Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1297495
Scanlan Theodore—a label from Oz with a decades-long local following—is making waves stateside with a debut at Bal Harbour Shops. BY MOSHA LUNDSTÖM HALBERT "To us, Bal Harbour is the most beautiful shopping destination on earth." —Sarah Blank "MY ENTIRE CLOSET HAS been Scanlan eodore forever," says Melinda Robertson, a former New York-based finance executive who was so devoted to the venerable Australian label from her nativeland that she acquired the North American rights, alongside friend and colleague Sarah Blank. "In our offices, we would have women commenting on our outfits daily, asking where they were from," she says. "e answer was always the same." Indeed, while daring and of-the-moment fashion with a capital F may be fun for some, Blank and Robertson are adamant there is room in the market for thoughtful workwear, special occasion dressing and reliable knitwear staples––albeit always with a modern twist. And, as girlfriends do, they wanted to share their discoveries. And so, after years of hauling suitcases of Scanlan eodore's sophisticated, practical and peppy tailoring whenever they returned from their hometown of Melbourne, where the brand is also based, a new venture was born. "It's a white space, particularly for busy professional women, as it's luxury quality and design at a more accessible price point," says Blank, who recently relocated to Miami. She set her sights on Bal Harbour Shops, where Scanlan eodore recently opened its third US outpost, following two New York City locations. "To us, Bal Harbour is the most beautiful shopping destination on earth," says Blank. "We feel very lucky to have found a home here." While the label gained greater recognition after Meghan Markle donned a maroon wrap jacket in 2018, fans of the flattering ready-to- wear by longtime creative director and founder Gary eodore include a true cross-section of public figures, from Riverdale star Lili Reinhart to first lady Melania Trump. is broad appeal doesn't surprise retail consultant and arts patron Jen Lee Koss, who first helped the expat duo stage pop-ups across North America to test new markets. "It's like a hidden secret among women," says Lee Koss, adding that the looks offer "confidence in the boardroom and beyond." Speaking of building confidence, the new Bal Harbour Shops location specializes in by-appointment wardrobe building, catered to clients' individual needs and our current work-from-home realities. "We're focused on styles that allow you to transition seamlessly from Zoom conferences to family life," says Robertson, a mother of three young boys. For fall, such timely highlights include les smoking-style suiting in punchy shades of hibiscus, pitaya and peony, bias-cut silk shirting and sharp-shouldered sequin sheaths. "ere is always something unexpected with the pieces," says Koss. "It could be the line of a hem or a cape on the back of a jumpsuit. ese details come to life on the body." Australian Open Scanlan Theodore's new BHS boutique specializes in by- appointment wardrobe building, catering to its clients individual needs. BAL HARBOUR 81