Fashion shows in South Florida bring together all sorts of people who believe they know what is stylish. That was the case last weekend at the Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach shows at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens.

Dressed in everything from T-shirts and jeans to evening gowns and suits, men and women were ready to make a statement. I was introduced to one woman who, I would come to find out, has made plenty.

Her shirt made quite a first impression. It was a black, long-sleeve top with the message ''Texting is the new Black''. Clever, I thought. Let's see if she's just as shrewd.

A divorcée in her late 30s with two children, this single mom was a fun conversationalist. Ruby seemed to have something to say about any topic, and an experience somewhere in the world to highlight our discussions.

Then came the kicker. My friend Les, who brought Ruby to the fashion shows, blurted out ''Ask her who she's dating.'' (Les is the guy I wrote about recently who failed to tell his girlfriend they were staying at his ex's place until she tried on a pair of the ex's shoes.)

Never one to turn down a good dating story, I bit.

``So, who are you dating?''

''My ex-husband's best friend and business partner,'' she said.

I nearly spit out my cup of Barefoot Wine. That seemed like an oxymoron (or at least some sort of moron was involved). Of course I had to start digging.

Ruby met her husband 10 years ago. He was strong. Fit. An ex-Olympic rower and current weekend athlete. When they got married, things changed. Things like his waist size, his shirt size, and his energy. They had children, and they seemed like a strong family, but he wasn't the same man she fell in love with.

At a company picnic, after she told him about her dislike for his new look, her husband asked Ruby who she found attractive.

``Who here should I look like?''

''Like . . .'' she said and paused as she looked around at the crowd. ``. . . like him!''

There he was. Tall. Dark. Handsome. Well, maybe not all that, but he was fit and clean-cut and looked like a good guy. The husband, agreeing that he needed to work on his appearance, made it a point to befriend her choice. Long story short, Mr. Random turned into Mr. Best Friend.

That's right. Ruby actually picked out whom she would eventually date in front of her then-husband. Even after the two men went from workout buddies to business partners, Ruby and her husband could not reconcile their differences, so they parted ways.

Six months later, Ruby got a call from him. Apparently Mr. Best Friend was interested in going on a date with Ruby, and the ex wanted to let Ruby know that he was fine with it. (Sounds to me like the ex was trying to use some reverse psychology in hopes of preventing a union.) What he didn't know was that Ruby had already called Mr. BF a month prior and they had gone out a few times. Ouch!

Needless to say, the two men's friendship evaporated, and Ruby is content as can be in her current, long-distance relationship.

Fashionably convenient, wouldn't you say?

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