Fashion month is a marathon of sweat, glamour, and all manner of on-the-run footwear (heeled or otherwise). Survival often depends on knowing just where to slip away for a brief repose, whether it’s with a late-night martini, a plate of pasta, or just five minutes of one’s own time. As this season kicks off, CULTURED tapped a coterie of plugged-in locals and firmly-established expatriates—critics, designers, stylists, and writers—to map their personal circuits through New York, London, Milan, and Paris. These are not the tourist traps you know, but rather lived-in favorites and well-kept secrets: the brasseries that never fail, the dive bars worth crossing town for, the cafés to slink into before the next presentation. From Montmartre kisses and the Lobby Bar of the Hotel Chelsea to Milanese window-shopping and Hampstead Heath rambles, consider this your fashion month cheat sheet, delivered straight from the insiders who call these capitals home. Fletcher Kasell, co-designer of Tanner Fletcher Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? The lobby bar at Hotel Chelsea or the Commerce Inn, both for an espresso martini. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Give me Polo Bar! If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? During NYFW, I only go out after 10 p.m. if my publicist thinks I should, otherwise, I’ll likely be working or trying to get some rest! Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? Anywhere I can find it! A bacon-egg-cheese at the corner bodega, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, pizza delivery, a wine run… It doesn’t matter as long as I have some fuel. All good eating habits go out the door until it’s time for recovery mode. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? I love an inconspicuous dive bar! Give me Molly’s on 3rd Ave, Peter McManus Café, Hank’s Bar, or the Three Diamond Door in Bushwick. I avoid anything hyped up on TikTok or anywhere they act inconvenienced at a walk-in party of two. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Tanner and I always have a number of family members come into town to support us. This year is our largest group yet with 30 friends and family members coming from Minnesota and Wisconsin. I love to experience fashion week through their eyes. I get to see them express themselves in a new way and it gives us more emotional support than we could possibly need. Midwesterners know how to lend a hand unlike anyone else and they don’t know who’s who so they just chat to anyone without fear of hierarchy. We’ve formed many new traditions like pizza and dance parties at the studio and seeing a Broadway show to celebrate a job well done after whatever production we’ve just put on. Jessica Willis, fashion director at The Cut and stylist Where’s the first place you’d take a guest in town? I’d take them to the Noguchi Museum in Queens, I’ve actually taken quite a few friends there already. It’s such a peaceful and beautiful escape from the city that I frequent often. Where do you get dinner when a client or brand is picking up the bill? Without hesitation, I’d say Saga. It’s on the 63rd floor of a historic building in the Financial District. The space is beautiful—it has breathtaking views of the the city and an impeccable menu by executive chef Charlie Mitchell. It’s my favorite place to splurge at the moment. If you were to go out after 10 p.m., where would you go? I really love live music, so it would be a jazz club like Blue Note. I also just went to a jazz night at Nine Orchard which I loved, and they actually have a jazz night coming up on Sept. 15th. Where do you get groceries/provisions for the marathon? Happier Grocery on Canal Street—it’s where I can get the most healthiest on-the-go options. It’s apparently deemed the Erewhon of New York. Where would you go to get a drink, and where would you avoid like the plague? On the rare occasion that I drink, I enjoy natural wine so The Four Horseman would be my spot for the best natural wine selection. I avoid anywhere in Times Square like the plague. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? There’s always great museum exhibitions that juxtapose with fashion week, so I always like to duck into at least one of them. Right now, there is exhibition at the Met museum dedicated to Man Ray, which I am looking forward to seeing. Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty, Snapchat Where’s the first place you’d take a guest in town? I’d love to take them somewhere chic and quiet where we can catch up properly. I’ve been really enjoying Fifth Avenue Hotel lately. It’s intimate and charming, and the decor in the bar has a really special feel to it. Another idea, since there are so many great Haitian restaurants here, is Lakou Café. That could also be a wonderful place to take guests. Where do you get dinner when a client or brand is picking up the bill? Oh, the bill is not on me? Where do I start? Here’s the list. Le Bernardin never disappoints. At L’Abeille, the scallop carpaccio is ace. Tatiana, just because the flavors get you. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? At 10 p.m., only good vibes can keep me out. I love the energy at Damballa and also at Casanara, both in Brooklyn. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? I avoid Williamsburg. I’m down for a drink anywhere in the city or Brooklyn, as long as they serve a great mezcal cocktail. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? NYFW always happens while my kids are going back to school. It’s usually a hectic time, so taking a moment to be with them and take them out for dinner or ice cream to hear how things are going on their first week back, that’s always an experience I love and cherish. Jalil Johnson, writer of the Consider Yourself Cultured Substack Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? I’d take them straight to Michael’s for lunch (I think they do a better lunch than dinner), and if it’s a dinner situation, the Odeon. