Off Duty: W Hotels Launches Closet Inspired By Supermodel And Actress, Joan Smalls

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 honor 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 travelers 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 travelers 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 globe trotters 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 15^th with a glamorous display of the full closet. On November 21^st, 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 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 talent 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).

For more information on what's new and next for W and fashion, visit The Angle, the brand's buzzing digital platform.

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for nearly two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with more than 50 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests' lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand's provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand's super-charged energy celebrates guests' endless appetite to discover what's new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in the industry's award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer.  For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.