Bal Harbour Shops Celebrate 60 Years of Luxury.
Miami’s iconic Bal Harbour Shops marked an extraordinary 60 years of business with celebrations like no other. The legendary open-air luxury destination, famed for welcoming the likes of the Beckhams, Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, and more, honoured six decades of style, glamour, and retail innovation. Naturally, we flew out to experience it all firsthand and see what all the buzz is about.
The festivities began with a welcome dinner at the renowned Carpaccio, a restaurant that I was told has been a Bal Harbour staple since 1997, a favourite among locals and visitors.
The following evening consisted of an extravagant event that shut down the whole shopping centre. A gala with over 1000 guests invited, eager to toast to six decades of glamour. Guests checked in to ‘Vacationland’ with the entrance being a dazzling hotel-inspired front desk and then fully immersed themselves into an experience that took celebrations to a whole new level. Set in the luxury mall, surrounded by palm trees and koi ponds, the party took over all three floors with an evening soundtracked by DJs, including Isaac Likes, and then a performance by the legendary Chaka Khan and Gipsy Kings, turning an evening of celebration into a party.
Guests drifted between cocktail bars, installations and live performances. With shops which stayed open to welcome in the guests for some after-hours shopping as the party was in full swing. Signature restaurants of Bal Harbour, including Carpaccio, Makoto and China Grill served bites; everyone was dancing and singing along with drinks flowing. In a setting where tropical meets luxury. A time was had!
What truly impressed me was the next-level service offered by Bal Harbour’s exclusive ‘Access Suites’, which felt like a private sanctuary that is only available to select members, those who spend over the threshold. I had the rare opportunity to step into the world of elite hospitality and experience what it would be like for an ‘Access Member’ that shops at Bal Harbour. As I entered the access suite I was welcomed with drinks and snacks before being shown into a magnificently curated fitting room which was brimming with a curated selection of designer. An edit of clothes selected based on a style questionnaire I’d completed beforehand. Everything had been considered, from my preferred colour palette to silhouettes and sizing. An experience that I can only think of to epitomise the essence of Bal Harbour. Personal and Luxurious.
Speaking to the Vice President of Bal Harbour, Bertrand Auclaire, about the experience and why they have a dedicated access membership and rewards programme they said, "Through our Access Elite membership at Bal Harbour Shops, clients enjoy more than just first-look access to the world’s most coveted luxury brands; they are paired with a dedicated personal shopper and stylist who curates an experience entirely around their lifestyle. While all clients can join Access, it’s our Elite members, averaging spend of $80,000 a year, who unlock the most exclusive privileges, from private events to special experiences. In fact, many of our Access members were shopping up a storm this fall to secure their Elite status and gain special entry to our unforgettable 60th anniversary celebration." Bal Harbour shops, at 60 years old, celebrates a past of firsts and sets the tone for a luxury shopping experience. A place that brings together the world's most loved fashion houses. Bal Harbour shops felt quite unlike anywhere I had seen before.