With Fashion Week fever fast approaching, it is time to find yourself the perfect base from which to enjoy the shows, somewhere close to the action but providing a stylish retreat for relaxation.
Fashion Week is not only about innovative design but also updating classic favourites, so why not extend that ethos to your choice of hotel?
Each of our chosen hotels are well established, showcase the very best in style and luxury and have been recently upgraded to add to the enjoyment of your stay.
New York Fashion Week: 7th – 15th September 2017
Nestled amongst the Upper East Side brownstones surrounding Barneys, Bergdorf’s and Bloomingdales sits hidden gem The Lowell, one of the cities most exclusive luxury retreats.
Established in 1927, this chic and stylish hotel is perfectly located between Madison and Park Avenues and is just a block away from the vast greenery of Central Park.
The three bedroomed Penthouse Suite on the 17th floor is luxuriously decorated and boasts four terraces, all with panoramic city views.
The hotel often plays host to a range of celebrities and fashionistas, including the likes of Cindy Crawford, Selma Blair and Kelly Rutherford, who rely on The Lowell as an oasis in the heart of the bustling city.
This year the hotel is now more sought after than ever, thanks to a dramatic redesign, complete with a stylish new restaurant Majorelle and bar, Jacques, both of which are inspired by the iconic YSL gardens in Marrakesh, which were originally created by artist Jacques Majorelle.
In addition to this, the hotel has launched a new library lounge, garden and updated their lobby and Pembroke Room, with help from designer Michael Smith (interior designer for the Obamas The White House), and architect Mark Pinney, who is known for his work with the likes of Harrods, Armani, Burberry, and Apple.
Jacques is the ideal place for guests to sip post-show cocktails, inspired by Morocco, alongside the good old classics, and drinks can be paired with delicious sweet and savoury snacks including oysters and caviar on blinis.
The bar is a glamorous enclave, complete with marble floors, embossed leather-panelled walls and low leather chairs, as well as an intimate, velvet banquette lined alcove and marble bar, accented with Grecian urns and a vintage style mirrored ceiling.
Those with more of an appetite should pay a visit to Majorelle. Recently launched by famous restauranteur Charles Masson, the menu is a treat of French classics with a Mediterranean twist.
Decorated with hints of blue and vibrant yellows, it features a gorgeous garden and exotic plants, palm fronds, orchids, fruit trees and illuminated fountains create a unique indoor/outdoor feel.
Room rates start from $960 per night. For more details visit lowellhotel.com.
London Fashion Week: 15th – 19th September 2017
The Kensington is London’s finest townhouse hotel, located in the heart of South Kensington, one of the capital’s most affluent and exclusive neighbourhoods.
Set amongst the leafy squares, museums and parks of the Royal borough, the hotel is a short stroll away from some of London’s finest museums including the Victoria and Albert, affectionately known as the V and A.
Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall and the glamorous shops and boutiques on the King’s Road in Chelsea are all close by, giving you plenty to do in between the shows.
The Kensington is made up of four traditional white Victorian townhouses and feels more like a beautiful private residence than a traditional hotel, offering a home-away-from-home vibe for those in need of a break between busy fashion shows and after parties.
It comprises 126 rooms and 24 suites, all of which are individually designed with elegant fabrics and hand-picked furniture to compliment the hotel’s period architecture and those looking for ultimate luxury can select either The Knightsbridge or The Brompton Suite – two of London’s most elegant and beautiful accommodations.
Town House is the fabulous hotel restaurant, which is interconnected with The Drawing Rooms on the ground floor, ideal for elegant afternoon tea in front of the open fire before heading off to a show.
For a more lively vibe, K Bar is their glamorous new cocktail bar, a perfect hotspot for delicious cocktails and snacks, ideal for hanging out into the early hours with fellow fashion enthusiasts.
These spaces are also the perfect spots to hire for intimate private dinners and events and they are frequented by trend-setters, socialites and designers such as Immy & Suki Waterhouse and Elle Macpherson.
Rates are from £235 per night, room only. For more details visit doylecollection.com/hotels/the-kensington-hotel.
Paris Fashion Week: 26th September – 3rd October 2017
A favourite of the fashion pack since opening in the heady roaring Twenties, Le Bristol has a glittering past guestlist that includes Hollywood and fashion icons such as Rita Hayworth, Jojo Baker, Charlie Chaplin, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Carla Bruni, Dita Von Teese and Woody Allen.
Glamour is enmeshed in Le Bristol’s DNA, from the hotel’s majestic resident Burmese cat, Fa-Raon, resplendent in his bespoke Goyard collar engraved by Christofle, to the hotel’s location on the iconic rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, amidst Hermès, Givenchy, Saint Laurent and Colette’s flagship boutiques.
Le Bristol is perfect for people-spotting at this stylish time of year exuding Parisian joie de vivre and offers a welcome respite from Fashion Week frivolities.
A selection of beautiful suites offer panoramic views of some of Paris’ finest monuments including the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides and the Grand Palais.
Five Michelin-starred Chef extraordinaire and ‘defender of French cuisine’, Eric Frechon, is at Le Bristol’s culinary helm at three Michelin-starred Épicure and one Michelin-starred 114 Faubourg.
Frechon delights in matching unusual ingredients to astounding effect and his extraordinary signature style is all about terroir – “a sense of place” – this is after all Paris, the gourmet capital of the world.
Le Bristol recently completed a €150 million restoration that included the addition of a new wing, Spa Le Bristol Paris by La Prairie, (with it’s indoor rooftop pool offering stunning city views), two signature suites and ‘Le Bar du Bristol’, the hottest bar in Paris.
Le Bar du Bristol exudes timeless elegance and with it’s glass roofed entrance, a mural fresco by Thierry Bruet and an authentic Aubusson tapestry dating from 1740, it is the perfect relaxing spot to enjoy a post-show cocktail.
Infamous fashion-plate Marie Antoinette is also celebrated with the recent opening of Le Bristol’s elegant restaurant, Café Antonia. Inspired by the regal 18th century portrait of Marie Antoinette adorning the hotel’s plush ivory walls, the restaurant offers an informal meeting place for artists and fashionistas.
Rates at Le Bristol Paris start from €910 per room per night. For more details visit oetkercollection.com.
