Versace, Armani, Missoni, Bulgari, Oscar De la Renta—even Camper (that funky, comfy Spanish shoe brand)—flaunt their fashion talents and flourishes in the hotel market. Their visions, along with those of myriad other fashion mavens, manifest in rooms, bars, pool cabañas, restaurants—and as the sum total of entire hotel concepts. They are worn as staff uniforms and sold in shops dedicated to the look. Because ambiance matters, we fashionistas can’t help but be drawn to such destinations, packing our own collections to bandy about in stylish settings. For those of you who don’t do anything drab, we bring some stellar suggestions for vogue-ish hotel stays in 2024.
Dolce&Gabbana®
Peers of the fashion realm have flocked for decades to the French Riviera, the veritable living room of the glib, glam, and gorgeous. Ensconced in the legendary Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, they’ve strutted their stuff with Côte d’Azur élan, especially at the retreat’s sublime pool which hovers over the Mediterranean Sea. Club Dauphin, the hotel’s poolside restaurant and beach club, remodeled in 2022, features a Dolce&Gabbana blue Mediterranean-themed cabaña, awash in cobalt and white designs inspired by majolica tiles and the rich culture of the region.
Stan M. Herman
When the “father of fashion week” helps your resort group celebrate its 40th anniversary with new resort staff uniforms, you can expect a modicum of cozy couture sure to set a new standard in elegance. Sandal Resorts partnered with the unflappable fashion hero in 2022 for a chic redo of its workforce wear, restyling 15,000 employees in a range of resort positions from gardeners to front desk staff. Called the Anniversary Collection, the crisp, Caribbean-intoned uniforms were 94-year-old Hermans’ first foray into all-inclusive resort uniform design, though he’s created looks for top corporations, including FedEx, JetBlue, and United Airlines.
Missoni®
On Maui’s most see-and-be-seen beach, the open-air Four Seasons Resort Maui beckons. Ever a hotbed of aloha chic, the Four Seasons’ first-ever resort property teems with tropical and classic Hawaiian design elements, aptly lending sense of place. But beneath the palm trees and amid the scent of plumeria, the sun-dappled, adults-only saltwater serenity pool proffers a slice of global flair. Two sleek cabañas by Missoni emanate Italian dolce vita with earthy Hawaiian undertones.
Armani and Gucci
Castle-like Badrutt’s Palace dominates the mountainscape of tony St. Moritz, the town credited with pioneering the concept of winter tourism in Switzerland. A second home to glitterati, kings, presidents, and Hollywood A-listers, the marvelous hotel exudes old school charm with attributes such as Rolls-Royce transfers to the slopes. The grand dame incorporates modern touches, too. Mosey into the Gucci Lounge, an exclusive members-only hotspot re-outfitted by Gucci each season. Renaissance Bar, a swanky hideaway for cocktails, is helmed by staff donning appropriately dapper Armani suits.
Barbour®
Sporty Barbour, an outdoor-minded British lifestyle brand best known for its attractive (and warm) waxed jackets, has partnered with Cape Cod’s Wequassett Resort & Golf Club to conjure a mood appropriate to Cape Cod’s spectacular landscape. Emanating sensible functionality, Barbour created wardrobes for the hotel staff, curated select items in the resort’s gift shop, and instituted the Borrowing Closet, where guests can avail themselves of forgotten or needed gear on loan. In addition, a Barbour-inspired cocktail may be swilled in the bar and guests may book a Barbour Field Guide Package.
Christian Dior
Synonymous with timeless style and artistic lines, Christian Dior pairs well with Le Majestic Hotel in Monte Carlo, a stately, fancy hideaway with sea views. Honoring Dior with “haute couture” elegance,” Nathalie Ryan, an accredited decorator of the Parisian fashion house, has done her part to bring the iconic designer’s perspective to life. Step into the Dior Suite, a glamorous enclave replete with statement ornamentation such as a dining room with a Hungarian herringbone parquet floor, a rotunda that references the gild-y boutique on Avenue Montaigne, a Louis XVI style table, and gray and silver medallion chairs among other jaw droppers. A home cinema system seals the deal.
Sidebar: Fashion Extras
Fashion lovers may immerse themselves in Rome’s cutting-edge style at Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, a palazzo hotel set in the heart of Rome. Deeply connected to the fashion industry, the hotel can arrange for an array of style-savvy activities such as the Men’s Fashion Experience, in which a top Italian menswear consultant shares his secrets for that sexy Italian look. The adventure includes a traditional shave at the oldest barber shop in central Rome, visits to suit and shoemakers, and a riveting photo shoot. Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese revels in its commitment to delivering customized, one-of-a-king experiences for its guests
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Knowledge of W Fort Lauderdale’s Luxury Essentials Cart takes the stress out of packing. Keeping a cart of fashionable accessories on hand, the hotel willingly shares its trove, an overstuffed cache of exquisite designer accessories from handbags to sunglasses to fragrances. Avail yourself of designer brand trappings by Versace, Gucci. Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, and Christian Dior, each sure to keenly complete your outfit.
