurant. What will you call it?
A themed restaurant or just a restaurant?

A themed one, obviously.
Well, it’s a shame that Jekyll & Hyde is already taken, because that is really good. Um. I’d really like to do a Spice Girls restaurant. We can call it Spice Up Your Life. It can have Spice Girl memorabilia everywhere and serve curry.

Speaking of Spice Girls, which one would you be?
Definitely Ginger Spice.

You asked Emile Hirsch how he’d describe his smell. So how about yours?
Ha. I don’t know. I wear rose perfume, so maybe I smell like roses.

Now for Lady Gaga, you asked her about what she wears to the grocery store. So how do you dress to go grocery shopping?
I dress like Lady Gaga.

Would you rather lose an eye or gain one?
Oh, that’s from John Mayer. He was cracking me up at the time, and I couldn’t hold it together, because I thought that was the best thing I’d ever heard. As he said, I’d gain one then work an eye patch — a really cool, bedazzled eye patch. Though maybe I can gain one and put it in the back of my head and switch between the three. I’d be like an owl.

And you could cover the third with hair?
And you could see what people were saying about you, literally, behind your back.

This last question is also something you asked John Mayer. And it’s our favorite question ever.
It’s about the hairline, isn’t it?

Yes! Would you rather have a receding hairline or a — if this is a word — proceeding hairline?
Oh, man. I don’t know, because neither is particularly attractive on a lady. I mean, if you’re a guy, you can just kind of have a receding one, and it’s fine. Or a proceeding one, and it can be like a beard. But I’m a lady. No facial furniture’s okay really, right? So I guess I’d have a receding one, and I can cover it with wigs.

We like that answer.
Well, I don’t want to be bothered with shaving every day. I can’t even bother with shaving every day now, so if it were on my face, it’d be a real nightmare. There’d be a lot going on.

Finally, is there anything you wish we’d asked?
If you die tomorrow, would you be happy with everything you’ve accomplished so far?

That’s a good one. So what’s the answer?
You’re quite deep. Well. It’s aiiight.

For more delightful insight into the world of Chung (her Madewell collection, fave foods, and whose closet she wants to raid), click to the DailyCandy Dossier. Visit regularly during Fashion Week for the chance to win one of the great makeup bags from the collection, launching September 9 online at madewell.com. Still want more? Check out our gallery of her original sketches.

Photo: Thomas Giddings

	Our trusty Dossier is where we share all the newsy bits NY Fashion Week has to offer — behind-the-scenes beauty madness, street-style snapshots, designer giveaways, and porn (for fashion fetishizers).

	Up to 65% off E.vil & 80%20 We’ve got you covered from head (er, shoulder) to toe: E.vil’s playful T-shirts and 80%20’s hidden-wedge booties and two-tone tennies are up to 65% off today on Swirl.

Chung’s quirky sketches appear on T-shirts and accessories in her Madewell collection. We kind of want to print these out and frame them.

To see a Q&A with Chung — and for a chance to win a makeup bag from her collection later this week — visit our DailyCandy Dossier.

There’s no denying the goings-on at Hogwarts are irresistible (and if loving the books and movies is wrong, we don’t want to be right). But at what point does the affinity for adolescent wizards get weird/creepy? In this Ask the Office Guy, Dan works his advice magic.

Got a question for our office guy? E-mail him at theofficeguy@dailycandy.com.

Technically speaking, shouldn’t all other days be called leisure days?

TREAD
Loeffler Randall Rain Boots
What: Much-anticipated (they’ve been about two years coming) impermeable rubber versions ($165-$195) of LR’s popular Matilde knee-high boots and June lace-up ankle booties in infallible neutrals (black, olive green, and taupe).
Why: Your feet will be drier and better styled than the soggy masses.
Where: Online at loefflerrandall.com.

READ
DailyCandy+Fashion Week
What: We did it up big. Up-close-and-personal looks into the lives and lines of nine of our favorite indie designers (including Albertus Swanepoel, Ann Yee, and Samantha Pleet) join our usual NYFW cast (The Dossier, giveaways, groundbreaking show coverage).
Why: Our friends at Swirl wanted in; look for their Fashion Week pop-up shop featuring five of the previously mentioned designers.
Where: Online at dailycandy.com.

SCORE
SnappyTuna
What: If ramekins, zesters, and obscure cooking gadgets make you giddy, geek out with the members-only sale site filled with top-notch kitchen utensils and table settings.
Why: There’s nothing fishy about 50-70 percent off the likes of Outset barware, Danica table linens, and Rosanna tableware.
Where: Online at snappytuna.com.

CELEBRATE
Sweet Sally’s Bakeshop Rosh Hashanah Treats
What: Rugelach (chocolate apricot, raspberry cinnamon raisin) and mandelbread ($12-$13) made by a nice New York girl who bakes just like (but probably better than) your grandma.
Why: The best part of every holiday? The food to which it’s intrinsically linked. Shana tova!
Where: Online at sweetsallys.com.

