“I don’t design clothes,” said Ralph Lauren. “I design dreams.” Ephemeral, enigmatic, and enchanting, fashion goes beyond the clothes we wear. It imbues a certain fantasy into the layers of our lives, a quixotic envelopment of something otherworldly even amid ordinary worn objects: a pair of shoes, a jacket, a hat. Travel, like fashion, transports us — it opens doors to fantasy and play. It satisfies our curiosity. Travel informs our dreams. So, it’s little wonder that resorts, airlines, cruise ships and other entities historically have brought in fashion designers to help them weave a story and craft a lasting impression. Their enhancements elevate the guest experience and draw travelers into the crux of the location. Whether conveyed through staff uniforms, assiduously imagined suites, pool cabanas, canny amenities, or sparkling foyers festooned with a certain designer’s creative flair, fashion can enhance every aspect of a trip. Imagine flying on Air France to Paris, where the plane’s flight attendants don Christian Lacroix’s peerless combination of 100 harmonious outfit items (more on that below). Or, swoon as you step into a Kempinski anywhere in the world to gaze upon a “lady in red” (VIP foyer hosts), ever recognizable for her location-driven ruby-hued attire and signature eye-popping Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.
Below, we proffer a front row seat to our haute couture collection of A-list hotels, airlines, and cruise ships which put fashion designers at center stage.
Air France
As the ever reigning arbiters of haute couture, France’s eponymous airline rose to the occasion, beginning its stylish catwalk in airplane aisles in 1945. Air France incorporated megastar designers – Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Jean Patou, Pierre Cardin, and Cristóbal Balenciaga – for the airline’s stunning inflight wardrobe in early days. But, by 2005, they’d settled into voguish crew outfits by matchless Christian Lacroix. Since then, it’s been Lacroix all the way with the designer proffering a mix-and-match wardrobe for staff that combines complementary elements from Parisian scarves to mid-century, form-fitting gloves to soldier-blue jackets to bow-adorned sashes. Champagne poured across the plane ensures the whole flight feels like a fashion show.
Little Gem Resorts
With alluring hotels in hotspot boutique locations such as Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and St John USVI, Little Gem Resorts presents a chic barefoot elegance across its range. It only makes sense, of course, that a collaboration with iconic Palm Beach brand Lilly Pulitzer fits Little Gem’s aesthetic like a glove. Launching signature Lilly Pulitzer suites this summer — symphonies of custom art with complementary bedding, pillows, towels, and décor accessories — Little Gem Resorts in every location will also delight guests with pool takeovers replete with bespoke cocktails, customized Moke America x Lilly Pulitzer at some properties, couture outfitting for staff and VIP guests, pop up shops and unique activations through 2025.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
Montauk further vivifies its already prodigious social scene thanks to Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa’s partnership with kingpin fashion house Dolce&Gabbana. Hosting the splendorous brand’s first-ever beach takeover in the United States, Gurney’s Montauk revels in the fashion giant’s reimagination of its buzzy Beach Club and East Deck, which channels Mediterranean oasis vibes. Prominent use of Dolce&Gabbana’s beloved Blu Mediterraneo Majolica print with its cobalt and white hues dominates the milieu: umbrellas, cabanas, beach chairs, and linens aswirl with Amalfi Coast magnetism and East End savvy.
Four Seasons Resort Maui
Aloha vogue gets an Italian accent at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the setting for the first season of the White Lotus. The brand’s seminal resort property, a bigwig on the island’s most famous beach, conjures visions of vintage postcard Hawaii from coco palms to plumeria trees, but settle into the saltwater Adult Pool for some good life — Italian fashionista style. Missoni awaits, inviting dolce far niente in a pair of sleek cabanas adorned with the designer’s signature zigzag patterns and kaleidoscopically bold fabrics.
Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé
First refurbished by American interior designer Tim Corrigan, this castle-style, Neoclassical hotel in France’s Loire Valley served as a rural salon for the royalty, celebutantes, artists, and Age of Enlightenment philosophers from Voltaire to Rousseau. They came to have tete-a-tete-filled days with the residence’s owner, Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay III, confidante to King Louis XV. Now reopened in 2019 as a glamorous hotel with the mission to serve discerning travelers with a penchant for grand gardens, stellar cuisine, and local wine, Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé dresses staff with contemporary elan, including Louis Vuitton pochettes, Liberty of London uniforms, shoes by Converse Comme Des Garçons, and Wayfarer Ray-Ban sunglasses (a nod to the chateau’s American owners).
