As fashion month kicks off, MyDaily narrows down the latest see-and-be-seen insider hot spots in New York, London, Milan and Paris...
New York (12-19 February)
Scene: Because nothing ever feels quite as grown up as having a cocktail at a hotel bar, head to The NoMad Bar to sip an expertly mixed old fashioned, surrounded by some pretty sexy decor. This destination at the heart of The NoMad Hotel is the Manhattan's most buzzed-about new bar, and with good reason: What goes down better with a rare mescal tequila than a riff on the British Scotch egg? I ask you...
Sleep: Any self-effacing stylist/ blogger/ fashion tourist-on-a-budget will be trying to check into the Urban Cowboy - Brooklyn's freshest indie B&B. While the editors may be comparing expense accounts at the new five star Park Hyatt in Manhattan, all the fun will be getting had in this converted townhouse in Williamsburg.
Spend:Frankie rises from the ashes that was the much-relied-upon Pixie Market - a firm go-to for easy day dresses and Saturday night gear. While Pixie Market still exists online, Frankie is her smarter, edgier, generally more fashion-forward older sister. Shop for platform soles, cocoon coats, and pleated leather midis.
Downtime: The S/S15 catwalks were filled with peppy references to the 1970s. The FIT Museum pays homage to two of the decade's biggest icons through the boho-luxe romanticism of Yves Saint Laurent to the unadulterated glamour of Halston. Seep yourself in some wardrobe R+R and channel your inner Bianca Jagger.
London (20-24 February)
Scene: Can't quite stretch to dinner at The Ivy? Try the next best thing by bagging a table at The Ivy Market Grill, the new off-shoot from the iconic celeb haunt. A convenient stroll away from the heart of LFW at Somerset House in Covent Garden, the feel is a little more brasserie, a lot less starry, but much kinder on the pocket.
Sleep:The Hoxton Holborn takes the boutique-on-a-budget formula of the hotel's original Shoreditch outpost and applies it to Central London. Only this time they've hooked-up with the Soho House Group, so you get the added social buzz of a basement Chicken Shop, a Holborn Grind cafe and Brooklyn-style diner, Hubbard & Bell.
Spend: Index fingers are poised for the online launch of Finery London, set to go live sometime during LFW. The hotly-anticipated new British womenswear label designed by Emma Farrow (ex-of Topshop) will give the Scandinavians a run for their money when it comes to intelligent, High Street style. But don't expect a bricks and mortar store - for the time being Finery London will be a strictly online-only affair.
Downtime: So just incase you didn't get the memo about the Seventies references you need to work this year, get yourself down to the Fashion & Textile Museum for a nostalgic look at the enduring influence of designer Thea Porter (1927-2000). Prepare for the kaftan revival.
Milan (25 February - 3 March)
Scene: Trends in Milan move reassuringly slower than in most other cities, and fashion folk tend to stick to the tried and tested destination bars, season-after-season. However the boys behind DSquared2 changed things up a bit when they opened Ceresio 7 last year, marrying the impeccable panache of an Art Deco restaurant with a scene-stealing rooftop pool and bar.
Sleep: Slated to open in time for MFW, La Gare is understated, affordable and above-all, high on the eco-friendly credentials. Located in the Porta Nuova district, it's smack-bang in the heart of Milan's bustling business district and is just the start of a new wave of affordable design hotels set to open in time for the Milan Expo 2015.
Spend: In a city where concept stores err on the side of high, and somewhat unattainable, fashion, Wait and See is a beacon for younger, edgier and - quite frankly - more affordable styles. Owner Uberta Zambeletti has curated an eclectic mix of vintage one-offs, alongside premium and indie labels that you won't find stocked anywhere else in Milan. It's fun, lighthearted, bold, and crammed with covetable finds.
Downtime:Galleria Carla Sozzani's upcoming exhibition of the work of legendary photographer Arthur Elgort gives you one more reason to linger a little longer at 10 Corso Como. Elgort brought a lightness and a little humility to the glamazonian style that dominated fashion editorial in the 80s and 90s, cutting through the contrived slick by capturing the more carefree side of seemingly untouchable supermodels.
Paris (3-11 March)
Scene: Line your stomach with a lazy brunch at Holybelly, the low-key café in the heart of Canal St Martin is crawling with industry faces and neighbourhood cool kids. Stripped-back decor, pretty staff, great coffee and amazing baked eggs. Need we say more? For cocktail hour, you can't beat Candelaria; tacos upfront, tequilas outback.
Sleep: Sleeping stylishly on a budget in Paris is actually easier than you'd think; Hotel Paradis starts from just 99€ a night and is an easy 15 minute hobble from the Gare du Nord. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon has created a plush crash pad of muted greys with understated, fashionable touches that won't blow your budget. If you're feeling particularly flush then the Hôtel de Crillon will be reopening its doors in the spring, fresh from a multi-million pound refurbishment which includes two signature suites designed by The Kaiser himself.
Spend: If Colette is the grands dames of Paris concept stores then think of The Broken Arm as the enfants terrible. Fresh, sparsely decorated and edited to within an inch of its life, The Broken Arm is the place to shop for cult collections and limited edition collaborations by a whose-who of top designers and premium brands. Their in-store cafe is a firm favourite with fashion insiders, making it one of the best industry-eavesdropping spots in the city.
Downtime: Sweeping aside all the retro references popping up in London and New York, prepare to be blown away by the unadulterated romanticism of the Jeanne Lanvin retrospective at the Palais Galliera. Current Lanvin heir, Alber Elbaz will have a hand in the exhibition design, so expect something fabulous.