According to Coco Chanel, one of the most popular fashion designers in history, “The best things in life are free. The second best are very, very expensive.” Maintaining a fashionable wardrobe can be a pricey endeavor.
The ability to be fashionable comes down to two basic factors — having a plethora of shopping options, and having disposable income. 24/7 Tempo concentrated on the first factor and ranked the easiest cities in the United States to be fashionable, based on an index of five measures: the number of fashion-related establishments, the number of luxury brand outlets, the number of fashion company headquarters, the number of trade shows, and total employment of fashion designers.
All cities on the list have a higher than average concentration of apparel stores to choose from — including stores of some of the most successful brands in America — per number of residents. The stores considered encompass anything from department stores to shoe, sleepwear, or used clothing stores. The top cities on the list also have multiple luxury brand outlets, fashion company headquarters, trade shows, and employed fashion designers, which together signify a culture that emphasizes fashion.
Most of the easiest cities to be fashionable have a median annual household income higher than the national median of $57,652, according to the American Community Survey 2013-2017 5-year average. Having higher incomes increases residents’ ability to afford clothing and keep up with designer trends. Although there is a correlation between income in an area and the amount of retail stores, a few fashionable cities on this list such as Los Angeles and Miami actually have some of the lowest median household incomes in the country.
Click here for the 50 cities where it’s easiest to be fashionable.
Methodology
To identify the easiest cities to be fashionable, 24/7 Tempo created an index of five measures: the numbers of fashion-related establishments, luxury brand outlets, fashion company headquarters, and trade shows, as well as total employment of fashion designers in each of the 988 towns and cities tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The number of fashion-related establishments was obtained from Yelp in August 2019 and the category includes anything from sportswear and sleepwear stores to vintage, thrift and shoe stores.
The number of fashion companies headquartered in each city came from retail information company Chain Store Guide’s “Top 100 Apparel Specialty Stores Ranked by Industry Sales.”
The number of trade shows held in each city in 2018 came from Startup Fashion, an online community that helps independent fashion brands create successful businesses.
The number of fashion designers employed in each Metropolitan Statistical Area’s principal city came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics program and is as of May 2018, the most recent data available.
50. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
> Metropolitan area: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
> Number of fashion stores: 75 (157 per 100K — 37th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 47,687
> Median household income: $74,929 (256th out of 988 cities)
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49. Arcadia, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 90 (155 per 100K — 40th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 58,156
> Median household income: $90,666 (124th out of 988 cities)
48. Severn, Maryland
> Metropolitan area: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Number of fashion stores: 78 (159 per 100K — 34th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 49,076
> Median household income: $100,345 (83rd out of 988 cities)
47. Dunwoody, Georgia
> Metropolitan area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
> Number of fashion stores: 78 (160 per 100K — 33rd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 48,857
> Median household income: $87,252 (154th out of 988 cities)
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46. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 79 (149 per 100K — 50th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 53,119
> Median household income: $77,864 (221th out of 988 cities)
45. Bellevue, Washington
> Metropolitan area: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Number of fashion stores: 168 (121 per 100K — 77th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 139,014
> Median household income: $105,402 (55th out of 988 cities)
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44. Daytona Beach, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 105 (161 per 100K — 32nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 65,339
> Median household income: $30,137 (975th out of 988 cities)
43. Franklin, Tennessee
> Metropolitan area: Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
> Number of fashion stores: 108 (148 per 100K — 52nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 72,990
> Median household income: $92,589 (116th out of 988 cities)
42. Santa Barbara, California
> Metropolitan area: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 145 (159 per 100K — 36th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 91,443
> Median household income: $71,160 (291th out of 988 cities)
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41. Altamonte Springs, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 71 (165 per 100K — 29th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 43,084
> Median household income: $50,207 (622nd out of 988 cities)
40. Chesterfield, Missouri
> Metropolitan area: St. Louis, MO-IL
> Number of fashion stores: 77 (162 per 100K — 31th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 47,660
> Median household income: $99,848 (87th out of 988 cities)
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39. Leesburg, Virginia
> Metropolitan area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Number of fashion stores: 81 (159 per 100K — 35th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 51,015
> Median household income: $105,844 (54th out of 988 cities)
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38. Milpitas, California
> Metropolitan area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 123 (163 per 100K — 30th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 75,498
> Median household income: $110,752 (38th out of 988 cities)
37. Scottsdale, Arizona
> Metropolitan area: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
> Number of fashion stores: 319 (133 per 100K — 59th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 239,283
> Median household income: $80,306 (208th out of 988 cities)
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36. White Plains, New York
> Metropolitan area: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Number of fashion stores: 88 (151 per 100K — 48th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 58,404
> Median household income: $87,550 (149th out of 988 cities)
35. Novi, Michigan
> Metropolitan area: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
> Number of fashion stores: 98 (167 per 100K — 28th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 58,835
> Median household income: $88,667 (137th out of 988 cities)
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34. Orland Park, Illinois
> Metropolitan area: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Number of fashion stores: 101 (171 per 100K — 25th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 59,161
> Median household income: $85,802 (169th out of 988 cities)
33. Camarillo, California
> Metropolitan area: Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 115 (171 per 100K — 23rd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 67,116
> Median household income: $92,780 (114th out of 988 cities)
32. Santa Fe, New Mexico
> Metropolitan area: Santa Fe, NM
> Number of fashion stores: 147 (177 per 100K — 21th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 82,980
> Median household income: $53,922 (544th out of 988 cities)
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31. Livermore, California
> Metropolitan area: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 136 (154 per 100K — 42nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 88,232
