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From the crisp folds of unexpectedly integrated pleats to the resilient bouffant of an exaggerated sleeve, architecture surreptitiously finds its way into the world of fashion, creating an unmistakable stir in its wake. Couturiers are blurring the lines between the design of beauty and the design of buildings, as wearable architecture has snuck beyond the imaginative fantasy land of the runways and into our closets.

One of fashion’s most notable architects is Nicholas Kirkwood, the British footwear designer whose structured sandals tower like skyscrapers and boast innovative construction techniques the way Frank Gehry might concoct his mind-boggling buildings. “It’s kind of like architecture in a way — like mini architecture,” Kirkwood says. “You have all these components. They all have to fit one another and they have to be structurally sound, within the restrictions of the foot.”

The 28-year-old shoemaker debuted his first line in spring 2005 and has catapulted to success in a mere four years, likely due to his ability to maintain a distinct, cohesive aesthetic while continually crafting exciting product lines that test the boundaries of footwear. Using exotic materials like sueded alligator, shaved stingray, cobra and buffalo horn, this creative cobbler goes beyond the pedestrian confines of a mere shoe to devise eye-catching and sometimes startling pieces.

www.nicholaskirkwood.com

1 Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cookware
Throw away that old nonstick cookware and embrace GreenGourmet — the next generation of ceramic-based cookware that is free of noxious chemicals. The set conducts heat so well it requires less energy to cook food, and the handles are made from recycled steel. Available in Hard Anodized and Stainless Nonstick.
$24–$69 | www.cuisinart.com

2 Speak n’ Brew
Too bleary-eyed before that first cup of joe in the morning to even pour the beans? Don’t lift a finger, just tell the coffee machine what to do. Speak n’ Brew offers what we should have thought of all along — a way to just tell a coffee maker to brew a cup upon rising.
$79 | www.primulaproducts.com

3 iWaveCube
Introducing the world’s tiniest microwave, otherwise known as the “personal” microwave. Perfect for tight spaces or to make some decent-tasting popcorn at the house of a friend who still doesn’t believe in microwaves, this product is light, portable and most importantly, cute.
$99 | www.iwavecube.com

4 Newton Red Label
One of Napa Valley’s esteemed vineyards has a new cru. Newton introduces its tasty Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon, which offers drinkers an artisan wine at a recession-friendly price point. Subtle notes of white chocolate, vanilla, anise and blackberry make the red label a perfect hostess gift for a dinner party.
$25 | www.newtonvineyard.com

While most people know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, many may not know that November marks Lung Cancer Awareness month. The No. 1 cancer killer in America, lung cancer claims more than 150,000 lives annually. To help support the cause, Everything But Water and Betsey Johnson have joined creative forces to produce a limited-edition T-shirt available only during the month of November. The adorable tee, which retails for $48, features signature Betsey Johnson illustrations in the shape of a heart, and 100 percent of the profits from sales of the tee will benefit the LUNGevity Foundation.

Support the cause at Everything But Water stores and www.everythingbutwater.com

One /
Swap out tonic for seltzer in your gin or vodka drink (especially if you’re going to have nine of them.) You’ll save more than 100 calories per cocktail and get hydrated and buzzed at the same time.

Two /
Don’t starve yourself all week to squeeze into that little black dress and then go hog-wild on the passed fried appetizers at the party. Eat balanced, healthy meals and exercise every day the week before so that you can show up at the party feeling like a hot chick.

Three /
If you order a tiny salad on a date with the dressing on the side, pick off the croutons and ignore the breadbasket, then you are not eating like a hot chick. Your date’s not stupid (at least, we hope not), and he knows that you’re going to speed to the Taco Bell drive-thru as soon as the date is over. Save yourself from their mystery meat and dive into a juicy steak at dinner. Your date will think you’re even hotter than the molten chocolate cake.

Four /
The only circumstance in which we will condone fast food is when you’ve been up all night partying and it’s 4 a.m. We’re pretty sure that eating a bunch of toxins soaks up the toxins from the alcohol and they end up cancelling each other out.

Five /
Sweets will only create a giant muffin top when you deprive yourself of them for weeks, believe that carbs are the devil’s work and then break down and eat an entire pastry platter during a weak, stressed, PMS moment. The day you stop seeing a cookie as a scary thing is the day you’ll start losing weight and loving your body.

Six /
Unless you are a frat boy or a linebacker (or both), please don’t drink like one. We know it can be tempting to spend all day Sunday drinking bottomless pitchers at a sports bar, but that will only leave you feeling puffy and bloated in a bigger-sized dress at your next holiday shindig. Stick to light beers, wine and low-calorie cocktails.

Seven /
Yes, last night’s leftover chocolate cake does make a perfectly acceptable breakfast — as long as you balance it out later with a giant spinach salad for dinner.

Eight /
No matter how super important that event coming up is, don’t try some sort of Gwyneth Paltrow cleanse. Instead, avoid processed and sugary foods for one week and fill up on apples, almonds, oatmeal, eggs, spinach, fish and every vegetable, fruit and protein that our Mother Earth gave us.

Nine /
Make food fun again by not thinking about the calories and oily fat content in that delicious slice of piping hot pepperoni pizza. Enjoy it with the confidence that you are a hot chick who deserves to feed her body without guilt.

Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent are the authors of How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, $14 (Harper Paperbacks)

BREWERIES

Motor City Brewing Works
Tucked between Cass and Second on Canfield in Detroit, Motor City Brewing Works is a hidden gem that boasts national acclaim. Few local breweries can tout spotlights in GQ and Playboy magazines, let alone a coveted feature on Food Network. Come inside for original brews like Nut Brown Ale, Hard Cider made from locally grown apples, or a fan favorite, Ghettoblaster, inspired by local musicians and the Ghetto Recorders studio. And here’s an insider’s tip — get the fig pizza. A steaming pie with roasted pears, red onions, gorgonzola cheese and gooey figs, it is truly a unique offering. Bohemian, quaint and deserving of all its fame, Motor City Brewing Works is definitely a must-visit.
www.motorcitybeer.com

The WAB
The Woodward Avenue Brewery, known by its catchier nickname, The WAB, offers two floors, a great view of Downtown Ferndale and an old-school photo booth — and that’s just for starters.Here are a few more “wabulous” reasons this neighborhood microbrewery stands apart from the rest: Sunday night is $2 pint night — get there at 9 p.m. and prepare to call into work the next day; come back Monday night for dinner — it’s half-off food items after 4 p.m.; every day of the week, enjoy seven delicious microbrews, many of which are infused with chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, coffee and other decedent flavors; get beer to go — take home a half-gallon growler for just $12.
www.thewabsite.com

Royal Oak Brewery
Give me the tired, the over-worked, the hipsters and the hippies — the Royal Oak Brewery is a welcoming beacon of hope for those seeking a low-key place to unwind in the stylish downtown. The warm and friendly atmosphere draws an eclectic mix of personalities who share a love of good beer, good food and great ambiance. The venue’s 14-barrel brewing system was custom-fabricated to fit behind the bar, and it offers guests a chance to interact with their brewer while enjoying a pint of one of seven house beers. Paired with savory menu items, such as the Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin, Louisiana Jambalaya or the Royal Oak Burger, guests can eat, drink and be assured that the Royal Oak Brewery will remain a safe haven in its posh surroundings.
www.royaloakbrewery.com

Grizzly Peak
Spartan fans, beware: Grizzly Peak is a neighborhood gathering place in — gasp — Wolverine country. Housed in a century-old building complete with exposed brick walls and wood floors, the pub offers a warm and friendly atmosphere to all its patrons. Touted as Ann Arbor’s landmark brewpub, patrons will find U of M students, families and professionals alike conversing around high-top tables and flat-screen TVs. With six trademark beers and a menu of non-traditional pub items like Polenta Fries, Chicken Couscous Salad, and, yes, Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee, Grizzly Peak is certainly worth the trip — even from East Lansing.
www.grizzlypeak.net

Detroit Beer Co.
Before the game, after the game, during the game — any game — the Detroit Beer Co. is booming. Minutes from both Ford Field and Comerica Park, the brewery spans two floors in the recently restored Hartz Building on Broadway Street. Besides a wide variety of American cuisine and stick-to-the-ribs fare, Detroit Beer Co. offers up to eight house brews on tap at any time, including Broadway Light, People Mover Porter and Steam Tunnel Stout. Come for the spirits and show some team spirit, too.
www.detroitbeerco.com

WINERIES

Grape Expectations
“Whatever your expectation, we can help you find your grape.” This is the endearing promise Grape Expectations makes to its potential patrons. And upon any visit to this charming Plymouth wine bar, guests will find that the shop does, in fact, deliver. With more than 100 wines by the bottle and approximately 50 by the glass, Grape Expectations welcomes both loyalists and first-timers with the same infectious zeal. Its bistro-like setting and menu of Italian cuisine provide for a relaxed and intimate night out. To experience a perfect pairing, consider taking part in one of the wine-tasting dinners, some of which are priced at less than $50 a person. Stop in and discover a favorite grape.
www.gewinebar.com

Cru Winebar at Plum Market
For those who have wondered what the difference is between port and sherry, or whether all champagnes are sparkling wines, welcome to Cru Winebar — West Bloomfield’s unassuming place to learn about wine. Weekly classes include tastings and are held each Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Prices are modest, too — just $15 per person — but be sure to register early as space fills quickly. Not ready for a group setting? Guests can try a glass the next time they’re grocery shopping or mix it up a little by asking for one of the many handcrafted artisan beers. Either way, at Cru, there’s always more than meets the palate.
www.plummarket.com

Enoteca Campo Marzio
The name sounds, well, “classico.” The surprising translation? Enoteca means “wine bar,” and Campo Marzio, “Campus Martius.” (Count this as the “Ah-ha!” moment of the day.) From its Fellini film strips and chandeliers to the more than 100 wines from around the globe, a trip to Enoteca is like a trip to Italy in the 1950s — when the art of wine was pure, intimate and untarnished by those who sought to turn it into a passing fad. Explore a variety of different wines paired with gourmet meats, cheeses and chocolates, and allow yourself to be exquisitely whisked away.
www.enotecadetroit.com

Vinotecca
Form truly follows function at Vinotecca wine bar, where every aspect of its design is reflective of wine production and lifestyle. Earthy slate tiles, soil boxes and cork accents all form a kind of irresistible ambiance that is both chic and educational — making it the perfect place for wine connoisseurs and novices alike. Conceptualized by the Jonna family, who own the illustrious Merchant of Vino wine stores, oenophiles can expect not only quality wines but also exceptional service by the winery’s gracious and knowledgeable staff. Bring an eager palate, curiosity and questions. A trip to Vinotecca is a uniquely sublime experience.
www.vinotecca.com

Nectars Wine Bar
When near Orchard Lake Road and Pontiac Trail, keep an eye out for Nectars Wine Bar. It’s easy to miss, tucked inside a strip mall, but under the radar it is not. With an impressive selection of wine, it’s a mecca for enthusiasts and an inviting place for those with a taste for something new. Brothers John and Mike Karcho founded Nectars 10 years ago, with Mike building the wine cellar himself. Guests should be sure to take a guided walk-through of the cellar and peruse the hundreds of bottles available for sale. Elegant and cozy, it’s a wonderfully understated venue to experience the fruit of the vine.
www.nectarswinebar.com