#ThankYouMiami for Fashion by Margarita

MargaritaWellsMargarita Wells was born in Mexico City, Mexico and relocated to South Florida at the age of 12 with her family to pursue the American dream. Since then, she has lived all over the Southeast Florida coast from Delray Beach to South Miami and everything in between. She finally settled in Miami after attending college at the University of Miami and there is no place she would rather be.

Margarita received a B.A. and an M.A. in Marine Affairs from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and works locally as an environmental professional. Despite her scientific background, Margarita has always had a passion for writing. And, in 2012, she channeled her love for Miami and for writing to start a blog about Miami life called #ThankYouMiami.

Margarita spends most of her free time enjoying and writing about the best of what Miami has to offer, including the local fashion, food, arts, and natural resources. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire others to live for the moment and celebrate the wonderful features our city has to offer.
www.ThankYouMiami.com

  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Five FOMO-Inducing Miami Swim Week 2016 Moments
    #ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Five FOMO-Inducing Miami Swim Week 2016 Moments
    Have you ever suffered from FOMO? Well, every time I leave Miami I’m plagued by major fear of missing out and last weekend it hit an all time high as Brad and I jetted off to California right smack in the middle of Miami Swim Week. Swim Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year for three reasons: (1) it is my chance to catch up on the swimwear trends of the upcoming season, (2) the rosé and champagne filled parties are always super fun, and (3) I can stock up on bikinis at bargain prices. Alas, this year it was not meant to be for me but I was super grateful that #ThankYouMiami contributor Celeste was able to capitalize on ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Stealing Stares with Sequins in Vail
    It’s no surprise we love to travel but, during our most recent trip to Colorado, we realized one new reason why: traveling reminds us that Miami life is not normal. In Miami, no one bats an eye if you walk to the pharmacy with your booty hanging out. At the same time, no one questions if you walk out in a ball gown with full hair and make up to do the same. Miami lets you do you, boo boo. Few other places on this planet are magical like that—and, as we learned last week, Vail most certainly is not one of those places. Around 2 weeks ago we were doing the zombie-like Instagram scroll when we came across a post ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion: The Must-Have Travel Dress
    Today, our dear Miami fashion bunnies, we’re leaving on our Valentine’s Day/Presidents Day trip to the Catskills so we’re talking travel fashion. More specifically, we’re talking about the dress every jetsetter needs in their closet: the casual bodycon. We first learned about this magical piece of clothing four months ago in the Dominican Republic, where we were incapacitated with a stomach bug and facing the prospect of getting on a 2-hour flight back to Miami. Our friend Betsy forced us into her favorite knit bodycon dress so we could be more comfortable for the schlep. The flight was awful, but the dress was super comfy—an incredible feat considering we had a 104-degree fever the entire time. Unfortunately Betsy’s casual bodycon dress had to ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Feminine Floridays
    Miami has been suffering from multiple weather disorder the past few days. One minute it’s hurricane-ing, another it’s freezing, and the next it’s a beautiful, warm day. To cope we’ve had to do a daily weather check before heading out of the house and still had to pack in anticipation of all weather conditions. Our obsession with sweaters—we love to buy them, we love to wear them, we love to think about them—has turned out to be super clutch in these confusing times. Sweaters are the perfect foundation upon which to build a cold weather outfit, but they also work well with warmer weather clothes like shorts. The past few weeks we’ve been wearing them with everything from A-line skirts to silk patterned ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Dressing for Thanksgiving in the Tropics
    Last year we established that celebrating the holidays “Miami style” is as much about eating lechón and plátanos as it is about rocking an outfit that screams “I’m from Miami” —one that adheres to the pillars of Miami’s unique and enviable style. Since the first holiday on the roster, Thanksgiving, does not come with a limiting color palette, we have free reign to let our creativity flow. That said, we figured you could use a little inspiration from your favorite Miami fashion obsessed blog to get you going so we’re bringing out photos from last year’s Thanksgiving archive. These photos were shot at Hotel Playa Cambutal in Panama where the TYM team will be spending the long holiday weekend again this year (and where we will ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Fall in the Outer Banks
