The majority of American cities might not traditionally have fashion reps to rival those of Paris, Milan, or London, but the latest survey from Bundle.com, an unbiased site devoted to data-gathering, proves that we Americans are still no slouches in the style department… well, some of us aren’t, at least. Bundle found that fashion savvy folk flock together, collecting in select cities for to-die-for shopping and stocking walk-in closets that are the stuff of dreams. Not all fashionable cities are created equally, though; the survey proved that when it comes to clothing, there are always a Best and a Worst Dressed.
So how do you measure style? Bundle chose 50 of the most populous cities in America and rated them according to a “fashion-conscious index” based on the “percentage of ‘fashion-conscious households’ in [the survey] sample, which [Bundle] defined as households that had at least four transactions at top-end designer merchants in the past 30 months.” Curious about which cities boast the most label-filled closets? Check out if your hometown made the cut:
1. Irvine, CA
Proving that you don’t need the hustle and bustle of the big city to strut your stuff in red-soled heels, Irvine wiped out the competition, ranking “nearly four times above the U.S. average in clothing spending.” Irvine is a suburb of Orange County – yeah, as in the Orange County of The O.C. – so it’s no big surprise that the home of the Gossip Girls of the West Coast earned first place in fashion.
2. New York, NY
New Yorkers might be miffed that they were edged out of the lead by Irvine, but they shouldn’t worry; their fashion-conscious index of 3.26 was only slightly below Irvine’s whopping 3.63 (1.0 was the average). Looks like 5th Avenue is still making bank on these fashionable city-dwellers! Thank you, Anna Wintour, for being such an inspiration to your neighbors.
3. Los Angeles, CA
Teeming with Hollywood royalty and music moguls, L.A. was destined to grace the top of this list (with an index of 3.11) from the moment that the first black-and-white blockbuster hit theaters. The city is a haven for big spenders who want to look chic while they pose for the paparazzi (or dodge them), and you can bet that the boutiques of Rodeo Drive are ready and willing to dress them.
4. Miami, FL
Miami seems a little counterintuitive for this list; with all of the beaches and the steamy nightlife, it seems like people spend more time in bathing suits and cover-ups than in designer duds. Regardless of the heat, these Floridians always step out in style, earning their city an index of 3.01. If you’ve ever seen the mansions along the water in Miami, you’ll have no trouble understanding how these fashionistas can afford such splurging.
5. Dallas, TX
With a fashion-conscious index of 2.81, Dallas is the second most stylish city below the Mason-Dixon Line. In a state that’s known for its Daisy Dukes and cowboy hats, designer labels are still raking in the customers, all thanks to the Southern belles of Dallas who’ve ditched the hoop skirts for Hervé Leger bandage dresses and Prada handbags.
If your favorite city didn’t rank in the top five, don’t turn around and trash your whole wardrobe; the index calculates the amount of designer pieces purchased, but it can’t guarantee that the people who bought them are actually wearing them well. You might not have a rack devoted to Dolce in your closet, but you might just rock your look better in spite of it (ah, the beauty of accessories). Unless, of course, you happen to live in Buffalo, NY… with a fashion-conscious index of 0.1, we’re not holding out much hope for this snowy city. We thank Bundle.com for letting us know who’s taking home that Fendi bag we’ve been eyeing all month… time to visit Irvine and make some new friends!