2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL
Vibe: Asian Persuasion
The Setai is a South Beach landmark which effortlessly draws on the elegance of the city’s history, while blending in modern Asian traditions of simplicity and tranquility. The Lounge Bar is a sophisticated space defined by clean lines and natural materials like stone and wood.

The long, low bar, dim lighting and cozy leather chairs offer the ideal atmosphere for lingering over cocktails with that special someone whether it’s on the first date or the tenth. The room’s main attraction is a wall with floor-to-ceiling wine cabinets that showcase an impressive and extensive selection of champagnes and wines. The menu offers an array of light bites and a rich assortment of caviar from around the world, which is alone reason enough to stop in for an indulgent dinner or late night rendezvous.

4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Vibe: Rat Pack is Back!
The centerpiece lounge at the landmark Fontainebleau Resort, Bleau Bar provides a panoramic view of the hotel’s elegant pool deck and the golden Atlantic coast. Dress in something swanky to enjoy classic cocktails and the sounds of Resident DJ K Razor who provides the soundtrack for an evening filled with promise. Serving nightly until midnight and 2am weekends.

4385 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Vibe: Siesta Chic
An exclusive enclave in the heart of the Soho Beach House, Ocho offers guests chilled tequila cocktails, imported cerveza and fresh fruit sangria high atop the clubhouse where a roster of Mexican treats pairs perfectly with an extensive list of mezcal, rum and tequila brands. Enjoy tacos, flautas and ceviche with a dazzling view of the surf.

1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL
Vibe: Retro Gold
The Raleigh Hotel is the quintessential Art Deco hotspot. Terrazzo floors, polished wood finishes, classic bar stools and jazz lulling in the background make it the ultimate place to linger long after the sun has gone down. André Balazs of New York’s Mercer and Los Angeles’ Standard fame, refurbished the hotel to its original 1940’s splendor before moving on to other endeavors and the revelers have followed accordingly.

Even if you aren’t a guest at the hotel, the Martini Bar is a must-see – it’s as intimate and sexy as they come. You can expect a full-service bar complete with a nice wine selection, but as you probably guessed, the martini is de rigueur. How you take yours is completely up to you, but they offer a menu of more than ten different flavors, including the famous Raleigh Martini. Dress to impress because you never know whom you might be rubbing elbows with here.

1685 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Vibe: Glam Squad
A South Beach sipper’s dream destination, Rose Bar pours craft cocktails to the beats of Miami’s top DJs evenings starting at 9pm. Glamorous and sophisticated, the warm glow of candlelight sets the stage for romantic drinks and quiet conversations. A menu of light bites from Leynia is also available for those moments when the fabulous people watching stirs your appetite.

One Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL
Vibe: Ocean Breeze
Just a short walk out passed the pool and down the stairs from Lapidus Lounge you’ll find South Beach’s premier oceanfront lounge, the DiLido Beach Club, where you can sip tropical cocktails under a moonlit sky while sampling a range of specialty seafoods and steaks on small plates from Chef de Cuisine Andres Meraz.

It’s a great respite from the bustle of Lincoln Road where you can engage in lively conversation or simply enjoy the balmy breezes coming in off the Atlantic Ocean just a few yards away.

Most people would agree that Miami has to be the world’s sweet-spot for indulging in life’s little passions. Maybe it’s the steamy sensuality or laid back prospective on life we’ve inherited from our neighbors to the south. Or maybe it’s the balmy winter weather that keeps all those hard bodies golden tanned. But, whatever the reason, Miami’s the perfect place to escape with the one you love. So ring-up one of these fabulous Miami hotels and make a little love of your own.

The Tides has been called the best address on Ocean Drive and that’s a hefty claim keeping in mind that Gianni Versace’s former mansion is only a block away. But don’t take my word for it, the Tides has recently been recognized as one of the best small hotels in the world. Other establishments that have been honored with this award are The Savoy in Prague, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and The Oberoi in Bali to name a few. So what makes this little hotel so great? Well, the extra large rooms and suites to name one of the many things.

Each of the guest rooms is decorated in soft tones and features an expansive ocean view. Rooms welcome guests with plush bathrobes, slippers and only the best Aveda bath products. Insulated double-paned windows ensure a peaceful night’s rest-that is, if you choose to sleep. The Tides also offers a heated freshwater pool and an outdoor exercise area. For the ultimate relaxation experience complimentary fresh fruit popsicles, cold moist towels and Fiji water are supplied by pool staff. On the beach, guests enjoy free lounge chairs, lotion, sunscreen, umbrellas, towels, magazines and board games. If you get tired of relaxing, use the free daily pass to Crunch Fitness or Bikram’s Yoga or if you are smart, you’ll head back to your room for a little workout of your own.

Dining at the Tides is a treat also with two award winning restaurants. Formal dining is provided at 1220 and the Terrace restaurant, which overlooks Ocean Drive, offers al fresco dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alternatively, the poolside bar has snacks and drinks any time of day. From the moment you walk into the lobby you will know that your experience at this hotel will be one to remember. The Tides is the perfect choice for couples that value luxury, premium service, sensuality and elegance.

The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne is one of my personal favorites on the list. Besides being set upon a dazzling stretch of golden sandy beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this plush twelve-acre resort boasts a 20,000 square foot spa and an 11-court Tennis Garden. The suites offer views overlooking the beach and ocean, hotel gardens or the tropical paradise island of Key Biscayne. Here’s a piece of trivia for you…did you know that Key Biscayne is the southernmost Barrier Island in the United States? Just five miles from downtown Miami and Miami Beach this hideaway is perfect for those of you who need to get away-but not too far away.

If you are able to tear yourselves from the lavish guestrooms you will definitely want to spend some quality time with your honey enjoying the tropical gardens surrounding the resort. Be sure and look for the romantic oceanfront wedding gazebo. And speaking of being in love, what could be more romantic than a proposal under the stars-waves crashing in the background and a string quartet playing in the wing? Many lavish weddings have been celebrated in the resort’s 10,000 square foot ballroom, not to mention all of the intimate moonlight ceremonies performed directly on the beach.

If marriage is as far from the picture as snow is from Miami Beach, don’t despair there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Relax with morning Tai Chi or yoga classes together on the beach. Water aerobics, snorkeling and windsurfing are great choices too. And let’s not forget that the 72-par Crandon Golf Course is just five minutes away. Take a nature stroll through the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse and enjoy one of South Florida’s famous sunsets. It may have been hundreds of years since early explorer Ponce de Leon sailed off the Florida coast and discovered the area now known as Key Biscayne, but The Fountain of Youth is still in abundance on this barrier island-and that’s good news for any pair of lovers.

The Mandarin Oriental, one of Miami’s newest luxury hotels, cost over $100 million to construct and has attracted many esteemed guests including Spain’s monarch Juan Carlos and his wife. The hotel is conveniently located on Brickell Key just minutes from everything-Miami’s financial district, Miami International airport, South Beach, Bayside and Coconut Grove. However, once you take a look at this breathtaking hotel you may not want to leave at all. The guest rooms and suites combine the beauty of South Florida with contemporary Asian elements in the ideal senses-pleasing combination. The perfect example is the cascading infinity pool that overlooks serene Key Biscayne.