    A huge perk of living in a city with consistent weather year-round is not having to think about the functionality of our clothes. That is, we rarely have to worry about dressing to face different metereological conditions (wind chill, rain, snow, etc.) so we have come to perceive clothes as more of an accessory, less a survival necessity. Then we travel and this mentality—groomed by years of not having to worry about whether our outfit will help or hinder us in an apocalypse—gets us in trouble. It’s the reason we found ourselves this week in the Outer Banks facing 64-degrees and 13mph winds in nothing but ripped jeans and a thin, long-sleeve t-shirt. (Apparently what we call “Fall clothes” in Miami is severely inadequate for dealing with actual Fall weather.) Although frozen ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Design and Film Superstars in the Magic City
    In Miami we have a stellar pool of locals from which to be inspired and learn but one of the other perks of living in the Magic City is its access to top notch talent from abroad. Whether its the influx of world renown artists during Art Basel, DJs during Miami Music Week, or designers during Miami Swim Week, we have an inordinate amount of access to superstars and, thereby, inspiration. For a “normal week”—that is, a non-themed week—last week saw a heavy influx of celebrity talent. We were particularly excited that three of these individuals, known for their accomplishments in design or film, shook up the style conversation while in our sunny shores. Gia Coppola is recognized for her filmmaking genius. Last week she sent a sliver ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Standout Style Moments of Summer
    It is with great sadness that we remind you Summer 2015 ended yesterday. And, while meteorologically this means little in the Sunshine State, there’s something about the official start of Fall that messes with Miami’s carefree summer vibe. Save for the last few weeks, this summer was a fantastic one for us. In June, we explored Miami, refining our itineraries of free things to do around Miami and for discovering Miami in under 24 hours to arm ourselves for visitors during the busy season. In July, we bonded with bloggers in Miami and beyond while covering Miami Swim Week and got to interview Sharleen Ernster during the release of her debut collection. August brought us to a triumphant close of the season as we moved into our new office at WeWork. We are ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Capretto Sparks Shoe Talks in Miami
    As summer wraps up, the days of 24-hour bare feet are also coming to an end and the local fashion spotlight has turned to shoes. It all started last month when Teen Vogue‘s Fashion and Accessories director, Marina Larroudé, joined Chelsea Paris footwear designer and founder, Theresa Ebagua, in hosting Fashion for Breakfast at Cecconi’s Miami Beach (see photos below). Their discussion, which was moderated by Miami’s own Jason Salstein, Head Buyer for Capretto Shoes in South Miami, centered around Fall shoe trends including the two styles from the Chelsea Paris Fall 2015 collection exclusive to Capretto which were unveiled during an in-store event the following day. “Capretto is unlike any boutique in the country, if not the world,” says Jason. “As an accessory store, we have the ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami For Fashion – How To Pack For The Beach
    We’re die-hard Miami beach bunnies. Not only do we live on the beach, but we also spend 99% of our vacations at other beach destinations. At this point in our lives, you can say we’re expert level beach goers. As such, we feel the responsibility to impart upon you the years of beach going knowledge we’ve acquired – the most important of which (after sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen) is how to pack for the beach. The two critical components of any beach bag are food and entertainment. That said, the amount and type of food and entertainment you bring should vary depending on your destination. The beaches on the Atlantic Coast (think, South Beach) tend to be packed with people and have nearby food options so our ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion (and Function) – Withings Activité Pop
    Every time we have to get into a bikini we wish we had a magic button we could press to instantly make us look thinner and more toned, but we all know that’s wishful thinking. Looking fit and feeling good about our bodies is more about regular exercise and good nutrition, less about magic, non-existent solutions. We never thought we’d have a problem maintaining our exercise routine (good nutrition is more of a battle because we love food). From Middle School through college, we were athletes who comfortably did two-a-days in multiple sports and still had the energy to hit the gym. In fact, in High School – before we had any common sense and when it still seemed like an ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Miami Does Swim Week
