New York – 16 November 2017 –
W has a brand-new look, bringing supermodel-level style to W guests and fashion fans on-the-go. W Hotels today announced the debut of the exclusive “Off Duty” Closet, the latest project inspired by the iconic lifestyle brand’s Global Fashion Innovator, Joan Smalls. W Hotels and Creative Director, Sarah Easley, will debut 25 items inspired by Smalls’ own jet-setting style. The Closet is available globally as of today only through W Hotels The Store. Smalls has been putting her passion to work with W since March 2017, developing insider guides and shaping the brand’s global fashion platform with an expert eye. Curated by Easley to reflect Smalls’ personal style, the “Off Duty” Closet includes pieces from seven top designers who have created signature items for the Closet’s limited release. In light of the recent disaster in Puerto Rico and in honour of Smalls’ passion for her heritage, Smalls will dedicate all of her royalties from the “Off Duty” Closet to Unidos For Puerto Rico, a generous donation that will be matched by W Hotels in support of ongoing relief efforts.
“Everyone knows what I wear on the runway, in my shoots or on TV, but when I’m not in front of a camera I still curate my look – I spend so much time traveling, what I wear when I’m off duty shapes a lot of my personal style,” said Joan Smalls, Global Fashion Innovator, W Hotels Worldwide.
“I love that W always wants travellers to be on the inside of the fashion world,” said Sarah Easley, Creative Director of the “Off Duty” Closet with W Hotels Worldwide. “What better way to get a real insider experience than sharing styles I love? I can’t wait to see fellow travellers rocking these looks!”
All-around fashion guru, Sarah Easley, chose seven distinctive brands for the limited release. Combining the W brand’s passion for supporting emerging fashion talent with new and next styles, the Closet brings exclusive items and chic new looks to globetrotters and fashion fans alike. The “Off Duty” Closet will feature items from top fashion brands Veronica Beard, Yestadt Millinery, K/LLER Collection, KREWE, Rails, Jibs Life, and Road Twenty-Two. Prices for the looks range from $78.00 to $1,495.00 and are available for international purchase here. In addition to the global online launch, W is celebrating the Closet at insider events in two fashion capitals of the world, New York and Paris. The launch kicked off at W New York – Times Square on November 15th with a glamorous display of the full closet. On November 21st, W Paris – Opéra will host an event for the fashion elite showing off the “Off Duty” styles inspired by Smalls.
“We’ve always known working with Joan would bring W guests unparalleled access to what’s new and next in fashion,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Joan has an incredible passion for luxe travel and fashion, so of course we wanted to give guests the chance to glam up their own jet-setting style. The ‘Off Duty’ Closet is a fabulous opportunity for W to innovate in the fashion space, taking the guest experience beyond the runway.”
The “Off Duty” Closet from W Hotels is the next step in the brand’s long-standing history of celebrating fashion around the globe with top fashion talents like Diane von Furstenberg and the designers of the CFDA {FASHION INCUBATOR} Program. This past year, W Hotels debuted property-specific collections with XU ZHI (to celebrate the opening of W Shanghai – The Bund, launched on November 15, 2017) and Ricardo Cavolo (to celebrate the multi-million-dollar renovation’s completion at W Barcelona).