Okay, so the hotel is beautiful-how does this factor into your romantic weekend getaway with your significant other? Well, luckily, the Mandarin Oriental offers much more than just the South Florida sun to keep you entertained. In addition to Cafe Sambal and Azul (the hotel’s award winning signature restaurant), you and your sweetie can enjoy a cocktail at M-Bar or take in the magnificent Miami skyline through the floor to ceiling lobby windows.

Oh, and let’s not forget the hotel’s spa-the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental is the real reason this hotel made the list. This tri-level sanctuary has a glass elevator that transports guests to what feels like another world. The clever combination of East and West makes the tranquil setting a sensual paradise. But if you want a real treat, schedule a couple’s massage in one of the spa’s seven private suites overlooking Key Biscayne. Each of the spa treatments is inspired by ancient traditions of the Chinese, Ayurvedic, European, Balinese and Thai. You can lie side by side as the two of you are pampered into ecstasy, and then what you do once you get back to your own room is you business. Make this one a must.

Robert DeNiro and Christy Turlington are among the A-listers entering the Miami Beach scene with their involvement in the Ian Schrager-managed hotel, the Shore Club. Designed by David Chipperfield, this dream hotel promises to provide a unique experience that oozes luxury and caters to your every need. Signature services include 24-hour butler service and beach pampering (think beach-side dining and massages in the sand). Word on the street is that Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger have both reserved the Penthouse, it’s no average beachside flat either. The suite is the hotel’s 6,000-square-foot, $15,000-a-night three story penthouse. The room is complete with two spiral staircases, a private pool with butler (of course!) and 360-degree views of the Atlantic and all of Miami Beach. Okay, so maybe you can’t shell out $15,000 a night, but no worries, the other rooms in the hotel are also quite beautiful (remember, you’re on a romantic getaway, so close encounters are a good thing).

Besides the sheer lavishness of the Shore Club, another perk is that it’s located in the heart of South Beach, so you can be sure there’s always plenty to do. Stroll with your honey down the moonlit beach or enjoy a romantic dinner and movie on Lincoln Road. And if you are still wondering exactly how DeNiro and Turlington are involved, you should know the famed sushi restaurant Nobu is partly owned by DeNiro and an Ayurvedic Spa is owned by model Christy Turlington—two more ideal spots for testifying your love.

Since opening 2000, the Shore Club has been showered with praise from critics and travelers alike. So, stop in and see why the tropical gardens with their lush foliage, reflecting pools and courtyards make an ideal place for a romantic rendezvous.

If you can only squander one precious weekend on sheer indulgence, spend it at the Delano. In a city where fashion changes at a moments notice, the Delano is still counted as the hippest and most sought after place to stay. Designed by Ian Schrager and French designer Philippe Starck, the yin and yang of the hotel world, this hotel is best described as eccentrically minimalist-the very definition of sexy.

From the moment you enter the all white lobby with its strategically placed sheer billowing curtains, a billiards table and bright eat-in kitchen (located just inside the entrance) you will feel like you have just wandered into a scene from the children’s book Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps the most alluring part about the Delano is that Schrager and Stark leave no opportunity for coolness to chance. At first, the uniquely shaped furniture and lack of color may feel a bit awkward, but once adjusted the effect is quite soothing…might I even say sensual? The genius of this hotel is the minimalism, as it gives the two of you permission to concentrate on each other.

The 15-story Art Deco masterpiece boasts lavishly appointed rooms featuring either a breathtaking view of the Miami Skyline or the thundering waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the ideal setting for a romantic escapade. For that extra special weekend, try one of the $700 a night bungalows, which are separate two-story apartments that flank the “water salon,” Starck’s extra-shallow swimming pool that incorporates furniture in the pool and broadcasts classical music underwater. Be sure and check out the private outdoor bungalows, perfect for a little late night friskiness.

When you and your sweetie are ready to be pampered by the hotel’s amazing amenities, you will find Agua Spa, a full service rooftop Spa and Solarium are just what the doctor ordered. Undoubtedly, the Delano has something for everyone, even the impossible to please couple.

Built in 1948, the historic Sagamore hotel is an ideal choice for the urban art-loving couple. Or, perhaps its most alluring to couples looking to expand their cultural horizons. Featuring a prestigious art collection (displayed in the lobby, gallery, and various nooks and corners) this seaside boutique-style hotel hosts monthly art openings and intends to become a major cultural destination, as well as an utterly hip place to stay.

After extensive renovations, the hotel reopened in February 2002 with 93 striking suites, including 8 penthouses and 16 two-story bungalows. All suites feature very modern décor, unique artwork, mini kitchenettes and large bathrooms with oversized whirlpool tubs (there’s just enough room for two…wink, wink). And let’s not forget important amenities like stellar room service and those plush cotton bathrobes, essential factors for you and yours to be pampered to the max.

The Sagamore has a much cozier feel than most of the other hotels on this list, but that’s what makes it most attractive. With fewer distractions there will be plenty of quality time to be had together. After you cross the threshold and experience eye-catching surprises like the pink marble reception desk with angled mahogany details, or the cool terrazzo floors you’ll agree the feel is definitely more 1930s Europe than the sometimes intimidating, modern-day South Beach. Since the hotel is located right on the beach I highly recommend getting up a little earlier than usual (or staying awake a little longer, as the case may be) and experiencing the magnificence of one of South Florida’s breathtaking sunrises. Tell me, is there anything more romantic than that?

Whether you’re perusing the vast art collection (expect to see contemporary art by Udo Neoger and David Stoltz) or basking poolside amongst the palms and bougainvillea, your pent-up stress will melt away and you’ll be able to get back to what’s really important…each other.

Miami Fashion Week is the largest Latin American fashion event in the United States. Started in 1999, the first Miami Fashion Week (originally called Fashion Week of the Americas) was presented to an international audience of buyers, media and celebrities. Venezuelan designer, Carolina Herrera asked the organizers to form a fashion council to endorse Latin American designers – thus the birth of the Council of Latin American Fashion Designers, Inc. Miami Fashion Week was created to offer international exposure for Latin American and Caribbean designers. This May, over 30 designers, both established and emerging, from throughout North, South and Central America, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean will present a preview of their latest collections.

Beth Sobol has worked with some of the biggest designers in the world and has succeeded in most every area of the unforgiving fashion industry -and she isn’t slowing down yet. Close friend and South Beach nightlife impresario Gerry Kelly says, “Beth put Miami on the world’s fashion map. She is very determined and focused and she has made a huge impact on Miami’s reputation in the eyes of the fashion world. We’re proud that she enables Miami to compete with the other fashion weeks around the world.”

Recently, as Beth was preparing for Miami Fashion Week 2005, we sat down with her to explore the woman behind these stellar accomplishments.

