Day 2 of Mercedes-Benz Swim Week and I found myself seeing red.

I had the best seat in the house, front row at the Red Carter show last night and enjoyed a theatrical event that burned hotter than the pack of Red Hots in my gift bag. Red (no stranger to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) ran the red light on the Beachway catwalk, pulling no stops and driving full speed ahead, taking me on the fashion ride of my life.

Since bursting onto the Miami swimwear scene in 2004, Red has enjoyed immense success within the thin walls of the Mercedes-Benz tents, always taking risks that have paid off well...with interest. From the roaring twenties to rockin' hookers circa 1984, we love Red for his refusal to play it safe. The theme this year? A little bit animal, a little bit rock and roll and a whole lot of space-age glamour. An arty video installation set the tone, featuring one of Big Red's pretty pompadoured girls from his print campaign posing Cirque du Soleil style on swings and things in the center of the ring just like a circus.

Much like the perfect cocktail, Red's vision was the ideal blend of spicy and sweet - a mixture of one part animal kingdom, two parts Judy Jetson, half an ounce of Nabokov's Lolita, and rimmed with rocks of Gwen Stefani sugar to taste. I was completely intoxicated after the 4th look. Styled with black, white and gold accents, neon pink and yellow heart-shaped sunglasses, stacks and stacks of bangles, beads, belts and black painted puckers, the models all represented tough street chic while remaining feminine, young and feverishly fresh.

With forty looks total that ran the gamut from intricate rock-star monokinis to skirted bottoms, bandeaus, hipsters and futuristic robes, there were also a few choice looks for the boys with suits that flattered while the male models flexed their wares down the runway.

Welcome back Mr. Car-ter...
We'd never want to face a semester of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim without you.