WAIKIKI,
Hawaii -- Fashion designer Vera Wang is creating a one-of-a-kind
luxury suite for the Halekulani hotel and resort. In addition, one
of the hotels six shops will become Wangs first signature
home-accessories boutique worldwide.
It says a lot
that Vera Wang has decided to open her first home boutique store
here in Honolulu, said Peter Shaindlin, chief operating officer at
the Halekulani.
The Vera Wang
Suite at the Halekulani is slated to debut in early December; the
boutique is scheduled to be completed in the first half of
2005.
Shaindlin said
that although he knew he wanted to bring in an outside fashion
designer to style the room, he knew it had to be unique.
There are other
boutique brands around the world, like Bulgari, that stamp an image
onto hotel rooms throughout various cities, leaving guests with a
solid idea of the designer but not the location in which they are
staying. Its not indigenous, he said. These are the opposite ideals
that we have here at the Halekulani. We want our rooms to reflect
the natural beauty found only here in Hawaii.
A Halekulani
spokesman said Wang was the only designer in contention for
designing the suite. Her Chinese-American background, success as a
fashion designer and love of Hawaii made her the perfect candidate,
he said.
Shaindlin said
Wang has an affinity for the islands because she became engaged to
be married on Diamond Head, which will be visible from the
suite.
The
2,135-square-foot suites TV lounge will feature a 50-inch plasma
television. The dining room will center around a dark wood table,
with chairs draped in silks chosen by Wang. Table settings will
feature china and crystal created for Wangs home
collection.
A living room and
lanai will mix tropical colors with signature tones from Wangs
ready-to-wear collections. Modern and classic antiques will be
scattered throughout the suite, all approved and hand-placed by
Wang.
The bedroom will
have sliding glass doors that reveal views of Waikiki Beach. The
walls will be swathed in Wangs favorite soft lavender paint, with
Asian moon screens and palm wood side tables for
accents.
Four private,
poolside cabanas will be completed for rental in early 2005, one of
which will be dedicated to patrons of the Vera Wang
Suite.
She is about as
hands-on as one could possibly be, Shaindlin said of Wangs input
during the design process. She is coming in on Nov. 23 for a week
to finalize the suite, he said. Wang lives in New York.
Just the other
day, while I was in New York for a meeting, she decided to change
60% of the design because it wasnt Hawaiian enough.
We were more than
happy to scrap the originally ordered carpeting and now are going
with bamboo tongue-in-groove flooring for one part of the suite.
She really is putting her all into this project.
Shaindlin added
that Wang will decide what flowers should be in the room, where
they will be located and how theyll be arranged.
Wang also
designed a silver chalice for serving gourmet popcorn as guests
view a selection of vintage movies chosen by Wang and the
Halekulani management. And just to solidify the Vera Wang Suite
experience, a special room service menu will be created for the
suite.
Guests will be
able to arrange for another new service while staying in the Vera
Wang Suite -- in-suite tea service accompanied by an aromatherapy
bath.
The hotel is also
working on the Royal Suite, similar in size and shape to the Vera
Wang Suite but geared toward the executive or family traveler. The
Royal Suite will feature a kitchen (Wang opted not to have a
kitchen in her suite) and dataports and fax machines.
The Vera Wang
Suite at Halekulani will cost $4,000 per night. For more
information, visit the hotels Web site at www.halekulani.com.
To contact
reporter Brian Berusch, send e-mail to [email protected].