How Long have you lived in Miami?
I was born in Atlanta, but raised in South Florida since I was 4 years old – but I spent 12 years in Europe, Asia and South America modeling.

What was the most important lesson you learned during your time as a model?
Keep it professional. It’s the only way to succeed.

What was the most challenging part of modeling?
There really wasn’t one; modeling was very easy for me, but I was also very focused and knew that it was my job—the way I was going to earn my living. I was constantly motivated. I modeled for 20 years in over 28 countries and was always at the top of my game. You can’t do that if it isn’t in your soul.

Do you still stay in contact with people you modeled with?
Yes, I’m still in touch with several of my former modeling friends. We all live in different parts of the world and we are all doing very well now in our respective fields. One friend owns a dance school in Germany, another is an international modeling scout based in Paris, one is a jewelry designer in Monaco, and one’s an artist in New York City.

What skills did you acquire during your modeling days that have helped you in the world of business?
I learned the production business by osmoses. I was always paying attention to the action around me. I would hang out backstage with the technicians asking questions about their specific jobs and I was very observant of the choreographers, international show producers and directors that I worked with.

What prompted you to start Miami Fashion Week?
In 1996, I was hired to produce a two-day fashion event in Guayaquil, Ecuador for live television. After 15 days with 21 designers from 12 different countries, they asked me to do something for them in Miami—they all wanted to come to Miami but no one knew how. Two years later, I launched the first Miami Fashion Week.

Do you have a personal connection to the Latin community?
My former husband is Venezuelan and I lived in Caracas for 2 years. Oddly enough, the fashion industry found me within 2 weeks of arriving in Caracas, and soon thereafter I doing commercials and was booked for shows. It was there that I first started meeting Venezuelan designers, and that peaked my interest in learning more about Latin American fashion designers. Angel Sanchez was just starting out and making a name for himself in Caracas when I met him in 1993.

How do you decide which designers will participate in Miami Fashion Week?
There are requirements that the designers must meet: two years in business, design a minimum of two collections per year, 40 pieces per collection and be able to produce the collection on the U.S. time frame.

What’s the biggest difference between Latin designers and those from other parts of the world?
I think that Latin designers are more colorful. In general, they are very happy people and will have a party no matter what’s going on around the world. The economy may be in shambles and the government about to be overthrown, but many Latinos will decide to have a party to celebrate what they have, not what they don’t have. They love women and like to make them look as feminine as possible.

Are all designers who participate in Miami Fashion Week from Central and South America?
No, absolutely not. For the past 4 years we have had a host of international designers in the shows. Groups of designers from India, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Canada and the US have participated in the past, and the 2005 event will welcome new designers from Serbia, Tanzania, Russia, France, as well as North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The event did, however, start out with a Hispanic focus, but has developed over the years into a true international fashion event.

Do you ever have American designers participating in Miami Fashion Week?
Yes, Mary McFadden, Patricia Field, Charlie Lapson, and several Latin but American-based designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, David Rodriguez and Eduardo Lucero.

Do you still do model scouting?
Not really, it was taking too much of my time and I needed to focus more on Fashion Week. I do, on occasion, pass on an exceptional model to my friend in Paris who is scouting for several agencies around the world.

Have you discovered any models we would recognize?
Carolina Castro from Colombia was at Miami Fashion Week in 2000 and Oscar de la Renta, who was our special guest that year took her back to New York. She continued on to Paris and has done very well. Also, Grecia Polamares from Venezuela was at Miami Fashion Week in 1999, our first year and went on to Paris and New York.

When you first started in modeling and were traveling around the world, did you see yourself doing what you’re doing now, or did you have other ambitions?
Actually, I thought that I would open a modeling school and teach, but when I retired from modeling and returned to Florida, many of my old clients started asking me to produce their fashion shows. My first clients were Chanel, Fendi, Escada and St. John.

What advice would you offer to someone who wants to get started in Fashion?
Treat it as a business, if you want to make it a career. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to keep at it. Even when 10 people tell you no, keep at it because the next person just might say yes! If you have the physical attributes required to be in this business, then go for it. But, if you are not able to fully support yourself financially within the first year, you are not cut out for it and should move on to something else. Don’t waste time, life is too short. Look for opportunities that will not only fulfill you professionally and financially, but will also feed your soul.

Miami Fashion Week kicks-off in May in Miami Beach. For location and show times visit www.miamifashionweek.com

The German-born designer started his career at 17 and quickly went from designing for the House of Balmain to Jean Patou, Charles Jourdan, Valentino, Fendi, Chloe and for the past 25 years, Chanel. But do not for one minute think that being the creative force behind the legendary label has kept him pinned down. Aside from designing full ready-to-wear collections for Chanel and Fendi, his own label, Lagerfeld Gallery (which he started back in the early ’80s), plus Chanel Couture twice a year – he is a professional photographer (he shoots of all of his own ad campaigns) and in his spare time creates and publishes books for his new imprint, Editions 7L.

The man has the power to put those of us in our 20s to shame with his energy and ambition. But, shamed as we may be, we still admire his dedication, we praise him for designing those skinny-legged pants and we absolutely adore him for his ability to make a statement and not give a damn what anyone has to say about it.

Take for instance a memorable moment back in the early ’90s when he employed strippers and an Italian porn star to model his black-and-white collection for Fendi. He has produced legendary pieces like the shower-dress, with beaded water streaming down the front; a car-dress with a radiator grille and fender, and a multitude of outstandingly eccentric hats. And ten years after the height of Lagerfeld’s Chanel we still hang on his every move.

I was reminded of the power Karl Lagerfeld can wield a couple of seasons ago right here at the ever-so-trendy South Beach restaurant/lounge, B.E.D. Someone had put in a call to say the fashion icon would be stopping by for a nosh on the night in question. The staff had been preparing for his arrival upwards of four hours when the diva himself appeared – for a total of about 60 seconds. After  seeing that he would have to perch where so many of “the people” had sat, eaten, danced, and/or groped before him, he promptly turned on his polished heel and headed back out the door.

In 1997, Vogue crowned him the “unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment” and that night back in 2003 I crowned him the unparalleled moodiest of the moment. But loved him all the same.

Although I must say that Vogue may have been onto something. Take for instance the Karl Lagerfeld for H&M collection (“just 30 pieces,” he says, “very androgynous”). The collection, which debuted in selected H&M stores on November 12th, was Lagerfeld’s signature modern, elegant and streamlined pieces in black and white. His reasoning behind the mass retailer/haute couture collaboration was “the idea was modern.”

Maybe his venture into chain retail was also a gentle reminder that he too is human. He understands the needs of the general public for an impeccably cut blazer and tailored pants. Perhaps he is not as out of reach as once believed. Well, when asked about eating a hot dog from a New York street vendor in a recent interview with Elle magazine Lagerfeld replied, “Yes, I was mad for hot dogs when I was human. I loved that – eating them in the streets, walking around with food.” OK, maybe not.