    Few things make as much sense as Miami hosting Swim Week. We’ve got beautiful beaches, fantastic weather, an exciting nightlife and, most importantly, incredibly talented people. Our favorite part of locally-hosted international events like Swim Week is seeing the global spotlight shine on our local talent and watching them flourish. This year, we went into the bikini madness with a goal to observe and report on the accomplishments of Miami designers, products, venues, and people. Alas, here we are today sharing five of the week’s best 305-bred moments. 1. Liliana Montoya – Mermaids of Atlantis Runway Show at Funkshion Fashion Week Liliana Montoya is a Miami Beach-based brand that has captivated aspiring mermaids in the US and beyond. For the brand’s third Miami Swim Week, ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Miami Swim Week 2015
    Rejoice, Miami fashionistas! We’ve officially made it to another Miami Swim Week. On Thursday, the whirlwind of runways, parties, and brunches begins. As your local insiders, we’ll be your eyes and ears throughout the week. We’ll be keeping you updated regularly on trends, parties, and celebrity sightings through a daily post on this column, as well as live coverage on our Instagram page, our Twitter and our newly-launched Periscope channel (P.S. we’re @thankyoumiami for all social media). If you’re looking to join in on the action, you’re in luck! This year you’ve been invited to three of Miami Swim Week 2015’s coolest events where you’ll be able to learn about this year’s swimwear trends firsthand, shop summer must-haves, and meet your favorite designers. Check out the details below and ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Perfume Perfection at Babalú
    We apologize for the fashion silence these past few weeks. We have been extremely busy writing about the food, travel, and culture that comes in droves in late spring. But, rest assured, we have been diligently keeping up with our local fashion happenings, amping up for Miami fashion season, and naturally thinking of you the whole time. Latest on our radar is news from Babalú Boutique in Miami Beach – you know, the unexpected surprise beneath the stairs in the 1111 Lincoln Road building (the Herzog and De Meuron garage) that stands out with its neon lights and eclectic yet luxurious inventory. In a testament to its founders’ limitless creativity, the chic boutique recently added a cozy room to its small footprint that houses a beautiful perfume ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Palms in Panama
    Thanks to our Instagram, it is no secret that we love palm trees and we love Panama. Palm trees make an incredible print and they are an integral part of Miami’s iconic image. Panama is a gorgeous country and a no brainer destination for Miami locals. In the spirit of our summer, we wanted to combine both of our tropical obsessions by sharing some photos we shot during our last trip to surf Panama’s Pacific Coast. Huge props to Hotel Playa Cambutal for being our home away from home in Panama when Miami’s as flat as an ironing board. For a surf family like ours, there is really no better place to escape to than a beautiful hotel on an empty beach with ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Summer Look Inspired by Jose Cuervo
    We know what you’re thinking: how can an outfit be inspired by tequila? Well, if you have a good memory, you remember that two weeks ago we attended the unveiling of this year’s Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia bottle with its new one-of-a-kind design created by Mexican artist Enrique Rosas. If you’ve been keeping track of this year’s summer trends, you know that the color palette of Rosas’s oeuvre d’art are in line with the colors for summer. The blue and white in particular are the perfect inspiration for an on-trend look for our favorite season. So, as we whipped up our favorite tequila, soda and lime cocktails using Reserva de la Familia this Memorial Day Weekend, we let the inspiration take ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for (Travel) Fashion
    Miami has struck a delicate balance between being the ultimate travel destination and offering a great quality of life. However, during high season, the pendulum swings toward catering to visitors and mayhem ensues. So, when Miami is in the peak of tourism season, Miami-ans – particularly Miami Beach locals – travel frequently. Since early March, we have been on a binge of staycations, vacations, family trips and work trips. And, as the police barricades continue to go up on Ocean, Collins, and Washington, we are preparing to head out for the weekend again. After all, evacuating for Memorial Day is pretty much a local tradition by this point. So as you get ready to pack your bags (again), here’s a round-up ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – #TheFallsINDULGE
