My Fabulous Florida: July 2015

Swim Week Miami 2016 --My Christmas in July!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Christine Michaels poolside

Yes my favorite time of year--Christmas!! In July!

In my line of work, the last week of December is crazy busy in tourism. So as tourism slows down in the thick of summer, this is my downtime to relax and enjoy the weather, the culture and the bikinis. Yes I love bikinis. As a child I always wanted to be a mermaid so in a way, this is my way of combining fantasy with reality. A native Floridian I grew up on the beach and spent most time in pools. But as an adult it's less about swimming, holding your breath under water and aqua ballet. It's about the bathing suit and accessories for this fashionista.

This year I attended three shows, all outdoors. The top shows are invite only and fortunately between my local connections and as a local blogger, entry was less challenging. Hence I was able to enjoy, take teems of photos and share the experience with you.

The swimwear line unveiled is for the following swim season which begins in December for those who travel to warmer climates like the Caribbean or south of the equator. Although as attendees we are offered discounts and can purchase the new swimsuits at some events.

Below are links to the three shows. Enjoy!

Part 1- Wildfox show at the Delano Hotel

Part 2- Pool Party and Fashion show at the Shelborne Hotel

Part 3- Mara Hoffman at the Versace Mansion

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Miami Fashion Swim Week

Swim Week, Part 3--The Tides Hotel & Versace Mansion

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

For the final "splash" of Swim Week, James and I stopped at the Tides Hotel and later the Versace Mansion.

The Tides Hotel was hosting "A Cosmo Life", a fashion and beauty show in honor of Swim Week featuring Kabana, Maioun, and Dafné brand lines. But our favorite highlight is always the hotel itself. Even though we frequent this hotel often for business, it's a hidden gem in the overcrowded Ocean Drive that we never tire of its splendor.

Christine Michaels stops at Tides Hotel for Swim Week

Inside the boutique Art Deco Tides Hotel in South Beach
This is Christine's choice hotel if she had to select one hotel to stay on Ocean Drive

While there are a few nice hotels on Ocean Drive, my favorite is The Tides. Why? Well it's in the middle of the district, it's New York deco style highrise with no streamlining, and with only 45 suites, and they have the largest rooms and best views from any hotel room. The Tides is also the quietest. At my age, quiet is good at night when you want to sleep. There's plenty of noise on Ocean Drive and high energy in other boutique hotels.

To learn more about the history, architecture, secret gambling room site, and more about this special hotel--you want to take the Art Deco Walking Tour!

Drinking champagne at Tides Hotel bar in South Beac

Christine Michaels and James Cubby enjoy Strawberry Champagne

Original Coral bar at the Tides Hotel in South Beach

James Cubby and Christine Michaels, Coral Bar at the Tides Hotel

This is the original bar tucked away behind the elevator lobby. It's my secret hideaway when I need peace and quiet during my rounds on South Beach. It also served as another "secret place" in history. Take the tour!

Our visit was brief as we needed to head over to the Versace mansion for required media check-in. This was exclusive event and Invite Only.

VERSACE MANSION

Mara Hoffman Swimwear

The Versace Mansion, formally called Casa Casuarina, is named after an Australian pine tree with long whipping branches that withstood hurricane winds. Few people know the origins of this name. (To learn more about the history and architecture of the Versace Mansion, visit Art Deco Tours).

James Cubby and Christine Michaels, in media line at Versace Mansion

Mara Hoffman is a fashion designer from New York. Her aesthetic is inspired by her global travel and recurrently draws from nature and mythology. Her 2016 collection started with the designer's recent travels to Morocco where she was inspired by the country's people, art, textiles culture and landscapes. By taking these inspirations and pushing the envelope in terms of design, the collection has taken on a life of its own.

Rather than the traditional runway show down the catwalk, here models bordered the Thousand Mosaic Pool in solitary position. Bohemian style head garments and long dangling accessories bolstered the solid white or symmetrical striking prints. Cohesive, eye-catching and comfortable. The show was a success.

A regular visitor to the mansion, I have enjoyed these views both in daylight and under the night sky. Tonight, the models looked like adornments, accoutrements to the illuminated pool and mosaic wall. The show was ethereal. I'm continually amazed how I am transported to another world amidst the bustling tourist crowds right outside the iron gates. A popular Saturday night, the pool courtyard drowns out the exterior noise. Despite the packed media crowd and VIP guests inside the small square footage area, complete silence blanketed the show. Media writers and bloggers like myself, quietly tiptoed around to take our photos. Yes, we were not in South Beach, but sojourning in Morocco fantasyland. Excellent presentation.

My favorite apparel in the entire show.

Mara Hoffman, designer (center)

Versace mansion, Casa Casuarina, Swim Week, Mara Hoffman

The nice perk about being a regular face/visitor, is that I can access other rooms restricted to the frenzy of attendees outside. So James and I went inside the pool bathroom to cool off in the air condition. Tonight we were all melting in the sweltering humidity. Even the models were perspiring sweat beads.

Christine standing in the shower for the pool.
The ceiling is even higher!

aerial view of Versace pool at night for Swim Week

View of Versace pool from 2nd level

Mara Hoffman and model

Kudos to another fabulous Swim Week in Miami!

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#iliveinabikini

Swim Week Miami - Part 2 at the Shelborne Hotel

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Fringe is in!

Part two of my weekend exploring Swim Week 2016 was a pool party and swim wear fashion show at the recently renovated and fabulous Shelborne Hotel.