When the now model-thin Lagerfeld caught wind of the chain retailer enlarging the sizes to fit the average UK female shape – size 14-16 – he fired back calling British women too fat for his clothing. He sneered, “What I created was fashion for slim, slender people. That was the original idea.” Lagerfeld has vowed never to work for H&M again.

Back in 1977 Lagerfeld was quoted as saying, “I don’t like skinny people. I think it’s very d?od?” However in 2002, after shedding 90 pounds he scoffed, “Muscles are out. Bones are in.” Karl Lagerfeld is nothing if not of the moment.

Whether slim or overweight, a confident Lagerfeld has always remained his most loyal fan. His pant size may have fluctuated over the years, but his dire belief in the “House of Karl” has never waned.

After watching two hours of fast cars, fast boats, and dead drug dealers, I must say I’m forced to raise the question: Can Miami Vice define the style of a new generation?

Miami Vice was written and directed by Michael Mann, and is based on the television series created by Anthony Yerkovich in the 1980s. The show ran five seasons, from 1984 to 1989, yet its influence on pop culture can still be felt almost two decades later in numerous areas —most notably, in fashion.

The series created a movement in men’s fashion with its impeccable white suits, pastel t-shirts worn underneath (a look that until this point was reserved for either the race track at Hialeah or the unemployment office) and sock-less loafers.

Looking back it’s easy to see how Gianni Versace, who worked as costume designer on the series, was a key influence in shaping the trend. Gianfranco Ferré and Giorgio Armani also contributed to the original Miami Vice look. With such style-power at work behind the scenes, it’s no wonder Miami Vice circa 1984 was such an epiphany of male fashion.

Jim Moore, creative Director of GQ magazine, readily admits that fashion of the Miami Vice series influenced everything they did at the time.

And any show that could turn three-day stubble into a 1980s fashion statement was bound to experiment with it in the 2006 version. Colin Farrell donned a modern version of the mullet and handlebar moustache, while Jamie Foxx’s neatly groomed facial hair was disturbingly reminiscent of Fu Manchu.

But that’s where the similarities end. All traces of color are gone from the cops’ attire, now replaced with black t-shirts and denim. The new version is darker, grittier and set in the decidedly unfashionable present, so it’s safe to say, unfortunately, that the theater version of Miami Vice isn’t going to spark any new trends.

There were mixed reviews about the fashion choices from audiences around the country. Tiffany Cozza of Philadelphia doesn’t seem to mind, “The updated fashion works. Using fashions from the ’80s would have disrupted the flow of the movie.” While Los Angeles native Matt Meyerson disagrees, “As a childhood fan of the show, the whole appeal of seeing the film was to see how they pulled off the shoulder pads and pastels in a modern context. I truthfully wanted to see if they could resurrect that ridiculous trend amongst the fashionistas, glitterati and wannabes. It was a total disappointment.”

In Miami Beach, it seems that the onscreen fashion is just a mirror of reality. Mike Wilson, who has lived in South Beach since the early ’80s says, “What you see – and saw back then – on screen is very true to what men here are wearing in real life. Instead of a lime green shirt under a white jacket, today men in Miami are more than likely sporting a linen guaybera shirt or a plain t-shirt – just like in the movie.”

In the ’80s version of Miami Vice, men sporting open shirts with a large gold medallion nestled in wild chest hair was de rigueur. Thankfully this and other stylistic nods to the era, were omitted – though Ferrell does successfully pull off the charm-on-leather-cord look in the movie.

Two decades ago, the creative story lines of Miami Vice brought  big-screen excitement  to television with style upstaging substance at every turn. But in the 2006 movie version, Mann’s directing and use of high definition technology are the true stars.

Casey Gillespie is the Managing Editor of Zink Magazine,
a fashion and lifestyle publication in New York.

The VMALAs have a reputation for being a sexed-up version of VMAs pushing every possible boundary, and once again they didn’t disappoint. The show opened surprisingly with U2’s Bono welcoming audience members in Spanish.

The show’s producers wasted no time on turning up the heat when moments later Latin superstar and host Paulina Rubio, quickly set the show’s over-the-top vibe as she made her entrance in a custom-made Roberto Cavalli superhero-inspired outfit (think knee-high purple glitter boots and a purple feather-sleeved bustier). She arrived on a 15-foot chariot crafted to resemble the VMALA tongue statuette award (the VMALA’s award is a tongue – symbolizing the Spanish language that unites all Latin Americans), carried of course by four chiseled male handlers.

It’s no secret that this award show was as much about style as it was about sound. Rubio had more costume changes than Jennifer Lopez has had husbands and she showed off amazing creations from Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Fornarina, Blue Marine and Missoni, each more outrageous and revealing than the last. As she bounded off stage for yet another costume change she coyly remarked, ”I’m very conservative,” her glittery mini-dress open in back to reveal her naked backside.

It’s no wonder that the VMALAs have called Miami home for the past three years, the sexiness and daring nature of the two go hand in hand. And while the show is trying to set itself apart, MTV2, home of the VMALAs is still heavily influenced by its parent channel. The most obvious example is three of the Latin VMA’s headlining acts were the Black Eyed Peas, Lenny Kravitz and the Beastie Boys – all from the U.S. Jose Tillan, MTVLA’s Vice President of Music and Artist Relations, says they have to “balance between edginess and popularity.”

Among the edgier acts on the show were Cartel de Santa, a hip-hop group from Monterrey, Mexico and DJ Toy, a producer and DJ who spins with the Mexican group Control Machete and Cuban-American rapper Pitbull of Miami. Tillan says producers were aiming for the Miami-based show to have an atmosphere that’s “less awards show, more club.” Well, you know what they say – when in Rome.

One new facet this awards show introduced is that for the first time in VMALA history viewers were able to vote for all categories via phone with the help of Motorola. In the past only certain awards such as Best Alternative Artist and Best Group or Duo was available for voting via text messaging. The winner for each category was selected by Latin American viewers who voted online at MTVla.com and via their cell phones between September 7th and October 5th 2004.

For the most part, voters picked the most well-known artists with the most mainstream sound in each category. Julieta Venegas, whose cleverly written, original songs have made her a favorite in the Latin alternative and she topped the winner’s list, taking home three awards, while Cafe Tacvba and Maroon 5 followed closely behind with two awards each. Spanish flamenco-pop singer Alejandro Sanz, who cleaned up at this year’s Latin Grammys, won for Best Pop Artist. The smooth, powerful melodies of Chilean rockers La Ley won Best Rock Artist and Cafe Tacvba took home Best Alternative Artist. Avril Lavigne was voted Best International Pop Artist and The Black Eyed Peas walked away with the show’s newest and first ever “Best International Hip Hop/R&B Award”.

While few acceptance speeches were given, back-to-back live performances kept the show rolling. Performers included the Black Eyed Peas, a demure Lenny Kravitz at the piano, a cameo by Shakira, Helsinki’s The Rasmus, Diego Torres, La Ley, Julieta Venegas, Cartel De Santa, Pitbull, Tiziano Ferro, DJ Toy, Juanes and Alex Ubago.