THROW
Beklina Prairie Rugs
What: Do you have a floor? Is it naked? Cover up with sustainably made, 100 percent recycled cotton carpets, mats, and runners ($50-$290) that are sturdy, washable, and come in bold colors (brick, mint, cobalt).
Why: The rug doesn’t always have to match the drapes; in fact, complementary colors can really open a room.
Where: Online at beklina.com.

Photos: Courtesy of Loeffler Randall

	Up to 60% off Denim We’ve rounded up covetable jeans from the likes of Paige, Rich & Skinny, Dylan George, and Rockstar. They’ll leave your wallet (but not your butt) nice and big, since they’re up to 60% off on Swirl.

We be jellin’.

BUY
Pretta Jellies
What: Miami-based shoe brand rolls out new water-friendly styles (gladiator, ballet flat) in a variety of colors (clear, chocolate brown, gunmetal gray, black).
Why: You never know when you’ll find yourself near the ocean — or a puddle.
When: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
Where: The Dressing Room, 5829 SW 73rd St., ste. 9, South Miami (305-668-4440).

TRY
Gigi Opens
What: Top Chef alum Jeff McInnis helms the kitchen of the Wynwood haunt that serves Asian-inspired comfort fare, from noodles and dumplings to BBQ.
Why: Bardot and The Electric Pickle partygoers, rejoice. It stays open ’til the wee hours.
When: Mon.-Thurs., 6 p.m.-3 a.m.; Fri. & Sat., 6 p.m.-5 a.m.
Where: 3470 N. Miami Ave. (305-573-1520).

HOST
Sunday Brunch
What: Whip up French toast souffle, muffins, and a little hair of the dog to lessen the effects of your debauchery.
Why: Saturday night’s escapades sound a lot funnier over heart-shaped eggs.
When: This (and every) Sun.
Where: Check out our online gallery for ideas on hosting at home.

ROCK OUT
New Work Miami 2010 After Hours at MAM
What: Art meets music at the postviewing event, where local rock bands, like Beings and Jacuzzi Boys, perform on the museum’s patio.
Why: Talking Head Transmitters, a radio station-slash-art collective (1610 AM), broadcasts live.
When: Thurs., 6-9 p.m.
Where: 101 W. Flagler St. (305-375-1704). Admission is $5 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

FEAST
Dim Sum & Champagne at The Restaurant
What: The Setai’s Asian-themed eatery celebrates its fifth anniversary with a special dinner ($75) that includes eight plates and a glass of bubbly.
Why: Jun sahn bei (scallop and black truffle har gau) and kao ya ér gān chūnjuǎn (Peking duck, shiitake mushroom, and candied shallots spring roll).
When: Every Fri., 7 p.m.-midnight.
Where: 2001 Collins Ave. (305-520-6402).

Photo: Courtesy of The Dressing Room

	Up to 60% off Denim We’ve rounded up covetable jeans from the likes of Paige, Rich & Skinny, Dylan George, and Rockstar. They’ll leave your wallet (but not your butt) nice and big, since they’re up to 60% off on Swirl.

Indie band Ra Ra Riot’s melodic, strings-driven new album The Orchard is just in time for the last road trip of the season. Their unique, orchestral sound has us wondering which late-summer tunes are on their playlist. Here’s what guitarist Milo Bonacci has to say.

“Midnight Lover,” by Kisses
“A warm summer night in SoCal.”

“Sabali,” by Amadou & Mariam
“Pleasingly simple. Plus, I’m a sucker for synthesizer arpeggios and old-school drum machines!”

“In Particular,” by Blonde Redhead
“I love the guitar work in their songs. There always seems to be something new the closer you look.”

“Collector,” by Here We Go Magic
“Fun and mesmerizing with a nice dynamic arc.”

“Siberian Breaks,” by Mgmt
“Its musical scenes are structured more like a movie than a typical pop song.”

“This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody),” by Talking Heads
“An all-time favorite song. Nearly perfect.”

“I Wanna Be Your Lover,” by Prince
“I love the rhythmic tension between the drums and keyboards.”

“Forever,” by Walter Meego
“They have a whole bunch of new material from a soon-to-be record. I’m curious and excited to hear what they put out next.”

“Tomboy,” by Panda Bear
“I really like the depth and audible space. It’s a trademark of Panda Bear’s music but captivating nonetheless.”

“Wind Chimes,” by The Beach Boys
“It’s not that it sounds like a cool summer night — it feels like a cool summer night.”

For more information and U.S. tour dates, go to rarariot.com. Download The Orchard online at itunes.com.

Photo: Doron Gild

	We played fly-on-the-wall as nine of NYC’s most exciting indie designers sketched, kvetched, and dressed their way to the runway. Check out the action on our Fashion Week site and just try to resist retweeting it.

	Up to 60% off Lucky Lucky added loungewear to its denim repertoire with the same dedication to fit and style. In vibrant prints and flattering cuts, everything’s especially comfy at up to 60% off on Swirl.

Like what you see in DailyCandy’s Fashion Week coverage? Visit the Swirl pop-up shop. Starting September 8, the site will be selling the F/W 2010 ready-to-wear pieces (everything you see in this video) from designers Ann Yee, Bodkin, Samantha Pleet, Tom Scott, and Whit. Our editors are already drooling over the merch. Still not a Swirl member? Join here.

