City breaks in the Big Four fashion capitals

Explore fashion on a global scale with city breaks in the Big Four fashion capitals of the world. From unmatched shopping opportunities to dedicated exhibitions, these destinations have all that fashion devotees could dream of. 

French fashion rules luxury clothing, with iconic heritage brands like Dior, Givenchy, Hermès and Chanel paving the way with design for decades. It’s no wonder that Paris is considered the most fashionable city in the world, and it’s easy to tailor your visit exclusively to this theme. 

Start with the shopping which centres around Maison Dior, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the less popular but equally worthwhile Rue Saint-Honoré. From here you can head to the various dedicated museums from designer-specific venues like Musée Yves Saint Laurent to the Musée de la Mode et du Textilewhich has thousands of items on display. The entire city is exquisitely crafted, so simply wander the streets and marvel at the beautiful buildings and art.

The rival for the biggest fashion capital is New York. Thousands of designer devotees inhabit this celebrated city, and wherever you go you’ll spot extraordinary outfits on the street. This is especially true of New York holidays in the autumn which coincide with the city’s celebrity-viewed fashion week. 

The centre has endless unique shopping opportunities from high-end boutiques on Fifth Avenue to vintage fairs in the suburbs like Williamsburg in Brooklyn. On Seventh Avenue is the Fashion Walk of Fame, decorated with plaques dedicated to incredible American designers like Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan leading down to the gigantic Button & Needle sculpture that marks the Garment District. Other notable visits are FIT and MMA which have amazing exhibitions.

Known for birthing offbeat global trends such as mod and punk, London stands out from the other Big Four fashion capitals. Individuality underpins the work of major English designers who draw on various aspects of the country’s heritage to create contemporary pieces with a twist. A prime example is Vivienne Westwood who deconstructs once-royal looks to defy the norm.

Explore sharp tailoring on Savile Row, find unique pieces in Notting Hill’s Portobello and browse upmarket British brands like Burberry and Barbour on regal Regent Street. Department stores Harrods and Fortnum & Mason champion luxury brands and are beautiful themselves. Time to spare? Spend a day at the V&A museum which outlines the history of fashion in incredible exhibitions.

If any country appreciates artistry, it’s Italy. Its cities are styled from top to bottom with elaborate architecture, beautiful markets with live music and wide piazzas serving mouthwatering cuisine. The Italian Renaissance set the country apart for centuries as a world leader in design, from the monarchical fashions to the works of Leonardo da Vinci. 

Unsurprisingly this attention to detail carries over intocontemporary Italian fashion which is praised for its unrivalled craftsmanship and quality of fabrics and tailoring. Each Italian city has style, but Milan is the major fashion hub. Headquarters of Vogue Italia, the most pre-eminent fashion magazine in the world, Milan rose to fame during the second half of the 20^th century thanks to nurtured names like Gucci, Prada and Armani.