Dalia Portela: The Miami Muse Behind the Glam

A vintage love letter from Turn Back The Clock Shop

There are certain women who don’t just live through an era—they define it.

Dalia Portela was one of those women.

Dalia Portela 1982 - Magazine shoot for Vanidades

A fixture in Miami’s social circuit during the late 70s and into the 1980s, Dalia wasn’t just known—she was remembered. People speak her name with a kind of reverence, often accompanied by a smile, a sigh, or a story that starts with “You wouldn’t believe what she wore that night…”

Dalia had a sense of style and sophistication that couldn’t be taught. She was the kind of woman who could make a silk scarf look like a million bucks, who wore red lipstick to the grocery store, and who always had a glass of white wine in hand by 4 p.m.—preferably on a yacht, or at least somewhere with a view of Biscayne Bay.

Yellow suit set worn by Dalia now available in our shop.

In the 80s, when Miami was buzzing with pastel suits, Art Deco hotels, and the sparkle of new money and old secrets, Dalia moved like a queen. Not a flashy one, but the kind who glided through parties at The Forge and cocktail hours at the Mayfair, turning heads in structured Escada jackets, rhinestone-tufted dresses, and the kind of linen sets that practically begged for an ocean breeze.

Her closet was a curated mix of European labels, tropical flair, and custom made pieces. Nothing was accidental. Dalia dressed like every day was a scene from a movie. And in a way, for her, it was.

Fast forward a few decades—and here’s where the story takes a turn I never expected.

Dalia pictured in her home wearing a (Paquita Parodi) Edwardian dress from the early 1900's

Earlier this year, I received a call from Dalia Portela’s daughter. She was looking to move on from her mother’s beloved wardrobe—wanting to give the pieces a second life, a second home. And she came to me.

When the items arrived, I was in awe. It wasn’t just the garments themselves—it was the world they came from. Labels from stores that no longer exist but once defined Miami’s fashion scene: Lillie Rubin, Caché, Lord & Taylor, Jordan Marsh, Burdines. Names that instantly transported me back to an era of elegance, neon, and unapologetic glamour.

One box after another revealed a treasure trove of Miami history. Crisp linen suits. Sequined cocktail sets. Silk slips. Tailored blazers with shoulder pads sharp enough to make a statement before you even spoke. Some even had handwritten notes pinned inside—“Vizcaya brunch ‘87,” “Julio Iglesias afterparty,” “Bal Harbour grand opening.”

These pieces now live at Turn Back The Clock Shop, and I am honored—truly—to be their temporary guardian until they find their next home.

Because that’s what I’ve always believed vintage is about: it’s not just fabric and buttons. It’s memory. Energy. Magic. When you slip into one of Dalia’s pieces, you’re not just putting on clothes—you’re stepping into a legacy.

Over the coming days, I’ll be sharing photos of Dalia herself wearing these exact pieces, paired with the stories behind them. I want you to see the woman inside the outfit. The way she posed at a poolside fashion show in 1984. The blazer she wore to dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab. The dress she called her “lucky charm” every time she went dancing at Club Nu.

I never had the honor of meeting Dalia in person, but through these garments—and the stories attached to them—I feel like I’ve come to know her. And I think you will too.

So here’s to Dalia Portela:The woman who made Miami shimmer. The closet I’ll never forget. And the style that still speaks—loud, proud, and fabulous.

Now available at Turn Back The Clock Shop. And come try them on… if you dare to wear the crown.