The Iconic Motel

Room No 118
Fabulous Fifties

“A time when … you married your high school sweetheart, homes had white picket fences, and focus was on the children. Organizations were started like … Little League, the Girls Scouts and PTA. This room is the Fabulous 50’s. “
MADONNA INN

During my Vogue-ette days at British Vogue, I would hear editorials being shot at this wildly kitsch motel in California … the photographs looked like a crazy pink ice-cream - so far away from my British upbringing.

Fast forward many years, I live in LA with my family now. On a recent road trip, passing through San Luis Obispo, the Madonna Inn’s 'wild eccentric glory’ as named by the Carine Roitfeld fashion book was shouting out to me in the middle of 101 highway.

Always been fascinated by retro motels, tacky chic … they make for the best editorial stories.
So we decided to spend a night in the land of pink kitsch, to the delight of my six year old son, Rocco.

A fiercely pink mood board for European Vogue-ettes and children alike.

TIP: Get the hot pink cap from the gift shop, with the western cowboy font - it makes a cooler statement than any overpriced Parisian streetwear brand.
TIP II: Horse riding in the San Luis Obispo highlands with a game of tennis on the pink tennis courts is happiness.