A NYC Day of Fashion and Luxury — The ARTful Traveler

There are certain things that are just synonymous with luxury and beauty. Chanel is perhaps one of the most famous. Then pair Chanel with the luxury hotel, The Mark, on the Upper East Side of New York City and you have pure luxury heaven! My dear friend Dana and I were invited by Benji Meyerson, our fabulous personal shopper from Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, to attend a celebration of Chanel’s new collection, Paris-Cosmopolite. The event was held in one of The Mark’s penthouse. We were so excited to be invited- lovers of fashion and luxury hotels- what could be better! We were not disappointed.

The Mark is a luxury hotel located steps from Madison Avenue and Central Park. It’s also only a 5-minute walk to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met Breuer building. Built in 1925, the 150 rooms hotel exudes a cool, sophisticated vibe. The hotel features a Jean Georges Restaurant and Bar (more on that to come) and a Frederic Fekkai salon. Just approaching the hotel on East 77th street, you can tell this is a special spot that places importance on beauty and fun.

Classic New York Hot Dog stand with The Mark's Flair

Spring Flowers from The Mark Flower Stand

We were greeted at the hotel entrance by an old-fashioned flower cart with the most beautiful, colorful array of spring flowers. On the other side of the door stands The Mark’s personal hot dog cart. Want to ride through Central Park? The Mark will provide you with a custom styled bike and curated map of the important sights of the park! Need a quick ride to midtown shopping? The Mark provides that too! We hadn’t even walked in to the lobby yet and I was already in love with this hotel.

When we finally entered, the lobby took our breath away; the decor is stunning! The Mark hired renowned French designer Jacques Grange to redecorate the hotel. He has helped some of the world’s style leaders decorate their homes including Yves Saint Laurent and Caroline, Princess of Monaco, to name a few. The public spaces have a pronounced modern feel, almost theatrical, but at the same time they feel like a peaceful escape from the busy city. Grange with the help of Parisian design galleriest, Pierre Passebon, employed many famous artist including Karl Lagerfield, Ron Arad, Vladimir Kagan, Mattia Bonetti, Paul Mathieu, Eric Schmitt, Rachel Howard, Todd Eberle to create furniture, lights, objects and art. The result is over the top and incredible.

I actually visited the MET at the end of the day and found myself standing in front of Sol Lewitt's Wall Drawing #370. I couldn't help but marvel at the similarities of both of these beautiful spaces. But it was time to visit the Chanel Penthouse.

Upon entering the penthouse, we felt like we had walked into someone’s personal apartment. The penthouse décor was very different than that of the lobby. Elegant yet modern and serene (just like the Chanel brand) is the best way to describe the feel and look of the rooms. In order to create this effect, Chanel removed all the furniture and redecorated the room themselves. If I could live anywhere in NYC this would be it!

The penthouse featured several rooms (and an incredible balcony too) each decked out with Chanel pieces from their new collection Paris-Cosmopolite. I felt like I had walked into a fashion exhibit at the MET; the space and collection were stunning. Coats, sweaters, jewelry, bags, shoes, make-up, sunglasses- everything a fashionable woman would love was displayed.The pieces of this collection are not in stores yet so this sneak preview was amazing. The ladies from Chanel could not have been nicer or more helpful and patient with us. While I was overwhelmed by the penthouse décor itself, the Chanel collection was even more spectacular. The pictures say much more than any words I could use to describe the beauty and style of the clothes.

Like every piece in the Chanel collections, even the buttons are unique. Chanel never reuses a style of button. Every collection uses different buttons. They are in themselves a masterpiece. The Paris-Cosmopolite Collection used buttons that were larger and clear. Some pieces had a sparkling design in their center. I'm also a huge fan of both Chanel make up and their various fragrances which were on full display in the bathroom. We sampled Boy Chanel which has a nice light scent mixing various ingredients including lavender, grapefruit, lemon, orange blossom, rose, vanilla and several other ingredients. Definitely my new favorite fragrance which I can't wait to buy!

It was so much fun to try on so many different pieces of clothes, jewelry and bags. Once we made our final decisions, a list of the items we wanted was sent to Benji at Saks for us to peruse and purchase when the Paris-Cosmopolite Collection debuts.

After all of this shopping, there is only one thing to do- EAT! So, we made our way to The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges. This modern, hip restaurant and bar doesn’t disappoint in style, comfort or food! As you walk into the restaurant, the hallway is adorned with a copper and glass wine wall featuring diverse selection of wines from all over the world. We sat at a lovely table near the bar and a window that looked out on the outdoor patio (open weather permitting). Walking farther into the restaurant, the dining room is much brighter (from skylights) but still retains its cozy feel! The food was so delicious we even splurged with a plate of cookies that were out of this world.

Our Chanel day was so incredibly special and obviously a unique invite. Thank you to wonderful Benji at Saks for the invite and all of the people at Chanel who were so friendly and helpful. The Mark Hotel is a must stop for any trip to NYC whether it’s to stay as a guest or just for lunch or dinner- luxury living at its best!

Quick Links

http://themarkhotel.com
http://www.chanel.com
Contact Benji Meyerson at Saks Fifth Avenue: Benji_Meyerson@s5a.com