Luxury: An Elysium By Cardin

In the beginning, there was Maxim’s the restaurant, then Maxim’s the yacht. Now there is Maxim’s the luxury hotel, or, more properly, La Residence Maxim’s. This latest addition to the Pierre Cardin collection boasts 39 suites, ranging in price from $1,000 to $5,000 a night and in style from belle epoque antiques to chrome-and-plastic modern. Cardin bought the mansion that was to become La Residence 18 months ago; it will open in early July.

Every aspect of the hotel’s decoration, including the design of matching marble toilets and bidets, was personally supervised by the famed couturier. Since the hotel is located in Paris’ posh eighth arrondissement not far from the official residence of the President of France, Cardin hopes that it will attract visiting diplomats and royalty.