A 1940 Art Deco hotel, the Shelborne hotel underwent a $90 million renovation and highlighted the classic car theme, a telling sign of the auto design that was to come in the 1950's. The hotel reopened in September 2014.

The pool deck was the perfect setting for a dual pool soiree, vendors exhibit, and fashion show.

Photo credit: Vannia Enriquez

First piece of business is the traditional Step-n-Repeat photo opp. But instead of red carpet, it's a blue carpet to represent the blue ocean or pool water to wear and showcase your new bathing suit.

Christine Michaels on the blue carpet

The cabanas were brimming with exhibitors showcasing swim and fashion accessories. From jewelry-inspired temporary tattoos, to sunglasses, shoes, and of course swimwear. I ambled down the poolside and visited a few "cabanas". A great way to pass the time in between pool dips--networking and shopping! Immediately, I was drawn to the out-of-ordinary presentation of a man wearing a hat sitting at an old typewriter with its own signage "The Biscayne Poet". Intriguing...

So the poet asks a couple of questions about me, such as my name, and promises to compose a personal poem.

Christine Michaels sits down with Biscayne Poet, Oscar Fuentes

Impromptu writing! I love it. So my poem reads:


Yes I am a mermaid!

To learn more, visit www.thebiscaynepoet.com and follow on Twitter/Instagram @thebiscaynepoet.

In the same cabana was Peroni and their high fashion sunglasses. The rep asked me to model a pair of my choice for the photo opp. Sure! And the poet asked if he could be in the photo--the more the merrier! So I chose a leopard print frame to complement my Wildfox swimwear coverup shirt. Love the glasses (Only $187).

The Biscayne Poet, Oscar Fuentes and Christine Michaels

Next I run into another Miami lifestyle blogger, Vannia Enriquez of FlairMiami, selling tank tops to "Blog Your Heart Away". Yes we are passionate about blogging.

After getting my gold and black foil (temporary) tattoo on my arm (to match my bathing suit) it was time to relax at my lounge chair before the fashion show. In watching people walk by, the person next to me pointed to this attractive, striking woman with a presence. It was Marysol Patton, of Miami's Desperate Housewives reality show. Candidly I have never seen the show but I knew the name more for her reputable PR firm, The Patton Group, a leading full-service public relations, special events, and marketing firm, catering to the high-end luxury goods, spirits, hospitality, and restaurants.

Miami Desperate Housewives' Marysol Patton and Christine Michaels

Clearly Marysol was in charge of the PR for the day's event. Actually I kept bumping into her photographer during the runway show. Speaking of which, the featured swimwear and apparel was by Bianca Coletti.

My favorite model was this little girl. Her face was exquisite and she had it all. The walk, the look, the attitude. But still sweet.

To view more swimsuits, click on this highlights video.

Admiring the outdoor architecture of the Shelborne, I'm reminded how trends affected design not just for buildings but fashion as well. The Shelborne staircase is Art Deco with emergence of MiMo architecture, the next architectural boom following Art Decoratif.

The younger models

Swim Week Escape Miami Shelborne Hotel Miami Beach

Time to take a dip in the pool

This was a fun and perfect day in every sense. This is my Christmas--in July. Taking time off, relaxing, and doing my favorite things--sunbathing, socializing and shopping all in one.

Well as much as I would have enjoyed lounging by the pool with endless champagne and cocktails, alas I had to get ready for the next event in the evening--a swimwear show at the exclusive Versace Mansion! Stay tuned.

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Swim Week Miami 2016- Part 1 at the Delano Hotel

Sunday, July 19, 2015

by Christine Michaels

For those who know me, my favorite time of year is Swim Week Miami where new swim wear lines are unveiled for the following year. It happens in July and it's an event that is held for several days at various South Beach hotel venues.

The first event I attended was Friday night. The Wildfox line was presented at the chic and well- known Delano hotel (pronounced Délano with accent over the "e" name after Franklin Delano Roosevelt). With its elongated pool, giant pool balls, and glowing white blocks, the Delano is always the perfect setting for any function.

Clear beach balls and white glowing blocks in Delano pool

Our first encounter was a live mermaid. Great presentation. Wait a minute--that's my job! #iamamermaid

First, what to wear. Luckily for me, I found a dress at the last minute that had all the elements I desired! A dress that resembled a bathing suit in style and pattern. The top bralette and straps resembled a bikini top, the dress was form fitting like a body suit, the cutout black mesh waist, and the black and yellow pattern said "evening event in sunshine state".

Christine Michaels arrives at the Delano Hotel for Wildfox swimwear show

I purchased my first Wildfox swim accessory, a cover up, last year at a trunk show. I wore it this past Saturday for a pool party at Swim Week. Stay tuned for photos.

Wildfox is known for its fun, flirtatious and dreamylike style that tell a story. Co-created by two women, Wildfox is now helmed by CEO Jimmy Sommers, a musician and based in Los Angeles. Wildfox offers tops, bottom and skirts and their White Label collection offers a range of luxury soft sweater knits, laces, chiffon, velour, and sequins.

Love the sunglasses

This was my favorite that I would wear

Of course another favorite was the cat bathing suit. Wildfox is known for their nod to the feline world. This is not their first bathing suit with face of a cat. While I'm a proud cat lady, my body type is not the best fit for this bathing suit. But I still love it!

After the show it was mingle and playtime. So naturally I stepped into the pool with my heels on (the water is only few inches deep at this end) to play with the giant clear blue beach balls. And while the ocean breeze kept us from melting, it sure was inconvenient for photo opps. Life is never perfect.