Why on earth am I cramming sandals, sunnies, and sheer/light clothes into my suitcase (lord knows how I manage to fill a suitcase even with the lightest of garments….)? I only waxed lyrical about the beauty of autumnal dressing a week ago and now, I shall be leaving the crispy air and golden leaves for rather hotter climate.
Tomorrow, I fly out to Miami, Florida for 2007’s Arts of Fashion competition (where I was part of the jury last year in Denton, Texas). This year however, I’ll scarily be teaching a MasterClass out there at the Miami Intertional University of Art and Design about the joys of communicating fashion via the weird and wonderful ways of new media. I’ll be relying on the superfly skills of my teaching partner Etienne Mineur, art director of Incandescence agency in Paris, whose wizardry on the Issey Miyake website stuns me. Seeing as I have no great skillsets of my own, I’ll apologise in advance if I seem like I’m bumbling my way through this 4 day masterclass. Hopefully participants will get some joys out of it but I’m guessing it will be Etienne’s wise words they’ll be heeding.
As with Denton last year, this will again be my random trip of the year seeing as I’ve never been to Miami. As I’ll be gone for nine days, it does mean I’ll have an awful lot of time to go about exploring. So I implore any Miami-residents (if there are any?) or those who have experienced Miami to leave your two cents about the place. Greasiest diner? Weird flea market? Cute vintage shop? I’ve already had warnings about the ‘glitzy-glam’ nightlife which I’m fairly wary of seeing as I’m neither glitz or glam.
As per norm, the laptop is coming over with me but posting time will be different as I’ll be posting Miami-time. Progress of the AoF competition and my un-Kosher teaching skills will be duly reported back. God help those students who have signed up for the class…
Good luck Susie 😉 kick some ass
love the suitcase! where’s it from? you’ll be fine. stop being such a pessimist.
Sorry about the panic attack guys! I’m truly shitting myself here…
The suitcase is from a dodgy shop on Tottenham Court Road…. it was the only one there and I’ve never seen one like it…. it was a bit of an emergency buy…
I just got back from Miami last weekend – it’s so warm there right now. I found an amazing vintage shop on the Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
Your profile pic on the Art of Fashion site is marvelous! Sounds like a really interesting workshop – wish I could go too. Can’t wait to read all about it – safe travels! Oh and I’m useless about Miami tips because I have never been there either…
Good luck deary, I bet you’ll be absolutely fine 🙂
Never been to Miami, but I’ve heard the vintage shopping there is FABULOUS! Enjoy the trip and mini vacation!
versailles- best/oldest/most famous cuban food in town. ask anybody in town for directions.
pawn shop- hipster dance party, downtown near the performing arts center.
lincoln road- boughy/high street shops and restaurants, but fun and necessary miami stroll/place to lounge and sight see… buried half way in there is a decent vintage shop
delano hotel- beautiful hotel/lounge bar on south beach. super surreal alice in wonderland theme, excellent design… be sure to check out the art hotel next door.
all of these are an absolute must! if you need more i can muster some up.
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
I graduated from that school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what a small small world!!!! susie bubble comes to south fl!
i highly suggest you check out c. madeleines: http://www.cmadeleines.com/
see what happens when i skip the internet for a few days, style bubble comes to south florida! and the Lollipops store in aventura is closing so everythings 65% off
http://lollipops.fr/
bring an umbrella
It’s humid, grossly humid. Makes my hair go all crazy frizzy. You should walk down Ocean Drive in South Beach just to see it. And you’ve got to go the Raleigh Hotel. It’s just beautiful. The Raleigh’s a real South Beach deco masterpiece. The pool is famous, stunning, stunning design. There’s great vintage furniture in Miami, but I don’t know of any great clothing stores. You’re right about the glitzy glam nightlife, sequins and cheesiness galore.
wow, susie comes to my hometown. the one place I think you should check out is Flamingo Plaza, it’s in an okayish area (it’s just full of Cubans…) but it’s a really great thrift place, it’s a shopping strip with like 5 thrift stores in a row.
Definitely check out Sasparilla in South Beach, I think you’ll love it.
VINTAGE!!! :
Fly Boutique
650 Lincoln Rd.; Miami Beach, FL 33139
Recycled Blues
1507 Washington Ave
(and also theres another vintage store right next door to it that’s even better!)
C. Madeline
13702 Biscayne Boulevard
(the best!!)
THRIFT!! :
Red White & Blue
12640 NE 6TH Ave, North Miami, FL
Flamingo Plaza
901 EAST 10TH AVE. HIALEAH, FLORIDA
Douglas Gardens
5713 NW 27th Ave
SWAP SHOP FLEA MARKET
3291 W Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL
World Thrift
2425 N Dixie Hwy
Lake Worth, FL
I’ll second the Delano Hotel for cocktails around the pool right by the beach. The one thing that struck me when I was in Miami were the number of women wearing lycra hot pants – of all sizes!
I’m so envious of those able to attend…please let us know if your lectures get recorded/broadcast/podcast/youtubed. Best of luck and don’t underestimate what you have to offer – your passion and (constantly) impressive depth of knowledge.
Those students will be lucky to hear your words of wisdom. Coming from someone who hears lectures almost everyday from professors, the ones I actualy listen to and take to heart are the ones coming from professors who have experienced what they are talking about. Good Luck!
To eat amazing Haitian food and very cheap, go to TAP TAP in 819 5th St Miami Beach.
The food is amazing and if you’re lucky you will enjoy live music.
HAVE FUN!!
xoxo
Thanks so much for all the tips – SO much appreciated! I’m here now and it is as hot and humid as you guys say…. feels like HK really…
I’m going to have fun checking all of this out (getting fat and poor whilst I’m at it…)
There’s tons of good cuban food.
If you like sushi, Samba sushi is really pretty and also an excellent sake selection.
I think you’re great and you seem to be so talented! Couldn’t help anyhow on the Miami issue, ’cause I was a tourist there by myself (went there for a weekend with the ex bf, that smart-ass booked us the fanciest hotel he could using easyclicktravel thing). I hope you had a real good time there,girl,’cause we did. Cheers!