    Last Thursday, we kicked off our Mother’s Day celebrations early by treating our mom (“mamá”) to a day at The Falls Miami and having her join us in co-hosting a special fashion presentation for moms. Mamá lives in Boca and, thanks to Town Center Mall, is super familiar with the Simon Mall routine: lunch, shopping, primping, coffee, more shopping. Despite having a tight schedule, we got everything done with time to spare and created a few special memories along the way. These were our three favorite moments: 1. Seeing our similarities in an unexpected surprise. When we got to Macy’s to pick our looks for the evening, mamá went one way and we went another, only meeting up occasionally to reflect on our selections. We styled ourselves solo, so ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – A Reflection On Our Personal Style
    We have been reflecting a lot lately. Maybe it’s common for our age or maybe we’re going crazy – nevertheless, these days, our brain has been on nostalgia overdrive. Today, we reminisced super hard as we watched our little sister cross the finish line of her first full marathon. We couldn’t have been more proud of her. We also couldn’t have been more emotional about watching her reach such an incredible milestone. We’re gearing up for even more waterworks as Mother’s Day quickly approaches. All our recent reflection has emphasized just how important our mom is to us. And, as we prepare to celebrate her on Thursday, April 30th at The Falls INDULGE: Fashion and Fun for Moms event, we can’t ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Weekending
    It is no secret that one of our favorite local haunts is South Pointe Park. We love it for its gorgeous aesthetic, its killer views, and its versatility. And, while it is our go-to park all week long, we are particularly fond of it on the weekends when it proves the perfect setting for staying active, relaxing, or showing off our beautiful city to our constant stream of visitors. On Sundays, our favorite afternoon activity is skateboarding to South Pointe Park for a sunset picnic. This adventure, like many daytime activities in South Beach, requires an outfit that is comfortable yet chic. Think the VonTrapp children’s playsuits, just more modern and not made with curtain fabric. On these days, our outfit begins ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Coral Gables Fashion Week
    Miami’s sense of community is getting stronger by the day – most recently, as evidenced by Coral Gables Fashion Week (or #CGFW for the social media savvy). For the first time in Coral Gables history, fashion retailers in the neighborhood’s downtown have banded together to deliver three days of fashion events and shopping deals that will conclude with a fashion show at the Coral Gables Museum on Saturday night. The first day was a whirlwind of sweets, drinks, beats, and bloggers. We spent the evening hopping from store to boutique with a mimosa in hand, snapping our favorite products, and taking note of the best deals. Welcome to the fashion spotlight Coral Gables – it looks great on you! Our first stop ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – How To Rocksbox Miami Style
    Miami people are usually “bling” people – not us. Don’t get us wrong. We loooove shiny things, but our jewelry rights were revoked early in life after we lost every nice piece of jewelry we had before the age of 18. Since then, we’ve kept only a minimal collection of versatile jewelry, allowing us the flexibility to accessorize properly and making it easy to keep track of each and every piece. When Rocksbox, a monthly jewelry subscription, first asked us to give them a try, we were initially hesitant. After all, our style in adulthood has been defined by the consistency of our accessories. Are we really ready to diversify and let a stylist take the reigns? And, as serial jewelry ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – In Denim Jumpsuits We Trust
    Fact: We are obsessed with denim. Denim is the number one staple of our weekend wardrobe, which is why we are psyched that it has stepped front and center into the fashion spotlight in recent years. Last season was all about the overall. This season has been all about the jumpsuit. As avid fanatics, we go all in each season with the denim trend du jour so, right now, in denim jumpsuits we trust. Denim is a tough material to wear in Miami – it requires calculated usage. If you wear too much, it can be too thick and too hot for our weather. Without the right accessories, it can look too casual to go out in a city known for dressing ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – West Coast Roadtrippin’
    Last week we spent time on Florida’s west coast and explored some cool spots that as Miami residents we rarely get to visit. Our road trip took us to three distinctively different venues and they were all awesome. Check out our fashion travel diary for the scoop on where to go and, more importantly, what to wear when you go west coast roadtrippin’. 1. Smallwood Store This historic trading post was established in 1906 by Ted Smallwood on the coast of Chokoloskee Island. Its remote and isolated location established the store as the go-to purveyor of goods and mail services for the area’s settlers. Thanks to its critical role in the daily life of pioneers, it was also a center for political ...
