If you share our passion for fashion, here’s a guide to the best spots for new and vintage designer clothing, perfectly stylish housewares and everything else we crave.
Bal Harbour Shops
9700 Collins Avenue
Bal Harbour, Florida
Bal Harbour Shops
The very top of the line designer destination, Bal Harbour Shops features anchor stores Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus at either end of the mall and every important designer in between.
If your credit cards have no limit, this is the place to nab the latest runway looks from icons Carolina Herrera, Roberto Cavalli, Custo Barcelona, Chanel, DVF, Fendi, Armani and more!
Exquisite bags and footwear from Roger Vivier, Bottega Venetta and Sergio Rossi quickens our pulse while Tiffany & Co. and Georg Jensen provide perfect housewarming and wedding gifts. Shopping Tip: Dress to impress, even if you’re only window shopping.
Design District
40th Street
Miami, Florida
Miami Design District
The Design District is an 18 block neighborhood filled with upscale home furnishing showrooms, trendy boutiques and the city’s top dining destinations.
A shopper’s paradise by day and a hipster’s hangout by night, the area includes chic shelter magazine outposts like Holly Hunt, Ann Sacks, Poltrona Frau and Campaniello Italian furniture, and chic designer fashions at Adidas Y-3, Duncan Quinn and Tomas Maier.
After hours, the elite meet to eat at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Grass Restaurant & Lounge and Fratelli Lyon. Shopping Tip: Ask before snapping pictures or risk get tossed out on your ear.
Aventura Mall
19501 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida
Aventura Mall
A vast, 3-story indoor mall with big box anchor stores Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s and JCPenney, this shopping and entertainment complex also offers fine dining, an AMC cine-plex with IMAX movies, and countless top name retail shops like Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever XXI, Coach, Diesel and Miss Sixty.
Getting to Aventura Mall from Miami Beach
It is possible to spend an entire day exploring the shops, restaurants and cocktail lounges before settling in to see a new feature film until well past midnight. Shopping Tip: Score a discount savings booklet with offers from over 250 Aventura shops when you print out this voucher and bring it to the mall concierge: http://www.aventuramall.com/travel/09English.pdf
The Village at Gulfstream Park
501 South Federal Highway
Hallandale, Florida
Village at Gulfstream Park
The brand new retail complex in front of the Gulfstream Racetrack & Casino is tailored to the lifestyle of Aventura snowbirds seeking chic and simple solutions for furnishing their winter homes.
Modern houseware chains Crate & Barrel, The Container Store, Williams & Sonoma, Pottery Barn and West Elm have created large format showrooms to provide access to a maximum inventory at this upscale mall.
From living, dining and bedroom furniture to the decorative accents Miamians crave to personalize their living spaces, the Village provides an enormous selection of up-to-the-minute merchandise. Shopping Tip: After a day of retail therapy, try your luck at the casino or party all night at Club MI-VI.
5th & Alton
500 Alton Road
Miami Beach, Florida
5th & Alton
The first big box shopping mall on the island offers great discount shopping for tourists and locals who need to augment their resort wardrobes at off prices. Both TJMaxx and Ross Dress for Less have comprehensive inventories of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories at prices that represent a significant savings when compared to department store sales tickets.
Some discount shops concentrate their upscale inventory at targeted locations like 5th and Alton where TJMaxx features the “Runway” collection of major designer pieces marked at over 50% off the sale price.
Fashionistas who are focused and selective can discover some pretty impressive brand name shoes, handbags and accessories here. Shopping Tip: This is a perfect escape on rainy summer afternoons.
Lincoln Road Mall
Lincoln Road between Collins & Alton Road
Miami Beach, Florida
Lincoln Road Mall
Fusing fashion, art and entertainment, the shops on the pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road Mall comprise the heart of South Beach’s social life 24 hours a day.
From Sunday morning farmer’s and antique markets to late night dance parties at Gemma, Score and Buck 15, there’s always something exciting happening at the mall. Big box retailers Macy’s, CB2 by Crate & Barrel and ULTA cosmetics draw thousands of shoppers to the area which is closed to cars and promotes a street party atmosphere year round.
