Crystals Shopping Center in Las Vegas has the most sublime architecture of any Shopping Mall I’ve ever seen. With over half a million square feet of high end retail space and clean breathable smoke free air with the subtlest scent of fragrance, Crystals sets the bar for high end shopping at a ‘mall’.

Known as CityCenter, or CityCenter Las Vegas, it’s makes me think of what Frank Gehry might  have designed if he were ever enticed to create a shopping center, hotel and casino all in one.  The conceptual master plan was actually designed by Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects, with almost 17 million square feet covering 76 acres. At a cost of over 9.2 billion, it took roughly 5 years to construct.

I first discovered this remarkable complex on 11.11.11 when I joined my sister in Las Vegas for her wedding (along with about 20 thousand others couples).  I’d heard about this ‘modern’ shopping center from a client of mine whose husband is an architect. Obviously it would have been impossible to miss this extraordinary presence on the Las Vegas Strip. It tantalizes everyone of your sense, from its stunning silhouettes, to its contrasting textures and tonal values. There’s even 5 water features with sounds to sooth your ears, including the remarkable ice sculpture Glacia.  With thirteen Ice Pillars rising 15 vertical feet, the core of each Pillar is maintained at a constant minus 5 degrees fahrenheit to keep them  frozen. It also takes up to 36 hours for the columns to re-freeze, which is no small feat when you considered it’s located just 50 feet from the entrance.  We all know how hot and crowded Vegas can be, and when you step from the strip into this slice of heaven, you never want to leave. My senses are booth soothed and invigorated from the moment I walk in. It’s a reprieve from the riff-raff and re-defines modern luxury. You don’t need to have deep pockets to walk into this mall and chill out, but it sure helps  if you do. Tom Ford, Valentino, Prada, Van Cleef & Arpels, Lalique, Gucci, Miu Miu, Cartier, Balenciaga… names, names names darling.  I feel like Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous as those lovely words roll off my tongue. Pack your Black Amex and meet me in Las Vegas at Crystals, it’s time for some retail therapy.