On Wednesday, April 19th, Bal Harbour Shops hosted a private luncheon at Zero Bond in New York to celebrate Sophia Wilson, the recipient of the second annual Next Gen Fashion Photography Award. Created by Bal Harbour Shops in 2021, the Next Gen Fashion Photography Award was created to recognize the extraordinary talent of young fashion photographers and to expand on our long-established support of emerging creative talent. Sophia Wilson gained recognition at a young age by photographing her East Village neighborhood as she sees it. Noticing the omission of diverse races and body types across fashion imagery, Wilson dedicated her practice to showing people “who look like me”. This coupled with her skill of producing exacting colors by hand in her darkroom, earned her the respect of major publications, fashion brands and celebrities. Today, at age 22, she has already been published in Vogue, Vice, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, as well as campaigns for Nike, Vans, and Instagram. Wilson’s celebrity portraits include Jade and Willow Smith, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and rapper Flo Milli.
Wilson was selected by a jury of four experts that included Alessia Glaviano, Head of Global Photo Vogue; Isolde Brielmaier, Deputy Director of the New Museum; Michael Famighetti, Editor of Aperture magazine; and renowned fashion and portrait photographer Stewart Shining. Following on from last year’s winner Tyrell Hampton, Wilson received a cash prize of $10,000, a feature in Bal Harbour Shops magazine and digitally on our other far-reaching platforms.
If only he knew that all he had to do was share her with Bal Harbour Shops. Introducing, “An Affair to Remember,” a classic tale of mistaken identity, with a twist. Follow along as one stylish young woman (played by Karolina Kurkova) feeds her desire for the finer things, while her romantic partner (played by Arthur Kulkov) tries to keep up.
As she visits her favorite boutiques, day after day, each purchase is met with a love note—a signature gesture and personification of the Shops. Our protagonist is giddy; she’s dreaming up where she may take her sparkling new necklace and sultry new dress. Meanwhile, her partner is frantic; he races through the Shops ready to encounter what he fears the most… The two collide, and what’s revealed? The notes weren’t from a secret paramour, they were from Bal Harbour Shops.
It was love at first visit.
A love story. A legacy. An affair to remember.
Coming soon, 09.04.25 | 10:30am EST
For early access, click the link in bio.
What’s in the envelope? Who sent it? All will be revealed in time.
Looking forward to our next encounter.
Love, B.
P.S. Click the link in bio
It’s not trendy; it’s timeless. It’s not of the moment; it’s enduring. Sixty years ago, Bal Harbour Shops debuted an entirely new retail concept—a destination.
It’s our diamond anniversary, and you better believe we’re going to shine bright. Stay tuned as we prepare to celebrate six decades of being unapologetically BHS.
