If you’re wondering if the beautiful women you see on the streets are citizens of Miami or if there are thousands of models walking the streets, the answer is: both. Miami is home to models and fashion lovers alike.
Fashion Capital
Miami is the fashion capital for several reasons. It has a warm climate all year round, has luxurious boutiques and designer stores in bulk and is known as a center of international trade.
Miami may be full of fashionable people in every corner, but it’s fair to say that South Beach is the capital of this fashion capital. It houses headquarters of all the world’s leading modeling agencies, including Wilhemina Models, Elite Model Management and William Morris Agency, along with renowned local agencies, such as The Green Agency. Miami welcomes models from all over the world who come here to achieve their dream.
The tropical climate lends itself to the perfect backdrop for photo shoots for commercials, magazine editorials and fashion shows. Photographer Bruce Weber, who has photographed for artists like Vogue, W, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair, to name a few, is in love with Miami. He has made it his home and takes most of his photos here. He even filmed a short documentary about Liberty City titled, “Liberty City is like Paris to me.”
Designers and influencers
Bruce Weber isn’t the only fashion heavyweight who made Miami his home. More famously, Gianni Versace fell in love with Miami and transformed a 1930s apartment building on Ocean Drive into his own ornate mansion in 1992. Gianni Versace was tragically murdered in that mansion in 1997 as he returned home from a nearby coffee shop where he read Italian newspapers every morning. After the murder, the place became a sanctuary for fashion lovers where people pay tribute to the much-revered designer. The Versace brand, now run by his sister Donatella, remains one of the most important in the world. Today, the Versace mansion is known as The Villa by Barton G, a luxurious hotel and restaurant. The intimate dining room with only 30 seats serves your signature drink The Villa Martini, in a glass of Versace martini.
Miami welcomes designers and influencers from all over, who are attracted by the climate and fashion scene. It is also the birthplace of several talented characters in the fashion world, such as Lazaro Hernandez, a young citizen of Miami who has dabbled with great success in fashion and has been awarded one of the industry awards, Perry Ellis Award as new talent of CFDA, for his brand Proenza Schouler. Lazaro’s dizzying career began in 2000 at Miami International Airport, when he met Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Nervous, he sent her a message written on a napkin through the flight attendant and she got him a job at Michael Kors. The rest is history. Proenza Schouler is a haute couture brand that designs perfect outfits for Miami vacations. Her clothing and accessories for women reflect the tropical and colorful atmosphere of Miami.
Alejandro Ingelmo and his eponymous shoe brand, has shoe design in his blood since his great-grandfather’s time in Salamanca, Spain, but it was in Miami that Ingelmo was born and raised. Ingelmo’s shoes and accessories are architectural and their beauty exhibits a high level of dexterity.
High fashion shopping destinations
The Webster Miami is a luxury boutique that is located in an Art Deco building of 1800 square meters in Miami Beach. It is run by two fashion veterans and brand connoisseurs such as Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Jil Sander, and has grown into a destination in its own right for its stylists, editors and fashion influencers. The Webster is a fashion megahub in South Beach, with almost unobtainable brands, such as Balmain, and exclusive designer models, such as Alexander Wang, ACNE and Lisa Marie Fernandez.
Miami’s Design District It has a cluster of luxurious designer boutiques all in close proximity to each other. Maison Martin Margiela is a must-see in this area, both for the beautiful interior in classic Margiela style, a combination of scientific and illustrious avant-garde museum, and for its clothing in the same style. Margiela’s “temporary” boutique has been there since 2010 and, hopefully, will stay that way. It is the third location in the United States . In Margiela, it’s worth taking a second look; A simple T-shirt may have a detail or two hidden. Even the staff uniform is worthy of admiration. They wear scientific coats, which deepens the bizarre aesthetic that the designer has adopted.
Other shops worth checking out in the Design District include En Avance, a boutique featuring global designers such as Yigal Azrouel, Robert Rodriguez and Marni, Italy’s eclectic unisex fashion brand. Another must-stop in the area is Nektar De Stagni, a concept boutique that collaborates with artists on projects and has its own brand of beautiful and interesting accessories with a Miami-style feel, such as the Shark “Pearl” hoops, made from genuine shark teeth coated with pearlescent enamel.
Temporary tents
Miami has some fashion classics, but it also hosts many pop-up shops and fashion shows. Some of the best pop-up shops pop up during Art Basel in December, where designer Mara Hoffman collaborates with artists to create a collection featuring swimwear and beachwear. Another noteworthy pop-up store at Basel 2011 was the collaboration between Pringle of Scotland and Webster, which featured a collaboration between Central Saint Martens, London’s revered design school, and Pringle of Scotland. Miami’s fashion scene boasts a friendly and collaborative atmosphere; And pop-up stores continue to introduce new and interesting concepts that make fashion lovers talk.
Fashion Weeks
Miami hosts a global fashion show at three major fashion weeks: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim , Miami Beach International Fashion Week and Funkshion Fashion Week. In July, March and October, respectively, there are large exhibitions of swimwear, international design, resorts and lingerie throughout the city.
Malls
Of course, any major fashion city has some amazing shopping malls for the tourist shopper. If you’re looking for brands capable of competing with the Champs Elysees and 5th Avenue stores in Manhattan, try Bal Halbour Shops and Village of Merrick Park, two beautiful open-air malls with top-notch shopping and dining including brands like Chanel, Prada, Lanvin, Trina, Turk, Burberry, Carolina Herrera and many more. Another open-air shopping hub is Lincoln Road, a string of shops and restaurants that includes everything from an independent bookstore to an antique market on Sundays. For a more American shopping experience, you’ll find Dadeland, The Falls and Sunset Place, where you’ll find stores like Zara, Macy’s and the GAP.
There are also many places of deals. Dolphin Mall is the largest shopping destination in Miami and is packed with bargains. Dolphin Mall is a “retail mall” and a must-stop if you’re looking for incredible deals from brands like Banana Republic Factory Store, Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Lord & Taylor Outlet Store, and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, among others. Barneys CO-OP, a younger, cooler Barney’s startup located in Miami Beach, is a must-see if you’re looking for deals with the same conservative taste as Barney’s.