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Juliana Shallcross
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Ever wondered where those goofy uniforms you see on hotel staff came from? Turns out not all of them were made in China: there's a uniform designer and manufacturer that does all the work in New York, called Top Hat Image Wear.
Not that we're personally in the market for any uniforms ourselves, but it is interesting to see what's out there and how bad or how good the staff at our favorite hotels could really look.
NYLO Hotels announced that Project Runway Season 2 runner-up Daniel Vosovic would be designing the brand's hotel uniforms back in July 2006 and at that time, we still thought NYLO was a pipe dream.
But here we are, practically waving goodbye to 2007 and not only do we have a hotel--NYLO Plano will open Dec. 18th--we have several snapshots of the hotel uniforms which are intended to double as both front desk gear and street wear.
Created for frontline workers and fashionistas, NYLO Wear is an 20-piece collection that aims to flatter its wearers in the hotel as well as in the office and on the street. The versatile, mix-and-match clothing line includes sweaters, skirts, pants, blouses, shirts, jackets and more.
Each piece features Daniel's signature clean lines and sophisticated styling. From jackets and jumpers to polos and pants, the collection is varied enough for a day in the office or a night out with friends. Starting in December, the casual, fashion-forward apparel will be available for consumers to purchase in the hotel boutique shops and online at www.nylohotels.com.
While we did love Daniel's oh-so-clean and classic lines on Project Runway, we're not quite sure we would want to scoop up these garments for a dinner party. However, if we did work at NYLO, meeting friends for dinner after our shift wouldn't necessarily require a wardrobe change. And who can resist naughty schoolgirl knee-highs?
More hotel fashion after the jump.
Related Stories:
· Project Runway Runner-Up to Design Uniforms For Non-Existent Hotels [HotelChatter]
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by juliana
Designer hotel uniforms are all the rage these days. (Unless they happen to be designed by The Apprentice candidates.) And now, Hotel Mela in New York City has gotten their own hotel uniform designer, Anne Bowen, who plans on giving staff a James Bond 007 type of look.
Bowen has brought her signature style to Hotel Mela by innovatively fusing typical menswear fabrics with feminine touches to add a sophisticated and ultra-hip look to the staff's attire, reminiscent of early James Bond movies.
Bowen's "007" inspiration is evident in the staff's jackets, pants, skirts and custom handcrafted leather accessories created to hold their high tech devices. Additionally, Ms. Bowen's designs provide comfort and practicality with additional pockets for employees such as Bellman and Doorman who require compartments for convenience and efficiency, and mohair and alpaca wool coats for warmth throughout New York's winter months.
Now, we know a lot about fashion. God and our wallet knows we've racked up way too many hours in department stores yet we have never heard of Anne Bowen. Apparently, it's because her line is sold exclusively in stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. So these uniforms better look good. Staff members are expected to start donning the 007 duds this week.
[Photo: ggtem]
Related Stories:
· Fashion designer outfits New York hotel staff members [Hotel & Motel]
· Hotel Mela reviews [TripAdvisor]
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We love when people comment on HotelChatter stories because aside from making us tingle inside, we like to encourage conversation about hotels, hotel trends, hotels with good or bad WiFi, Tori and Dean, Paris going to jail, etc., etc.
But it's hard to keep track of all the latest comments, especially if they are written about year-old stories. And some of you readers have great things to say. (Spammers, this does not mean you at all whatsoever.) So from time to time we will be highlighting some of the funny and informative things recent commenters posted.
Like this comment about uniforms for Embassy Suites hotels that were designed by contestants of the Season 5 Apprentice reality show.
I work as a bell man for an Embassy Suites and all I can say is HIDEOUS. The only reason this uniform "won" in the voting I am sure is because it was probably the least offensive. Can't wait for the summer temps to hit 100+ and your outside helping unload bags. Shirts look like surgical scrubs...atrocious. My tenure at Embassy is done for this very reason!
And they looked so pretty coming down the runway. Looks like runway fashion can never be trusted.
Wanna comment on a story? Become a member and then you can comment wherever your heart desires.
