Upon stepping foot into the Karl Lagerfeld Hotel, I was welcomed by a lobby filled with imperial Chinese motifs, art deco pieces, and large-scale installations – all of which exuded unparalleled opulence and grandeur. Lagerfeld’s eponymous hotel embodies his signature style: a modern, monochromatic palette, which simultaneously “straddles the rich baroque”, as said by Vogue Business. Its design concept– an amalgamation of modern Chinoiserie with art deco décor consisting of geometric accents– encapsulates Lagerfeld’s “East meets West” vision and serves as an extension of the fashion designer’s storied fashion legacy. Designed and curated by the late fashion legend himself, glitz and glamour is to be expected throughout the space.

The Book Lounge

This breathtaking kaleidoscopic Book Lounge boasts 4,000 books on the shelf, each of which was thoughtfully handpicked from Lagerfeld’s own 7L bookshop in Paris. I was particularly fascinated by the installation at the door, which comprises 1,000 keys— a concept inspired by the film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. This environment is the epitome of savoir-vivre, as patrons are able to immerse into the French tea culture and appreciate their delicacies and confectioneries.

Indoor Swimming Pool

This indoor pool features bold mosaic patterns, black marble, and gold oversized scalloped stone columns, epitomising the combination of the Art Deco form with modern oriental elements. Prior to leaving to the next stop on my tour, I enjoyed a cocktail at the bar at the back of the pool, which exudes old-world charm and glamour.