Theater of Shopping tells the story of retail visionary Stanley Whitman and the creation of Bal Harbour Shops, the most successful luxury fashion shopping center in the world, and one of the last family-owned shopping centers in America. Written by critically acclaimed author Alastair Gordon, Theater of Shopping is a cultural history of both a place and a personal legacy. The open-air luxury shopping destination opened in 1965 as a pedestrian-friendly environment that turned shopping into a kind of theatrical event, while featuring the work of young design talents like Valentino, Versace, Mugler, Oscar de La Renta, and other foreign designers who were unknown in America before first showcasing their collections at Bal Harbour Shops. The text weaves together fashion, luxury commerce, architecture, landscape design, urban development, and family history, to create a highly readable narrative illustrated with more than 300 images including never-before-published drawings, and photographs by renowned photographers including Richard Avedon and Ezra Stoller.
In celebration of Bal Harbour Shops’ 60th Anniversary, a limited number of books will be re-released to include a new, special artist- edition cover by Tug Rice.
Available for Pre-Order
Estimated Ship Date: Early March 2026
They can carry your laptop or your entire look. No matter what you need to take with you, these totes are giving maximum style and maximum hold. Carry on with your day with the latest from The Attico, Phoebe Philo, and Alaïa, all available here, at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops.
Avoiding the chill and going straight to the thrill of basking in the sun in Johanna Ortiz. Find the latest essentials for a warm-weather winter here, at Johanna Ortiz at Bal Harbour Shops.
Don’t call it a comeback—Isabel Marant’s sneaker wedges have always been in our rotation. Pair them with dresses, skirts, or pants and discover all the places they’ll take you.
Find what suites you—whether it’s from Bottega Veneta, Isaia, Ralph Lauren, or Wardrobe NYC at The Webster—at Bal Harbour Shops.
