As the world’s fashion elite arrive in New York for Fashion Week, they’ll be putting up at swanky New York hotels like the Bryant Park Hotel and the Gansevoort. What they won’t have, though, is a fashion brand hotel designed from rug to ceiling by one of their own. 

No such problems in Dubai, where fashion hotels are much more in vogue, with everyone from Versace to Elie Saab and Karl Lagerfeld (and perhaps Victoria Beckham) engaged in projects. The world’s first Armani Hotel opens in Dubai on March 18. 

In Paris and Milan, famed designers and fashion houses including Christian Lacroix and Moschino have long since branched out from couture to haute hospitality. In the Americas, we have Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta and Todd Oldham bringing their uniquely personal sense of style to naturally beautiful properties. What makes these hotels so special? See for yourself. 

Roundhill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica - Ralph Lauren completely changed the look of the resort’s Pineapple House Hotel with a white palette to reflect the sand and light of Jamaica. The furnishings are from Ralph Lauren’s Home Design Studio. 

Roundhill Jamaica

 A pristine white suite with a four-poster bed and a great view by day turns into a beautiful work of art as the sun goes down and the chrome finish lamps change the color of the walls and the see-through curtains on the bed. 

Royal Windsor Hotel, Brussels, Belgium - This hotel is an experiment in fashion, with 10 fashion rooms, each uniquely designed by a different famed Belgian fashion designer, from Mademoiselle Lucien to Nicolas Woit and Gerald Watelet. 

Fashion Rooms at Royal Windsor Hotel, Brussels

 Pick the one you like and enter a world of creative exclusivity – because it will be the only such hotel room in the world created by your chosen designer.  

Tortuga Bay, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - Oscar de la Renta infused his Dominican heritage into the design of each villa, creating an artful harmony between simplicity and elegance. 

Tortuga Bay, Punta Cana

 This first-floor villa opens directly out to Tortuga’s pristine private beach. The two bedrooms include one queen size bed and two full size beds. 

Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia - The hotel is a heady cocktail reflecting an evolution of Versace lifestyle and Donatella Versace’s passion and home style. 

Palazzo Versace, Queensland, Australia

There’s another Palazzo Versace in the works in Dubai, which promises to be just as lavish, upscale and stamped with the Versace brand. 

Schlosshotel im Grunewald, Berlin, Germany - German born designer Karl Lagerfeld has turned Schlosshotel from a historic but rather staid 1912 boutique hotel with 54 rooms into a seamless fusion of old world luxury and modern amenities. 

Schlossshotel im Grunewald, Berlin, Germany

As you can see, it retains the old world trappings with red walls, old portraits, spiral staircases and heavy wood panelling. But very neatly mixed into the dated look you’ll find everything you need in a modern hotel, including a spa and swimming pool in the basement.

Karl Lagerfeld is also currently engaged in the Isla Moda (Fashion Island) project in Dubai, where housing units are being designed according to fashion sensibilities. Dubai also wants to brand it like Beckham, and has reportedly offered Victoria Beckham $40 million to lend her name and fashion sense to Isla Moda’s main hotel. 

Elie Saab Hotel, The Tiger Woods Dubai - Famed Lebanese designer Elie Saab teamed up with Dubai’s Tatveer to create a signature Elie Saab Hotel inside The Tiger Woods Dubai, which also includes the world’s first Tiger Woods golf course and exclusive residences.

Elie Saab Hotel, The Tiger Woods Dubai

Even though Tiger Woods isn’t exactly as hot a brand as he was a couple of months ago, that doesn’t retract in any way from the stunning luxury that awaits guests at the Elie Saab. 

Armani Hotels & Resorts - The world’s first Armani Hotel, as mentioned above, will be opening in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai on March 18. After that, more Armani Hotels will be opening – in New York, Shanghai and London, among other cities. But the one closest to Giorgio Armani’s heart is probably the soon to open Armani Hotel Milano.

Armani Hotel Milano

When the hotel’s construction work began in 2008, Giorgio Armani himself explained in a statement why he feels so strongly about the hotel – “Every aspect of the hotel is a reflection of my aesthetic philosophy… I believe the hotel’s design will perfectly fit the spirit of Milan as a capital of style, whilst offering a new experience of hospitality within its fashion district.” 

The Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida - Todd Oldham designed art deco hotel in South Beach, with 52 rooms facing the Atlantic.

The Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida

The sand, sea and sky surround and inspire you, with each room and the oceanview rooftop deck lovingly crafted with a distinctive Todd Oldham touch, mixing the colors of the sand and the sea with the light bouncing off the palms.

Hotel Lungarno, Florence, Italy - One of seven exquisite hotels run by the Ferragamo family, the Hotel Lungarno is a world of its own, with an art bounty of 450 original works by 20th century painters adorning the walls and corridors, making the hotel a luxurious paradise for art and fashion lovers.

Hotel Lungarno, Florence, Italy

Notice the window above the headboard and the symmetric arrangement of the twin portraits and lampshades on both sides of the bed and on the desk.

Morrison Hotel, Dublin, Ireland - Irish designer John Rocha is responsible for the hotel’s ‘East meets West’ theme, with high ceilings, original art, stone floors and hand crafted Irish carpets.

Penthouse - Morrison Hotel in Dublin, Ireland

The Morrison Hotel’s stunning penthouse, shown above, is a John Rocha masterpiece, offering a wrap around balcony with panoramic views over Dublin city. Acid washed red, yellow and green velvet throws and cushions provide splashes of colour, contrasting with the dark woods and cream walls. 

More fashion hotels:-
Hotel Bellechasse & Hotel du Petit Moulin – by Christian Lacroix
Palazzo Viviani Castello di Montegridolfo – by Alberta Ferretti
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts – by Bvlgari
The G Hotel – by Phillip Treacy
Hotel Missoni – by Missoni
Maison Moschino - by Moschino

Photo credits:- All photos courtesy property owners; Tortuga Bay & Schlosshotel – Leading Hotels of the World; Royal Windstor – Warwick Hotels