photo courtesy: MiamiSocialholic.com

By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

South Beach came alive once again this July, as the swimwear industry’s most highly anticipated event, Swim Week Miami, returned for an action-packed four days and nights of designer runway shows, presentations and parties from Thursday, July 16- Sunday, July 19 at various hotels and venues throughout Miami Beach. Sexy styles were mixed with more functional pieces, color palates ranged from bright, to bold to lots of black, cut-outs prevailed among one piece suits as well as an emphasis on elegant swimwear that can double as cocktail attire-with a mere addition of a skirt or pants. Designers drew inspiration from faraway places and steamy Miami and incorporated captivating themes in their shows and presentations. Among the most memorable presentations, shows and parties: Mara Hoffman, Maaji, Mohini, DIJANA, Caffe, and Style Saves and Orlebar Brown.

Mara Hoffman’s Resort Swim 2016 Collection

The most strikingly beautiful presentation was that of Mara Hoffman, who unveiled her Resort Swim 2016 collection among the pristine landscaped gardens of Casa Casuarina, formerly known as the Versace Mansion. Millions upon millions of glistening, iridescent mosaic tiles which flank the mansion’s lawn and pool area provided the perfect backdrop, making for the most stunning presentation of the season. Read the rest of this entry »

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacturer with 260 years of uninterrupted history, celebrated the opening of its new Miami Design District boutique on Thursday, February 5^th with a night of festivities at the prestigious Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).

The event, hosted by Vincent Brun, President of Vacheron Constantin North America, and Craig Robins, President and CEO of DACRA, allowed guests to experience the world of Haute Horlogerie and to interact with Vacheron Constantin Master Artisans and Watchmakers flown in from Geneva. New and exceptional Vacheron Constantin timepieces were displayed, alongside a historical exhibition from the Maison’s private collection. “Constantinis” – a specialty martini made of vodka, basil, lime and mint – and hors d’oeuvres were served, accompanied with a live music performance. Read the rest of this entry »

On Wednesday, January 21, #chloeGIRLS were invited to celebrate the re-designed Chloé boutique at the Shops at Bal Harbour through a treasure chest journey that highlighted iconic Chloé moments.

Upon arrival, guests received a gold key and a treasure map to help unlock the Chloé universe. Champagne and specialty cucumber cocktails were served, accompanied with a sound performance by Va$tie. The new SS15 advertising campaign starring Chloé Hit Bags Drew and Faye was also revealed. Read the rest of this entry »

Jasmine Stewart, Gino Campodonico, Rachael Russell, Jhon Santos, & Netty Del

On Thursday, January 15^th, British lifestyle brand Ted Baker London celebrated the opening of its new Miami Beach store with a private preview event. Miami influencers Gino Campodonico, Netty Del, Juanjose Rangel, Rachael Russell, Jhon Jairo Santos  and Jasmine Stewart were on-site at 1111 Lincoln Road to lead the celebration. The store opened to the public the following morning on Friday, January 16^th.

Among the guests in attendance Thursday evening were Paul Griffin (‎EVP of Retail at Ted Baker London – North America), Candela Ferro (Telemundo Host/Model), Pablo Duggan (Argentine TV Host), Laurencio Adot (Fashion Designer) and Nina Surel (artist), to name a few. Specialty frozen cocktails with Zacapa Rum were served, accompanied by a special performance by The French Horn. Illustrator Mia Mandela customized Ted Baker totes for guests with their very own self portrait.

The new 1,743 square foot space draws inspiration from Miami’s vibrant art deco architecture and colorful surroundings that Florida offers.The store’s design celebrates the Sunshine State’s glorious weather while giving a nod to Ted’s British heritage. Kitschy cocktails and cocktail umbrellas adorn the space, while images of British beach huts can be seen on the wall through the warped nature of a glass tumbler. Launching with Ted’s Spring Summer ’15 womenswear, menswear and accessories collections, the new store is the perfect setting to launch Ted’s newest collection.

During opening weekend, shoppers enjoyed a special gift with purchase along with giveaways and complimentary refreshments, while one lucky winner received a $1,000 Ted Baker shopping spree. [smooth=id:580;]

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore and Maryanne Salvat

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2014 took over Lincoln Center for seven days of runway shows and presentations.  Dozens of top names in fashion presented a variety of looks that, despite having been created for “spring” would be considered “year-round” fashion in sunny Miami.  As expected, resort wear ruled the runways- floral and artsy prints, pastels and patterns prevailed, as did sleek, structured pieces. Most designers celebrated the bare midriff, showcasing at least a few, if not several, crop tops. Black and white and monochromatic looks dominated Jill Stuart, Ralph Lauren, Cynthia Rowley, Rag & Bone, Victoria Beckham, and Altuzarra’s shows, to name a few.  

The shows were presented with fun and flair this season.  Diane von Furstenberg’s show seemed like an all-out 1970s-inspired dance party; Cynthia Rowley presented in a 19th century Gothic landmark, adorned with colorful, whimsical decorations; Prabal Gurung filled the room with the scent of roses for his show and Opening Ceremony took over the Super Pier to showcase clothes from models in luxury cars.  Here’s a rundown of some of our favorite shows this season. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Maryanne Salvat

The term “Morning After” could be the result of more than one scenario: a long night of party bliss or one that you may not (would rather not) remember. Thankfully, lifestyle designer Rebecca Minkoff has redefined the “Morning After” and has bestowed positive attributes along with fanciful colors as fashion lovers carry her signature “MAB” (Morning After Bag) all about town.

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure to sit down with the delightful designer during her personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue Raleigh promoting her Ready-to-Wear Spring 2013 line.

As we chatted about the line, I asked her about the inspiration for her fresh and delicate looks for spring. Minkoff discussed that she had casually picked up a book by famed photographer Slim Aarons, best known for his celebrity and socialite photos from the 1960’s. The beach portraits caught her attention. She went on to say that the beauty and simplicity of the time period motivated her to create the embroidery details and in-house digital prints with mixes of florals and bright colors along with flared–pants, mid-thigh dresses, and peplum tops that flatter all body types.

We also spoke about her fabulous handbags and shoes. This season’s Italian laser-cut leather, fringes, zippers, studs, and tassels, in all colors graced the runway- mint being the most popular of the season. Minkoff mentioned that studs are a “must” on all of her handbags and more importantly that they are all affordably priced.

On a more casual note, we discussed the topic of motherhood and how her life and style aesthetic had changed since having a toddler around the house. She mentioned that she now wears flats on the way to the office and changes into her heels when she arrives and that she’s more casual on the weekends, but for the most part that her style remains the same.  When asked about designers that she most admires, Minkoff expressed that she had recently finished reading the biography about Coco Chanel and respects her forward thinking and strong work ethic. I also asked her if she would consider a swimsuit line, considering that summer is right around the corner. Minkoff said, “Maybe in the future.”

Minkoff exclusively designed a collection line of handbags for Saks Fifth Avenue. During her personal appearance several pieces from the collection quickly sold out, making it quite clear that lifestyle brand Rebecca Minkoff has a very strong following and quite the future ahead of her. [smooth=id:456;] photo courtesy of getty images