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  • Reyka Vodka Visits Miami
    If there is one thing Miami is doing well, it’s cocktails. Handcrafted cocktail hotspots like the Broken Shaker and Bodega prove that our cocktail scene is innovative and ahead of the curve. Plus, our local mixologists are respected and recognizable figures in the national hospitality circles. Would you expect any less from a top-tier nightlife destination like Miami? Reyka Vodka brand ambassador, Trevor Schneider, can vouch for Miami’s cocktail credibility. When New York’s very own “cocktail ninja” arrived to our beautiful city last Saturday, he was excited to see that Miami is bringing our mixology A-game. The Broken Shaker, he says, is the prime example of how high Miami is setting the bar. That said, it comes as no surprise that ...
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  • Fairchild’s 9th Annual Chocolate Festival Feeds Miami’s Mind and Soul
    This weekend Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden lured us to Coral Gables with chocolate – their 9th Annual Chocolate Festival to be exact. Despite the overcast skies, the Garden came alive with live music, international eats, educational programming, and more chocolate than the eye could see. The two-day festival gave Miami families the perfect excuse to enjoy the beautiful grounds, indulge in chocolate delicacies, and learn about the cacao plant. During our visit, we did all these and more. Check out our five favorite moments from this year’s event: 1. Sampling a hot chocolate recipe from the 1750s. American Heritage, an authentic historic line of products from leading food manufacturer Mars, had a tent where we learned how hot chocolate was made ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Calling All Miami Mermaids
    If you live in Miami, there is a 99-percent chance you are a mermaid. We know we definitely are based on our affinity for salty air and sandy feet. Regardless of the season, you will find us every weekend beach-side working on our tans and showing off the bikini body we work so hard to maintain year-round (thanks, ClassPass!). Being a Miami mermaid is a tough job and we take it very seriously. After all, we have a reputation not only of looking good, but also of being tan and having the best beach style. The secret to our perma-tan is a healthy combo of good old-fashioned sunshine and the occasional visit to Spray Nation Tan. The key to our killer ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Frozen But Chic
    Our tropical selves welcomed the beginning of the new year playing in the snow, instead of the sand. Nevertheless, freezing mountain top temperatures and a winter wind chill could not sway us from keeping our last look of 2014 true to Miami style. After all, our Golden State of Mind is to dress for the weather we want, not the weather we have. So, to celebrate NYE, we slipped into a stylish House of Harlow 1960 romper we picked up last week at PacSun at the Falls and ventured out to Windham Mountain to show the lovely people of The Catskills how Miami-ans do glamour. We may have been frozen, but at least we looked chic! Hat – Kendall and Kylie ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – A Holiday Shopping Hail Mary
    Procrastination is a disease that prays on the innocent worldwide but here in Miami, it plagues its victims at another level. Miami is a place where arriving on time means pulling up at least an hour late. It’s a place where everyone subscribes to “why get done today what can be done mañana“.  And, it’s a place where holiday shopping begins only a few days before the holidays. Blame your half finished shopping list on the lack of snow or your busy social calendar this month – we don’t judge. As of Friday we were on the same boat so, on the contrary, we totally sympathize. Better yet, we come to you with a solution for your holiday hitch: an afternoon ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for (Holiday) Fashion
    Another holiday season, another round of parties at which to let your Miami fashion sense shine! This year we’re all about showcasing a subdued South Beach sexy. No, we’re not talking bandage dresses or sky-high heels so put those back in your closet immediately. Our style inspiration today comes in the shape of sheer blouses and kitten heels. More Audrey Hepburn, less Aubrey O’Day. Our holiday outfit is based on two pieces we picked up during emergency fashion runs. So, if you’re behind on putting together your holiday outfits, there is hope for you yet! The first piece is a textured black blouse, which we found at Target on our way to last month’s Fashion Meets Fine Dining event. The second ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Fashion Meets Fine Dining
