“Crowds of peasants go up and down in the valley – beautiful in
the face and the skeleton – they are impudent, and the women are
brazen… Peculiar dress: an oblique handkerchief on the chest,
lively in the colour, opened bodice, short sottane and big sandals
to the feet” wrote John Ruskin following a jaunt to Positano. Fast
forward 200 years plus and Ruskin’s observation is not far off the
mark.

In
Amalfi it’s entirely au fait to go barefoot while wearing reems
of diamonds. Adorn something timeless to fit your surroundings; the
coast is incredibly romantic – and devilishly fun. Bed down with
VOGUE’s deputy editor Sarah Harris at Monastero Santa Rosa, a former
monastery built in the 17th century, comprising of just 20 bedrooms
– or make like Alex Eagle and opt for lazy lunches at Lo Scoglio.
Dinner at Il Pirata à la Laura Bailey is also always a good idea –
as is pasta and ice cream on the daily, preceded by a hike along
the Walk of the Gods.

The French Riviera oozes fashion. Head to June Bay in Èze – a
small village, which stretches from Cap Roux to the Cabuel point –
for a fun vibe and a beachside dip. Spend your days sailing between
sandy spots or walks along the promenade donning capri pants and
intricately patterned silk headscarves. A must-visit for those in
search of some R&R post fashion month, Pandora Sykes has been
known to stay at both Tiara Miramar and Tiara Yaksta hotels in
Théoule-sur-Mer, while further up the coast in Saint-Tropez,
Senequier has been sealed as Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite coffee
spot.

Venture to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and make like Hamish Bowles
with a visit to the Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, a Venetian
renaissance-style central atrium featuring eccentric decor.
Continue in the fashion journalist, slipper-clad step down towards
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, one of the oldest medieval towns on the French
Riviera. While you’re here, visit the stained-glass church designed
by Matisse before heading for lunch in the ivy courtyard of the
Colombe D’Or – a family-run auberge and the one-time refuge for
fleeing artists. Marvel at the art-clad walls before musing on the
likelihood of their reappearance in the future collections of Raf
Simons at Calvin Klein or Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino.

No points for name dropping Yves Saint Laurent at the first
utterance of Moroccan anything. Yes, the French designer bought a
house here in 1966 – partly due to the fact that Morocco’s deep
history and traditions served as a rich reservoir of inspiration
for Yves – and yes, his outputs from this period of his life are
among the most jaw-droppingly, heart-achingly beautiful of his
career. The newly opened salmon-hued YSL museum, perched on the
edge of luscious Jardin Majorelle, chronicles the designer’s life
and is an extension of the much-loved couturier’s reference points
and design evolution. It’s also a good starting point for the
uniformed fashionista.

Sartorial history lessons aside, more than any other city in
Morocco,
Marrakech dishes it out in the street-style stakes. Here you’ll
find hijabs paired with high-tops and turbans offset with
of-the-minute lenses. While the city of colour serves as the
perfect backdrop for Instagram stars of today, it is its
trend-transcending styles that make it a beguiling spot for both
old-school glamazons and modern muses. Trade in your “le smoking”
in favour of a velvet slipper and low-lying harem pants and make a
beeline for the bazaar.

Pre-trip, read up on the Florentine fashion genius Roberto
Cavalli, who reincarnated Italian glamour with his extraordinary
textiles. While Milan is the centre of fashion for intermittent
weeks across the collections, Florence is historical the jewel in
Italy’s fashion crown. To start, a visit to the Costume Gallery of
the Pitti Palace, should definitely be on the agenda – Palazzo
Pitti was the official site of Italian fashion shows before they
upped sticks to Milan.

Aquazzura’s founder and creative director, Edgardo Osorio –
whose headquarters are in the Palazzo Corsini – would probably tell
you to shop at Eredi Chiarini for old school Italian brands, spend
the night at Portrait Firenze or San Michele and come morning,
sample breakfast at Caffè Giacosa – one of the oldest cafes in the
city and owned by Roberto Cavalli. Marchese Emilio Pucci, created
the look now known as “casual elegance”, in the 1950s – an
aesthetic which should be employed for the duration of your
stay.

Puglia
draws a pretty plush crowd – Giorgio Armani, Riccardo Tisci and Raf
Simons join Sienna Miller and Anna Dello Russo in making a
pilgrimage here most summers. When it comes to bedding down, those
in the know will opt for Masseria San Domenico, a spot
dating back to the 14th century. The traditional farmhouse has been
transformed into luxury suites and trulli rooms tend to be in
high-demand – so best to plan your trip well in advance.

You’ll find Laura Jackson and others of that ilk, lounging on
Ostuni White Beach or out for a romantic meal at Locorontondo.
Whatever shape your trip takes, visit Martina France on a Friday
night for Passeggiata – where the locals celebrate the coming week
by dressing up and promenading around town. It’s all very
fashion.

A destination so popular with the fashion set come December,
it’s as though Fashion Week is happening all over again. Here
you’ll clock Nicola Formichetti, of Nicopanda and Tom Mendenhall,
COO of Tom Ford, as well as many a movie star lapping up the winter
sun.

Drawing in the fashion crowd with it’s “eco-chic” ethos,

Tulum is consciously and adamantly off the power grid. At Uno
you can camp right on the beach, while the mellow Casa Violeta is likely to please
less traditional eco-warriors who favour a mattress over a yoga
mat. (Temporarily) disown your worldly possessions and check-in for
a spiritual retreat at The Real Coconut Kitchen. In addition to
being an amazing wellness centre, this place also serves up
second-to-none chia seed puddings and plantain pancakes. For those
more about the retox than the detox, Zamas is great for late-night
drinks, live music and beach parties, while Casa Jaguar’s
Asian-inspired food in intimate, romantic jungle setting is sure to
help segway you from horizontal to hedonistic pronto.