Sandra‘s Closet

In dedication to the world-famous Belgian-American fashion designer, The Diane von Furstenberg Suite has been unveiled at Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte hotel located in the heart of Brussels.

Adorned with DVF’s signature touches, a bold zebra rug, two large silk scarves by Andy Warhol, and a collection of striking artwork that celebrates her legacy with her world famous style and influence.

The iconic wrap dress that made von Furstenberg famous, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and in honour of this milestone, the Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum is dedicating its new exhibition: Diane von Furstenberg, Woman before Fashion.

In celebration of the exhibition, Hotel Amigo has created a special offer for guests to Step into the World of Diane von Furstenberg from now through January 7, 2024 by staying in the DVF suite. Starting rate from € 2,640.

On arrival, delight in a box of Laurent Gerbaud chocolates as you explore the stylish suite. Venture out to the exhibition, Woman before Fashion, and immerse yourself in the timelessness of her designs. After delving into her illustrious career at the museum, return to your suite for a night of relaxation amid the unique DVF ambience.

Begin the following day with a complimentary breakfast, then enjoy a private visit to the DVF boutique. Experience first-hand the intertwining worlds of art, philanthropy and fashion that have shaped Diane von Furstenberg’s remarkable legacy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rocco Forte Hotels
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Fashion designer Paul Smith and my favorite place to stay in London, the Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Mayfair, joined forces and unveiled the Sir Paul Smith Suite.
Designed by Paul himself in collaboration with Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, the new suite features a range of custom and vintage furniture, hand-picked artworks, brand collaborations and soft furnishings from the debut Paul Smith home collection.

Drawing on Brown’s Hotel’s history as a favoured residence for literary greats, the suite is designed as a space not only for rest and relaxation, but to spark inspiration and creativity through art and interesting objects, with every detail of the room, from the rugs to the individual art works carefully considered.

The suite features furniture and art that resonates with the designer and his eclectic taste. Several pieces can be found in Paul’s office at his Covent Garden HQ, such as Christopher Simon Sykes’ impressive photograph of Chatsworth House library and, notably, his 1970s leather desk chair by Mario Bellini. As another personal touch, Paul has also selected a small library of art and design books for the room.

Paul Smith says: «Being asked to design a space for such an iconic Mayfair institution is a great privilege – and I’ve had a great deal of fun in the process! Just like Browns does with its rooms, we design every Paul Smith shop differently to celebrate the area’s individuality, which is just one of the reasons the project appealed to me. On a more personal level, I’m so pleased we’ve been able to include objects that inspire me personally and I hope, in turn, they’ll inspire the suite’s guests.»

Several of Paul Smith’s notable collaborations feature heavily in the room, including sofas, tables and leather goods from his recent ‘Everyday Life’ collection with Italian luxury furniture company DePadova; Type 75 lamps from the longstanding partnership with British lighting brand Anglepoise; and checked wool blankets designed by Paul for design company Maharam.

The partnership came about naturally, through Rocco Forte Hotels’ Director of Design Olga Polizzi, who is responsible for the design of each of the individual rooms at Brown’s Hotel and is a long-time visitor to Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street shop.

Further references to the Albemarle Street flagship shop, which is located just metres away from the hotel, are dotted about the room. They include custom Paul Smith + The Rug Company rugs and a Maharam headboard, both of which feature a geometric pattern inspired by the building’s iconic iron façade.

Uniquely quirky details, such as the banana door handles, the fire ‘dogs’ (which have been custom made to resemble Homer, Paul’s first canine shopkeeper), a robot figurine made from a vintage camera, and the striped fireplace tiles, are abundant in the room, a reflection of Paul’s ‘classic with a twist’ philosophy and his trademark whimsical sense of humour.

The Paul Smith Suite starts at £5,500, to book, please click here for more information.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Brown’s Hotel
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Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, located in the heart of the Eternal City, is collaborating with Prada this festive season for a jointly designed Christmas tree that stands radiantly in Hotel de Russie’s Valadier square.

