From runway to reality – luxe travel picks inspired by the Met Gala

“Florals? In spring? Groundbreaking.” That was sooo 2024… This year’s Met Gala is coming up on the 5th of May and you probably won’t be seeing many petals because, category is ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’. It’s the first Costume Institute exhibition since 2003 to focus exclusively on menswear and takes the Black dandy as its subject, looking at the importance of style in the formation of Black identities.  

So, the dress code is ‘Tailored for You’. But hold up Anna Wintour, that sounds familiar… Our holidays are all about tailoring for you, too – pick the trip you really want In celebration of this dreamy coincidence, we’ve pulled out our best high-fashion destinations to match your style. What? You don’t pick your holidays based on how you rate the local fits? “Don’t be ridiculous Andrea… Everybody wants this.” 

For all the latest holiday trends, you can always keep up with our Seen on social picks – they’re all over your feed for a reason.  

Hostess with the mostess – New York 

Mrs Empire State herself is ofc the legendary host of the Met Gala every year, so for all things fashion, this city has to be a top choice. For two whole centuries, its Fifth Avenue has been the pinnacle of luxury shopping. You can find Gucci, Armani and Cartier here, as well as Free People and more high street-style stores. Starring in Sex and the City and Gossip Girl, New York’s a destination you already think you know, and a place defined by its style. There are plenty of real Carrie Bradshaws and Blair Waldorfs that live here – running to hail a taxi in ridiculously high heels is such a thing. Sarah Jessica Parker even has her own shoe shop on the very street Carrie’s apartment is set on, perfectly parked near a Ganni store, the Marc Jacobs bookshop – a haven for gift buying – and the famous Magnolia Bakery your TikTok algorithm keeps feeding you.  

It’s a perfect seasonal all-rounder, too. Ice skating in Central Park or by the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center is as festive as it gets. Watch the ball drop in Times Square for New Year, catch the cherry blossoms in spring, then summer is all about rooftop bars and outdoor events. And, the USA loves spooky season, so autumn’s ideal for those burnt orange tones and trick or treating. No matter what the dress code, New York City nails it.  

Classy and timeless – Paris  

If you love a neutral palette, effortless hair and makeup and big statement pieces like a trench coat, say bonjour to Paris. This city is known as the fashion capital of the world and you can take it all the way back to the Renaissance times, when King Louis XIV made France a centre for textile trade – RIP King Louis, you’d have loved Paris Fashion Week. AKA, the Sun King, he loved a bit of extravagance and essentially developed fashion as an industry of its own. Think of Maria Antoinette, too. She embraced her own flair to transform the French court’s approach to clothing, making lighter and flowing designs the hot new thing. And, a moment of silence please for Charles Frederick Worth, the father of haute couture, without whom we wouldn’t have the fashion houses we worship today.  

Museums, macarons and the Mona Lisa complete the classic look. So, spend your days strutting through the Tuileries Garden with the ultimate accessories in hand – a café au lait and pain au chocolat, ofc – get yourself to the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, and soak up the sun along the Seine. In summer, they even turn the riverbanks into an urban beach, complete with sand and deckchairs.

Need some packing tips for your Parisian trip? Get a load of the five-piece French wardrobe. This system focuses on purchasing just five new items for your wardrobe every six months (minus socks and underwear because that would be hard). It helps you to be a lot more particular about what you purchase, making sure you love every item you own and that what you buy goes with what you already own – it’s the ideal ideology for simple but effective packing, too! 

Read our Paris after dark guide to find the perfect nightlife picks to show off your evening fits.  

Innovative and chic – Copenhagen  

If you want to know what the next season’s hottest trends are going to be, just look to the locals of Copenhagen. Flip flops for summer? Who knew? They did. Some video of chic Danish women strutting the streets of their capital will always go viral and the next thing we know, we’ve only gone and bought those cute capri pants. Keep your eyes peeled for lots of plum in 2025… burgundy was the colour of last season, but Copenhagen’s already called it and now it’s about shades of aubergine.  