L’Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, A Leading Hotel of the World
Karl Lagerfeld, considered the creative mastermind behind the modern Chanel fashion house, was as well known for his tailored lines as his edgy, rock chic interpretation of French fashion. Apropos to his message, the vibrant, eccentric, and ultra cool ODYSSEY rooftop pool at L’Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, a Leading Hotel of the World, incorporates an etched glass mural that showcases the designer’s muses and passions. Party-worthy cabanas, world-class views of the sea, and a glamorous garden complete the magic.
Punta Tragara
On the beau monde beloved isle of Capri, known for its luscious lemons and bluest seas, Punta Tragara stands out as a jet setter’s storied hideaway. On the coast, ensconced in gardens, with two pools and Michelin-starred dining, this hotel reigns as a see-and-be-seen destination. For those hankering for stylish seclusion, the Pegaso Etro Suite seals the deal. Designed in partnership with fashion brand ETRO, the sleek suite reflects the gray tones of the Piccola and the Faraglioni rocks — visible from the suite’s spacious terrace — pairing them with bright, classic white.
The Hermitage Hotel
Leave it to Nashvillian Reese Witherspoon to weave her American lifestyle brand, Draper James, into the ethos and aesthetics of one of her favorite hometown hotels. At the legendary, more-than-a-century-old Hermitage Hotel, Nashville’s go-to memory-making haven, Draper James brings a touch of modern grace and style. Donning uniforms sewn in a yellow-intoned print called “The Ditsy Flower,” staff pamper guests with traditional Hermitage Southern-style charm. A new Girls Getaway package offers matching Draper James pajamas for all, as well as afternoon tea service at the Hermitage and a VIP shopping experience at Draper James’ flagship store.
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills
Ever captivated by historical styles and applauded for her ability to caricature English design over the ages, Vivienne Westwood took an avant garde approach to classic tailoring and stereotypical materials (think Harris tweeds and tartans). Provocative and fearless, Westwood left a mark that’s well mirrored in the Penthouse at urbane The London. Flaunting the sprawlingest space in a suite in Los Angeles, it stretches 11,000 square-feet on the hotel’s 10th floor. With 5,000 square feet of bedazzling interiors, its piece-de-resistance is the 6,000-square-foot wrap-around terrace, awash in jaw-dropping city views.
S.S. La Venezia
Spanish designer Mariano Fortuny set up his design house in exotic Venice more than a century ago, keeping his unique production methods confidential. Renowned for his lavish fabrics, mesmerizing designs, and pleated gowns (meant to be stored, rolled, and not hung), he commingled fashion design and art like no other. Be gobsmacked by his wondrous work aboard Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ S.S. La Venezia, one of the brand’s Super Ships, where every room is wrapped in Fortuny fabric. Notable, the lobby recalls Fortuny’s 1930s showroom bedecked in jewel tones and textures. Don’t miss the Murano glass chandelier, which sends shimmering shadows across the vessel’s brass inlaid floors.
Hotel Drover, an Autograph Collection hotel
You can spend $15,000K on a pair of hand-tooled leather Lucchese boots — or you can staunch your craving for these wearable works of art by staying in Fort Worth’s Hotel Drover’s custom designed and cannily curated Lucchese Suites. Joining forces with Lucchese Custom Collection, the suites, awash in leather and popping with blue accents that evoke the Texas sky, boast peerless western and contemporary design. Hang your hat in cowboy-inspired luxury after a day exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards or perusing the spellbinding galleries of Kimbell Art Museum. A force since 1883, ever the beau ideal for bespoke boots, Luccheses masterpieces have been worn by presidents, musicians, actors — even the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Guests at Hotel Drover can shop the first Lucchese Custom Collection boutique in existence and receive custom fittings ($1800). Note: Stay patient; personalized boots can take a minimum of eight months to create.
Featured image courtesy of Gurney’s Montauk Resort
