Miami for shoppers
Morning: First, seek out your morning coffee or juice fix. Then get your day of retail therapy off to a splashy start at Bal Harbor Shops. Located in the Miami Beach suburbs, Bal Harbor Shops are synonymous with high-end luxury, and have the designer boutiques – including Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Dolce & Gabbana – to match. This open-air mall, dotted with koi ponds and pretty murals, is an aesthete’s delight; even if window-shopping is your approach, it’s worth coming for a wander. Should you fancy an early lunch, Zodiac at Neiman Marcus is a crowd-pleasing choice.
Afternoon: As the sun climbs higher in the sky, swap an outdoor mall for an air-conditioned one – and impressive price tags for bargainous discounts. West of downtown, Dolphin Mall is well worth the drive, thanks to its 240 outlet shops. Adopt a relaxed pace, and browse the racks at Calvin Klein, Saks Off 5th, and Bloomingdale’s – you never know what treasures a dedicated browsing session will turn up.
Evening: As afternoon segues into evening, head back into town and straight to Miami’s Design District. A hub of high-style fashion, the district features younger brands like Cos and Alice + Olivia alongside stalwarts ranging from Givenchy and Gucci to Lanvin and Louis Vuitton. Browse until 7pm or so, when most shops begin to shut, and then indulge in some people watching and review the day’s purchases over dinner at Michael’s. A destination for its farm-to-table New American cuisine, Michael’s has been a firm neighbourhood favourite since opening in 2007.
Image credits:
Miami ElementalStore.com © Elemental Store
Woman with Open Sign © iStock: Laura Flugga.
