’80s Hotel Style: A Look Inside the 1980s Television Drama Hotel

A still from the opening credits of the 1980s television drama series Hotel

This summer at Mirror80, we are committed to helping you get away from it all. Who doesn’t need a break from the hustle and bustle of life? Whether you’re staying at a 5-star hotel on your summer vacation or simply want to add a few touches of elegance and relaxation to your daily routine, let 1980s TV series Hotel inspire some decadent glamour.

Enter Connie Sellecca and James Brolin, who appeared on this drama about life at the fictional St. Gregory Hotel during the show’s entire 1983-1988 run. How can you resist these faces?:

Left: James Brolin as General Manager Peter McDermott/Right: Connie Sellecca as Assistant General Manager Christine Francis

Let’s start with the style of our stylish leads, played by James Brolin and Connie Sellecca. Shoulder pads, prominent sleeves, formal evening-wear, suits and ties… As you can imagine, working at a swanky hotel led to mandatory attendance at swanky events. But nobody was complaining, especially since romance was in the air. Let’s turn to our Etsy friends for some match-ups that show you how a little ’80s style can add a lot of ’80s glamour to a wardrobe.

Above: Connie Sellecca rocks a red low-back dress and matching purse with gold accents/Below: Red and Gold Handbag, Photo courtesy of color theorie vintage

Let’s start with Connie Sellecca’s pool-side gala wardrobe. Sporting a fire engine-red dress with winged shoulders and a v-dip in the back, she makes a statement with a matching red purse. Though image quality limitations made a large shot of this accessory impossible, we’re lucky that Etsy shop color theorie vintage offers a 1980s Ann Klein red purse with gold chain and logo. Tres chic! Mirror80 is loving the vertical seams, which create a plush, cushion-y effect, as well as the signature Ann Klein lion. A little bling goes a long way!

Right: James Brolin wears a diagonal-striped tie/Left: 80s Oscar De La Renta Black Striped Neckwear, Photo courtesy of FreshandSwanky Vintage Apparel

Don’t worry boys, we haven’t left you out of the fun. Let’s now shift our focus to Josh Brolin, whose character sports an elegant black tie in the image to the left.  Etsy shop  Fresh and Swanky offers a similar tie by Oscar de la Renta, straight from the ’80s. The diagonal lines make this item truly unforgettable (and great for work or a night on the town).

We now turn our attention to the realm of interior design. In his book Home Rules, design expert Nate Berkus shares a decorating tip for the bedroom: “Make every night feel like a night in a fantastic hotel.” And why shouldn’t it?! You may not be lodging in a St. Gregory hotel room this summer, but who says YOUR room can’t be elegant? Check out the images below for a couple of Hotel-inspired touches to add a posh ’80s twist to your sleeping space:

Paneling at the St. Gregory Hotel (top) inspires striped curtains (bottom).

There’s just something about vertical stripes. And the panel-esque shot above proves that blue on blue can be comforting yet classy. In desperate need of curtains and eager to see if blue and gold can be as swanky in a bedroom setting as they are in the stairwell of the St. Gregory, I decided to sew these two-toned blue curtains with satin ribbon lining. Instead of alternating stripes, I grouped the two darker blue panels in the middle, with the lighter blue pieces on the outside. The result: instant drama (in a good way). Check out this next pairing:

Don’t you just love fresh flowers? They seemed to be in every nook and cranny of the St. Gregory, including this table (above, left), by which guest star Jon-Erik Hexum stares wistfully.  A bedside or tabletop bouquet adds luxury to a space, especially if placed in an ’80s Deco vase (above, right)!

One last still from the 1980s television drama Hotel

Thanks for joining us as we relived some decadent moments from Hotel’s heydey. A special thank-you to Etsy friends color theorie vintage and Fresh and Swanky for making this post possible! Here’s one last shot to help evoke the decadent vibe the show is well-known for. Champagne wishes and caviar (day)dreams…