September has long been our “Luxury” issue, and Charleston’s abundance of all things luxe—stately homes, high-end shops, and world-class restaurants—makes staying abreast of it all exhilarating and, at times, dizzying. You’ll find plenty of examples in these pages, from our fall fashion feature photographed inside the grand Wentworth Mansion (“Autumn in Residence,” page 98) to Robert Moss’s survey of the peninsula’s emerging fine-dining district (“Broad Street Rising,” page 110) and editor at large Stephanie Hunt’s exploration of King Street’s evolving retail landscape (“Luxury Is King,” page 124).

In the latter, Stephanie poses a question that lingered with me long after reading her feature: Is Charleston getting too swanky for its own good? It’s a fair question—and one without an easy answer. The investment flowing into our city has restored historic buildings, elevated our culinary scene, and attracted world-class retailers and hospitality brands. But it has also brought rising rents, mounting pressure on independent businesses, busier streets, and growing concerns about whether Charleston is becoming more destination than hometown. 

I’m heartened that organizations, like the Charleston Downtown Alliance and Lowcountry Local First, are engaged in finding a good balance, and that the City of Charleston is updating its Tourism Management Plan for the first time in more than a decade. Now, residents can help shape how our city continues to grow by completing the survey and attending upcoming meetings with the Livability and Tourism staff (find more info at charlestonmag.com). The goal shouldn’t be to resist change, but to ensure that as Charleston welcomes the world, it doesn’t lose the character that made us all fall in love with it in the first place.

One final note: This issue marks the last for our managing editor, Shelley Hill Young, after nearly seven years with the magazine. While we’ll miss her sharp editorial eye and dedication to keeping our team on track, we’re happy for her new chapter with more time to spend with her children and family. Kudos to you, Shelley—time well spent with the people we love is, perhaps, the greatest luxury of all. 

Enjoy!

Darcy Shankland
dshankland@charlestonmag.com