For many, malls are more than just shopping destinations—they’re cultural landmarks, nostalgic spaces where friendships were formed, trends were discovered, and personal style was born. For some of the biggest names in fashion, these sprawling hubs of retail activity were formative spaces. Six fashion insiders reflect on their favorite mall moments, revealing how these experiences influenced their lives and careers.
1. Anna Kim, Creative Director of Luxe Atelier
“The Food Court and First Fashion Risks”
For Anna Kim, the mall was a creative playground during her teenage years in the early 2000s. “I remember saving up for months to buy my first pair of platform sneakers from the local department store,” she says. “The food court was the meeting spot for my friends and me, where we’d trade style tips over fries and milkshakes.”
Kim credits those formative mall trips with sparking her love for bold fashion choices. “It was the first place I felt free to experiment—sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, but it shaped my aesthetic today.” The mall, with its colorful kiosks, neon signs, and endless retail options, was the perfect backdrop for Kim to take fashion risks. “I’d walk into stores like Forever 21 and H&M and try on the wildest outfits—floral prints with leather, chunky heels with mini skirts. That was my first real taste of styling myself.”
Her experiences at the mall were more than just about shopping; they were about exploring identity, pushing boundaries, and finding confidence in her own unique style—a lesson she now brings to her work as a creative director.
2. Marcus Lyle, Fashion Editor at Haute Scene
“Window Shopping as a Creative Exercise”
For Marcus Lyle, malls were a space of inspiration rather than indulgence. “I grew up in a small town, so the mall was our connection to the larger world,” he recalls. “I’d spend hours walking through high-end stores like Nordstrom, dreaming about the day I could afford those beautifully tailored suits and perfect shoes.”
Lyle credits these mall moments with expanding his sense of style and design. “I wasn’t just shopping; I was studying. The layout of the stores, the way they displayed the merchandise—it was all part of the creative process.” Window shopping became a form of research for Lyle, who eventually moved to the big city to pursue his career in fashion. “It gave me a sense of what was out there, what was possible, and helped me develop my eye for detail.”
His mall experiences reinforced his deep appreciation for the artistry behind retail, which he now translates into his work as a fashion editor. “The mall was where I learned that fashion isn’t just about clothes—it’s about the experience, the storytelling, and the way everything comes together.”
3. Derek Lam, Fashion Designer and Creative Director of Câllas Milano
“The California Dream”
Derek Lam’s mall memories are rooted in the laid-back yet stylish culture of California in the 1980s. “I grew up in San Francisco, and the open-air malls were a big part of my youth,” he remembers. “Places like Stanford Mall were as much about the atmosphere as they were about shopping. There was a sense of leisure and elegance to them, with lots of greenery and spaces to just hang out.”
Lam’s most cherished mall memory is buying his first high-fashion item: a Members Only jacket. “I remember it was the color ‘shark grey’—so cool for the time,” Lam says with a smile. “That jacket was my first real connection to the idea of fashion as an identity.” He was drawn to the sleek, utilitarian look of the jacket and its effortlessly cool vibe. “It represented everything that was stylish about the era—comfortable, functional, and just the right amount of edgy.”
The mall served as a bridge between youth and sophistication for Lam, allowing him to experiment with his personal style. “It was where I first realized how clothes could tell a story, how something as simple as a jacket could make you feel like a different person.”
4. Tchesmeni Leonard, Senior Fashion Editor at Allure, Glamour, and Teen Vogue
“The Rite of Passage”
Tchesmeni Leonard’s mall memories are intertwined with the quintessential ‘90s and early 2000s teenage experience. “The mall was where we spent most of our weekends, especially in high school,” Leonard says. “It wasn’t just about shopping—it was about the entire ritual. We’d grab a frappuccino at Starbucks, head to The Gap to try on denim, and then spend hours in Victoria’s Secret looking for the perfect scent or lip gloss.”
The mall was Leonard’s place to experiment with trends, influenced by the pop culture of the time. “I was obsessed with what I saw in teen movies—Clueless was huge, and we’d try to recreate those outfits,” she remembers. “There was a freedom to play around with different looks—everything from cargo pants to crop tops to chunky sneakers.”
It wasn’t just the clothes that left an impact. “The mall was where I discovered the power of style to connect with people, to shape how others saw you, and how you saw yourself,” Leonard reflects. “It was a space where fashion wasn’t just about what you wore—it was about belonging, about being part of something bigger.”
5. Bella Hadid, Supermodel
“A Sneak Peek Into a Fashion Future”
Supermodel Bella Hadid’s memories of mall trips are more recent, but they carry a deep sense of nostalgia. “I grew up in Los Angeles, so malls like The Grove and Beverly Center were the places to be,” she says. “As a kid, I would wander through these stores, daydreaming about a life in fashion. The mall was where I could see what the next big trend was—everything from leather jackets to tiny sunglasses to platform shoes.”
Hadid’s personal favorite mall memory is when she got her first “real” piece of designer clothing—a leather jacket she bought from one of the boutiques at The Grove. “I’d saved up for months for it, and it felt like the beginning of something,” she says. “The jacket was a statement for me—about independence, about growing up, about embracing my style.”
Now, as one of the world’s most successful models, Hadid looks back at her mall experiences with fondness. “The mall was where I learned about style and self-expression, and it’s funny because now it’s a whole new generation of kids looking to us for fashion inspiration.”
6. Virgil Abloh, Fashion Designer and Founder of Off-White
“Finding Identity and Art in Retail”
The late Virgil Abloh’s relationship with malls was deeply tied to his understanding of fashion as an art form. “Growing up in Chicago, I spent a lot of time at Oakbrook Center Mall,” he shared in past interviews. “It wasn’t just a place to buy things—it was a place to absorb culture. The mall was like a living, breathing gallery of style and streetwear.”
Abloh credits his early mall experiences with helping him develop a distinct aesthetic that combined luxury with street culture. “I would walk through stores like Foot Locker, seeing the latest sneaker releases, and think, ‘How can I merge that with high fashion?’” The mall, for Abloh, was a classroom where the lessons in fashion were informal but incredibly influential.
Reflecting on how far fashion has evolved, Abloh remarked, “Malls were a space where retail and art intersected, where you could express who you were and experiment with different looks. For me, that was where I started developing my ideas of blending high fashion with streetwear culture.”
Conclusion: The Enduring Magic of the Mall
From the fashion-forward boutiques to the vibrant food courts, the mall has always been a space where trends are born and identities are shaped. For these six fashion insiders, the mall was more than just a place to shop—it was a foundational part of their creative journeys. Whether it was discovering personal style, learning the art of window shopping, or experimenting with new trends, the mall remains an unforgettable chapter in their fashion stories. As malls continue to evolve, one thing is certain: they will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who appreciate the intersection of culture, creativity, and style.