But the highlight was Molotov, who premiered a song from their upcoming album with Amateur, a thundering version of the ’80s hit Rock Me Amadeus. And last but not least The Beastie Boys brought down the house and closed the night with “Ch-check it Out” and “Sabotage.”

Like all great parties, the real fiesta begins at the after party – and this one was no exception. After all the thank-yous and good-byes were said, everyone headed over to Mansion where the winners, performers and glitterati partied in true South Beach style – until the sun came up. Surprise appearances by Puerto-Rican heartthrob Luis Fonsi, local favorite Julio Iglesias, Jr. and hip-hop heavy weight Big Daddy Kane made this the official kick-off to what will undoubtedly be a season to remember.

If you missed the VMALAs the first time around be sure to catch the show on MTV on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 p.m. PT/ET.

Luckily, Tom Ford is alive and well, even if he is fighting with the suits over that silly contract thing. One thing is for certain though, his departure from Gucci marked the end of an era, and quite possibly the end of glamour—Tom Ford’s brand of glamour, anyway—at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses.

Even if the name Tom Ford doesn’t register, you’re probably familiar with the elegant look he singled-handedly createdover the past decade.Picture this: It’s the early ’90s and we’re in Paris during the Louis Vuitton runway extravaganza, patiently waiting—in a seat that true fashion devotees would extort, pillage and plunderto have—for the designer du jour to take his final bow. Finally, Tom Ford emerges clad in tailored jeans and jacket, an unbuttoned white shirt, facial stubble, and sipping a martini as he takes his much-anticipated bow. The crowd goes insane.

It’s hard to say if Ford always had this kind of affect on the general population—although it’s easy to picture little girls on the playground twirling endlessly in their frilly dresses to get his attention (nowadays big boys do the same thing).

Tom Ford is known as the epitome of New York chic, but he didn’t bless the city with his presence until he enrolled at NYU as (get this) an art history major. But it wasn’t long before he dropped out and took up interior architecture at Parsons School of Design. He later moved on to finish his studies at Parsons in Paris.

In the years to come he made the transition to Perry Ellis where he took on the position of Design Director and eventually joined the Gucci team as Women‘s Wear Designer. He was appointed as Creative Director of Gucci after only two short years.

Early in 2000, the Gucci Group acquired Yves Saint-Laurent Couture and Sanofi Beaut? As Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent Couture and its perfume products, Ford also worked with the many creative teams of YSL to define and maintain the overall image and positioning of the brand.

His visionary look of the fashion industry has been the center of attention for as long as most of us can remember and he has won countless awards like VH-1’s Best New Designer in 1995, CFDA’s International Designer of the Year in 1996 and a Commitment to Life Award from AIDS Project Los Angeles for Gucci’s charitable work in support of people with HIV and AIDS.

Ironically, Maurizio Gucci wanted to give Ford the old heave-ho back in the early ’90s because he thought the young designer was “too trendy.” Turns out Ford’s brilliant overhaul of Gucci?$200 million in revenue magically bloomedinto a $3 billion global fashion empire—was just the beginning. He also set the goldstandard forbrand-building. It was just after his Fall/Winter 2004-05 show in Paris that Ford hung up his hat at Gucci and the aforementioned chasm of the fashion world was created.

In a world infatuated with celebrity and status—epitomized by the likes of South Beach—the fundamental idea behind Ford’s work was “Wear Gucci and Be a Superstar.” Devotees around the globe awaited each new season with baited breath to see what the new “It” item was going to be. It was a season-defining, photographed-to-death trend.

When he designed a dress, it was photographed for every magazine, paraded down a red carpet by an A-list celebrity, photographed some more and then knocked off before it even made it into stores.

Every trend worth following appeared on Tom Ford’s runway first. The wildly popular (please won’t they finally just go away) hip-hugging, thong-revealing pants, sleekly tailored suits, jersey dresses, beaded jeans, sheer baby-doll tops, stovepipe trousers, mod mini-dresses—all can be traced right back to Ford.

He aided in the invention of the metrosexual by introducing American men to the slightly more flamboyant and creative way of dressing that his European counterpart has enjoyed for decades. He even showed the masses how make the impossibly stuffy, borderline nerdy blazer and jeans combo chic.

But Ford’s influence surpassed slickly tapered suits, slinky dresses and seasonal It bags, affecting the business of fashion in a way that no designer before him ever has. Don’t believe it? Well, in the last decade it was his logo-covered accessories that defined style and his big-business marketing skills that were mimicked by everyone in the industry. He also raised the standard for designers, not only in their work, but the consumer came to expect designers to be as photogenic and glamorous as Ford (and the celebrities they dress).

Paradoxically, it was easy to see a finer hand at work in Ford’s final collections for both Gucci and YSL. By recycling his most sought after styles of the past 10 years he in turn perfected them. In a way he seemed freer—working as though he had nothing to lose. It’s this creative freedom—one known to a select few—that set his iconic status in fashion history stone. Ford once said, “Real fashion change comes from real changes in real life. Everything else is just décoration.”

At 42, Ford is taking a break from fashion—at least for now. “With fashion, I feel that I’ve done it,” Ford said. “That doesn’t mean that I couldn’t do it more and I couldn’t do it better, that I couldn’t do it longer. But I feel like I’ve been very successful at it. But I do feel that perhaps I should challenge myself in a new way.”

Numerous rumors circulated concerning who would take his place at the helm of the Gucci Group. Names like Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney werethrown out as possible candidates, but in the end, John Ray was selected to fill the creative director position.

Ford hasn’t wasted much time making his mark elsewhere, most notably in Hollywood. A few months back, 800 of his closest friends (Hollywood personalities with whom he has built up a personal following over the years) gathered to watch as he was presented the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award.

As of May 2004, he joined the infamous auction house Sotheby’s in Paris where he will advise on a broad range of topics such as business and marketing opportunities.

While Ford is the first to admit he’s never sure what’s next on his already impressive agenda, he has announced he’ll be directing a remake of the epic film,Spartacus, to be filmed at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, according to La Repubblica. He also has an acting part in The Great New Wonderful World, which is in post-production now and is due out in 2005.

Still, no need to pin Tom Ford as the next Joel Schumacher (another fashion-world dropout-cum-movie director) because as Ford announced toWomen’s Wear Daily,he has his own fashion line slated for unveiling next year. And with that pronouncement, the fashion world uttered a collectively sigh ofrelief.

We’ll all just have to wait and see what Tom Ford will do next.

At age 28, Lee Dahlberg has lived a life that most people only dream of. He has traveled the world as a successful model; met the Royal family while working as a magazine editor in London; has his own room in the Miami mansion formerly owned by Madonna; maintains a successful modeling career; runs his own promotional company and still finds time for oodles of charity work. Born without a mean bone in his body, Lee Dahlberg is the guy that every girl wants and every guy wants to be.