A grid of white LED triangles on an octagonal base of luminous logos makes up the nearly 5-metre-high tree, culminating in a shining Prada triangle. The avant-garde polygonal structure inspired by the iconic geometry of Prada gives a contemporary feel to the spectacular staircase that leads into the historic monumental garden. The collaboration between Hotel de Russie and Prada is a symbol of style and modernity that represents a tribute to the excellence of «Made in Italy».

To complete the Hotel de Russie’s Christmas decor, the hotel’s time-honored tradition of festive decorations welcomes guests as they step into the lobby. Co-founder and creative director of Sebastian Flowers Italy, Frank uit het Broek, has created a setting which features an interplay of red, gold and green along with lights, sparkling details and symbolic ornaments that include carousels, sweets, red ribbons and Father Christmas.

The Hotel de Russie Festive Season:
Christmas Eve Dinner (Saturday 24th December)
Christmas Brunch (Sunday 25th December)
New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner ( Saturday 31st December)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hotel de Russie
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Strike a pose with Aquazzura as Brown’s, a Rocco Forte Hotel, offers a new, exclusive suite shopping experience in collaboration with the famous luxury Italian women’s footwear brand, the so-called «Head over Heels with Aquazzura» package.

Aquazzura’s story of creating magical footwear, a brand favoured by many celebrities and fashion stars from around the world, including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Olivia Palermo and more recently featured in the «Sex And The City» spin off, worn by Carrie Bradshaw. Founded by Edgardo Osorio in 2011, the brand will be celebrating 10 years during 2022 coinciding with a yearlong celebration of Brown’s Hotel 185th Anniversary.

Aquazzura store in London

Guests who book the Brown’s «Head over Heels with Aquazzura» can choose either a one or two night stay in one of the hotel’s beautifully appointed suites. During their stay guests will be treated to a variety of bespoke experiences from the dedicated team at Aquazzura’s flagship store on Albemarle Street, just moments away from the hotel. One such experience will include a bespoke in-suite design consultation and shoe fitting. Guests will also receive an exclusive invitation to visit the Aquazzura store after hours for a VIP shopping experience as well as a pedicure at The Spa at Brown’s.

The Donovan Bar

What’s more, The Donovan Bar, Brown’s stylish drinking den, will display three of Aquazzura’s finest shoes from its latest collection, the Tequila Plexi Sandal 105, Temptation Crystal Sandal 105 and the Seduction Crystal Pump 105.

These three pairs of stunning heels will be dotted around the bar allowing guests to admire the shoes whilst sipping on delicious tipples from Salvatore Calabrese’s extensive cocktail menu, one of which is the ‘Tequila Scandal’ – created especially in celebration of this exclusive collaboration. ‘Tequila Scandal’ is a champagne style cocktail, made with Tequila, Calabreses’s Acqua Bianca liqueur and infused with home-made pineapple juice and green cardamom cordial.

As an add-on to the experience and as a last glimpse, Brown’s knowledgeable concierge team can purchase tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Cinderella, that hit the stage in 2021, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, a short taxi ride from the hotel.

«Head over Heels with Aquazzura» at Brown’s Hotel starts from £1,300 and is based on double occupancy, valid from 11 January 2022 until 01 April 2022.

Includes the following:
– A one or two night stay from studio suites above.
– Breakfast in Charlie’s or in the comfort of your suite.
– Two ‘Tequila Scandal’ cocktails to enjoy at the Donovan Bar or in suite.
– One ‘Vital Pedicure’ treatment to enjoy at The Spa at Brown’s.
– VIP Welcome amenities including a bespoke gift bag from Aquazzura.
– Bespoke Aquazzura offerings including: 20% discount on any purchase, in-suite personalised shoe fitting, out of hours store visit including champagne to enjoy whilst shopping.

The perfect surprise gift for a fellow fashionista!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Brown’s Hotel, Aquazzura, Janos Grapow
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.