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Each month, I highlighted the top fashion and beauty trends taking over Miami for Juli B's Fashion + Beauty Picks. I also weighed in on the new hot spots popping up around town for the weekly Tuesday and Thursday updates.

August Fashion + Beauty Picks
august 17, 2010
miami | fashion + beauty picks.
summer is coming to a close, but you don't have to fade to fall just yet. this month, keep sparkling and shining with illuminating exfoliations, bright baubles and shimmering shoulder bags with this list of picks:

fresh paint.
the pep of purple meets the grittiness of grey in the chanel paradoxal le vernis nail color ($23). think slightly taupey undertones and just a hint of shimmer for what sounds like a contrasting color palette but in reality makes this polish paradox shine. bal harbour shops. 9700 collins avenue. at 96th. 305.868.0550.

chain gang.
metallic and metal, the stella mccartney falabella hobo bag ($1,095) is the easiest—and chicest—way to give your wardrobe that phosphorescent pop. the slouchy shape makes it user-friendly both day and night, while the chain trim and straps say keep on rockin'. available at www.net-a-porter.com

lather. rinse. repeat.
scrub off summer skin transgressions with the equinox spa cranberry bliss exfoliation ($65). the full body treatment starts with lather's cranberry sugar rub, then culminates with a mini massage using the brand's citrus-scented lotion for a hydrated healthy glow that's as juicy and refreshing as a fresh fruit salad. aventura mall. 19501 biscayne boulevard. between 192nd and aventura. 305.935.9514.

steppin' out.
these cesare paciotti booties ($1,055) are the crown jewel of any ensemble. adorned with swarovski crystals, these decadent black beauties with suede diamond-shaped designs shine—literally. laces with paciotto's signature dagger-shaped aglets really tie the look together, too. bal harbour shops. 9700 collins avenue. at 96th. 305.861.8656.

golden touch.
go for the gold with the elemis golden radiance facial ($99). in addition to cleansing and exfoliation, the 60-minute treatment (avail during spa month) uses the precious metal, applied in a mask, to speed up cell renewal and yield firmer, brighter skin that's as good as, well, gold. the village of merrick park. 330 san lorenzo drive. between le jeune and ponce de leon. 305.774.7171.

stack ‘em high.
give your ring finger something to bling about when you accessorize with miami-based designer taudrey groupie rings. sets, like the soul groupies ($28 for three), include a trio of stackable, tortoise shell-like beads and a silver crowing jewel of swarovski crystals. the more, the merrier. available at mina miami beach. 960 normandy drive. at rue versailles. 305.397.8650.

Nailbar Opens
august 10, 2010
miami | paint job.
metallic, florescent, pastel, gelish—when newly opened nailbar gets its hands on your hands and feet, the polish options extend way beyond the original classic red.

the first salon to hit midtown miami, nailbar has local glamour gals frenzied over its posh digs and close-to-home service. the concept of prince reigns skincare creators edouard and christine joseph, nailbar takes the idea of a typical nail salon and amps it up to a miami girl's highest standards. the space itself is manicured to a T, with brilliant white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that let the perfect amount of sunshine illuminate the 1,310-square-foot space. white, futuristic pod-like pedicure chairs (or "high-tech pedicure thrones," as they call them) equipped with ipad and ipod holders look as inviting as they are state of the art. an accent wall of shelves loaded with colorful pots of paint serves not only as art, but also a reminder of the rainbow hues the salon offers for manis. and to remind everyone nailbar is an eco-friendly salon, minimal touches of green, like the text on the wall-sized menu of services, conjure up images of mother nature. and when it comes to the job, nailbar offers up everything from waxing services to nail services like minx, gel-enhanced polishes and magnum mani and pedi combos.

so go ahead, paint the town red (or any of the other 200 colors nailbar offers). nailbar. 3301 NE first avenue. between second and miami. 305.509.2157. www.midtownnailbar.com

Nightowl Opens
august 05, 2010
miami | fly by night.
forget the early bird catching the worm. it's the wise old bird who scores adorable accessories. at least that's how it works at 55th street station's newest boutique, night owl.