Related Stories:
· Embassy Suites Gets "Apprentice" Unis [HotelChatter]
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The hotels below would not be caught dead wearing the uniforms above.
Los Angeles magazine has a quick write-up of the latest area hotels to get in on the hotel designer uniform craze.
Jason Pomeranc hired stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe and fashion designer Jenni Kayne to creat unis for the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel staff (the hotel is expected to open this summer, our sources say.) The waittresses at Teddy's in the Hollywood Roosevelt are already sporting Diane Von Furstenberg dresses.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills puts the spa staff in blue and beige pants and sweater sets by luxury knits line St. John's.
The Sofitel LA employees get "gray pin-striped dresses with matching scarves" by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a French designer.
And Jeff Klein's employees at the Sunset Tower sported Ted Baker uniforms until Klein reverted back to standard suits and polo shirts. Apparently, these staffers were so well-dressed, "everyone thought they were fellow guests." Ahh...the dangers of designer uniforms.
[Photo: Chrispitality]
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Even though we have been reporting on hotel uniforms--both the designer kind and the uncool kind for over a year and so has some mainstream media, the LA Times has just discovered designer hotel uniforms. Perhaps they were inspired by the Los Angeles magazine's recent piece on designer uniforms? (It couldn't have been little old us, no way).
Anyways, the LAT gets an interview with Jason Pomeranc who has put the women in Diane Von Fursternberg dresses at the Hollywood Roosevelt. His upcoming Thompson Beverly Hills will get uniforms created by stylists Rachel Zoe and Jenni Kayne. And the yet-to-be-opened Six Columbus will get Denim by Rag & Bone apparel. says:
Denim by Rag & Bone is the fabric of choice for workers at the new 6 Columbus in New York -- "casual, but still very smart at the same time," he said....Boutique hotels, Pomeranc said, are "pushing the envelope when it comes to design, when it comes to amenities, food concepts, music and minibars -- every element. This is yet another way of setting yourself apart from the competition and carving out your own identity."
Another way of setting yourself apart from the competition? Doing crazy rain dances all week so a history-making Noreaster comes into town forcing your already-delayed hotel to wait it out a bit longer.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Service with Style [LA Times]
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Lately, fashion designers have been creating all sorts of stylish uniforms for hotel staff. But perhaps it was fashion's darling Zac Posen who started it all back in 2003 when he designed the cocktail outfits for the Borgata Resort & Casino servers, who are referred to in the politically correct and totally not misogynistic term, Borgata Babes.
In other hotel uniform news, Travel+Leisure reports that the fashion line Tibi recently did the unis for the waittresses and the valet staff at the Cloister Hotel in Sea Island, Georgia.
We now fear the hotel staff (who we used to make fun of for their uncool duds) will be dressed better than us.
Related Stories:
· Behind Restaurant Uniforms [Monster]
· Uniformly chic [T+L]
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Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley has joined the newest hotel trend of designing uniforms for hotel staff. The NY Times reports the designer has just done the concierge and housekeeping uniforms at the Hotel Monaco in Denver, a Kimpton property.
So now we have Michael Kors for W, Narcisco Rodriguez for Gramercy Park Hotel, Daniel Vosovic for NYLO and Cynthia Rowley for Hotel Monaco. Who will be next?
As for the hotel itself, the Hotel Monaco was created by renovating two "landmark" buildings into one and incorporates "daring, rich and bold interiors" to give guest modern and luxurious accommodations. The rooms range from a double double room to Queen Deluxe and King Deluxe. Or you can shell out extra for the John Lennon, Grace Slick or Miles Davis suites.
The hotel was voted "Best Business Hotel" and one of the "Top 500 Best Hotels in the World" by Travel & Leisure magazine, and is within walking distance to the Colorado Convention Center and the 16th street mall, which is actually a free WiFi hotspot. But since the Monaco is a Kimpton hotel you get free WiFi anyways along with a complimentary wine reception each evening.
Related Stories:
· Going to Denver [NY Times]
· Hotel Monaco reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Feuding Designers Compete for Hotel Fashion [HotelChatter.com]
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