    Tucked away in the quickly-growing downtown of the Town of Surfside is Pescecane Ristorante, an Italian restaurant with marvelous food and a welcoming atmosphere. These two components alone are how Miami normally turns meals into dining experiences. However, Pescecane is blowing normal dining experiences out of the water by adding a third component: fashion. Two weeks ago, the restaurant successfully executed their first-ever “Fashion Meets Fine Dining”, an event which brings a fashion show and pop-up to the restaurant’s dining room during peak dining hours. Blending food and fashion comes naturally to Stephany Gonzalez, co-owner of Pescecane Ristorante. Not only does she share ownership of the restaurant with her husband, but she is also at the helm of Miami blog and ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami x The Falls Miami Giveaway – #GiveThanksForFashion
    Much to our excitement, the holiday season is quickly approaching. In just two short weeks we will begin preparations for Thanksgiving and, shortly after, for Christmas and New Year’s. This is one of our favorite times of the year. Even though Miami does not experience snow, the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the holiday season penetrates our tropical borders and brings us positive vibes. As an added bonus, winter for us means new clothes and lots of traveling. This year it also means an amazing fashion giveaway for our followers courtesy of The Falls Miami. In celebration of The Falls Miami opening at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and to help get you started on your holiday shopping, we are hosting a #GiveThanksForFashion ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Displaying Miami Elegance Abroad
    “We the People of Miami, in order to maintain our stellar reputation, establish our own personal style, insure our continued sanity, provide for any travel situation, promote our local talent, and secure our fashion supremacy to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish that we shall display Miami elegance abroad.” In Miami, elegance is relative. Our formal attires vary from the most formal of formals to our unique and unorthodox definition (think expertly paired maxi dresses). When traveling, the version of elegance that we bring along is determined solely by our destination. Since we travel primarily to tropical beach destinations, our formal wear tends to lean towards the more casual end of the spectrum. Despite the predictable nature of our travel ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Bloggers Give Back
    Miami-ans are beautiful people. However, our reputable good looks are a Miami stereotype and, by consequence, often overshadow our inner beauty. Today we are choosing to focus on our less superficial attributes and share with you how we, in coordination with other Miami fashion bloggers, are giving back through two upcoming events. We hope that you will join us in supporting our community by attending them both. See you there! Fashion Happy Hour: Blogger’s Give Edition Friday, September 26 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. LMNT (59 NW 36 Street, Miami, Florida 33127) Join Daniela Ramirez from Nany’s Klozet and other Miami fashion bloggers for a night of fashion, mingling, and live music where you will be able to shop the closets of your favorite Miami ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – True Hair Miami
    Somewhere in the pages of the Miami girl’s fashion bible is a passage that reads: “Thou shalt never be fully dressed without full hair and make-up”. So the Miami gods created True Hair Miami Salon. The brainchild of extension queen Ellie Menocal, the chic Midtown salon is a one-stop-shop for all things hair and beauty. The service menu includes hair cuts and treatments, make-up, bronzing and, of course, Ellie’s famous long-lasting high quality extensions. Recently we stopped by the salon to meet the True Hair Miami team and to get ready before our “Day at the Races”. We got our hair and make-up done and even added a purple extension to spice up our look. The team did an incredible job of making us look fabulous while meeting ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – A Jetsetter’s Guide to Chic Travel
    Miami is the gateway to the world, which is why the Miami lifestyle incorporates travel seamlessly. But, with great power comes great responsibility – in our case, to represent Miami worldwide by looking nothing short of chic. Lucky for you, we love to travel and, through trial and error, we have perfected an outfit that works for planes, trains, and automobiles. The key to dressing for travel is to think comfortable and versatile. As a final touch, we like to incorporate a token that reminds us of home. We’ve put together a travel look that exemplifies all of these essentials. The jeans and sneakers scream comfort, while the leather jacket and aviators keep you flawless from Miami’s sunny shores to cooler ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – A “Premios Tu Mundo” Fashion Emergency
