The May Fair
The May Fair puts a lot of store in the fact that, for the fourth year running, it’s the ‘Official Hotel of London Fashion Week’. As well it might, with past guests from the upper echelons of the fashion world including Kate Lanphear, Style Director of ELLE (USA), and Editor of The Sartorialist, Scott Schumann.
Throughout the week, it’s also laying on some pretty nifty fashion-focused events, offers and packages. On the morning of September 15, the hotel unveiled a set of specially commissioned fashion windows from Spiros Halaris (a fashion graphic artist who’s worked with the likes of Tom Ford and D&G). This followed hot on the heels of an LFW cocktail, ‘The Pout’, a luxury ‘Catwalk Wrap’ in the spa and a ‘Fashionista’s Paradise Shopping Package’ that includes bed and breakfast (with chocolate-dipped strawberries brought up to your room) and a chauffeur-driven car for hitting the shops in. Swanky.
Read ELLEuk’s full review of The May Fair
Claridge’s
The fashion credentials of Claridge’s are impeccable. How many other hotels in London , after all, can claim Diane von Furstenberg -designed suites? Or that they inspired Marc Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton collection? Or that Carolina Herrera , Christian Louboutin and Michael Kors are all regular guests and their bar (The Fumoir) is known to be a favourite of Tom Ford ? Or that Paul Smith and his family spend every New Year at the hotel? Or that John Galliano and Alber Elbaz designed their Christmas tree ? The list goes on…
Unlike one or two of London’s other grande dames (Anna Wintour favourite The Ritz springs to mind just a little), the thing that makes Claridge’s stand out is that it manages to be both sumptuous and lavish without a hint of either chintz or stuffiness. Which is precisely what makes it such a popular London Fashion Week hotel. This year both former and current French Vogue editors Carine Roitfeld and Emanuelle Alt are staying at the hotel, and as with previous years, Mulberry will be showing in the ballroom.
Read ELLEuk’s full review of Claridge’s
The Connaught
There are a couple of very good reasons why The Connaught is a favourite London Fashion Week hotel with weary models and fashion editors: firstly, there’s a seriously sybaritic Aman Spa (the only one in the UK) to take into account. Then there’s the award-winning Connaught and Coburg bars, both for which are popular for after-parties (with Marc Jacobs amongst those who threw one recently). Oh, and did we mention the small matter of a couple of Michelin stars in Helene Darroze at the Connaught?
Read ELLEuk’s full review of The Connaught
The Berkeley
At the best of times The Berkeley is one of the more desirable after-party venues – with, in recent years, Chanel having thrown a big bash in the Blue Bar. This year, though, it’s become an even more hotly sought after hotel for London Fashion Week, having recently launched a Green & Spring treatment room (Vogue Japan’s Anna Dello Russo will be one of the fashion editors staying at the hotel this year eager to give it a post-show test run).
For non-guests, the hotel are still running their eternally popular Pret-a-Portea – a catwalk-inspired afternoon tea with Tom Ford summer dress-shaped biscuits, Chloe clutches made of praline and Victoria Beckham -style croc print sponges.
Read ELLEuk’s full review of The Berkeley
Sanderson
Like its sister hotel St Martin’s Lane the edgy Sanderson is a regular favourite of the fash pack, with this year the team from Purple Magazine using it as their LFW basecamp. Why? Because aside from the cool rooms, the even cooler bar options – the courtyard, the roof terrace, the Purple Bar and the Long Bar – it’s actually pretty convenient: both Somerset House and the Old Sorting Office on New Oxford Street are within, respectively, a short cab ride and an even shorter stroll from the hotel, while many of the hottest showrooms are also right on the doorstep on Bruton Street, Rathbone Place, Chiltern Street, Hinde Street and Great Titchfield Street.
Read ELLEuk's full review of Sanderson
Like our pick of London Fashion Week Hotels? Check out our pick of New York Fashion Week hotels .
To keep on top of what's happening at every fashion week show - from the latest reviews to the front row scenes - check out ELLEuk's catwalk section .
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