Fashion Forum

Average Jan - Feb High | 68° F

Average Jan – Feb Low | 60° F

Average Rainfall | 2 inches

Average Days Precipitation Jan – Feb | 5 days

Admit it.  You can’t help humming a few lines of Will Smith’s “Miami” as you pack for your trip to MIA. South Beach, Cuban food, amazing shopping, and a cosmo winter escape…what’s not to get excited about?  Though it can still get a little cold, a few minor adjustments to your normal spring or summer wardrobe is all you will need to be comfortable and stylish in this Florida town.

Style Culture

Latin flair, hot weather, and international influences go hand-in-hand to produce a style culture that is sexy, sultry, and flashy all in one.  A no-holds-barred yet classy approach to dress both day and night are style benchmarks of this electric city.

Amy Gordon, style expert and founder of ArtfulWears.com, points out that “Miami style is heavily influenced by Latin culture and the hot weather. So you will see bold color, lots of prints, sheer fabrics, paired with fitted and minimalist silhouettes.”

“Nothing is ever too sexy,” says Lisa Lamy, public relations  and event sales coordinator for the popular South Beach hangout Mango’s Tropical Cafe. ”We have so many people from all over the world.  Our fashion is sultry with a global flair. There are no wallflowers in Miami.”

Weather

“Weather heavily influences style in Miami,” observes Gordon.

Lamy agrees.  “The heat allows us to show off all year round. We party on rooftops, yachts, and by the beach.”

Miami is pretty much the only major metropolitan area in the US with a true tropical climate.  That means hot, humid summers and warm, dry winters from late October through March, making Miami a great place to visit any time of year.

During the winter months, the occasional cold front that blows through will bring with it a little rainfall. Thanks to the Gulf Stream and sea-level elevation, Miami enjoys a moderate climate most of the time, rarely dipping below 64 degrees Farenheit all year!  (That’s a long-sleeve cotton top or light-knit dress and a light leather jacket or thicker cardigan.)

What to Wear in Miami

It’s time to break free of the winter mold when you visit Miami.  While the holidays still bring a bit of a wintery mood, the weather and general attitude is warm enough to let you experiment with spring early.  And it’s a great time to have a little fun with bright colors and prints!

“Lighter weight fabrics and simply less clothes [work year round]. For evening, women mostly will be in short dresses or denim and a cami.”  Silk, light cotton wovens, and light knits will totally work. And if you feel a bit chilly or don’t want to completely de-winter your wardrobe, top off your outfit with a leather jacket in winter white or black.

Bright colors and more skin also apply to evening wear, whether you are partying on a boat or one of the aforementioned rooftops.  For the occasional breeze, all you’ll need is a good cover-up.

“You have to have a great wrap at all times of the year.  It’s often hot outside and cooled by air conditioners inside. Plus, Miami has a great rooftop scene and it can get chilly up there.  A great wrap compliments an outfit, it can add amazing color, texture and great patterns,” advises Lamy.

“The latest trends are glamour / understated elegance, beachy boho chic, white hot [which] looks great on toned tanned bodies and against the backdrop of the blue ocean!” says Galina Sobolev, designer of the line Single and a current contestant on the hit Bravo television show “Launch My Line.”

As surprising as it sounds for a tropical place, boots are a fashion staple when the temperatures even dip a little below normal. “It’s all about boots, demi boots, and shoe boots. In Miami even our footwear is sexy,” says Lamy.

Concurs Gordon: “Bling and embellishments are in style everywhere, but especially in Miami..and while peep-toe booties aren’t feasible in northern climates, in Miami they are the perfect style.”

Single | Bravo’s “Launch My Line” contestant and designer Galina Sobolev gets to the heart of Miami style with her sophisticated and fashion-forward designs that will help you feel so Miami.  You can find her stylin’ tops and dresses at places like Lord and Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s.

Plum Flower Creations |  Local designer Meiling Bansee incorporates her love of nature with a line of eye-catching jewelry that is as delicious as its name. Perfect for day-tripping around Miami or a hot night out on South Beach.

Biscayne Blvd. | Centrally located in downtown Miami, stores like Downtown Divas, featuring “metropolitan high fashion,” and Kore known for its cheap chic clothing and accessories, are fabulously stylish examples of what you’ll find without the haute couture prices.  Visit Aventura Mall to feel right at home with all your favorite designers and a few new ones that will be your new Miami favorites.

Design District | According to their website, “going to the Miami Design District is a journey not only of place but also of emotion; imagine the delight of discovering something around every corner — a fascinating piece of art, an exotic dish or a chair you never knew you had to have.”  Check out the list of fabulous places to eat, shop, and browse for true Miami splendor.

Village at Merrick Park | Shop in a true Miami setting in this lush and quaint village of shops and eateries in Coral Gables featuring all “the shops you know and love.”

Miami Fashion and Style Examiner | Native Jewel Figueras shares her insights and ideas for everything fashion in Miami.

SocialMiami.com | Headed by pubisher and man-about-South-Beach Aaron Glickman, SocialMiami.com is “Miami’s go-to site for all things social.”