Posted on Wed, Jul. 02, 2008

Sandwiched between a Papa John's pizza and a coin laundry, Bloom Store is the perfect shop for the trendsetter on a budget.

''It's been very easy for me to get clients because of my prices,'' says store owner Luz Marie Suarez, who hails from Medellín, Colombia. ''There really isn't any place on the beach with these types of prices,'' she adds.

Everything from apparel to accessories in the 700-square-foot South Beach store sells between $18-$49.

While you won't find well known designer labels on the racks, the 9-month-old store boasts an eclectic mix of clothing in the latest styles of the season.

There are sexy, long, flowy dresses such as a Crystal Candy flower-print gown. Short, summery frocks like a Cleo tube dress come in an assortment of bright hues. As for casual and evening tops, Bloom carries everything from T-shirts to striped tanks to sexy tunics with plunging backs from brands like Do & Be. An array of bottoms to pair them with includes For Me jeans, shorts and skirts.

Dotted across the shelves are faux leather purses and totes. Flip flops, platforms and scintillating high heels pepper wall ledges and the shop's floor.

''I've been told I have similar stuff to Forever 21,'' says Suarez, 32. ``But I do have my own unique merchandise like the Colombian bikinis I sell.''

Despite carrying merchandise typically sold at shops that specialize in teen and young women's clothing, Suarez describes her clientele as mostly women in their 20s to 40s who like to go out to clubs and trendy spots and live in Miami Beach.

''Most of them come in every week because I constantly have new merchandise,'' she says. ``My clients also prefer to shop at my store, which is close to their home, versus driving to a shopping mall to find similar clothing.''

On a Thursday afternoon, best friends and Miami Beach residents Glorimar Trujillo and Tatiana Munoz, both 28, stop by to chat with Suarez and check out new merchandise.

They each greet her with a kiss on the cheek and head straight to the clothing racks.

''I love these shorts,'' Munoz says, referring to a pair of striped black bermudas. Trujillo gushes over long dresses by Hot and Delicious.

''They are some of my loyal customers,'' Suarez says. ``I love selling clothes for a living. I can't see myself doing anything else.''