Since 1964, Sofitel has set the standard for luxury hospitality, blending timeless French elegance with the rich colors and textures of local culture. As many Sofitel properties enter a new era of thoughtful renovation, the brand has embraced a new global wardrobe. With more than 120 hotels worldwide, Sofitel envisioned a collection for its 25,000 employees that combined couture sensibility with everyday elegance.

To bring this vision to life, Sofitel partnered with Cordelia de Castellane, one of the defining voices of contemporary French style. Through her Studio Cordelia de Castellane, she has shaped worlds where elegance is both tactile and immersive. In her hands, every object, fabric and motif tells a story, inviting the senses to participate in a carefully choreographed experience. These sensibilities – a balance of joie de vivre with precision, narrative and nuance – were ideal for translating Sofitel's modern luxury into a collection of timeless yet versatile pieces, a statement of style and self-expression.

With more than 45 garments and curated accessories, Le Vestiaire gives Sofitel employees the freedom to compose their own ensembles from thousands of possibilities. Each piece is designed to layer, combine and adapt to any role – from the quiet precision of a concierge at Sofitel La Reserva Cardales to the energy of the wedding planning team at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua.
 

A tailored vest can sharpen a front desk look when paired with trousers, or soften when worn with a fluid midi skirt. The Saharan jacket transitions effortlessly from urban polish to resort ease, while the signature dress – tailored at the shoulder, fluid through the hem – carries elegance from morning briefings through to evening service. Soft, durable fabrics and thoughtful tailoring ensure comfort and movement, empowering each Sofitel ambassador to look and feel their best.

A harmonious palette of navy, coconut milk, beige and denim blue ensures timeless appeal across settings and skin tones. Hand-drawn monograms appear as refined prints on scarves and ties, while engraved buttons, logo belts and sculptural brooches feature Sofitel’s iconic logo, symbolizing a link between cultures.

Cordelia de Castellane: My creative path started very early. I had my first job at 17 with Emmanuel Ungaro, where I stayed for 10 years. From there, I moved into the world of children with my own brand, C de C, then with one of the leading French fashion houses. Alongside that, I have my own creative studio.
 

What I love about this career is that I do different things all the time. I don't like to be confined in a cage and I don't like doing the same thing every day. I like to touch everything. Whatever I do, whether it's creating an event or a collection for Sofitel, creativity is always at the heart of it all. 

Cordelia de Castellane: My inspiration can come from anything – encounters, colors in the sky, a passing bird. We think that imagination is something that only sparks occasionally, but in reality it's a muscle that carries you non-stop from one idea to the next. 

With Sofitel, I was inspired by the world of travel: these legendary hotels, these key places where Agatha Christie imagined settings for her films. Sofitel was ahead of its time, with properties in incredible places like Egypt and Colombia. It's a great French brand that has set out on an adventure and has truly established a legacy.

I also wanted something that was both very Parisian and very global. To me, Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. It’s got everything – breathtaking monuments, indescribable colors, culture, history. And Parisians themselves, with a look that appears so effortless and that everyone else in the world tries to adopt.

Cordelia de Castellane: I didn’t want to lock people into a specific uniform, so I created Le Vestiaire, a wardrobe for people who have functional needs every day. The wearers need to be comfortable, to want to wear it again every day and not get bored of it. It offers a mix-and-match concept, focused more on style than fashion itself, because you can get bored of fashion.
 

“The idea is simple: pick and choose a look that fits the right place and the right position.”

Cordelia de Castellane: The Parisian is chic without being too dressed up, sporting a look that appears so effortless and that everyone else in the world tries to adopt. Details are important, and an accessory changes everything. With Le Vestiaire, the buttons are magnificent, engraved with the Sofitel logo. The logo itself has been transformed into jewelry: you could have it as a necklace, a bracelet, or barrettes for your hair instead of a plain elastic band. When you have to wear navy blue or other standard colors, the accessories finish the outfit, and they simply put you in a very good mood.
 

It was fun to play with the logo and place it where you wouldn't expect it, like on a hair clip or a belt buckle. I'm sure Sofitel ambassadors will wear these accessories again when they’re not on duty, perhaps with jeans.

Cordelia de Castellane: We really thought about it, putting ourselves in the place of each Sofitel employee's role. When you create a working wardrobe, you must think about comfort and practicality. If the uniform is too tight, they can’t walk or raise their arm or run to greet a late customer. It simply doesn't work.
 

"This collaboration felt very natural because we share the same values: a love of beauty, attention to detail and a deep respect for craftsmanship and comfort."

The employees also reviewed certain pieces. It was very important to meet them, to listen to their opinions and to be able to adapt the wardrobe. Style is one aspect, but making it wearable, achievable and easy in everyday life was another challenge that we succeeded in by collaborating with Sofitel’s ambassadors.

Cordelia de Castellane: The most important thing for us is how the wearer will feel in the morning, what vision of themselves they will project with these clothes. They may have worries or be tired, but with this Vestiaire, we wanted a uniform that would make them hold their heads high.
 

When you start the morning with self-care and self-respect, when you wear beautiful clothes that you’re comfortable in, you feel happy. That's what I was going for. I wanted to give them the feeling of being proud and happy, because that image gets projected to the customer, and that is what’s most important in hospitality.
 

“Fashion is never neutral. It influences our mood every day. I wanted these pieces to feel positive and reassuring, clothes that support people emotionally as much as visually, and that reflect the warmth and elegance of Sofitel’s hospitality.”

Through Le Vestiaire, Cordelia de Castellane has done more than design Sofitel Uniformes. She has translated the codes of French fashion – elegance, craftsmanship, ease, individuality – into a living wardrobe worn across continents. Le Vestiaire, after all, is more than clothing. It is identity. It is confidence. It is the Sofitel art of living beautifully – wherever in the world one may be.