Dedicated followers of fashion • July 2014
How to holiday (and to shop) like a fashionista
Our panel of fashion insiders reveal the stylish summer destinations that they escape to before September’s Fashion Weeks. But pack your credit cards, too, because the shopping opportunities are just as hot
Interviews by fashion writer Kati Chitrakorn
St Tropez, France
Laura Bailey, model, writer, creative director of LoquetLondon.com
The dreamy August I spent with friends and family in a villa 10 miles outside of St Tropez lingers in the memory. It’s home to my fantasy flea market in the hills beyond Grimaud (think vintage Chanel, linen tablecloths and piles of white cotton nighties). After a long lunch and a swim, I love looking at the bikinis and Bardot-esque straw baskets in the shop at Le Club 55.
Tuscany, Italy
Sofia Barattieri, co-founder of fashion site Motilo
Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany is one of most charming places in the world – as if time stopped in the 1950s. The beaches feel like a living room where you can chat and drink with friends. The sea town has hundreds of boutiques that sell undiscovered Italian designers. My top recommendation is a bikini shop, Glamour in Rose, where you can mix and match tops and bottoms – but they’re so flattering they always sell out at the beginning of the season.
Bali, Indonesia
Leaf Greener, senior fashion editor at ELLE China
Bali is an amazing island. I love swimming in the ocean in the evening by moonlight. There are great local fashion designers whose boutiques are worth a visit, like Buddha Wear in the Seminyak area. It started as a yoga boutique before moving into everyday wear. There’s also Lulu Yasmine, a Brazilian-Taiwanese designer whose boho pieces are all handmade.
Bangkok, Thailand
Yu Masui, fashion journalist at Vogue Japan
It is not just about beautiful sunshine, wonderful dining and lady boys... Bangkok is one of the fastest-growing fashion cities in Asia. Go to the third floor of the Siam Centre (pictured), it’s full of local designers such as Painkiller, Wonder Anatomie and The Wonder Room – such unique creations and amazing visual merchandising. And don’t forget to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market for up-and-coming designers and vintage rock T-shirts.
Puglia, Italy
Yasmin Sewell, fashion, retail and creative consultant
A little spot that my family and I love is Masseria Torre Maizza in Puglia. It’s all about appreciating what the land offers – from calming views of the Mediterranean to the clean cuisine of fresh local produce, there is no better contrast to the daily grind of London. For your fashion fix, venture over to Ostuni, a small town nearby. I always find amazing vintage sunglasses and local accessories.
This article has been tagged Fashion + Style, Destination