Special Report

Most Fashionable Cities in America

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5. Chicago, IL
> Number of fashion stores: 1,222
> Luxury fashion stores: 17
> Median household income: $66,559

Chicago is the fifth most fashionable city in the nation. With over 1,200 stores to choose from, 17 of which are high-end brands, Chicago is the place to be in the Midwest for finding the most recent fashion trends and styles. The city’s premier commercial district, the Magnificent Mile, boasts 460 retailers, likely making it the most heavily concentrated shopping area in Chicago. Chicago also hosts an annual Fashion Week.

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4. Paradise, NV
> Number of fashion stores: 593
> Luxury fashion stores: 46
> Median household income: $49,245

Have you ever heard of Paradise, Nevada? If you’re not a local, it’s possible you haven’t. The Las Vegas suburb has a population of 229,600, and actually contains a good portion of attractions associated with its larger neighbor. The famous Las Vegas strip, for example, is in Paradise.

Paradise was created for casino owners who wanted to dodge paying Las Vegas city taxes. Today, Paradise is one of the most heavily concentrated shopping areas, with about 258 stores for every 100,000 people. It’s also home to a whopping 46 designer-brand stores, the second most in the nation after New York City.

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3. Houston, TX
> Number of fashion stores: 1,484
> Luxury fashion stores: 26
> Median household income: $55,150

Houston, Texas, is the third most fashionable city in the United States. This Texan city is a shopping epicenter with 1,484 clothing stores to peruse through, 26 luxury brand stores to indulge in (or at least window shop), and headquarters of three well-known brands: The Men’s Wearhouse, Stage Stores, and Francesca’s. Home to fashion design reality series Project Runway second season winner Chloe Dao, and plenty of shopping areas, Houston is considered the fashion capital of the South.

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2. Los Angeles, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 3,793
> Luxury fashion stores: 43
> Median household income: $61,067

Los Angeles, the city that birthed the nation’s cinema powerhouse Hollywood and the home of many stars, is the second most fashionable city in the nation. To say that shopping opportunities in L.A. are immense is an understatement. Nearly 3,800 clothing stores of all kinds are sprawled about the city — 43 of which are high-end brands. Los Angeles is also home to the headquarters of two big-name fashion brands: American Apparel and Guess? In addition, three trade shows pass through the city: L.A. Textile Show, Designers and Agents, and COEUR.

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1. New York, NY
> Number of fashion stores: 4,359
> Luxury fashion stores: 71
> Median household income: $71,681

The most fashionable, chic, and stylish city in the United States is none other than New York City. The Big Apple ranks first in many of the categories considered in our index. For example, NYC is home to nearly 4,360 fashion stores, 71 luxury brand stores, 6,500 fashion designers, 14 trade shows, and the headquarters of 23 big-name brands — each of the most in the nation. With different styles blossoming and flourishing among all five of New York City’s boroughs, it’s no question that the city offers some of the most diverse and unique fashion trends of any city. Of course, New York Fashion Week is the most prestigious fashion even nationwide, and this year, nine brands will make their debut at the event.

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