Put Your Best Shoe Forward

© Flickr / Snippy HolloW

Your long awaited solace is just around the corner – the first weekend of March. Start your weekend off on the right foot with Miami’s hottest happy hour. On Saturday, run to the runways, (and the after-parties!), and wrap it up with an exclusive screening of one of the most talked-about movies of the year.

Friday: Beat Generation

What: Beats after Sunset
Where: The Bass Museum
When: 8:00 p.m.

© Dolce Vita, Lola James, Citrine by the Stones, Jeffrey CampbellHow does an $8 open bar sound? Sounds good, right? Throw DJ sets, fancy light bites, and full access to the Bass Museum of Art’s current show and collection into the mix and you’ve got what has to be the ultimate happy hour. Mix and mingle with like-minded art lovers and makers, and sip exquisitely on the luminous terrace.

This event draws a mixed crowd from casual cocktailers to pre-party South-Beachers. You will look effortless - as usual - in a flowing, brightly patterned Haleigh Dress from Dolce Vita. This bohemian frock looks best with simple, earthy accessories in neutral hues. Jeffrey Campbell Cast Tan Leather Sandals have a really unique, strappy design and not-too-high of a heel. Just enough to put you eye-level with the art (and the bar.) Bangles and bracelets complement the eclectic, easy-going vibe. Lola James Sandalwood Beaded Bracelets mix organic woodsy beads with sparkling Swarovski crystals; mix them in with gilded Citrine by the Stones Wire Nugget Bangles for some extra glamorous flair.

Saturday: Strike a Pose

What: Miami International Fashion Week Shows + Afterglow Beach Party
Where: Miami Beach Convention Center + Nikki Beach
When: Shows start at 6:00 p.m.; Party starts at 11:00 p.m.

© Paul & Joe, Sara Berman, BCBGeneration, Torrid, Diane von FurstenbergIt’s the most wonderful time of the year again for the Miami fashion set: our very own fashion week! Miami International Fashion Week features established and emerging designers from Miami and beyond; from Moscow and Bosnia, to Venezuela and Colombia. Saturday night’s shows include the Pret-a-Porter ,Copa Airlines, and Latin Fashion Council showcases. After the shows, the party continues at Nikki Beach for the official MIFW Afterglow Beach Party.

Fashion week is your time to shine, and wear something a little more “out there” than you would on the daily. It’s no secret that fashion editors prefer black, but you’ll stand out more in a Paul & Joe Joanna Cat-Print Silk Crepe Dress. The cat print is surprisingly subtle in black and white, and is on-trend with Spring’s graphic print movement. Add some tough-luxe with a Sara Berman Mini Deni Leather Biker Jacket (it’s still a little chilly at night) and chunky Hematite Double Square Rhinestone Bracelets from Torrid. A black leather Charlie Envelope Clutch from BCBGeneration holds all your style-watching essentials (notebook, pen, iphone or Blackberry) while fantastic fuchsia Diane von Fustenberg Zia Suede Sandals are beach-ready and break up all that monochrome.

Sunday: My Blue Valentine

What: Blue Valentine
Where: Coral Gables Art Cinema
When: 9:15 p.m.

© Hussein Chalayan, Lucca Couture, Aldo, Linea Pelle, Belle by Sigerson Morrison, R13Sunday is usually thought of as the ominous, final day of the freedom. A time to relax and recover from the weekend’s hedonistic indulgences. But after you’ve brunched at all Miami’s finest, shopped til you’ve dropped and surfed all the channels you can stand, it may be time to start a new  Sunday tradition. Hello, movie theater. Less packed than on Fridays and Saturdays, Sunday night may be the ideal time to see a flick. What could be better for nursing a residual hangover than a couple of hours in a cool, dark room? This Sunday, catch a screening of the much-hyped Blue Valentine; an experimental, non-linear drama about a couple’s tumultuous marriage, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams and directed by Derek Cianfrance.

Even if you grab a bite before you go, you’ll look fresh wherever in a raspberry Hussein Chalayan Draped Jersey T-shirt, tucked into an adorable pair of Lucca Couture Chiffon Scallop Shorts from Urban Outfitters. We love this solid, color-blocked look for Spring. Cinch the waist with a Linea Pelle Skinny Braided Belt in black, and slip on cut-out Nude Sandals from Belle by Sigerson Morrison. An adorable cotton polka dot Besenji Clutch from Aldo adds a pop of print. Dress down this chic look with a low-key, worn in jacket - the R13 Distressed Denim Jacket keeps your warm but looks très cool.