Lee comes from a coastal area 30 minutes outside of Jacksonville called Amelia Island, Florida, where his mother was the Island’s dance teacher and his uncle was the town’s lawyer. “If ever Norman Rockwell was a mayor, he was the mayor of that town.” Attending the University of Florida out of high school, Lee lived on a houseboat for several years while working as a cruise ship casino blackjack dealer. As he learned the secrets of being a casino dealer he began to enter tournaments and at the age of 24 was considered one of the top ten blackjack dealers in the country.
At this point in his life Lee decided to go to Europe in hopes of finding his estranged father. Without rhyme or reason, he quit his job, packed his bags and left the next morning. He spent three months in Paris traveling and searching for his French father, but, being unsuccessful, came back to Florida to finish his college degree.

Fate has its own agenda and that same year Lee was involved in a motorcycle accident and was seriously injured. One of the biggest challenges of his life was learning to walk again. But, as terrible as his accident was, Lee didn’t let it hinder his dreams of success, and in the final stages of his recovery, he set off to start a new life in Miami. He had been offered modeling contracts before, but didn’t think it was something he would be interested in. But the modeling world had been waiting patiently for Lee to arrive and soon the jobs started rolling in. On his first casting he was hired to do an editorial story (a fashion spread to you and me) in Cosmopolitan magazine. After 2 months, Lee was swept away to London to continue modeling overseas.

As luck would have it, while at a photo shoot Lee began chatting with the editor of a magazine, and after Lee expressed an interest in writing the editor offered him an assignment as a freelance writer. He picked up every odd job he could from food critic to covering nightclub openings and in the process impressed a few of the right people because he was offered a job as the assistant editor of City to City magazine in London. In addition to meeting some of Europe’s finest writers and artists, other perks included attending the 2000 World Fair in Hanover, Germany and acting as the stand in for Prince William in the Royal Family photo. How does this guy do it? But, when the magazine folded Lee headed back to Miami and continued with his modeling career.

Which brings us to the dog, Gunther…

Like most of the young and beautiful here in South Beach, Lee was out one night partying with his friends at a club when he was introduced to Gunther’s publicist, who was immediately drawn to Lee’s outgoing personality and positive energy. She offered him a job as ?the lead singer of a band owned by a dog that would be spreading a message of positivity to the world.? But, how Gunther IV got his paws on half a billion dollars is a story in itself. `

Which brings us to the Countess…

In 1992 a certain Countess passed away in Italy and left her entire estate to her dog, Gunther III. At first it seemed a bit ridiculous, but at closer inspection it was actually quite ingenious. In her will the Countess wished to leave a framework for a very positive message that she wanted the world to hear. If the money had been left to a person, someone else could have contested the will and possibly taken the money. If the money had been left to a charity, it could’ve been spent against the Countess’ wishes. But, by leaving the money to her dog, all decisions must be made by a board of trustees – who, by the way, are all millionaires themselves with no interest in the money other than to carry out the Countess’ dying wishes, because Gunther can’t really voice his opinion on much of anything other than when do we eat? You see, Gunther is just a symbol of the Countess’ wealth and the board uses him to spread the goodwill the Countess originally envisioned. The original heir, Gunther III has since passed and now his son, Gunther IV has inherited everything.

In Italy, where most of the trustees reside, Gunther is quite a personality. He owns his own night club comparable in ambiance to Nikki Beach – albeit five times the size – called the Bow Lab; he has just purchased Pisa’s soccer team; and of course Gunther also owns the Madonna mansion here in Miami. After the 9-11 tragedy Lee proposed, and Gunther backed, a charity for animals affected by the catastrophe called Pause for Paws. Gunther has also created a ranch in Europe where people who leave for their month-long holiday can drop off their animals and they will be taken care of and provided for.

Lee’s job, besides singing in the band, is to speak to the press and the public on behalf of Gunther and the board of trustees. For example, when Bow Lab opened Lee made a number of appearances all over Europe and on many TV shows like Regis and Kelly and Good Morning America. Here in the U.S. he has appeared on Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, Extra, E! Insider and Animal Planet.

Outside of his duties with Gunther, Lee has not only created a company called Type Cast, which helps his model friends earn extra money during the off season, but he’s also the District Market Manager for Smirnoff and Captain Morgan’s Rum and he is currently working on organizing a union for models. A union for models? Hey, models need health insurance too.

When asked if he had any advice for newbies just making their way on to the modeling scene, Lee said, ?You just have to go for moderation, which is true of Miami in general, but more so in this industry because it is so surreal.?

So, after all this, what else does Lee Dahlberg have planned? “I want to bring some honesty back into this town” he says.

With all of the extravagance and fervent pursuit of the seven deadly sins we’re all too familiar with here in the Magic City, it’s a pleasant surprise to find this brand of kindness, and what Lee likes to call PMA, “positive mental attitude.”

And what do we make of this ongoing endeavor to spread goodwill? Nothing less than a long overdue breath of fresh air.

In an instant, I’m reminded of the first moment I fell in love with South Beach: warm salty air blows through the corridors, a cloudless sky so blue it sparkles, and relaxed, sun-kissed faces that look like they haven’t a worry in the world. The air is definitely different down here.

I’m escorted to my suite, the Parrot suite actually, and given a quick tour of the room. From the Romanesque columns to the lavish, Italian murals, sumptuous velvet curtains and Versace insignia on the bathroom floor, it’s clear that this isn’t just any hotel.

Like a typical New York workaholic, I sit down to check my email and see what’s happening in the real world while everyone in a ten-mile radius is wasting away in the South Florida sunshine.

At about noon, there is a knock at my door. Would I like water or a glass of champagne? It’s like someone flipped on the light switch? OK, so now I get it. I gently snap my laptop closed, change into the fluffy white robe and head down to the gorgeous pool to catch up on some reading (in the shade, of course).

Much to my surprise, there were only two other people lounging by the pool. Unlike at other SoBe hotels, there are plenty of chairs and no loud children. Interesting.

Then it hits me and I realize how utterly fabulous it all is! I imagine Versace himself loafing about, Madonna skinny dipping in the pool, Elton John sipping champagne while comfortably perched on a chaise lounge. Interesting indeed.

The staff moves almost imperceptibly through the grounds (except when refilling champagne glasses, of course), and the serene silence is only interrupted by the sounds of seagull flying by.

As I sit daydreaming about Kate Moss, Princess Di and Donatella frolicking here in days gone by, I realize it’s time for my facial. I cross the courtyard to Spa Eleven, Casa Casuarina’s intimate, luxurious pampering oasis. When it comes to spas, I’m quite the international connoisseur, and expertly speaking, this was one of the best facials I’ve ever had. All traces of dehydration from the plane has been banished and my skin positively glowed. (The open bottle of serve-yourself champagne in the waiting area was merely an added perk.)

At this point, New York feels like a distant memory, not a place I left a mere eight hours ago fighting midtown traffic—proof that there really is something magical about the former Versace mansion.

As I wander back to my room I notice how truly spectacular the architecture is. If all the doors and windows were open like the designer and Versace had intended them to be, guests could wander from room to room, pool to spa, roof deck lounges to observatory, with ease, mingling with famous faces and fashion icons, and all the while basking in the gorgeous Miami Beach sun. A veritable heaven on earth.

