Bal Harbour

P H OTO BY OT TO S C H OT T, C O U R T E S Y O F B E N S C H OT T inter always feels like an invitation to escape to the mountains. And this season, we're answering with our most Alpine-obsessed issue yet. With the Winter Olympics returning to Italy in 2026, it felt right to spotlight the enchantment of the Alps and the world of winter sport and style—whether you prefer your slopes steep or simply admire them from a plush après-ski banquette, Champagne in hand. (Note: Our après edit may be the coziest fashion story we've ever produced.) Of course, winter at Bal Harbour Shops brings its own magic. November marked the Shops' 60th anniversary, and the annual Creative Challenge felt especially meaningful. This year, Fida Worldwide's founder, artist Patrick Morgan, led a judging panel of fashion industry artists and collaborators who joined us in selecting works that beautifully capture the essence of the Shops. The talent is extraordinary, and the winning illustration and finalists serve as a testament to creativity's power to transport. And speaking of creativity, gifting season is upon us. In "Unwrap the Season," we present the most coveted jewelry and accessories topping our own wish lists. But the gift I'll be giving is the perfect companion for the curious: my longtime friend and former colleague Ben Schott's brilliant new book, "Schott's Significa: A Miscellany of Secret Languages." Ben is a master curator of the un-Googleable, and in these pages he decodes the private lexicons of hidden worlds—from front-row takes at Fashion Week to bespoke tailoring on Savile Row to the secret jargon of New York's diamond dealers. It's what he calls "anthropology more than journalism," a field guide to how people in a particular industry speak, and therefore how they think, operate, and belong. As you settle in with the Winter issue, I hope it brings you a sense of joy and discovery, and a desire to decode life's little pleasures, whether on the slopes or at the Shops. W Model Tianna St. Louis in Chanel Styled by Scott Shapiro Photographed by Meg McConville Ben Schott's compelling new book, "Schott's Significa," is available at Books & Books. DEBORAH FRANK Editor-in-Chief Ben compelling "Schott's is available Books BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M

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