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Tre Dita

The St. Regis Hotel and Residences (aka the Vista Towers) was the most anticipated new building in recent Chicago memory. Designed by renowned architect Jeanne Gang (Studio Gang), the towers are the tallest in the world by a female architect, not to mention the tallest residential building in Chicago. The Wall Street Journal called the building “the most significant addition to the skyline in a generation” — and they weren’t kidding. The entire city (and worldwide architectural community) buzzed about the project for years.

So, it goes without saying that we were absolutely thrilled to be consulting on the uniforms for the restaurants in the St. Regis. But then 2020 happened.

Once the project picked back up in 2022, we were only too happy to re-engage. The anticipation surrounding the project had done nothing but increase over the previous two years, and the city was eager to see if the St. Regis could make a formerly deserted section of upper Wacker Drive a destination for luxury travelers and diners.

Our longtime collaborator Lettuce Entertain You was tapped to run the restaurants, which would serve hotel guests, residents, and the general public (if they could get a reservation!). They were planning a flagship restaurant that was a high-end take on a classic Tuscan steakhouse called Tre Dita, as well as another more casual, all-day spot: The Japanese-inspired Miru.

The interiors, by London-based David Collins Studio, featured lush textures, floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Michigan, and layered artisanal details like Italian marble, bespoke wrought iron light fixtures, and soaring ceilings.

Everything was top tier, and the uniform program had to match. This was a really exciting chance to develop a uniform program that mirrored the extreme luxury of the space and menu, reflecting the grandiosity and attention to detail evident in every element of the restaurant. A dream brief!

We spent 18 months developing proposals, doing hard hat tours, sampling, and researching designer pieces that fit the luxury vibe. It was a very collaborative process with Lettuce Entertain You managing partner Kiran Pinto, and a labor of love on all sides.

The end result is a collection of pieces that play on the idea of a classic Tuscan-style steakhouse with a richly modern point of view. Every uniform is made to measure, outfitting the staff with not only a beautiful uniform, but one that is also eminently comfortable and easy to move in.

For service staff, we utilized dark green Super 140s Wool/Spandex blend for blazers, pants, and vests, paired with our Cooolmax Dress shirts for a look that complements the soft Italian leather chairs found throughout the space. Bartenders, meanwhile, wore white tuxedo jackets over modern black tops and black Stock Tech trousers, blending old school luxury with a contemporary sensibility (just like the space’s breathtaking mirrored back bar).

For Miru, the building’s restaurant geared mostly towards residents and hotel guests, we needed to design a uniform program that was casual enough for an all-day restaurant while still remaining elevated enough for the St. Regis. The space is plant-filled, light, and airy, with a huge outdoor terrace. The menu, which celebrates the flavors and cuisine of Japan, is a collaboration between Chef/Partner Hisanobu Osaka (formerly Morimoto, Daniel), Naoki Nakashima (formerly of Naoki Sushi) and Executive Chef Helmy Saadon (formerly of Mila, Zuma).

Since the team at Miru would be serving both the indoor space and the terrace, we knew the uniforms had to be first and foremost comfortable and functional. We used earth-tones fabrics in a linen blend and a sleek navy worsted wool paired with our coolmax dress shirts to keep things breezy. We also referenced the menu’s Japanese influences in the silhouettes of the different uniform elements, including clean-lined blazers and draped-front vests with braided rope and wooden toggles instead of traditional buttons.