Red Carpet Diamonds

After a summer of BBQ and artisanal ice cream, the word jeggings is even more painful to contemplate. Prepare for fall’s fashions with these new and soon-to-launch fitness classes.

Intro to Aerojump
Former middleweight champion boxer Michael Olajide Jr. skips through crossovers, double turns, and one-leg and slow-motion jumps (plus hand-weight exercises and lunges) in this new intro class. Rumor has it you can burn up to 1,200 calories in just one heart-racing session. Every Saturday, 11 a.m. Cost is $20 for your first class (regularly $40); $30 thereafter through October 30. Mention DailyCandy when booking. 336 West 13th Street, at Gansevoort Street (212-929-1640 or info@aerospacenyc.com).

SoulCycle Bands
Your triceps and delts are giving your quads the evil eye. Settle the argument at this new brutally effective class devised by the cult spinsters and incorporating resistance bands. We think of it fondly as a one-hour torture and sweat session. Starting September 13. Class times vary by location. $32. 117 West 72nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues (212-787-1300); 1470 Third Avenue, at 83rd Street (212-639-1300); 103 Warren Street, at West Side Highway (212-406-1300).

Yoga for Everyone
The latest entrant in the down dog fray is also the most cost-effective: Giving Nature Center offers free sessions Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:15-7:30 p.m. 155 West 19th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues (212-489-8082).

Tower of Power
This new class combines mat and tower exercises for flexibility and abdominal strength with spring resistance (for extra hurt). It’s for new clients only and will be taught by Re:Ab owner and possessor of six-pack abs Brooke Siler. Starts September 16. Thursdays, 7:30-8:15 a.m. Mention DailyCandy when booking and pay $35 (regularly $40); $30 if you e-mail today. 33 Bleecker Street, between Bowery and Lafayette Streets (212-420-9111).

Nalini Method
Yoga, Pilates, aerobics, barre work, and strength and resistance training are combined in the Nalini Method, which is now making Pure Yoga its permanent home. Founder Rupa Mehta and her instructors provide personalized attention during the hour-long class, so you don’t feel lost. Starts September 13. Drop-in rate, $35; membership, $225 per month until September 13. 204 West 77th Street, at Amsterdam Avenue (212-877-2025).

Photo: Courtesy of Aerospace

	Under-$50 Finds Swirl scoured its closet to bring you the best fashion under $50 from lovely labels like Dallin Chase and Isabel Lu. While you’re there, hit up the Gar-de sale for up to 60% off tunics, tanks, and dresses.

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.

Despite your best efforts, this season’s boyfriend blazers, baggy trousers, and charming oxfords have you looking more like a confused English schoolboy than an edgy sophisticate.

For a tailored, androgynous style that doesn’t call your gender into question, look to knitwear specialist Ann Yee. The Nolita-based designer’s fall collection femmes up boxy men’s cuts with sexy zipper details and exquisite draping and ruching.

We’re smitten with her structurally superior jumpsuits, like the Amelia with Risky Business-in-the-back plunging reverse lapels and Tova with a crisscrossed silky swagger. The possibility of combining fluid separates to create an un-suit-like uniform has us excited to revamp our wardrobe. We’ll try the zip-back Kort top (which reverses to a vest) with cropped Brette pants.

To learn more about Yee (everything from current design inspirations to her My So-Called Life counterpart) and see the entire line, check out our Fashion Week coverage.

Available at Albertine, 13 Christopher Street, between Greenwich Avenue and Waverly Place (212-924-8515 or albertine-nyc.com); Eva New York, 355a Bowery, between East 3rd and East 4th Streets (212-925-3890 or evanewyork.net).

Photo: Courtesy of Ann Yee

	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 already feel stuffed.

WEAR
Limited-Edition Deyrolle Scarves
What: Opening Ceremony teamed with Parisian taxidermy boutique Deyrolle to create a silk scarf printed with a menagerie of exotic animals and insects.
Why: You’ve got no room for a stuffed tiger, but this $95 accessory easily fits into a drawer or, better yet, around your neck.
When: Available Sept. 10.
Where: 35 Howard St., b/t Crosby St. & Broadway (212-219-2688).

DECORATE
Modern Anthology Opens
What: Don’t let the framed nudes or piles of cattle bones intimidate you; there’s plenty of vintage and home goods for ladies in this new Dumbo boutique.
Why: If the reissued Stanley thermoses, classic barware, and retro French anatomy posters don’t thrill, hire owners/interior designers John Marsala and Becka Citron to source something that does.
When: Mon., by appt.; Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Where: 68 Jay St., b/t Front & Water Sts. (718-522-3020).

BOOK
The James New York
What: The newest ecofriendly place to rest your head has a Willy Wonka-ish glass elevator, salvaged keyboard button mural in the foyer, and a tri-level garden with herbs that will be used in the resto (opening Nov. 1).
Why: The enclosed glass rooftop deck and bar (and pool for warmer months) opens Oct. 1.
When: You need a staycation or you’ve got guests in town.
Where: 27 Grand St., at Thompson St. (888-526-3778).

ENTER
School of Seven Bells Ticket Giveaway
What: Twin sisters and a guitar-strumming pal crank out dreamy synth-pop melodies we can’t get enough of.
Why: The first two readers to e-mail trivia@dailycandy.com will win a free pair of tickets.
When: Sept. 9, 9 p.m.
Where: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., b/t N. 11th & 12th Sts. (718-963-3369). Tickets ($5-$7) online at brooklynbowl.com.

READ
One Story, One Borough Campaign
What: Flip through a free copy of the award-winning, nonprofit literary magazine to discover some of Brooklyn’s finest short story authors (who’ll be reading at next Sunday’s Book Festival).
Why: We’ve finally given you a reason to look forward to rush hour.
When: Next Wed., 7:30-9 a.m.
Where: Various subway stops throughout Brooklyn.

CHOP
Tomahawk Salon
What: Get cut, colored, and styled at this new multipurpose beauty space that doubles as a fashion collective.
Why: Stylist Kristin Jackson made all the wigs in Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” video and can help you out with a similarly playful do.
When: Tues.-Fri., 12:30-8:30 p.m.; Sat., 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 10 Porter Ave., at Flushing Ave., Bushwick (646-399-6873).

Photos: Courtesy of Opening Ceremony

	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.

We’re wearing summer 2010 but looking at spring 2011. And by that we mean the New York fashion shows are about to start.

Since we’re big fans of small designers, this year we’re making them our focus. So we picked nine of our favorites, from newcomers to seasoned CFDA winners, and followed them for months as they put together their collections. We peered inside their homes and work spaces, pestered them with questions and generally found out what makes them tick. We’ll even be selling select pieces from a few of their F/W 2010 collections in a special pop-up shop on Swirl launching September 8.

In today’s stop-motion video we introduce eight of the nine: Tom Scott, Whitney Pozgay, Samantha Pleet, Eviana Hartman, Ann Yee, Albertus Swanepoel, LaQuan Smith, and Chris Benz. (Dana Lorenz’s busy schedule kept her out of the picture.)

We’re all about the next big thing. And we think these guys will be huge.

For daily fashion news, giveaways, and gossip, check out our Fashion Week coverage. Like the background music? It’s “Huddle Formation,” by The Go Team.

	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.

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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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