Wine bars, art galleries, hookah lounges and dog-friendly sidewalk cafes draw local residents out of their apartments and onto this ultra-modern Main Street where everyone gathers for Sunday brunch, a quick espresso or a sunset cocktail. Shopping Tip: Be sure to explore the cross streets where most of the new indy boutiques are opening.
Dolphin Mall
11404 NW 12 Street
Miami, Florida
Dolphin Mall
Creating an atmosphere that’s welcoming to tourists and bargain-seeking locals, the Dolphin Mall shuttles shoppers directly from major hotels in Miami and Miami Beach and will even pick you up at the Miami International Airport. That kind of singular focus on promoting traffic makes this huge outlet mall one of the most popular shopping destinations in Greater Miami.
From major fashion retailers like Brooks Brothers, Coach, Calvin Klein and Neiman Marcus to smaller niche brands like Forever XXI, Aldo Accessories, and GUESS? the variety and scope of stores extends to Sam Ash Music, Sports Authority and hunting and fishing outfitters Bass Pro Shops.
Evening activities include a CineBistro with restaurant service within a movie theater and Dave & Busters massive video arcade. Live bands and performers often appear at the food court on weekends. Shopping Tip: Run - don’t walk - to ChurroMania, a Latin doughnut shop that fries them up hot and fresh to order.
Sawgrass Mills Mall
12801 West Sunrise Boulevard
Sunrise, Florida
Sawgrass Mills Mall
Practically large enough to be considered it’s own city, Broward County’s most popular outlet mall brings big name designers to the discount shopper who is willing to spend a day and walk over a mile to take advantage of savings on fashion, accessories and housewares.
A specialty section called The Colonnade Shops houses luxury retailers like Canali, Barney’s New York, Burberry, David Yurman, Valentino and Ferragamo outlet stores. Florida’s largest outlet features over 350 off-price stores, two food courts, seven restaurants and a 23 theater cinema.
Millions of guests shop the mall seven days a week including major anchors Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom Rack and more. Designers like Kate Spade, Coach, Escada, Cavalli, Kenneth Cole and Ralph Lauren discount seasonal merchandise at over 70% off retail year round. Shopping Tip: Review the website at www.sawgrassmills.com and map out a game plan in advance or risk missing your favorite designers.
Bayside Marketplace
401 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida
Bayside Marketplace
A perfect spot to sip a cool tropical cocktail overlooking Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami, Bayside Marketplace attracts millions of cruise passengers to it’s indoor/outdoor promenade to pick up last minute gifts and experience the balmy Miami breeze.
In addition to casual restaurants Hard Rock Cafe, Hooters and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, the mall offers downtown office workers and thirsty travelers the delights of Let’s Make a Daiquiri, Fat Tuesday and Tradewinds for a frosty rum drink.
Shoppers looking for a quick fix can find the GAP, Victoria’s Secret and the always essential Sunglass Hut. Shopping Tip: After you’ve filled your suitcases with tropical attire, many of Miami’s best boat tours launch from the marina adjoining the mall.
Biscayne Corridor Vintage
5050 through 8650 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida
The shops along the Biscayne Corridor from Glo at 5050 Biscayne to the MiMo District in the 70’s to the Antique Mall at 85th Street provide some of the best period home furnishings in town.
Schedule a midday crawl starting at the MidCentury Modern Glo and wending your way through Details, M.A.D.E, Casca Doce and Michel Contessa. By the time you get to Deco Dreams, you will have seen some of Miami’s most promising home decor of the past century.
During “Taste of MiMo” Weekends, enjoy a progressive restaurant crawl featuring small bite tapas plates from area restaurants plus dozens of vintage dealers who’s furniture, accessories and clothing stalls line the sidewalks for over 10 blocks. Shopping Tip: Keep up with all the local action at www.mimoboulevard.org
Happy Hunting!