The Start of the Miami Fashion Boom

It was during the original run LIFE magazine from 1936 to 1972 that Miami developed into a center of fashion. So in 1955 when staff photographer Nina Leen went there, she was capturing not only the looks coming out of this resort town that year but also a shift in the fashion landscape.

Here’s what LIFE had to say about the emerging Miami scene in its March 14, 1955 issue:

Newest of the Florida booms is in the field of fashion. With its fashion industry grown ten times in size since 1945, Miami now has 125 firms manufacturing women’s apparel…Some 2,500 buyers from all over the U.S., Canada, Central and South America come to Miami’s three showings a year, attracted by such features as out-of-season sunshine, fashion shows at luxury hotels, and an on-the-spot testing ground for the clothes….Miami turns out breezy, moderately priced clothes which are simple in cut, are made in bright colors and gay patterns.

The looks that were coming out of Miami were naturally influenced by the tropical location, and that didn’t just mean sporty beachwear. The cocktail dresses of the Miami designers were created with the idea of showing off those suntanned shoulders.

Leen’s photos are mostly traditional modeling shots that show off the clothing, but some images show what made Miami an appealing location for fashion buyers, such a showing outdoors at the Golden Gate Hotel. The photo that opened the magazine story, of four models on the beach, is considered a classic, and is for sale as a print at the LIFE photo store.