Vanity

“Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired”. French mathematician Blaise Pascal hit the nail on the head with his futuristic philosophizing, and it certainly rings true for one popular Vegas nightspot. Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel is a place where image counts – especially when your reflection stares back at you from practically every surface of the 14,000 square foot club. Famed for it's lavish outrageousness and bathroom stylists, the concept is one quite befitting of our societal self-obsession, however the club vibe is far more relaxed than it's name gives it credit.

Launched in 2010, Vanity sought to capture the bright lights and glamorous trappings of Vegas, within a venue befitting of the entertainment capital's celebrity allure. The result? An exuberant space lit by 20,000 pink LED lights, floating laser floor designs and giant 24-orb chandeliers, coupled with honeycomb walls and an over-abundance of mirrors. A maze of segueing themes transform areas of the club from gilt and gold spectacle, to turquoise and pink lit havens resplendent with sumptuous fabrics and vast walls of Warhol-esque murals. The departure from the sharp contours of overhead sculptures presents itself in the form of fifty cushioned booths dotted around the club – many of which do not require VIP reservation.

First-timers to Vanity are often goggle-eyed for the first few hours, simply because there's nowhere else like it in Vegas. Rendered by Oakland-based commercial designers “Mister Important”, the club was incepted to take the Paradise theme of Hard Rock to a whole new level. Mister Important aka Charles Doell was responsible for the complete overhaul of “Gitane” - San Francisco, as well as the hotly anticipated “Chambers Eat+Drink” within the Bay Area Phoenix Hotel. As a designer, Doell doesn't believe in understated and according to press,Vanity was his defining achievement. We can't fail to see why!

Such is the outrageousness of Vanity, that many a celebrity has been lured out of simple curiosity. Party duo “the Hilton Sisters” are regular faces at the up-market haunt, along with Irina Shayk and Shaquille O'Neill whom have also staked out the venue on a number of visits. Surprise sightings are inevitable within a place so geared towards the A-list class, and despite the high-class resident DJ's such as DJ Eric D-Lux, both DJ Five and Samantha Ronson have been known to make unannounced appearances. If you find yourself feeling a little scruffy in the presence of such sleekly groomed A-listers, there's always salvation in the form of on-site stylists, make-up artists and manicurists within the restroom suites. In terms of dress-code, style is highly recommendable since Vanity attracts an overwhelming number of designer-clad beauties. Cut-offs and beach gear are a definitive no-no, but who wouldn't want to make the effort for a place like this?