Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/726108
136 BAL HARBOUR aving grown up in Southern California, Phillip Lim is quick to draw comparisons when asked about his new store opening in Bal Harbour this fall. "I have a kinship with the area," says the New York- based designer behind the much-loved label 3.1 Phillip Lim. "I do everything there I would do in California. I take in the exotic flavors, the tropical weather, the beach. You go to Miami to just keep it sexy." That's partly why Lim, whose line is going strong after 11 years, is launching his first directly operated mall store in Bal Harbour Shops this November. As the 17th location in a growing global enterprise, the 1,800- square-foot space will be a gorgeous ode to its environs. Working closely with the firm MR Architecture + Décor (who also designed the brand's Taipei store), Lim was intent on bringing out the color palette of the region through the use of pastels. There are also custom-made rugs inspired by palm trees warming up the concrete floors, he notes. The idea is that the shopper is completely immersed in the retail experience whether it's lounging, shopping or socializing, says Brandon Sanchez, an associate at MR Architecture + Décor. There are also nods to Art Deco, glamour and "the sea and the sky, with palettes of green, blue and white," Sanchez adds. The stone, steel and glass storefront will also let in plenty of that South Florida natural light—all the better to view the women's ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear and eyewear collections. The store is debuting with its Resort collection, which Lim describes as "perfect" for the Bal Harbour client because of its "eclecticism and laid-back attitude but with an urban jolt"—notably the psychedelic florals and many dresses of the lineup. (Lim is partial to Look 1 of the collection, a vibrantly printed floral cocktail dress with cutaway shoulders and halter neckline.) Inspired by the '60s and '70s Venice Beach culture, one that inspired him immensely growing up, Lim adds that the collection "feels feminine, strong and personal." In fact, true inspiration is something the designer finds particularly precious in today's social media age. Though he's a fan and avid user of Instagram—"you get access to the world in a click of the button and that's amazing and changed everything," he says—he also describes it as a "cheap instant temporal fix." "Real inspiration is through real experience," Lim says. "You have to have a life outside of social media." Moreover, with social media's influence, fashion is literally moving at a breakneck speed. Trends "can pass in a blink of an eye," Lim admits, pointing especially to the proliferation of fashion in pop culture. Fashion has become "part of the ingredients that make up the pseudo pop celebrity machine," he says, which means new silhouettes or styles can be spurred from a single celebrity street style moment. But for someone who has been steering his eponymous company for more than a decade, Lim also believes we're going through an adjustment period in fashion. At some point, he hopes fashion will "stand up for itself again" rather than be swayed predominantly by pop culture. His motto in the meantime? "Have a point of view and stick with it, but also evolve constantly." THe evoluTion of PHilliP lim The New York designer with deep California roots continues to create essential looks that resonate from London to Taipei to a new Bal Harbour boutique. BY BEE SHAPIRO PORTRAIT BY NATHAN ELLIS PERKEL H