THE FOUR SEASONS MILAN
Housed in a former 15th-century convent
in the heart of Milan, the Four Seasons is
central to the city’s fashion week, as the
home-from-home for editors, models and
designers. Karl Lagerfeld was so fond of the
hotel that he had his own suite there –
the perfect retreat during his regular trips
to Milan as creative director of Fendi – and
the most influential figures in fashion can
be spotted in the courtyard restaurant.
The historic fabric of the building has been
beautifully preserved – complete
with ancient stone carvings and
fragments of original frescoes –
while the bedrooms feature
crystal chandeliers and
traditional textiles, alongside
supremely luxurious bathrooms.
Service is impeccable, the
cocktails delectable and
the serene spa comes highly
recommended. JUSTINE PICARDIE
The Four Seasons Milan, from £370
a room a night B&B
(www.fourseasons.com).ESCAPE
THE LOWELL NEW YORK
An Upper East Side institution, this is a
boutique hotel in the truest sense of the word,
tucked away on E 63rd Street, between
Madison and Park Avenues, and a short stroll
from Central Park. Its location in the museum
district makes the Lowell the top choice for celebrities attending the annual
Met Gala; and it is equally convenient for the flagship stores of the world’s
leading luxury brands. But once ensconced in the Lowell’s chic yet cosseting
rooms – complete with wood-burning fireplaces, Frette bedlinen, fresh
flowers, cashmere throws and glamorous marble bathrooms – it is tempting
to c url up a nd stay put. A lter natively, i f dut y ca lls, t he discreet Club Room is
an ideal venue for meeting the fashion industry’s international power brokers,
many of whom are regular guests at the Lowell... JP
The Lowell, from £730 a room a night (www.lowellhotel.com).SHOW
ROOMS
PHOTOGRAPHS: PAUL THUYSBAERT, RICHARD WAITE, WILL PRYCE, ELIZABETH LIPPMAN, SIMON BROWNStylish suites, fine fabrics and dream designs in the
world’s fashion capitals