    Dear Forever 21 on Lincoln Road, Thank you for saving us last week from an unexpected fashion emergency. “Fashiongate 2014” began was we were getting ready for the VIP preview of Telemundo’s much-anticipated Premios Tu Mundo at the America Airlines Arena. We channeled our Miami chic selves to put together an outfit perfect for an evening of pampering by TNT Agency, mingling with the award nominees, and warming up the blue carpet. We opted for bright colors, high heels, and lots of white. Unfortunately, as the universe would have it, our white items were marred by mysterious stains thirty minutes before our scheduled arrival. That’s when you, our local purveyor of “fast fashion” rose to the occasion with a flurry of viable ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – 7 Tips to Step Up Your Summer Style
    The end of summer is looming. As of tomorrow, we have officially one month to make a lasting impression this summer season. Lucky for us, we paid attention to the runways and picked up 7 tips for stepping up your summer style. Lucky for you, we believe that “sharing is caring”. 1. Embrace mesh. This year, mesh has nestled its way into the summer runways and into our hearts. We’ve spotted it playing a supporting role, like in the cap sleeves of the Mirame Swim Ellen Bikini below, and center stage as both tops and dresses. Which role it plays is up to you but, trust us, you need to embrace it. 2. Go tribal. The hair, the colors, the patterns, the accessories – tribal influences have infiltrated them ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for (Swim Week) Fashion
    Had your fill of Miami Swim Week recaps? Worry not – this is not your average runway rehash. Au contraire, this post is about celebrating the #ThankYouMiami moments we encountered hidden amidst gorgeous swimwear (i.e., is that really Kelly Slater?). Freshen up that glass of prosecco and relive with us the 10 reasons why Miami Swim Week is one of the most exciting seasons of Miami life. 10. Pool parties on the catwalk. Who better to redefine the runway than the epicenter of fun in the sun? 1 out of every 2 showcases this Miami Swim Week was in, over or around the water. We have also heard that 80% of all statistics are made up. 9. Blogger love. It was amazing to ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Miami Swim Week Style Diary
    Miami Swim Week kicked some serious butt – including ours, which means our current state of affairs involves our bed, lots of tea, and Netflix. That said, our week-long over-exertion was well worth it. One of our favorite parts was joining our fellow Miami-ans in showcasing the local collective style through our own personal lens. Check out how we gave the Miami style our individual twist below! Can you tell that as the days passed we got better at dressing for the heat? Day 1 – Funkshion: Swim in Forever21 jumpsuit (similar here). Day 2 – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in BCBG leather jacket (similar here), My Best Friend’s Closet bustier crop top (similar here), Forever21 pants (similar here), and Steve Madden sandals (similar here). Day 3 ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Cuban Rice at Miami Swim Week
    Rejoice! Miami Swim Week is finally upon us and our favorite swim and resort designers are ready to wow us with their new collections. Among them is Cristy Rice of “Real Housewives of Miami” fame who will unveil the latest collection for her swimwear line Cuban Rice: “Jewels”. The collection will expand upon the line’s signature rich colors, sexy styles, and fun prints to include styles in crochet, macramé, pastels, exotic animal prints, and jewels – everything Miami needs to make this summer endless. Be the first to preview “Jewels” this Miami Swim Week at MIAMI Magazine’s Splashion, Nikki Beach’s What Women Want: SPF Swim Week, or at Swim Show‘s Booth #1776 in the Miami Beach Convention Center. In the interim, ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – Nicaragua Beach Style
    We have already established that Miami is the queen of beach style but, like everything in Miami, that beach style is the product of a melting pot environment. As such, we have always been a little curious to study how our beach style compares to beach styles elsewhere. During our recent visit to Nicaragua, we began our research at the Hacienda Iguana Beach Club, which is located in front of the internationally-renown surf break at Playa Colorado. The Beach Club’s restaurant, tiki bar, pool, and handful of hammocks gave us numerous options from which to sip a frozen cocktail and people watch. Like other surf destinations in Central America, Playa Colorado is primarily visited by international visitors and ex-pats that are ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – You Say Street Style, We Say Beach Style
