Miami It Girls: Discover the city’s hippest hotspots through 5 of its most stylish dwellers
Who better to show you the best of a hot city than the city’s finest tastemakers? To help us navigate Miami’s beauty (hard life, we know) we looked to 5 of the city’s coolest women. At the top of their game in fashion, music and beauty, they’ve certainly got their fingers on the coolness pulse. And as for style? They’ve got plenty of that too.
Laure Heriard Debreuil
CEO and founder, The Webster
French transplant Laure Heriard Debreuil is the brains (and beauty) behind the much-lauded designer den, The Webster. With a glamorous resume including stints at Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, where she worked hand in hand with former creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, Debreuil ditched Paris in favour of the sun and sand of Miami Beach to launch her store five years ago.
As a definitive Miami It girl (she’s even got her own closet spot on The Coveteur), we quizzed Debreuil on the ins and outs of the city’s spots and style:
Why did you pick Miami for The Webster?
For the sunshine and beautiful beaches all year long, the unique architecture and extremely rich cultural melting-pot. Art Basel brought Miami back on the art map but there was a lack of fashion to match, especially given that it’s the gate to Latin and South America.
What is your favourite Miami bar hangout?
The second floor of the Soho Beach House.
What are your favourite restaurants in Miami?
I have many. I like Tap Tap for a one-of-a-kind Haitian experience, Mandolin for a more Mediterranean vibe, Lido Restaurant and The Standard restaurant for an amazing set and view on the water, Casa Tua for a very romantic dinner, The Setai for unique Asian mix delicious food and Cecconi’s for divine Italian.
Where do you shop in Miami if not the Webster?
C Madeleine’s is a unique haven for vintage pieces!
Are there any upcoming projects we should look out for at The Webster?
Art Basel will be full of surprises and definitely worth the trip. I always do some exclusive collaborations with the designers I carry and the Fall/Winter collections will be very exciting!
Lorraine Sangre
DJ, “No Name” founder
We discovered Lorraine Sangre’s steez on Refinery29 last year and have been pleasantly surprised by her talents ever since. DJ, party planner and recent director of marketing for Miami hotspot Electric Pickle, she’s an It girl blend of house, techno, pastels and punky pinup style. And hey, she’s also a photographer.
What do you like best about DJing?
It’s a great feeling to have people vibe off what you’re playing when you’re sharing music and experience that you so dearly love. Introducing to them things that are new or even just the mutual appreciation is phenomenal. Whether I am playing music to myself alone in my room or to a few or out in a crowd, I’m going to get lost in the music so maybe sometimes other people are there as well.
What do you like best about Miami?
The sunsets are undeniable and despite my extreme aversion to the sun and heat, I love the beach and being in the ocean (preferably after 4 or 5pm). I appreciate the abundant spiritual undercurrent that exists here- it’s quite special.
When you’re not DJing, where are you hanging in Miami
More recently there’s less hanging out and more hermitting in to work on some new projects, but if I could spend a lot more time/live at any two public places in Miami it’d be Fairchild Tropical Gardens for some nature/beauty and the Standard Spa for priceless recharging & relaxation.
What is your favourite restaurant in Miami?
Lemoni Cafe is essential, a staple that one could easily frequent multiple times weekly (as I have been known to do). Lo De Lea is a great little spot for Argentine steak.
Last but not least, I must mention understated Miami treasure that is Chef Creole in Little Haiti.
What is your favourite bar hangout?
For swank and divine cocktails The Regent at The Gale Hotel is impeccable. On the other side of things: Magnum, a gay piano bar, in the main building with a “shack” out back that serves up $4 margaritas. There’s also the infamous dive bar called The Deuce on South Beach, which kind of goes without saying.
Where do you shop in Miami?
I do a lot of shopping outside of Miami but it is definitely great for thrifting and vintage finds. In terms of local vendors, Nic Fit Vintage in particular has some amazing things and can be found participating in all kinds of pop up shop events around Miami. On the street wear front, So It Seems and Stray Rats are two very cool homegrown brands that Miami has to boast about.
