Ten Stores Miami Is Seriously Lacking Right Now

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Where's Nasty Gal or Topshop? Are we in the running for our own Opening Ceremony or Acne Studios? Miami is seriously lacking those landmark shopping destinations (you know, those stores that you just have to check out whenever you travel) or everyday stores that will help you build your wardrobes without breaking the bank.

We've gone through our rolodex to hand select ten stores that would be perfect fits here in the Magic City. We've even gone so far as to suggest which of four major or up-and-coming shopping meccas they'd fit in best: The Design District, Lincoln Road, Wynwood, or the future Brickell City Centre. Read through to learn more about each, and then head to our poll to vote for your favorite one. Voting ends on Wednesday at 10am, so get to it, ladies and gents.

Nasty Gal

Where: Lincoln Road

Does Nasty Gal need an introduction? In November the popular online retailer opened its first brick and mortar store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, which was followed by a Santa Monica boutique just four months after. This gives Cali babes two chances to shop Nasty Gal's envelope-pushing fashion, while the rest of us are left gambling sizes online. Not to worry, though. Racked LA reports that Nasty Gal has some serious expansion plans in the works, so it's only a matter of time before Miami's girl bosses get a closet boost, and because it's going to be such a crowd pleaser, South Beach might be the perfect neighborhood for it. Vote here.

Aritzia

Where: Brickell City Centre

BASIC PARADISE. That's Aritzia, summed up. Sure, American Apparel might have the essentials you need for a Richard Simmons video or a night out in Wynwood, but when you're looking for something classic, affordable, and not necessarily as conservative as Banana Republic, let's say, this store is packed with blouses, slacks, casual dresses, and more that can just as easily be worn to work as they can to happy hour in Brickell. Aritzia has several locations throughout the U.S. and many of them are inside malls. Since Brickell City Centre recently tapped in Simon Properties to curate more affordable shopping for the area, this store might be the perfect addition for Brickell's business folks who are looking for their next affordable power suit. Vote here.

The Reformation

Where: Wynwood

The Reformation proves to us that sustainability and style can co-exist. The award-winning brand repurposes vintage clothing and eco-friendly fabrics into wearable silhouettes that are as simple as they are feminine, and has gained a cult following of celebrities who love its long, lean dresses, low-cut jumpsuits, and summer-ready skirts. Currently this LA-based brand has stores in New York and LA, but it has more locations on the way. Maybe Wynwood could be next? Wishful thinking...Vote here.

Steven Alan

Where: Design District

Steven Alan arguably created one of the first renditions of the "tightly curated shop" when he opened his flagship in Soho 20 years ago. Now, he has 25 stores across the country, from Portland to Boston, and even three in Japan. The store has a strong focus on American made brands, many from emerging designers like Mansur Gavirel and Shinola, and international brands like Acne Studios and Isabel Marant. Steven Alan also has its own namesake clothing line of simple button-downs, suiting, and casual wear. Because The Design District is adding in a slate of contemporary stores when it expands over the next few years, Steven Alan's experimental yet casually sophisticated vibe might be a great fit. Vote here.

Acne Studios

Where: Wynwood

Think of Acne as your luxury rebel high-street brand, always going against the grain to deliver clothing that's experimental, envelope-pushing, and always one step above what's "in" right now. You'll see Acne's cult followers touting trademark pink bags in New York and LA, concealing their excitement to slip into the brand's signature denim, biker-esque pistol boots and slouchy suit jackets and trousers, and then read Acne Paper, its bi-annual magazine and the only pure marketing tactic Acne makes use of. Its co-founder has admitted that they don't open new stores in cities where they would necessarily make a "killing," but instead opt for cities that inspire them, and choose areas in town that aren't exactly expected. Wynwood is arguably one of Miami's most experimental, most inspiring neighborhoods right now, so we wouldn't be surprised to see more luxury, high-street brands like these trickle in at some point in the future. Vote here.

Cos

Where: Lincoln Road

Cos is H&M's minimal, upper scale sister site, known best for its crisp, clean silhouettes and colors at a higher, but still accessible, price point. The store opened its first U.S. shop in New York in 2013 and expanded soon after to Beverly Hills, right before launching its eCommerce site in America last year. It could be a major hit in Miami, where one is sincerely hard pressed to find a store with minimal clothing that's affordable. H&M opted to open its first Miami store on Lincoln Road, so perhaps Cos would follow suit if Miami were in its future. Vote here.

Opening Ceremony

Where: Design District

Opening Ceremony is, without question, one of America's most interesting retailers and its founders, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, are among the most influential designers of the 21st century. Their list of collaborations is endless, from Adidas to Levis, and Tevas to Yoko Ono. It is, in essence, a treasure trove of fashion, a place where you can discover new brands and new ways to think of old brands. And although there are only four stores worldwide– New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and London–this article states that Opening Ceremony wants a store in every major city, so maybe we just have to sit back, relax, and let the torch come to us. Vote here.

Alice + Olivia

Where: Design District

Alice + Olivia started with one college grad's idea to make a trouser that was sexy enough to be the pivotal piece of an outfit. Today, it's the go-to brand for girls who want to add a bit of whimsey to their look, without going all rocker princess on the ruffles. Although you can find Alice + Olivia at big box stores like Bloomingdale's, it would be a dream to have Alice + Olivia's full range of clothing. Her stores open in trendy areas in town where other high end stores reside, so Alice + Olivia might be a perfect fit in the Design District as it adds more contemporary brands. Vote here.

Topshop and Topman

Where: Brickell City Centre

Topshop is another store that needs no introduction, as the brand is currently sold at Nordstrom in both Aventura and Dadeland Malls. But still, a small dedicated section of a department store can't be compared to Topshop's grand, often two-story Shangri-Las of fast fashion with a Topman often tacked on. It most recently opened inside of malls in Atlanta and Houston, so if a Topshop and a Topman were headed our way, Brickell City Centre might be a good place for them to settle in. Vote here.

Schutz

Where: Lincoln Road

Miami is just starting to find its footing in flats, but let's be real: heels trump everything. We're in desperate need of more footwear stores that bring us affordable yet stylish footwear, and for this we call upon Schutz. Sure, there's only one stateside store on Madison Ave, but we think Miami has a good shot of getting its own Schutz. Consider that the brand is Brazilian, and Miami's Brazilian population has grown exponentially. Also consider that Schutz makes the perfect shoes for a night out on the town that won't ring you over $250, so it wouldn't be rare for denizens of Miami to walk out with multiple pairs of strappy sandals. It's a good business move, Schutz. We promise! Vote here.