Marco De Vincenzo’s Spring/Summer 2025 grand finale for Etro was a highlight of Milan Fashion Week last year.
It’s our favorite time of the year! With bated breath we await the unveiling of the Fall/Winter 2025 collections and start plotting the course for which looks we’ll be inhabiting when the seasons begin to change. We tapped four veteran insiders at the world’s most important fashion weeks to share the scoop on what any newbie needs to know upfront–including the best places to stay. Now, you stay focused on the fashion and leave the rest of the heavy lifting to us.
Fashion journalist Emilia Petrarca (@emiliapetrarca) writes the Shop Rat Substack.
New York
When: February 6–11, 2025
Where to stay: “Nine Orchard is the place to stay. You can stumble into bed from the rooftop, where brands tend to host events.”
Invite to crave: Lucali pizzeria in Brooklyn, where you can’t even make a reservation as a civilian.
Rookie mistake: “Every year, I tell myself the same thing, which is: Do less. You’re not going to make it to that show in Bushwick at 9 p.m., either. Just don’t even RSVP.”
Nine Orchard, Lower East Side.
Need-to-know nugget: “Take the subway. You’ll inevitably end up stuck with an editor or a writer you want to work with for at least 30 minutes.”
Insider insight: Forgo those heels, however chic. “You’re going to be doing a lot of sprinting down the sidewalk. Taking a cab is never easier, either.”
Fashion editor–turned-ceramicist Deborah Brett is known for her effortless chic on Instagram (@deborahbrett).
London
When: February 20–24, 2025
Where to stay: “You can never go wrong with Claridges. Always the best and the fanciest, and I love going there post-shows and having a nightcap in the bar.”
Invite to crave: “For after-show parties, nothing beats the Vaults at private members club Maison Estelle, with Idris Elba DJing.”
Claridges, Mayfair.
Rookie mistake: Don’t stick to your schedule too rigidly. “London has always been about creativity and making sure you keep your ear to the ground.”
Need-to-know nugget: Hairstylist George Northwood. “Get a blowout and fresh cut by the only person worth tending to your hair.”
Insider insight: Dress up if you’re continuing on to Milan–the packed plane is like the front row at 30,000 feet. “All the fashionistas cram onto the first flight the next day to Linate.”
Natasha Slater (@_natashaslater) is a longtime events promoter and fashion fixture who now runs the roving social club Dinner Conversations.
Milan
When: February 25–March 3, 2025
Where to stay: The Bulgari Hotel (make time for the spa) or the Four Seasons, which she calls “ideal for fashion insiders.”
Invite to crave: You’ll need to be networked to score a table at Trattoria del Ciumbia during Fashion Week, so jump at any invitation to supper there.
Rookie mistake: “Milan is chic, and dressing appropriately matters. Your outfit should be impeccable but avoid trying too hard to stand out. Milan is effortlessly glamorous.”
Bulgari Hotel, downtown Milano.
Need-to-know nugget: There’s a coiffeur on call for VIP blowouts: Plan ahead to get a slot on Davide Diodovich’s calendar for the week.
Insider insight: The newest see-and-be-seen spot? Sogni. “It’s quickly become a fashion favorite, and is a great place for an evening with industry insiders.”
Self-described Bag Hag Ingrid Chua dishes out pithy, no-holds-barred reviews to almost 70,000 followers on Instagram (@thebaghag).
Paris
When: March 3–11, 2025
Where to stay: Hotel Castille on rue Cambon overlooks the Chanel atelier. “You might just see the House’s team at work ahead of the show. I caught sight of Karl Lagerfeld a few times there in the past.”
Invite to crave: “The small, hole-in-the-wall, charming authentic Italian restaurant Cibus. Fashion insiders love it.”
Hotel Castille, 1st Arrondissement.
Rookie mistake: “Many streets are made of cobblestones, which can kill your feet and ruin the heels of your beautiful shoes.”
Need-to-know nugget: Max Imus (@bisousparis) is a pro photographer you can hire for some Emily in Paris moments.
Insider insight: Book a black Mercedes van with JD Limousine. “I highly recommend them for their discretion, and ultra-luxe personalized service.”
Images Courtesy of Etro, Nine Orchard, Claridges, Bulgari Hotel Milano, and Hotel Castille.