The Gee family (left to right: Celene Stephanie, Miriam and Natalie)
Owners, GEE Beauty
Toronto beauty fanatics may already be familiar with the amazingness that is GEE Beauty. The Yorkville-based beauty boutique caters to high-end brands like Tata Harper, Rodial and Oribe and even boasts its own in-house makeup label. The store, which is the brainchild of the Miami-obsessed mother (Miriam) and three sisters (Celene, Stephanie and Natalie), opened its Bal Harbour outpost in 2011.
When you’re not working, where are you hanging out in Miami?
When we’re not working, we’re either hanging out at Soho Beach House (they curate amazing events and have a gorgeous pool and beach), or we’re down on Purdy Avenue/Sunset Harbour doing classes at Flywheel and Flybarre or grabbing a fresh-press juice or smoothie at Jugofresh, an amazing juice/smoothie/raw-food spot that has a very cool local vibe. -Natalie Gee
What do you love about being located in Bal Harbour Shops?
Their collection of the most world-renowned brands is really what makes Bal Harbour Shops so unique, set in such a lush, beautiful environment. It’s really a lifestyle destination. You can spend the afternoon at The Shops, eating lunch, having a beauty treatment, shopping, having a cappuccino.
It’s an amazing location for us because it’s given us the opportunity to introduce Gee Beauty to Miami in the best possible way, to both the wide variety of locals and international travelers. With the thousands of visitors that come to The Shops each year, combined with the cultural events Bal Harbour involves us with, we’ve been able to be exposed to such unique experiences and cultivate such incredible clients. -Natalie Gee
What’s your favourite thing about the Shops?
We’d have to say it’s the glamour. The people, the shops themselves, the style, the South American flair. Being in Miami and at The Shops has definitely inspired our own personal styles. We tend to wear more colour and prints when we’re here. –Celene Gee
What is your favourite bar hangout?
The Freehand Miami has a very cool, low-key bar called The Broken Shaker that makes amazing drinks, Bardot is awesome for live music, and Rec Room for late night dancing. -Natalie Gee
Sari Azout
Co-Founder, Bib + Tuck
Shopping without spending. Pardonne moi? Welcome to the fantasy land of Bib + Tuck, the online marketplace for style setters to trade designer and vintage clothing. Genius like that could only be launched by It girls, which is exactly what co-founders Sari Azout and Sari Biblowizc are. The two Saris split time between New York and Miami, so naturally, we quizzed Sari A aka. Azout on her favourite hotspots around the city.
What’s your favourite place to shop in Miami?
The Webster and C Madeleine’s.
Does your style change when you’re in Miami?
Although my style is definitely more New York, Miami girls have crazy, sexy, cool style. They find a way to make the heat work to their advantage and sport a mini skirt like no other. When I’m in Miami, I fully embrace the beach to street look. I’m usually wearing something that screams look-at-me – crochet pants, white dresses with high gladiator sandals, white lace overalls, turbans, rompers in vibrant colors, cut-out anything.
What’s your favourite hidden nook in Miami?
The Corner
Bonnie Beats
DJ/Producer and show host of SLO on Klangbox FM
Within the vibrant and popping DJ scene in Miami, Bonnie Beats emerges as a definite It girl. Known for her TK feel good sounds, her tomboy style and her epic mixes for Art Basel and on Virgin Radio, the New York raised DJ is one of our new favourites. Her connection to fashion is also about to get even tighter: she’s about to open Miami’s first alt and neo-goth boutique, FORMVL Clothing Gallery.
What do you like best about Miami?
The night really spoils you with a good time. Wild late nights, skinny dipping on the beach, you really can’t find in any other city.
What is your favourite restaurant in Miami?
I’m going to rep Gigi on this one. Even though they keep a few local favourites, their menu’s always changing adding killer flavours to their carte du jour. Plus, their buns are out of hand.
What is your favourite bar hangout?
No doubt it would be Wood. It’s definitely become the spot to hit up before a good show or wild night out.
How would you describe Miami style?
What I wear is not the norm but I would say for most people in the city it’s anything short, thin, lace-y or light. It gets mad hot down here. So less is more in this case.
