Fashions Hotels

Okay so you're a fashion label with a successful brand, women's wear, mens wear, something for children, eye wear, a 'time' collection, fragrances, make up, a home collection... what do you do next? Set up a hotel to showcase how fabulous you are! Because you haven't proved that already, and gosh are they different from Gleneagles or the Dorchester!

hotelmissoni.com

Hotel Missoni
The first one opened in Edinburgh (of all places!) in 2009 and earlier this year (from memory) a second in Kuwait. But could it get any more Missoni, playful bright colours, bright lacquered surfaces, floral patterns inside wardrobes. Amazing. You will either love it or think it is totally over the top (you wait until the Palazzo Versace!)

I love Missoni interiors anyway, there is a french furniture shop called Roche Bobois that I pass when I am shopping a lot and I often ogle at. One piece in particular by Hans Hofer a modular sofa that uses Missoni Home prints. Have a look around the website anyway... there is something for everyone (but not in everyones price ranges, hence I am still Roche Boboisless in my room at University!).

paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com

Hotel de Petit Moulin
Lacroix, who else would have put together such a theatrical ensemble!  Bold colours and fabrics and yet trying to stay true to the hotels heritage, it doesn't look like it would contain such splendors from the outside with it still retaining its facade from the  1900s when it was a boulangerie.


Every room is different. 


" As for fashion design, where harmony is a jigsaw of inspiration in which today's influences are fed by pieces from the past, where modernity lives on in the traditions of the present." 
Christian Lacroix


Could not have put it better myself... but it looks so visually exciting, sort of tempted to take a little trip to Paris now!

maisonmochino.com

Maison Moschino
Wow is my first impression when I saw the creative genius in this hotel, open in 2010, it models some of the Moschino Home Collection. Each room has something different to offer, delivering something simple to a white canvas. The room pictured is called 'life is a bed of roses'. I like this one because it is quite sensuous. But you should definitely look at the other rooms, so effective what you can do with one focal item in the room. My other favorites are 'Zzzzzzzzz' and 'Forest'.


I have been sucked into looking at them for ages now. The hotel is in Milan. Built in an old railway station, the exterior looks like something that you may find The Duchess staying in for her weekend break. 


Again I have found the hotel I am staying in whenever I visit Milan (Darling, I go there a lot yes... okay, you got me I am lying!)

pallazoversace.com

Palazzo Versace
So one in Dubai and one in Australia and OH MY GOD they are amazing, you already know I am a sucker for a bit of Versace (really who isn't).As it says on the website:

'defined by the brand, fashion, glamour, sexiness all delivered with the destinctive look, the flavour, the scent, the sound, the touch embodied by the vision and spirit of the House of Versace style'


(see my earlier post on the brand). Columns, chandeliers, hot door men (well there was on the website). Its almost all too Vegas for Australia! but maybe thats what makes it special.

roundhill.com

Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Designed by Ralph Lauren, another one of my favourites, I know that since Bicester Village have opened a Ralph Lauren Home outlet store my bank account is getting a bit nervous! 


But the Round Hill is an old hotel in Jamacia that has seen the likes of Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis through its doors. But Ralph put together an interior that is classic of the Polo brand, rich mahogany, nautical, simple oh and that blue pin stripe that my life would not be complete without!   




Righty thats all for today I have been drawn in for these amazing hotels for an hour now, whoops! But do have a look at all there websites to get the full feel for them 

Illustration

As I have said before... I think... I used to take Fine Art and Fashion (hence I talk about it all the time even though I am studying Geography) So I thought I would share with you what happens when I have free (productive) time.

Like most people who are interested in fashion there is a lot of time spent flicking with anticipation through the many new seasons shows. And golly how many are there, every designer has a gazillion collections a season now how do they fit it all in!! So these are the collection of some of the pieces that have stood out in the last year or so and have liked enough to put pen to paper!

Dress me head to toe in Chloe the rest of my life and I will be truly happy!

Nothing more to add other than Hannah MacGibbon is a god!!

I think it was the leather and hair that drew me to this collection, still wondering if I can pull off  thigh high boots in everyday life... too much perhaps

Again the hair, I had best start back-combing now!

Soooo different from the fall collection above, floral and nautical.

I fell in love with the earrings in this collection and the laces (this does not by any means do the collection justice [especially the gammy foot!!])

I was obsessed with Aviator jackets at the start of the season until Primark ruined them for me! But I still love the native shoes on this one.