> Median household income: $109,084 (42nd out of 988 cities)
30. Alpharetta, Georgia
> Metropolitan area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
> Number of fashion stores: 116 (181 per 100K — 20th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 63,929
> Median household income: $98,489 (91th out of 988 cities)
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29. Orlando, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 349 (130 per 100K — 63rd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 269,414
> Median household income: $45,436 (743rd out of 988 cities)
28. Coral Gables, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 89 (175 per 100K — 22nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 50,909
> Median household income: $96,887 (96th out of 988 cities)
27. San Luis Obispo, California
> Metropolitan area: San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 86 (183 per 100K — 19th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 46,997
> Median household income: $49,640 (638th out of 988 cities)
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26. Troy, Michigan
> Metropolitan area: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
> Number of fashion stores: 127 (152 per 100K — 44th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 83,336
> Median household income: $93,017 (113rd out of 988 cities)
25. Palo Alto, California
> Metropolitan area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 112 (167 per 100K — 27th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 67,082
> Median household income: $147,537 (7th out of 988 cities)
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24. Cerritos, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 92 (183 per 100K — 18th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 50,145
> Median household income: $98,953 (90th out of 988 cities)
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23. Atlanta, Georgia
> Metropolitan area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
> Number of fashion stores: 492 (106 per 100K — 99th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 465,230
> Median household income: $51,701 (591th out of 988 cities)
22. Grapevine, Texas
> Metropolitan area: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
> Number of fashion stores: 99 (191 per 100K — 13rd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 51,733
> Median household income: $83,675 (188th out of 988 cities)
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21. Asheville, North Carolina
> Metropolitan area: Asheville, NC
> Number of fashion stores: 173 (194 per 100K — 12nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 89,318
> Median household income: $46,464 (711th out of 988 cities)
20. Boca Raton, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 157 (167 per 100K — 26th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 93,964
> Median household income: $76,218 (237th out of 988 cities)
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19. Bloomington, Minnesota
> Metropolitan area: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> Number of fashion stores: 159 (186 per 100K — 15th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 85,417
> Median household income: $70,512 (304th out of 988 cities)
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18. Schaumburg, Illinois
> Metropolitan area: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Number of fashion stores: 145 (195 per 100K — 11th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 74,427
> Median household income: $77,022 (227th out of 988 cities)
17. Kendall, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 138 (184 per 100K — 17th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 75,123
> Median household income: $69,277 (316th out of 988 cities)
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16. Greenville, South Carolina
> Metropolitan area: Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC
> Number of fashion stores: 128 (200 per 100K — 10th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 64,061
> Median household income: $48,984 (655th out of 988 cities)
15. Sunrise, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 158 (171 per 100K — 24th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 92,272
> Median household income: $53,237 (556th out of 988 cities)
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14. Miami, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 303 (68 per 100K — 225th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 443,007
> Median household income: $33,999 (955th out of 988 cities)
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13. Miami Beach, Florida
> Metropolitan area: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> Number of fashion stores: 201 (218 per 100K — 9th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 92,187
> Median household income: $50,193 (624th out of 988 cities)
12. Houston, Texas
> Metropolitan area: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Number of fashion stores: 1,494 (66 per 100K — 245th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 2,267,336
> Median household income: $49,399 (644th out of 988 cities)
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11. Brea, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 97 (231 per 100K — 7th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 41,921
> Median household income: $90,214 (129th out of 988 cities)
10. Gilroy, California
> Metropolitan area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 120 (222 per 100K — 8th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 54,159
> Median household income: $86,742 (159th out of 988 cities)
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9. Newport Beach, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 204 (235 per 100K — 6th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 86,793
> Median household income: $119,379 (27th out of 988 cities)
8. San Marcos, Texas
> Metropolitan area: Austin-Round Rock, TX
> Number of fashion stores: 150 (250 per 100K — 4th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 59,935
> Median household income: $34,748 (945th out of 988 cities)
7. Palm Desert, California
> Metropolitan area: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 138 (267 per 100K — 2nd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 51,675
> Median household income: $56,262 (500th out of 988 cities)
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6. Santa Monica, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 253 (274 per 100K — 1th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 92,495
> Median household income: $86,084 (167th out of 988 cities)
5. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
> Metropolitan area: Not applicable
> Number of fashion stores: 645 (184 per 100K — 16th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 350,788
> Median household income: $65,707 (358th out of 988 cities)
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4. Costa Mesa, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 275 (244 per 100K — 5th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 112,930
> Median household income: $75,109 (253rd out of 988 cities)
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3. Paradise, Nevada
> Metropolitan area: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> Number of fashion stores: 593 (256 per 100K — 3rd out of 988 cities)
> Population: 231,858
> Median household income: $45,904 (726th out of 988 cities)
2. Los Angeles, California
> Metropolitan area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Number of fashion stores: 3,628 (92 per 100K — 129th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 3,949,776
> Median household income: $54,501 (533rd out of 988 cities)
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1. New York, New York
> Metropolitan area: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Number of fashion stores: 4,441 (52 per 100K — 367th out of 988 cities)
> Population: 8,560,072
> Median household income: $57,782 (473rd out of 988 cities)
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