NEW YORK—For the die-hard fashionista, Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can be life-changing. The Refinery Hotel is expanding on that notion by teaming up with luxury retailer Lord & Taylor to offer a shopping experience of elevated proportions and, yes, it just might change a life.
Fashion-forward in style, the hotel is steeped in history as the Colony Arcade Building was constructed in 1912 and once served as a high-end millinery factory. The shopping partnership is an ideal fit for the hotel as it’s in close proximity to Lord & Taylor, one of the city’s iconic department stores. Both are located in the heart of the fashion district.
“Given the hotel’s background as a millinery factory and tea salon, as well as its current brand today, and Lord & Taylor’s cachet as the oldest luxury department store, a partnership between the two seemed like a perfect collaboration,” said Manya duHoffmann, director of sales and marketing, Refinery Hotel.
The hotel’s new Fashion District Shopping package is a nod to its sartorial legacy. “At the time, tenants included the milliners L.F. Castle Company and H. Goldfard. In 1914, a lease was made to Miss Winifred T. McDonald, an entrepreneurial New Yorker who converted the space into a bar and grill, and a ladies’ restaurant and tea room, which served as a welcoming venue after a long day of shopping,” duHoffmann shared.
Travelers will embark on a storybook journey that begins with a personal shopper at Lord & Taylor, who will share knowledge of the latest trends, gauge fit, and then offer style selections best suited to the individual. As part of the package, a $50 gift certificate and discount shopper’s card can be used toward the purchase of the new look. After the style session, it’s time for a makeover complete with sage beauty advice from a makeup professional. Guests who book this package also receive special room rates and a directory providing information about nearby shops and how to get around the city.
With a fresh face and new clothes, guests are invited back to the hotel to drop their bags (filled to the brim, no doubt) and cap the day at any of the Refinery’s dining venues—Winnie’s Jazz Bar, Parker & Quinn and Refinery Rooftop—or take in the industrial-chic aesthetic inside the hotel. “Tools of the millinery trade have been worked into installations and interior detailing. The goal of the design team, Stonehill & Taylor, was to revitalize the space with subtle riffs on period details and include clever nods to the building’s history. The lobby bar, Winnie’s Jazz Lounge, is named after an original and presumably hat-wearing tenant,” she said.
From savvy shoppers to sophisticated visitors, duHoffman believes this shopping experience should be at the top of everyone’s must-do list when in New York City. “It’s a great deal to take advantage of, especially if you’re visiting one of the fashion capitals of the world.” she concluded.
—Corris Little