Oh and just to show off not that anyone will be interested but I managed to get tickets to see George Michael in October.. Excited does not cover it!

Anyway thats it really. You stay classy San Diego. 

Male Models

David Gandy

Yes I could ramble on for a long time for the perfection that is David Gandy, I am sure you will all recognize him from the Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue advert. The fact that he is English makes it even better... Marry me? Just putting it out there. Haha.

But just like Female models there are certain characteristics that different designers look for, Gandy for example is the kind of thing that Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Calvin Klein Underwear look for, tall, dark, muscular. Whereas brands like Dior,Topshop tend to focus on a strong face, cheek bones that were carved by God himself. Well I say Dior but not really any more, maybe in the days of Hedi Slimane but Largerfeld has recently signed Baptiste Giabiconi. “a boy version of Gisele: skinny, skinny but with an athletic body — good for clothes and great with no clothes.” 

Baptiste Giabiconi

As with female models it is about what is in fashion. At the moment the prominence of what I will call for lack of a better term, the 'Abercrombie' body on the catwalk and yet 6, 7 years ago muscle was a no no for most designers, wanting a more feminine, pubescent look. But no more. The pages of GQ are now filled with older men muscular, masculine. Probably, ultimately, reflecting its reader more. If I opened up Vogue or Elle and saw a load of Hannah Montana-esque models I would not be inclined to invest in the product they are modelling, equally I would not expect to see a woman in her 20's modelling in Easy Living. Its all about appealing to your audience, how many men want to invest in a brand that are promoting the image of a stick like man, in comparison to the models that would not look out of place on the cover of Mens Health. This of course is just my opinion on the matter.


But anyway a few of my favorites.. Apart from Gandy of course....

Andreas Velencoso Segura


From Tossa del Mar in Spain (stayed there on a school trip once... Not that you care)


Big campaigns include 

• Chanel Allure Homme Sport, of which he still retains the contract
• H&M Winter 2009
• Zenga Underwear 2009
• Yves Saint Laurent 2009
• As well as gracing the cover of Vanity Fair Espana and Vogue Espana to name a few

Brad Kroenig


Who you must recognize from the 2008 Largerfeld campaign if nothing else. He was Lagerfelds muse for about 5 years as well (no wonder he is a beaut!)


Other campaigns include

• Chanel 2008/2010
• DKNY 2010
• Fendi Palazzo
• H&M 2008
• As well in editorials for Harpers Bazaar and Vogue China Men

Gabriel Aubrey

Canadian... discovered in the 90s and shortly started working for Versace.. Valentino, just small names...

Campaigns include

• Uniqlo 2009
• Calvin Klein 2009
• Louis Vuitton 2010
• Gap 2010
• Hugo Boss 2011

Been around for quite a while now but still going strong!

Ben Hill

I believe he started out as an Abercrombie model, surprised, me neither. Then going onto the runway for Dolce and Gabbana.

Campaigns

• Louis Vuitton Watches 2009
• Zenga Elements 2009
• CK Eternity 2011
• Gap 2010
• Armani 2011
• Covers include Elle Men Mexico, GQ Style UK and appeared in Vogue China

That is enough perving for one day I think, early start tomorrow... who invented exams... 

Let me know your favorites! And check out Gandy's blog that he does for Vogue.

  

Tord Boontje

tordboontje.com

Okay if there was one thing I would love to have in life (frivolous of course), it would be to have my houses interior designed by Mr Tord Boontje. Originally from Holland he came across to the UK to do his Masters at the Royal College of Art, where he is now Head of Design Products.

He was the inspiration of much of my work though out my Fine Art A-Level, there was something about the romance and elegance of his work that drew me in. I was first made aware of his work when Habitat launched his Garland shade in 2002. Yes, I do own one.

But he is brilliant the delicacy and intricacy of his work is the main thing that I love about it. Winter Wonderland has to be my favorite of his installations. It is beautiful, yet slightly haunting at the same time, it reminds me a bit of Narnia... Magical basically.

The Happy Ever After  installation was more organic  the swing chair you can imagine out in a big garden on a summers day.

Innovative as well; the collection of Glassware made from recycled bottles is another example of how versatile he is. I personally love the beer bottles that have been turned into drinking glasses.

The more I look at his work the more excited I get about it. I love how different it all is to each other. The Shadowy Chair and Sunny Lounger. Just brilliant, I love how organic the shapes are.

Anyway check out the rest of his projects.


All images from tordboontje.com