    Miami reigns supreme in beach and poolside fashion. Our closets have more bathing suits, cover-ups, and matching accessories per square foot than the average closet. Our pool parties and beach days are as much about relaxing as they are about looking on point. Even Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has made us the hub of their much anticipated resort-wear and swimwear industry showcase. With perfect weather year-round, would you expect anything less? Like true Miami-ans, we have carried our flawless swimwear looks throughout our trip to Nicaragua. The key to our success has been versatility. We brought a sporty swimsuit for our surf lessons with Nicaragua Surf Report, a sexy one-piece for chilling poolside, and a corset-style swimsuit for beach treks. For lounging, ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – 24 Hours of Travel in Miami Style
    This week the #ThankYouMiami team is in Nicaragua working on a special video project that will launch our YouTube channel. The first #ThankYouMiami video will show you how Miami brands translate seamlessly into lifestyle and travel, as well as give you an inside look at our sun, sand, and surf adventures with Nicaragua365. We are very excited to have packed our suitcase with Raz̦n, Cameri Bead Studio, B.O.A.T. Attire, Femme Jolie and other Miami style must-haves. Today, we look back at our first day of travel where we went from MIA to MGA to our beautiful beach-side mansion in Hacienda Iguana. Take notes Рthis is how Miami makes travel look good! Sunnies РRaz̦n Hand Chain Bracelet РCameri Bead Studio Bathing ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – The Perfect Summer Look
    Summer has finally reared its beautiful face in the northern hemisphere and Miami could not be more excited. Even in the land of eternal sunshine, we get excited for the energy and experiences that are unique to this season and we prepare accordingly. The Miami summer look is colorful, comfortable yet chic. For more put-together looks, Miami likes items like maxi dresses and skirts with platform espadrilles. For our super casual looks, we think breezy, floral tanks and ornate sandals. The prefect summer look, however, is not complete without a hair style to match. So, this summer, I decided to put my “virgin hair” in the capable hands of Emilee Coyle, hairstylist at Studio Chroma in Coral Gables. Emilee is Miami’s ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – H&M Grand Opening
    There was once a dark time in the lives of South Florida H&M lovers when we had to travel many miles northward to shop the latest trends. Luckily, that time has passed and the distance between us and the nearest H&M store has grown progressively shorter. Tomorrow’s grand opening of an H&M store at the Miami International Mall is but another magnificent milestone toward brighter days. Here the three facts you need to know about the new 22,000 square foot store that will make more of Miami’s fashion dreams come true! 1. It is the second of its kind in the Miami metro area. The first store opened on Lincoln Road in 2012 at the historic Lincoln Theatre. True to a ...
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  • #ThankYouMiami for Fashion – The Introduction
    #ThankYouMiami for Fashion - The Introduction
    The Miami fashion scene is getting its footing and I am one of the lucky ones who gets to experience it as it happens. Hi, my name is Margarita and I am a Miami-an with a love for all things fashion, food, and Miami. As the new fashion contributor for Soul of Miami, I will give you a front seat to the Miami fashion revolution with features on the Miami style, local fashion events, and other fashion news. In this introduction, I take you to my home base in the South of Fifth neighborhood for a shoot that showcases my personal style, my personality, and my favorite weekend activity – going to the beach. I also give you a peak into ...
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  • New Soul Of Miami Contributor: Margarita Wells
    Welcome to new contributor: Margarita Wells Margarita Wells was born in Mexico City, Mexico and relocated to South Florida at the age of 12 with her family to pursue the American dream. Since then, she has lived all over the Southeast Florida coast from Delray Beach to South Miami and everything in between. She finally settled in Miami after attending college at the University of Miami and there is no place she would rather be. Margarita received a B.A. and an M.A. in Marine Affairs from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and works locally as an environmental professional. Despite her scientific background, Margarita has always had a passion for writing. And, in 2012, she channeled her love for Miami ...
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