The next morning my car is scheduled to arrive at 6am, an hour at which most revelers are just making it home after a long night at one (or several) of Miami’s hotter-than-hot clubs. In fact, when I called reception and asked for a 5am wake-up call, the person on the other end of the phone laughed hardily. I make it downstairs at about ten of six and wander out to a peaceful and virtually empty Ocean Drive. The uninterrupted sound of crashing waves before the rest of the beach has even stirred is like music to my ears.

And as I stand on the steps of Gianni Versace’s prized palace, I realize that I have fallen head-over-heels in love with South Beach all over again.

Update: Casa Casuarina is now “The Villa by Barton G.”

The Villa by Barton G.
1116 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, Florida
(800) 258-7503

This year the Sports Illustrated crew traveled to exotic locales like Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and Guatemala to photograph their scantily-clad beauties traipsing through open fields, frolicking on deserted beaches and even dancing with the natives in local street festivals—all in the name of art, of course.

So how did one laid-back South Florida swimsuit designer go from selling beachwear out of the trunk of his car to being featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three years in a row? Ritchie Berger of Ritchie Swimwear tells all:

Where are you from originally?
I was born in Brooklyn, New York forty-five years ago.

How long have you been in South Florida?
Since ’76 and in the clothing business since ’78.

Let’s talk for a moment about the hottest magazine on stands right now-the 2002 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. You’ve been in the Swimsuit Issue for the past three years in a row, what was it like when you found out you were going to be featured for the very first time?
It felt great because the original person that put the issue together just ignored our company and at that time the issue really took another path. They were geared more towards something you would see in Vogue or Cosmo. Three years ago Diane Smith, who is the one who oversees the swimwear issue now, brought it back to the pin up style. It was a lot of ass kissing in the past and now it’s just really fair. Now it’s for everyone: Men look at the girls and women look at the bathing suits.

What was involved in working with the people at Sports Illustrated?
I’d like to say I was there brushing the sand off the girls, but they keep everything a total secret. They won’t even say whom the suit is on. I have volunteered to go to shoots and hold a towel or whatever, but they’ve rejected all of my offers so far.

It’s pretty cool that your suit was shot on Molly Simms, the unofficial spokeswoman for the issue. I even saw her wearing it on MTV’s Fashionably Loud. Do you know where they were when they shot Molly in your suit?
Argentina. The story was centered around the cowboys of Argentina. They are called Gauchos. She is wearing a cowboy hat and chaps-it’s a really cool photo. I think my photo is the best? I haven’t in the past. I was always like, I wish my suit was standing on this girl with this set, but this is the first time I can say I wouldn’t want to switch my suit onto another one of the photos. It was cool to see Molly wearing the entire outfit on Fashionably Loud. She only wore it for like 5 minutes, but it was nice to see it on.

Any suggestions for young designers trying to get their stuff into the issue?
It really isn’t hard. Basically, you can send Diane any suit you want to be considered. She goes to the trade shows too and if she wants to shoot a model in your suit, and they like the photo then you’re in. It’s more about the models now. If they get the model where they want her and she happens to be in your bathing suit that’s luck, but it’s not a closed set up. Diane is a really nice woman and open to any young or old designer that wants to try and break into swimwear. Sure it brings some business in for our company, but it’s really more of a self-satisfaction thing. It’s like a little pat on the back…

How old were you when started your company?
Twenty-two.

Twenty-two!? At twenty-two the last thing on most kid’s minds is starting their own company, how did you do it?
I was in the restaurant business at the time and I went to Club Med on vacation. I found a pair of beach pants that were being sold in a boutique there—they were diaper style harem pants—and when I came back with a pair, basically everywhere I went people asked me where I got them. So I had a seamstress make up like fifty pairs and I sold them all the first day on the beaches in Florida. I kept going back having more made and eventually I built a following of people from all of Florida, and all over the world, looking for these pants. I kept reinvesting my money into the business and I started to sell to stores and then opened my first freestanding store around 1981. There was no set plan, I just thought, I’ll do this for a few years and see where it takes me.

When did you turn to swimwear?
I filled up my store with all kinds of beach clothing and resort wear and then I started to order swimwear from some companies in California when I realized that I had a knack for picking successful styles. And so I said, let me try and make some of my own styles. I started to manufacture the swimwear part of my business in the early ’80s and around ’84 I went exclusively swimwear and mostly bikinis.

So what’s the draw to swimwear for you?
I just discovered that I had some in-born talent to recognize good ladies swimwear. I thought there was a niche in the market for innovative and body-conscious swimwear—not to mention the fact that it was also a great way to make money, meet women, and have fun at the same time.

Well, obviously things have changed since you were selling pants out of the trunk of your car. You operate on a much larger scale now-do you have a design team or do you do most of the designing yourself?
I’ve collaborated with various designers over the years, but for the last four I’ve done all the designing myself. I’ve had some great collaborations, but I look at it like this: It was like a rock band where you get together with people and you create. I guess you could say I was the leader of the band and eventually I felt the need to go solo—or they did. I have always picked all the fabrics and all trends and now I do everything myself. However, if there’s a pattern I can’t make I just hire someone freelance and have him or her shape the pattern I want.

Did you go to any kind of design school?
No, growing up I loved sports, clothing and anything that had to do with design, but frankly I am just not educated enough to design buildings or cars or golf courses. Bikinis are the best things that I could do.

Who was your company’s first big contract with?
For clothing it was Club Med and for swimwear it was Everything But Water, which is a big chain now. Currently, we sell through our own stores, we sell to other stores like Everything But Water and we also sell directly over the Internet.

Shopping on the Internet is the way of the future, trust me. I buy shoes, clothes and anything else I can “Add to my Shopping Cart” any time,  day or night.
Definitely. Our sales have doubled each year over the last four years over the Internet and it keeps getting stronger. We have a really good web site and we put a lot of time and thought into it. Besides we try and do everything as a class act. People can return the suits; we don’t hold their money. It’s the little things that set us apart and we have a proven product.

Are there any designers that you kind of model yourself after? Or that you aspire to be like?
Most of my inspiration comes from Versace circa late ’80s and early ’90s. I found his clothing very inspirational for swimwear. His risk taking and his way of doing strapping and ornamentation were very inspiring. I am not ashamed to say that there was a time that I used to knock off or shall I say interpret the look of his dresses into swimwear. I think he was a real leader when it came to prints and detailing, and he used color in a way no one else did. He was my biggest influence. And then there’s Armani. I really love the class and understatement of Armani. In my collections I always have some classy, more understated things and I also have some loud more outrageous rock ‘n’ roll things. I have those two personalities. Honestly, I don’t look at other swimwear, I look at clothing and couture design and I draw my inspiration from there.

Have you dressed any other celebrities?
I’ve supplied suits for Pam Anderson’s TV show VIP and we have been in a couple of Toni Braxton videos. I design for regular women though, and I really don’t get caught up in the whole celebrity buzz thing. That’s good and bad, but I want people to discover how great my suits are and not buy it because this person wears it.

