Australia’s fashion designer’s go-to hotels
From the Pink City to the City of Light, the destinations favoured by our biggest names in fashion are endlessly illuminating.
When it comes to sizing up a truly great hotel, few people are better equipped than fashion designers. They possess the elevated aesthetics, the globetrotting miles and the insider knowledge. In London, for instance, PE Nation’s Pip Edwards always makes a beeline for lodgings by Soho House. “My favourite one is White City House,” she says. “The facilities are epic: the city’s best gym with an indoor pool, sauna and steam room, plus a rooftop pool.”
When Amelia Stanley of swimwear brand Boteh visits Ibiza, her first stop is always bohemian bolthole Los Enamorados. “It’s eclectic, vibrant and welcoming, with treasures sourced from all over the world,” she says of its inspired interiors. Situated at the very north of the island, you couldn’t be further from the clamorous clubs down south – and that’s the point.
Noosa-based designer Lucy Folk is another fan of this romantic retreat: “Los Enamorados has a special place in my heart,” she says. “You can’t beat waking up in the most comfortable beds and rolling straight into the ocean.”
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When it comes to dreamy islands, Albus Lumen founder Marina Afonina leans towards the volcanic Italian isle Ischia. “Mezzatorre Hotel is a non-negotiable,” she says. “There’s something magical about this hotel – it feels like an oasis. I love its hidden location and the secluded bay. I also love the balance between wellness and indulgence. One of my favourite elements is the thermal spa, with hydrotherapy pools set at different temperatures.”
To escape the grind, some gravitate to nature-focused immersions far from the fashion runways. New York-based Aussie Dion Lee is a fan of Hotel Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico. “The remote beachfront location, with the sounds of crashing waves, and fresh Mexican food make for the perfect restorative break,” he says. Other properties on his haute list include Como Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos, GoldenEye in Jamaica and Benesse House in Naoshima, Japan. Next up, Lee has his sights set on a Himalayan hiking holiday to Como Uma Paro in Bhutan.
Not far from Bhutan is The Roseate Ganges in Rishikesh, known as the yoga capital of the world, in the tranquil foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas. “The Roseate Ganges took my breath away,” says Alemais designer Lesleigh Jermanus, “because the location is serenely peaceful. It forces you into stillness.” The amenities are distinctly luxe. “The infinity pool overlooks the Ganges and if you’re feeling adventurous there is a pathway down to the icy waters.”
The search for visual stimulation often leads to India. Consider Villa Palladio in the Pink City of Jaipur that Collette Dinnigan has returned from. Its majestic maximalist look will provide her with design inspiration for years, she says. The vivid hotel has another fan in Jermanus. “The interiors and approach to colour look truly enchanting,” she says.
For a touch of exoticism, Heidi Middleton favours Istanbul’s Çirağan Palace Kempinski, the former Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus. “On my first visit to Turkey in the late ’90s everything felt so alluring,” Middleton recalls of her initial stay. “The service was like nothing I’d experienced elsewhere and the setting felt like a scene out of From Russia with Love.” The 1963 Bond classic was filmed in Istanbul.
Of course, many in the fashion fraternity still lovingly cling to Paris. “The Ritz in Paris is second to none,” says Kit Willow. “The history, excellence, building, position, comfort, expertise, service.” As a second stop she adds Hôtel Villa Marie Saint-Tropez. “My number-one tip would be to save up,” she says.
Sometimes paradise can be a little closer to home. “Kokomo Private Island Fiji is my favourite hotel,” says Rebecca Vallance. “It’s spectacular in every way – barefoot luxury, tropical setting, and nature at its best. It is our family’s special place. From the moment you get off the seaplane and you hear the singing, you feel like you’re being welcomed home.”
For Edwards, her favourite hotel of all time is the one she is visiting next. “I’m looking forward to Aman Venice,” she says of her imminent stay at the frescoed 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. “I’m ready for the Venice decadence and opulence.” And when Stanley heads back to Ibiza soon she has her eye on Montesol Experimental, the Balearic getaway that has been reimagined by the Paris-based Experimental Group. “I love the vibe of all of their venues,” she says. This one now tempts travellers with vibrant rooms, a buzzy restaurant and a rooftop cocktail bar.