Following a marathon month, models, designers, celebrities and editors will be seeking recovery.
Travelling from city to city, outfit changes, working hard, playing (sometimes) harder, where do the fashion set decompress off-duty? Citizen Femme has the lowdown on their off-duty hangouts.
Uxua Casa Hotel, Brazil
An understated boutique retreat made up of 10 casas, comfortable, private and unfussy, Uxua Casa Hotel is where the off duty stylish set head, including Alessandra Ambrosio and Ana Beatriz Barro. The hotel’s location is remote and serene, based in a stunning seaside village overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also the only hotel in the historic hilltop square of Trancoso, a car-free, UNESCO-protected town with pretty painted houses and great restaurants.
Owned by the former creative director of Diesel, Wilbert Das, the hotel has an effortlessly trendy feel about it, with stylish, inviting interiors that make the most of the beautiful beachside location. The beach lounge has a centrepiece made out of an old fishing boat turned bar, and the green quartz-lined pool is where fashion photographers paddle away their fashion month fatigue.
L’Albereta, Italy
Set in the Alpine foothills, surrounded by vineyards, and yet only an hour from Milan, this old-world wellness retreat in the famous wine region of Franciacorta offers serious downtime for burnt out city dwellers and fashion folk. With its homely and tranquil interiors, sprawling gardens and impressive Henri Chenot spa, the estate has become a firm favourite of exhausted A-listers including Elle Macpherson, Salma Hayek and Serena Williams (who recently visited after her Wimbledon defeat).
The modern spa includes a 30-strong team of doctors, beauticians, dieticians and osteopaths who offer the latest treatments and regimes. It is also has a vast pool and Turkish bath to relax in…or if that sounds too virtuous, world class wine tasting is also on your doorstep.
Hotel La Mamounia, Morocco
This lavish palace style hotel, set in the centre of Marrakech and yet enclosed by 17 acres of enclosed parkland and decorative gardens, has been an essential escape for modern fashion designers, including Anya Hindmarch, as well as old – Yves Saint Laurent used to stay here for some winter sun.
The style is all about glamour – think Moroccan tiles, sparkling ornaments, velvet curtains and the scent of orange blossom and cedar in the air. Rooms (all 209 of them) are palatial and the best have views over the gardens or out to the Atlas Mountains in the distance. The glittering pool, set in the grounds and surrounded by palm trees, is the perfect place to spend some downtime before a trip to the hammam spa or a candlelit dinner at one of the four restaurants.
Il Sereno, Italy
With only 30 rooms and a contemporary, striking style, you can see why the fashion and design crowd wait months to secure a room here. Il Sereno, based on Lake Como, is the most stylish hotel in the area, with its remarkably simple, naturalistic design, led by Milan-based designer Patricia Urquiola, it makes the most of local colours, materials and artisans as well as those stunning lake views.
The hotel’s food is widely acclaimed with three-star Michelin chef, Andrea Berton, heading up the restaurant, serving simple Italian fayre from locally sourced ingredients. When they aren’t enjoying the gastronomic delights, guests spend lazy days by the freshwater infinity pool or take a tour of the lake on the hotel’s handcrafted wooden boats.
Cliveden House, UK
As well as the being the base for Meghan Markle’s stay before her big day, Cliveden House is a well-established escape for the fashion elite. It’s location, just a short train journey or drive from London, means it’s a convenient pit stop for those looking for a few days of grand luxury in the beautiful English countryside.
The iconic views – of the Grade I listed hotel and over the formal parterre garden down to the river Thames – are a reason for a visit alone, not forgetting the welcoming, private feel of the place and the 376-acre estate that’s a joy to explore. Food comes courtesy of award-winning chef André Garrett who serves up fabulous dishes that champion British ingredients, including a seven-course tasting menu that is seriously Instagram-friendly.
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