bringing an all-in-the-family vibe to the shop, the mother/daughter duo behind night owl, gabriele and paloma soyka, share the same last name as miami beach visionary mark soyka (paloma is his daughter; gabriele, his wife). but where mark specializes in cuisine, paloma and mom focus on fashions, both personal and for the home. amid tree-adorned wallpaper and chalkboard-painted walls, find vintage bags, costume and authentic jewelry, pottery, dishes, hats and shoes. there's also yeye home fragrance prods and accessories by howl, a local jewelry line that brings new life to past pieces by reworking old jewelry into new designs. from as close as gabriele's personal collection to as far away as germany, the quaint shop's eclectic goods are hand-picked by gabriele herself. and with her mom as the shopper, paloma takes on the roll of shop girl, keeping night owl's doors open until the wee hours of the morn.

now that's something to give a hoot about. night owl. 5528 NE fourth court. between 54th and 55th. 305.989.9995. now open. www.the55thstreetstation.com

Green Monkey Opens
june 15, 2010
miami | monkey see, monkey do.
monkey in the middle, curious george, monkeys in a barrel—primates have always made good playmates. turns out, they make for good workout partners, too. green monkey, the lifestyle-fitness hybrid, decided to branch out from its south miami space and open a tree house on purdy avenue.

the new digs aren't all bark and branches, either. with clean white walls, tons of windows for natural lighting, mirrored workout rooms and beautiful wood floors, it's easy to see how this tree house is the one you always fantasized about as a kid—with a grown up twist, of course. inside the workout rooms, find south beach bodies twisted up in yoga poses (as that's what green monkey specializes in), as well as pilates, private classes and yoga for kids. the fitness forum also has a running club, yoga teacher training and corporate wellness programs for people who spend a little too much time in their cubicles. for monkeys on the move, it offers zumba and spinning at the viceroy miami and private sessions at the raleigh hotel. and there's weekend morning beach yoga at k17 beach (17th and collins) for those who like to be under the sun for their sun salutations.

in this part of town, it's OK to go bananas. green monkey miami beach. 1815 purdy avenue. between 18th and 19th. 305.397.8566. www.greenmonkey.net

Alchemist Opens
June 24, 2010
miami | garage sale.
givenchy, alexander wang, proenza schouler, dries van noten—for three years running, alchemist has single-handedly taken lincoln road's shopping options to a whole new level. up next? a brand new outpost.

with the opening of its second location, husband and wife team erika and roma cohen are raising the bar by taking high-end fashions to new heights—literally. part of touted swiss architecture firm herzog & de meuron's design, the glass box-shaped boutique sits perched above lincoln and alton roads. surrounded by concrete pillars and parked cars, alchemist's floor-to-ceiling windows display designer wares from fashion heavy hitters like rick owens and rodarte. but where the labels are substantial, the setting is minimalism at its best with a smattering of mod chairs and a jewelry cabinet peppering the floor. and reflected in the boutique's mirrored ceilings, the inventory boasts that they have no issue with going back to black—dark, futuristic, rocker-inspired looks (think denim, leather and tissue tees) dangle high above in racks, with prices to match

after all, raising the stakes doesn't come cheap. alchemist. 1111 lincoln road. at alton. 305.531.4815. now open. www.shopalchemist.com

Tricycle Opens
june 10, 2010
miami | third wheel.
when you were a kid, your shiny red trike was your preferred method of transportation. today, however, you've opted to keep four wheels on the ground. thanks to the recently opened tricycle, you don't have to leave your three wheels parked in the past.

well, not entirely anyway. the quaint wynwood space, named for a fave childhood thrift store, is the passion project of design duo beth guiteras haddock and mariella bruno chavarria. adhering to a go-green mantra, tricycle takes what's old and makes it new again. a 1940s love seat embraces 2010 when recovered in a modern-day fabric and accented by photographer-designed pillows in kitschy miami prints. handmade jewelry rests atop a mid-century end table and sits just beneath a revolving wall covered in retro prints, framed vintage needlepoint and antique fabrics. green dragon statues, brass knick-knacks, danish glass and mod vases line the store's shelves, giving tricycle as much flavor as it has flair. and, just as you'd expect, a cherry red trike like the one from your yesteryears rests front and center in the single-room shop. the one-of-a-kind inventory changes frequently, so the next time you're driving—or pedaling—around the area's gallery spaces, stop in to see what tricycle is peddling.

consider it different spokes for different folks. tricycle. 166 NW 29th street. between first and second. 305.576.5156. www.tricyclemiami.com