With New York Fashion Week kicking off this week, Vogue‘s executive fashion editor Serena Hood has compiled a list of the city’s most stylish restaurants, hotels and exhibitions.
If you love old-world charm and elegance, then you should definitely stay at The Plaza Hotel, and you can opt for The Eloise Suite, designed by celebrated fashion designer Betsey Johnson. Guests at this iconic hotel have everything on offer at their fingertips, and you can even find the next day’s weather report on your pillow each night to help you with outfit planning for the forthcoming shows.
And if you are a fitness geek, Manhattan is full of options. Head over to Chaise23 for a total body workout that integrates elements of Pilates and ballet, or get you cardio fix at Soul Cycle. You can even try the “next evolution in physical fitness” at SLT, which is an intense Pilates method created by Sebastien Lagree. If you are all about breathtaking views, try a run from the Highline down the West Side Highway with a view of the Hudson River, and make a pit stop at The Butcher’s Daughter to endeavour one of their juices or vegetarian snacks.
Vogue‘s fashion editor Francesca Burns claims that the highlight of Fashion Week off the runway is a trip to The East Pole, the new uptown restaurant from Ben Towill and Phil Winser. “I love The Fat Radish and The Leadbelly, and am already salivating with joy that they have opened up near the Plaza! Uptown girl all the way,” she affirms. Serena also recommends trying the spaghetti niçoise at Lafayette and the cherry pepper ribs at Carbone.
When asked about what to wear for New York Fashion Week, Vogue‘s fashion features director Sarah Harris said that her “uniform doesn’t stray too far from Paige jeans, the James distressed style is a current favourite, Celine cotton shirts, and Chanel’s Boy Bag to hold the day’s necessities.” For night time, she will be opting for “an Alessandra Rich lace gown and her black lacy biker jacket.“
While at New York Fashion Week, explore masterworks from some of the biggest names in American art, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and George Bellows. Visit the Museum of Modern Art and admire paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures at the American Modern: Hopper to O’Keeffe exhibition.
For fashion insiders, former Browns buying director Ruth Runberg and stylist Alison Brokaw have joined forces and invited five emerging designers, all with a different specialty, to showcase their collections in a “blank white space” at Jeff Koons‘ studio complex in West Chelsea. Lucas Hugh is one of these five, creative director Anjhe Mules told Vogue: “This is a really exciting moment, not only to be part of New York Fashion Week, but also to be part of a creative collective of high-end fashion brands which all offer a unique artistic vision.” Other designers who will be showcasing their designs to buyers and editors under the same roof are Jody Candrian (jewellery), Holly Fowler (hand-painted dresses), Lee Savage (clutch bags) and Yaser Shaw (shawls).
And what is Fashion Week without a couple of cocktails? The most liveliest spots can be found in New York’s top hotels. Notable places include The NoMad Hotel and Bemelmans at The Carlyle. If you’re heading downtown, make sure you enjoy a drink in the garden at The Standard in the East Village.
For anyone who will be taking a late-night flight straight to London Fashion Week, Serena advices to arrive at JFK an hour early for a Radiant You Facial in the Virgin Clubhouse to help you through. She also suggests to “make your seat a home away from home with your favourite scent, pillow and eye mask” once you board the plane.
