Archive for Style Files

10 Designer Hotels Always in Fashion

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We adore couture and can’t help but fancy everything fashionable. So, when we realized that Tortuga Bay Hotel at Puntacana Resort & Club was designed by Oscar de la Renta, our hearts skipped a beat. Could there be any better way to take a truly stylish getaway? We think not, and so we gathered 10 of the most chic hotels, each lovingly designed by a fashion icon, from around the world. Go ahead. Try one on. We think they all look fabulous on you.

Photos courtesy of Moschino, St. Regis Hotel, Round Hill, Le Notre Dame and Palazzo Versace

Oscar de la Renta – Tortuga Bay Hotel at Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic: When you take the beauty and grace of Oscar de la Renta design and add it to 13 beachfront villas, you get a getaway that will never go out of style.

Donatella VersacePalazzo Versace, Queensland, Australia: Glamour is taken to an entirely new level in this waterfront hotel, which was designed by Donatella Versace as a tribute to her late brother.

Giorgio ArmaniArmani Hotel, Dubai: Located within the world’s tallest building—the Burj Khalifa—the Armani Hotel Dubai makes quite a statement with its minimalist modern design. Let’s be honest, would you expect anything less from Giorgio Armani? 

MoschinoMaison Moschino, Milan: Storybook-esque details, such as beds draped in ball gowns and coffee tables made out of coffee cups, come to life in this converted 1840’s Neoclassical railway station, which was designed by Italian fashion house Moschino.

Ralph Lauren - Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica: It’s true. Ralph Lauren makes the perfect companion to any vacation thanks to his classic yet comfortable aesthetic—can you say mahogany four-poster beds and white stone floors. And don’t miss the spa which sits in an 18th-century plantation house.

Dior - Suite at the St. Regis New York City: It must be said, “J’adore Dior,” especially when it comes to a glorious suite in a landmark hotel on 5th Avenue (where else?). The 1,700-square-foot suite capture the essence of the designer’s Montaigne headquarters in Paris. Simply imagine Louis XVI-style furniture with white carved-wood framing and gold leaf accents, and you are on your way.

Diane Von Furstenberg – Claridge’s, London: Prints are never out of style according to Diane Von Furstenberg. And the designer doesn’t shy away from tan and white leopard print rugs in 20 rooms and suites at this 1930’s hotel. Et Voila! This Art Deco icon is transformed into a fashion icon.

Christian LacroixLe Notre Dame, Paris: This is Christian Lacroix’s third hotel design collaboration in Paris (too much of a good thing is never enough!). And the hotel, with its eclectic medieval-meets-modern design, is a sight to behold.

Karl LagerfeldSchlosshotel im Grunewald, Berlin: Housed in a palace in an exclusive suburb, Karl Lagerfeld has designed a hotel fit for a king (or queen). And this is one place that fashion will always reign supreme.

Todd OldhamThe Hotel at South Beach, Miami, Florida: As if it were possible, Todd Oldham brings even more vibrant colors to this South Florida hot spot. The classic Art Deco hotel is now oh so cool.

Style + Sky = Skylish?

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Flying used to be an elegant affiar. Men would wear suits. Women would don dresses. Meals were served. Really! Actual meals, with silverware and everything! That’s why we like the Custom Hotel in Los Angeles–it evokes that long-gone sense of flying being special, adventurous, and fun.

Nowadays, flying is more akin taking the bus. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a dash of style to the skies. Here are four items that can spice up your traveling ensemble:

From left to right: Tumi Vapor international carry-on, photo courtesy of nordstrom.com; Kate Spade iPad cover, photo courtesy of katespade.com; Skullcandy Aviator Headphones; photo courtesy of bestbuy.com; Dogit Butterfly carrier, photo courtesy of wayfair.com

Tumi Vapor international carry-on

Kate Spade Pop iPad folio

Skullcandy Aviator headphones

Dogit Butterfly carrier

It Ain’t Easy Being Tweed

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Guests at the Old Swan and Minster’s Mill, a charming old inn located in the rolling green hills of the Cotswolds, have all sorts of activities available to them, from fishing to tennis to long strolls through the hotel grounds and surrounding countryside.

So. Much. Drama. And Tweed.
Photo courtesy of thriftindenver.com

But when we first got our eyes on this scenic spot, one word went through our heads: Tweed. Between the English weather, English charm, and English gastropub fare, the only thing missing is classic English fashion, which means tweed.

The go-to source for tweed fashion and fabrics is Harris Tweed, which is woven on the wind-whipped Outer Hebrides islands off the western shores of Scotland.

Holland Cooper updates traditional tweed pieces with fresh colors and design touches.

Looking to accessorize? Try TOMS tweeded-out slip-ons for a refined look.

After School Specials

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School may be out forever for some of us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t revisit our grade school days with fun, modernized office supplies. While writing about the Hope and Glory Inn in Irvington, Virginia (which was built as a schoolhouse in 1890), we were inspired to take a longer look at the supplies that adorn our desks. Boring black stapler? Check. Ancient whiteboard marker? Got that. Five Star notebook? OK, maybe we are still in grade school. If you’d like to join us in spicing up our stationary, here are a few picks that would make even Lisa Frank jealous.

The Hope & Glory Inn

Photos courtesy of See Jane Work, Z Gallerie, The Wild Unknown and Jonathan Adler

{Clockwise from top left}

The Seven Year Pen, $8

Guaranteed to last at least 7 years, this eco-friendly pen is both stylish and sustainable.

Bird on a Wire Photo Holder, $12.95

Tired of jamming thumbtacks into your cubicle walls? Opt for this flock of 8 blackbird paper clips strung on a clothesline instead!

Songwriters Calendar by The Wild Unknown, $30

Printed on archival paper, the calendar is adorned with watercolors of classic songwriters including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash.

Brass Squirrel Letter Opener by Jonathan Adler, $98

OK, so we may not be opening too much snail mail these days … but, come on! How cute is this little guy?

Guest Post: PureWow on What to Pack for Sunshine or the Slopes!

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While partnering with PureWow—the free daily email and website, which features the very best in culture, fashion, travel, tech & so much more—for an upcoming sweepstakes (you can win $3,000 toward a dream vacation), we discovered a kindred travel spirit. We asked them to share some of their tips with you, and they graciously agreed.

We’re delighted to bring you our first guest blogger: PureWow

Remember four months ago when you booked that desperate “I need a break” vacation? Good news: It’s here.

Whether your idea of Zen is zipping down the slopes or lounging by the waves, we’ve got the packing essentials you may have forgotten.

Photo courtesy of PureWow

Photo courtesy of PureWow

Ski In an effort to avoid looking like the abominable snowman, a pair of sleek, lightweight boots like these Tofino canvas ones from Sorel ($105) should be first in your tote ($95). Next, shield your sensitive skin with Clarins sunscreen ($26) and Nu Skin’s petrolatum-free lip balm ($6). And protect your second-most-sensitive asset–your iPhone–with Lifeproof’s winter-ready Frē case ($80).

Beach A luxurious beach getaway clearly necessitates a luxurious beach bag, like Marni’s vinyl parrot version ($350). Fill it with this zebra beach towel ($225) and a colorful caftan ($295). Finish off the breezy style with a spritz of Philip B.’s sea-salt hair mist ($22). Incapable of leaving your tech gadgets back in the hotel room? Let your phone enjoy the rays too, with the help of a solar-powered charger ($49).