Model Sasha Kichigina wearing Gucci.
With the holiday weekend just a few days away, we thought it was the perfect time to present a fashion road trip. And where better to travel to as the seasons transition than the scenic, culturally rich mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina? Before we hit the road, we asked Matthew Whitman Lazenby, Bal Harbour Shops’ President and CEO, to share what he loves so much about his adopted city—and it turns out there’s plenty!
“Fast becoming what many are calling the “Austin of the South,” Asheville, North Carolina, “rims in life,” to borrow a phrase from Thomas Wolfe, one of its most famous native sons, and has a cool factor all its own. Beyond exploring its surrounding forests or hiking the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, this historic Swannanoa Valley city of visionaries, philanthropists, and writers, and the Mountain Capital of Western North Carolina (with its own Western Residence for the state’s governor) boasts walkable neighborhoods where friends gather for craft brews in celebratory biergartens. Where good eats, from Indian street food and Spanish tapas to fried green tomatoes and Carolina-style barbecue (Eastern and Western), can be had at top dining venues. Where a stroll down the riverbank leads to working artist studios. Where musicians jam all night in iconic downtown clubs. Where century-old gardens and a vast network of biking trails offer restorative access to the outdoors. And where soul-mending bouts with nature heal the spirit like no other place on earth.”
For good old-fashioned fun, Sky Lanes bowling alley is a classic. Sasha wears a full Tod’s look.
Page Avenue is just one of many streets brimming with unique boutiques from an artisanal perfumery to fine jewelry shops. Sasha wears an Isabel Marant dress with Chanel boots.
The Asheville food scene, aka Foodtopia, features a community of culinary craftsmen creating meals that nourish the soul, like the home cooking at Five Points. Sasha wears a full Zimmermann look.
Funky hotels like The Radical mix with Art Deco masterpieces like the City Building, which houses Asheville’s council chambers. Sasha wears a Loro Piana jumpsuit and Alexandre Birman boots.
Known for its breweries and beer gardens, the city also offers a few hidden gems like The Tiki Easy Bar, a speakeasy for exotic cocktails served in a colorful island setting. Sasha wears a Brunello Cucinelli look with Chanel boots.
Nights out in Asheville mean frequenting live music venues like The Orange Peel, counted as one of the Top 5 Rock Clubs in the country by Rolling Stone. Sasha wears a full Bottega Veneta look.
Photographer Matthew Sprout; Stylist Paul Frederick; Model Sasha Kichigina/Kollektiv Mgmt; Hair & Makeup Lizzie Arneson; Producer Chris Haney/Exposure; Digital Tech/Photo Assistant Shawn Robert Cuni; Stylist Assistant Caitlin Cowger; Casting Lewis Waters; Producer Cindi Blair; Cindi Blair Productions/Turks & Caicos Productions. Visit ExploreAsheville.com for more ways to experience the unique city.
![Calling all artists: What does your Bal Harbour Shops dream look like?
The 7th annual Bal Harbour Shops Creative Challenge is officially underway. This year, we invite illustrators from around the world to explore The Art of Dreaming—reimagining Bal Harbour Shops as a place where fashion, dining, nature, art and culture collide, and the impossible feels beautifully possible.
In partnership with Fida Worldwide, one Grand Prize winner will receive $3,500, have their work published in the Winter 2026 issue of Bal Harbour Magazine, and be commissioned for an upcoming editorial illustration project. Three finalists will each receive $750 and be featured across our digital channels.
Ready to dream? Submit your original work by October 16 [link in bio] and share it on Instagram using #BHSCreativeDream.](https://www.balharbourshops.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