Summer is just around the corner, what suits/styles are hottest right now?
There are a lot of trends right now, but the simplicity of the string tie bottoms and triangle tops are really hot. The biggest difference between last year’s line and this year’s is that we have incorporated the look of the low-rise jeans. They aren’t quite bottoms from the Bridget Bardot era, but they have that feeling. There’s a newness in the cut and the patterns are a little different. It’s not like anything I have ever worked with before. When I got started, the high cut suits were really in and everyone thought they would never wear a suit cut way down low again. It’s funny because I tried a group like three years ago that I called “Wear It on the Hip To Be Hip” and it flopped. I guess I was just a little too early with it. I knew then that the new zone on women was in the belly area. It’s the emphasis now instead of breasts or legs.

I guess we owe that to Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears …
I just think it looks good and with it there are new extremes that you can go to.

What’s next for Ritchie Swimwear?
We just moved from Miami to Fort Lauderdale into a new state of the art building where we can concentrate on our growth. We were in Hialeah for like 20 years in a very unglamorous warehouse. Now we are in a nicer facility where we can go to the next step. I’ve been doing direct mailings to our customers for a while, but we want to go even more direct to the public. That’s why our biggest concentration right now is the Web. We feel that we are offering great service and a great product to people all over the world.

A lot of local designers do fashion shows at places like Crobar or Level, have you ever thought about doing something like that to boost business?
We don’t really do fashion shows in the nightclubs because then it becomes a review for males and it’s not really doing anything for our client base. We want it to be more about the suits and the women who buy them.

So, can you offer some advice to women who are in the market for a new swimsuit for summer?
Go to any store where the people know their product. Not so much where they are trying to sell you a suit, but where they are trying to fit you with a suit. Experiment with different cuts and take a few chances. When you put something on you should feel good in it. It’s not something you should have to get used to. Don’t buy a suit because someone else is wearing it and you want to wear it too, it should be something you feel great in.

Ritchie, thanks for talking with us. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I just want people to know that there is a certain soul in South Florida—I travel all over the world to places like the South of France and Italy, and there is a certain feeling down here when the weather is just right that you can’t duplicate in too many places. I would like to see more people come down here and just enjoy the beach…

Visit Ritchie Swimwear at www.ritchieswimwear.com
Ritchie Swimwear’s shop in South Beach is located at 160 8th Street.

So, you ask, what’s the latest hype surrounding the Magic City? Plain and simple, The South Beach Diet, a book by Dr. Arthur Agatston, M.D. (Oh no!) Not another diet book! I know, I know, I’ll be the first to admit being somewhat jaded by the failure of past diets. Say it with me: We’ve been tortured by low-fat, low-carb crappy diets for the last time.

Well, one night I was watching the evening news and they were preparing this fabulous meal of seared Yellowfin tuna with a white bean and oregano salad-the same exact dish you can order at Tuscan Steak (one of my favorite places to eat on the beach!) and come to find out it was straight from the pages of Dr. Agatston’s book. I ran, not walked, to the nearest bookstore only to find out they were completely out of the book. It happens, no reason to panic I told myself. I tried three other bookstores and the same story everywhere I went. Online bookstores were no better, “out of stock” they told me, ” will ship in 2 weeks”. By this time I was desperate, convinced the gods were torturing me (I knew I shouldn’t have had that second piece of Key Lime pie), I talked myself into believing everyone had a copy of this diet bible except me. Two weeks later a copy arrived in the mail and ever since I’ve been like a kid in a candy store unable to get enough.

Now, before I tell you anymore let’s get one thing straight-I hate diets. I think they’re stupid. They never work and more often than not we’re disappointed, right? It was with this skepticism that I opened the front cover of the South Beach Diet. “The South Beach Diet is not low-carb. Nor is it low-fat. The South Beach Diet teaches you to rely on the right carbs and the right fats-the good ones-and enables you to live quite happily without the bad carbs and the bad fats.”

And now the clincher, Dr. Agatston says “You’ll have three balanced meals a day, and it will be your job to eat so that your hunger is satisfied. Nothing undermines a weight-loss plan more than the distressing sensation that you need more food. No sane eating program expects you to go through life feeling discomfort. You’ll be urged to have snacks in the midmorning and midafternoon, whether you need to or not. You’ll have dessert after dinner.”

Did you hear what the man said? You’ll have dessert after dinner. I read the entire first half of the book in one sitting (the second half is meal plans and recipes). Everything he had to say made perfect sense, however there were three things in particular that made me want to march right over to the Miami Heart Institute and give Dr. Agatston a great big hug.

First of all, the doctor is completely honest about what this diet can and cannot do:

“I’m a cardiologist, I don’t see diet patients per say. I see patients who are overweight and have heart problems or risk factors for heart disease. My major focus is prevention of heart attack and stroke. In order to do that, you have normalize weight and blood chemistry over a long period of time. You can’t just want to lose a few pounds for the wedding or the Bar Mitzvah that’s coming up.

Our goal was to create something simple that could become a lifestyle, not just a diet. A lot of time we will get people whose blood chemistry is normal and they want to lose another half an inch here, really just body sculpt and this diet not going to do much for them. It’s the healthiest diet to be on whether you have to lose weight or not.”

Secondly, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about low-fat, “diet” foods not really being all that good for you. As it turns out, all the foods they have been shoving down our throats since the 70s is exactly what’s been making America the most obese country in the world. Here’s another fact that’ll make you go hmmm:

“Basically the reason we have gotten so fat is because the carbs that are being recommended to us through the food pyramid are the ones where the digestion process really starts in the factory instead of in our stomachs. We must eat whole grains and start reading labels. If you find a loaf of bread that is labeled as “enriched,” it’s because they have already processed all its nutrients and fiber out and have had to replace them. We digest these types of foods very rapidly and as a result the blood sugar goes up rapidly. There is an insulin response, the blood sugar drops and were hungry a few hours after we eat. So we’re hungry all the time.”

Hungry for more? Here’s an additional little factoid for you, “Most of what the weight gained by adults-85-90%-in this country is due to the type of carbohydrates they eat.” (Translation: drop that low-fat muffin you’re nibbling on right now.)

And undeniably my favorite part of the book is the recipes. To describe them in one painless word is delicious. Never could I have imagined I would use that word to describe recipes from a diet book. Well fellow skeptics, the recipes aren’t exactly from the diet book. Like I mentioned earlier, most of the meal ideas are a compilation of recipes from the chefs of popular South Beach fine dining establishments. China Grill, 1220 at the Tides and Joe’s Stone Crab to name a few. So see, even if you aren’t looking to drop a few pounds you can still learn to prepare your favorite South Beach eats at home. Not too shabby for a diet book, huh?

As for South Beach, well America, we’ve already given you the sexiest super models and the hottest summer blockbuster movies on the planet—and now we’ve given you the South Beach Diet so you can have the body of your dreams. But stand-by, because there’s more to come.