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? I’m terribly boring… I like to be home by 10 p.m. But, if I were to stay out past my bedtime, I would probably want to go to the Lobby Bar of the Hotel Chelsea. Where do you go for a drink during fashion week, and where do you avoid like the plague? I try to abstain from drinking during NYFW (a hangover and a 9 a.m. show do not mix), but in Europe, c’est la vie. If I were to drink during NYFW, I would go to Parcelle in the Lower East Side. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Walking around after a show, if I have the time, to gather my thoughts and maybe slip into a restaurant for a solo lunch. Clara Perlmutter, fashion commentator Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? Always Il Posto Accanto in the East Village. I’m a proud regular. Incredible, consistent food and service. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Historically, the answer has been Casino because a stiff drink and a steak sounds nice, but I’ve been having an aggressive craving for the celery root au poivre from Pastis, come to think of it… If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Wherever my best friend, Sofia D’Angelo, is DJing. I can concoct fun anywhere I go as long as the music is guaranteed to be good, and on top of being a great DJ, I’m kind of the only person Sofia takes free requests from… On a Friday night, you can often find me at Silver Lining Lounge because I love Tim Young’s weekly shows. Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? Trader Joe’s always. Prepackaged food that I can throw in the microwave is a GODSEND. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? I often do a dry fashion week because I’m in work mode and I need to be fresh and bright eyed when I wake up. Admittedly, I don’t typically have enough time to “go for a drink,” either. If I were to drink, it would be for free while hopping from event to event. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Boarding myself in my apartment and shutting off my brain while I play Candy Crush. Basically any shred of sanity I have during NYFW is due to my “me time.” Louis Cheslaw, GQ Recommends contributor and menswear columnist at the Magasin Substack Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? If they’re able to give me three hours, I love to take friends on the walk through Hampstead Heath, ending up at Kenwood House for tea. Better conversations seem to happen as you’re dodging muddy patches and inhaling the fresh air of London’s highest borough. And it also gives me the opportunity to smugly point out that very few other global capitals have similar countryside-like escapes within their city limits. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Tanakatsu or Trullo, both in Islington. They’re not the most expensive restaurants in London (so maybe I’m missing a trick here) but they’re two real favorites, close to home, and have delighted whoever I’ve taken there in the past. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Same answer since I was 16. Trisha’s until it closes, then Bar Italia around the corner until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. Though Café Kick has the same charm and late-night potential, without being in the middle of the madness. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? I only moved back home from New York a couple years ago… but I always avoid the Devonshire and will continue to. No shade to their very successful launch, and I’d love to eat there someday, but I’ll never understand how they’ve convinced thousands of Londoners that standing outside with no seating or rain cover is a great time. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? The days are starting to get shorter here now, so I’m excited to go into a museum when the sun’s still up, but then walk out into a dark evening. Always atmospheric. Lucy Delius, fine jewelry designer of eponymous line Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? When hosting, I like to show people my end of town. I live in West London so I’d take them to Dove or Strakers in Notting Hill near our studio or Don’t Tell Dad in Queen’s Park. And if they’re really special then it’s beef cheek ragù and homemade pappardelle at mine, because I love to entertain people in my home and my husband has a pretty well-stocked wine collection. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? I’d start with drinks at the Connaught before heading to the Dover for dinner. It’s the sexiest restaurant in town. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Maison Estelle or the Fat Badger. Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? I head to Queens Park Farmers Market every Sunday to stock up for the week ahead. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? The Twenty Two, Claridge’s, Rita’s, or Quo Vadis are all great places to catch up over a drink. I’m avoiding anything themed or gimmicky. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? My life is a constant swing between grit and glamour. Most weekends you’re likely to find me trudging the sidelines in a pair of Blundstones and a huge jacket watching my kids play rugby. Zak Maoui, stylist and style director of the Gentlemen’s Journal Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? Kolae in Borough Market! It’s unbelievable. It’s a southern Thai restaurant with the most delicious dishes like stone bass curry and mango and cucumber salad. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? The Dover is a vibe. You feel like you’re in New York City and the flat iron chicken is unbeatable. If you were to go out after 10 p.m., where would you go? I don’t tend to go out much, but I do love a Last Word cocktail (gin, chartreuse, Campari, and cherry) at Kingsland Road’s A Bar with Shapes for a Name. Where do you get groceries/provisions for the fashion marathon? Marks & Spencer? I die for their crisps. Where do you enjoy going for a drink during fashion week, and where do you avoid like the plague? Is there even time to have a drink? I like to kick back on the Soho Mews House terrace, but I go easy on the drinks because a hangover at 32 isn’t fun. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Seeing everybody from different magazines and corners of the industry. Derek Lam, designer of Câllas Milano Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? Like a true Italian, straight to a coffee shop, at the stand-up bar for a quick espresso, then on we go. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? The original Sant Ambroeus. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? I usually like early nights, but if I find myself near or around Montenapoleone after dinner, I like to window shop. All the stores are beautifully lit, and it’s like a dreamscape of Italian luxury. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? The Portrait Hotel has a great bar. On another note, I try to avoid Malpensa airport at all costs… in and out of Milan through Linate for sure. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? I always have a meal at Ristorante Da Giacomo—for the perfect Italian seafood and the serene (pickle green!) interiors by Lorenzo Mongiardino. Low-key, elegant Milan. Tamu McPherson, founder of All The Pretty Birds Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? Latteria San Marco or my backup plans would be (depending on guest) Osaka or Bice. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Langosteria, Yapa, or Nobu. My friend Kiyoshi Tanaka is a sushi chef there. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? I usually stuff my fridge for a week with groceries from my local fruit vendor, seafood market, organic shop and butcher. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? If in the area I like to have a drink at Bar Luce, and I also like to have aperitivo at Sant Ambroeus or Marchesi. I also love Eugenio’s spicy margarita at Ristorante Da Giacomo.
Julie Ragolia, stylist If you were to go out after 10 p.m., where would you go? Yapa. The cocktails are the best, and it’s dark enough for secret conversations. Where do you get groceries/provisions for the marathon? Milan has so many places to grab a quick panino or some fresh fruit to tide you over. It prides itself on good food, rightfully so. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? A night at La Scala to catch an opera or performance. Where’s the first place you’d take a guest in town? I don’t have one go-to, but the Bourse de Commerce is a good start. Where do you get dinner when a client or brand is picking up the bill? If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Dinner at a brasserie (Bofinger over Brasserie Lipp—less fuss, prettier place). Then if the mood’s still there, Pigalle Country Club. Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? A supermarket? For bread, I go to Le Pain Retrouvé. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? Le Progrès (great people-watching guaranteed). Avoid: any place that has fake flowers on the façade. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Coffee at my local bar-tabac with retirees gossiping over a coffee, or their first beer at 10 a.m.
Lyas (Elias Medini), fashion critic Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? If it’s someone I’d like to kiss, I’d take them to Montmartre. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Le Cornichon, and I’d try all their menu. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Le Saint Denis and La Fête. Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? I mostly starve, but otherwise I get drinkable yogurt at the Franprix. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? Wherever there’s free alcohol, you’ll see me. If not, I’d be in a random PMU [casual coffee spot]. I avoid Le Progrès. They’re always quite rude to me, or they used to be when I still went out in le Marais. What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? Kissing someone who just passes by. A foreigner. It’s a must each season.
Monica Ainley de La Villardiere, writer and author of the Mon Review Substack Where is the first place you’d take a guest in town? Bistrot Des Tournelles or Le Maquis for that French food fix. Where would you get dinner if a client or brand is picking up the bill? Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac. Mouth-watering Japanese, but I ain’t paying that much to be hungry two hours later. If you’re out after 10 p.m., where do you go? Where do you get groceries or provisions for the fashion marathon? On payday: La Grande Épicerie, if I want to feel like Jane Birkin with a basket, then the open-air market on Boulevard Raspail. End of the month: any Franprix will do (Franprix over Carrefour any day). Oh, and the big Monoprix on Rue de Rennes has absolutely everything (including underpants), but not cell reception. Switch off and go wild. Where do you go to get a drink, and where do you avoid like the plague? Go to Café de la Mairie. Avoid Cravan, until they let you order wine or champagne without weird nectars in them. (We get it, you do cocktails… but the customer’s always right!) What’s one non-fashion moment you like to experience each season? A no-BS deep tissue massage with Teresa Savoie.
NEW YORK
LONDON
MILAN
PARIS
in your life?