Benz in his studio.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
At my desk, sketching spring 2021.

What are you currently reading?
Role Models, by John Waters. I’m a die-hard fan, and have been my whole life. I’ve read everything he’s ever written, and Role Models doesn’t disappoint. Hilarious!

What’s your favorite under-the-radar spot in NYC?
Karavas on West Fourth, for its burgers and jukebox.

What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
“If You Could Read My Mind,” by Gordon Lightfoot. I listen to it all the time.

What fashion trend will we never see Chris Benz design?
Never say never, but I don’t prefer a jegging.

What’s something we’d be surprised to know about you?
I eat cheeseburgers every day, but I hate French fries.

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Scott means business.  (But he’s really very nice.)

The next place I’d like to travel is …
Astoria. For Greek food.

It may sound distorted, but I collect old doll parts.

If I could be anyone from a TV show, I would be …
One of the women on the Mormon fundamentalist compound in the show Big Love. I’m obsessed with their style.

One of my favorite places in NYC is …
All the bike lanes.

When I was little, I wanted to be …
Greg Louganis.

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Don’t miss our top-seeded Deals.

Swanepoel and cat at home.

When milliner Albertus Swanepoel was 7 years old in Pretoria, South Africa, he found a doll’s head, stuck a pencil where its neck had been, and draped it with fabric. Later, in his early 20s, he sold his beloved piano so he could afford fashion school.

Now, almost 30 years later, the CFDA winner’s elegant-yet-modern hats are featured in runway shows like Proenza Schouler, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Peter Som, Carolina Herrera, DVF, and Narciso Rodriguez. And he still makes every single cloche, fedora, turban, and boater in his Garment District studio. To see the charming Swanepoel in action, watch our video.

Read our Q&A with the designer

Take a virtual tour of his apartment

Lust after his previous designer collaborations

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Pozgay’s got the whole world in her hands.

Create your ideal breakfast: What would you eat, where, and with whom?
Quiet breakfast, sunny day, window seat, hueves con mole at Miranda’s in Williamsburg, with my boyfriend, Parker. They have amazing iced coffee and the sweetest staff of all time. It is a happy place.

The best/last art exhibit I saw was …
I went to the Creator’s Project at Milk Studios and was mesmerized by Muti Randolph’s Rubik’s Cube. It was this incredible cube made of thousands of spheres of light. You could walk through, and it was synced to music to change patterns.

Fill in the blank: It may sound old ladyish but I collect odd little trinkets like glass birds or old wooden toys.

What are some of your favorite movies and why?
Rushmore: It is clever, funny, the styling is insane, and the soundtrack is one of my favorites of all time. Every character is lovable in some way.
The Red Balloon: This is a short movie, but I am obsessed with it and have been since I was a little girl. It is such a beautiful little fantasy with a bittersweet ending. I love the contrast of the red balloon with the gray streets of Paris.

What are you currently reading?
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. But I think that I am going to stop. It makes me feel like I am reading someone’s personal mail or something.

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Style runs in the Smith family.

Do you have any nicknames?
My friends call me Lay, which is short for how my name is pronounced “lay-quan.” It means knowledge in Arabic.

What do people not know about you?
My secret favorite hobby is performing. If I weren’t a designer, I’d be the male version of Beyoncé!

Where was the last place you traveled to?
South Africa. We as Americans don’t realize what we have. But I will tell you something: Those Africans can party! I had quite a wardrobe, and when I went out, they gagged. I felt I was giving them a little juice — a taste of NYC. 

Any indulgences?
I love eating junk food. My favorite candy is Sour Power Straws.

Fill in the blank: I don’t think I could live without my mannequin, Ivanka.

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Swanepoel peeks out from his kitchen window.

What would you be doing now if you weren’t a milliner?
I’d be a game ranger or an opera singer. I grew up going on safari every winter vacation, and I have a deep fascination with wild animals. As for opera, I love its grandeur, larger-than-life quality. I think it must be amazing to be part of such an endeavor. Sadly, I can’t sing to save my life.

What’s something we’d be surprised to know about you?
I love fast cars. I’d collect vintage cars if I could. Also, I played classical piano for many years and competed in ballroom dancing.

What are you reading?
I read The New York Times every day. Right now I’m also reading Plaasmoord, which means “murder on a farm,” an Afrikaans book by Karin Brynard.

If you had to live anywhere besides NYC, where would it be?
I think I would love to live in Tokyo and also in the Kruger National Park. I’ve never been to Tokyo; it just seems so refined and enticing. I love the open skies of Kruger, the quietness, and endless vistas. It’s a humbling experience to be there.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?
It’s “Era Desso il Figlio Mio” from Donizetti’s opera Lucrezia Borgia. J’adore!

Who are your style icons?
Daphne Guinness has a very individual expression of her personal style. The Marchesa Luisa Casati had style way beyond her years and time. It was fiercely expressionist and slightly dark. The Vicomtesse de Noailles mixed with great creative spirits, who contributed to her personal style. And she threw legendary parties.

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