Bal Harbour

S U M M E R 2 0 2 6 S P E C I A L T R AV E L E D I T I O N A N A L L - A M E R I C A N S U M M E R t felt more fitting than ever to celebrate the all-American summer this year as the nation approaches its 250th birthday in July. We spend so much time dreaming of far-flung escapes—the Amalfi Coast in August, the South of France in high season, a Greek island reached by tender at sunset—that it can be easy to overlook how gloriously America does summer. This issue is our ode to the uniquely cinematic pleasures of an American summer: long afternoons on the water, lobster rolls eaten dockside, white hydrangeas spilling over weathered fences in the Hamptons, cocktails at golden hour in Aspen, road trips with no fixed itinerary, and the particular nostalgia that comes with destinations that feel stitched into family history. As our Travel Editor Mark Ellwood so perfectly puts it: "Sure, I love the Med in July, like anyone, but it isn't the only place that brings a glamorous sheen to those heady, hot days when all you want to do is relax, read a book, and relish the weather. We wanted to celebrate that wholesome, outdoorsy charm, whether it's a lake day lolling on a boat or a benefit in a home where you wish the walls could talk. Forget the jet lag and just indulge." That spirit runs throughout these pages. In JetSet, we crisscross the country through the lens of style, nostalgia, hospitality, and the enduring glamour of American travel. Elsewhere, our BHS Edit pages embrace the ease and optimism of summer dressing, while legendary stylist and fashion editor Elizabeth Saltzman, whose clients span the globe and whose counsel is regularly sought by the world's leading houses, shares her definitive summer style guide in How to Wear It. There is also something deeply personal about this issue. During a recent conversation with Todd Snyder, the celebrated American menswear designer reflected on childhood summers traveling with his parents and brothers, those formative trips that become part of a family mythology: "The first thing I think of is being in the back seat with my brothers, looking out the window as the Midwest rolled by. We didn't fly much when I was young; we drove everywhere—Minnesota to see family, up to the lakes to fish, Wisconsin, Colorado, even Arizona once. Before phones and screens, that window was your whole world. I remember watching people, towns, landscapes, and just letting my mind wander. My parents always had us dress nicely for the trip, even though we were only getting in the car. My dad saw it as a sign of respect. I didn't totally understand it then, but I do now. Those drives are still some of my clearest, happiest memories." That, perhaps, is what makes the American summer endure. It is not just about where we go, but how those places make us feel. We hope this issue inspires you to rediscover all the pleasures waiting closer to home. I notations C O U R T E S Y O F T H E A R T I S T S ; P H OTO BY J E A N N E C A N TO (C A R LY K U H N ) ; M AT T I A M A E S T R I ( PAT R I C K M O R G A N ) Patrick Morgan is a British illustrator, artist, and founder of FIDA (Fashion Illustration Drawing Awards), and is known for his work in luxury fashion illustration, contemporary art, and digital media. He has collaborated with major fashion and cultural brands, including Dior, Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent, LVMH, Fendi, and Chanel, and has also done editorial work for the Financial Times, The Guardian, the New Yorker, and The Observer. Before she came to illustration, French artist Aurore de la Morinerie spent formative years in fashion, collaborating with such brands as Hermès, Chanel, and Maison Margiela. Her illustrations have been published in Vogue, and her work, which often explores the meditative aspects of nature, has been exhibited internationally, including at the London Design Museum. For the past 15 years, French illustrator Ludivine Josephine has developed a rich body of work at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and luxury lifestyle. Her style feels instinctive and effortlessly chic, with a strong visual identity that translates across editorial and commercial projects. She has done commissions for brands and publications such as Vanity Fair, Bloomsbury Publishing, and Anthropologie. After an accomplished career in fashion design, Richard Haines has reemerged as a sought-after fashion illustrator. Driven by a fascination with the people behind the clothes, his work sits at the dynamic nexus of art and fashion. He balances global couture commissions with personal studies drawn from everyday life in his beloved Bushwick, Brooklyn, neighborhood, capturing the style of New York City trendsetters across cultures. Carly Kuhn is an artist and author known for her observational, line-driven work that captures the quiet humor of everyday life. She has partnered with brands and cultural institutions including Bergdorf Goodman, Sotheby's, Tory Burch, and American Ballet Theatre, and recently launched a collection with Paperless Post. Her forthcoming illustrated book, "A Character Study" (2026), explores the poetry of human behavior through drawing and text. Sebastian Marc Graham is a Spanish contemporary watercolor artist who has worked with such global brands as TAG Heuer, Marbella Club Hotel, L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, and Orlebar Brown, which just debuted two swim trunks in collaboration with Bal Harbour Shops. Influenced by coastal light, travel, and fashion, Graham loves to paint outdoors and work spontaneously on location, though a major source of inspiration for his artistic direction will always be the city he now calls home: Paris. Cover by Sebastian Marc Graham DEBORAH FRANK Editor-in-Chief in this issue Meet the artists we commissioned to visually interpret this issue's theme in the "Summer Sketches" portfolio. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M

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