It’s no surprise really when the city is home to so many modern art and design museums. There are over 100 commercial galleries, and CHART is the Copenhagen art fair that runs in late August to celebrate works from the Nordic region. Noma continues to werk it in the foodie biz, having topped ‘The World’s Best Restaurant’ list five times, and now operates as a food ‘lab’ with pop-ups. And, heard of hygge? That’s a Danish thing, too. They don’t just dress good, they live well and are actually one of the happiest groups of people on Earth – the UK could never…  

Tick off the touristy sites like Nyhavn’s colourful houses, Tivoli Gardens and the Christiansborg Palace. But also check out the artsy Norrebro district, where Dua Lipa would return JUST to have the chicken burger from Poulette again, and the bars in the Meatpacking District. The locals love to rave about how you can get pretty much everywhere in less than 15 minutes – they love a bike – so it really is the ideal city for wandering the streets. Stroget is an iconic shopping spot, where you’ve got Carhartt, ARKET and other aesthetic Danish brands. Or, Osterbro is a district that’s full of flea markets and vintage finds – it might be a good idea to splash out on some extra luggage allowance for this one?  

For the best local recs, read our itinerary for what to do in 72 hours in Copenhagen. 

Cool and casual – Barcelona 

Casual is king in Barcelona, which is a refreshing change from your more high-fashion destinations. They love a ripped jean here and dressing down is on the up. Simple tricks like adding a pop of red or some vintage jewellery just elevate an otherwise quite basic look. And the locals are deffo on the sheer and cotton maxi skirt trend – they both meet the comfy chic brief. Catalan designers clearly take inspiration from the artistic legends of these parts, too – think Gaudi and Dali. Technicolour prints and structural pieces are an ode to this city’s architecture.  

Fashion fans should definitely check out Passeig de Gracia for its boutiques and international brands, as well as the whole Grassia neighbourhood. It’s known for its artistic community, lively plazas and vintage shopping – it’s where all of Barcelona’s best trends are set. The low-rise barrio is found just beyond Eixample – a buzzing LGBTQ+ area that’s also worth a visit – and was an independent town that got incorporated into the city as it spread, so you already know it’s got a bit of an edge. El Raval is also known for its markets – Ibiza-born Holala! Plaza is a gorg place that’s full of flea-market finds from all over the world. And, Grey Street is a beaut perfume shop there, selling vegan, cruelty-free products, ceramics and accessories. For local designs, head to the Gothic quarter and visit La Manual Alpargatera – they make the most stunning pairs of artisan espadrilles that complete the ultimate Catalan look. They go way back to 1940 and helped spearhead this rope-soled shoe trend to the point that everyone from Penelope Cruz to Ralph Lauren and Salvador Dali became big fans. Plus, the Gothic quarter isn’t far from the iconic tapas-loving Las Ramblas and is where you can tick off sites like the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar and Barcelona Cathedral.  

Accessories queen – Milan 

You already know Milan’s got taste because the city’s got a big rep for producing luxe materials like lace and silk. This was all back in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance period so, naturally, it’s earned its place up there as part of the ‘Big Four’ in the fashion world, alongside Paris, New York and London. Designers like Giorgio Armani, Prada and Versace all opened their first stores in Milan and move over Fifth Avenue, here you’ve got ‘The Golden Quadrilateral’. Via Sant’Andrea, Via Senato, Via Manzoni and Via Monte Napoleone are four different streets that make up its world-famous shopping district.  

Understated accessorising sums up Milan. Think a plain white tee, oversized blazer, leather gloves, a statement handbag and big sunnies – it’s elevated everyday basics. Pop your kitten heels on and head to Villa Necchi Campiglio. Just like the English have stately homes, Milan has its villas of noble families and notorious designers. This one was built in 1935 and didn’t just play home to the Necchi Campiglio family after the Second World War, it also starred in I Am Love with Tilda Swinton and House of Gucci with Lady Gaga. For similar boujie sights, enter your Renaissance era at the Pinacoteca di Brera to catch some iconic paintings and visit the 15th-century castle, Castello Sforzesco. Then, moving into the 1950/60s, your Insta feed will LOVE Bar Luce in the Fondazione Prada building, AKA the brainchild of the aesthetic genius that is Wes Anderson.  

The shopping district maybe super polished and high-end but the big designer brands also stack up against graffitied buildings and industrial complexes that give Milan more of an urban edge. Navigli is now known for its lively nightlife and when the sun sets, the waterside bars along the Navigli Grande are where it’s at. We can confirm, an Aperol spritz does in fact go with everything. 

Find your fave fash-un destination and book your next trip to show off your best fits. Or, you know our Luxury holidays are an excuse to dress up. 

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Author: Lily (she/her)
Last updated: 15/04/2025