NEW YORK
Before shows start, editors like to pick something up at the new 3.1 PhillipLim store (115 Mercer St.; 212-334-1160) because his clothes are well priced and pretty. Out-of-town showgoers stay down the street at the Mercer Hotel (147 Mercer St.; 212-966-6060), where suites have more square footage than most New York apartments.
Many pick up a quick breakfast (the famous hot chocolate or a bowl of organic fruit and granola) at the City Bakery (3 W. 18th St.; 212-366-1414).
Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave.; 212-826-8900) is still the best place to find new designers. If there’s time, editors stop for chicken soup or seared salmon upstairs at Fred’s at Barneys (212-833-2200).
A better-kept secret is Zero + Maria Cornejo (807 Greenwich St.; 212-620-0460), popular for Cornejo’s artful, softly tailored dresses.
All carb-phobia (via the gnocchi) is abandoned at Da Silvano (260 Sixth Ave.; 212-982-2343), where they sit outside during the fall collections to people-watch.
And as overpublicized as they are, Bungalow 8 (515 W. 27th St.; 212-629-3333) and the SoHo House (29–35 Ninth Ave.; 212-627-9800) are still the last stops for one more drink and, at the latter, a screw-the-diet midnight burger.
MILAN
Market directors check into the Carlton Hotel Baglioni (Via Senato, 5; 39-02-77077) and book an appointment at its Guerlain Spa for later in the week.
No matter how crazy the show schedule is, everyone finds time to go to Marni’s flagship (Via Spiga, 50; 39-02-763-17327), which has all the groovy dresses and crafty bags that don’t get bought by New York stores (some play hooky for half a day and book car services to the Marni Outlet, Via Tajani Filippo, 1; 39-02-7104-0332).
10 Corso Como Cafe (Corso Como, 10; 39-2-654831) is one of the few places open on Sunday, and after brunch, visitors sort through one of the best boutiques in Europe, with art books, CDs, and good edits of Comme des Garçons and Vivienne Westwood.
During the week, though, it’s lunch at Bice (Via Borgospesso, 12; 39-02-7600-2572), a stalwart of hearty Italian food, before heading over to Il Salvagente (Via Fratelli Bronzetti, 16; 39-02-7611-0328) for relatively decent sale prices on Alberta Ferretti and Prada. Evenings end with a drink upstairs at the Armani-owned Nobu (Via Pisoni, 1; 39-02-7231-8645), before dining on fried zucchini blossoms at Da Giacomo (Via Sottocorno Pasquale, 6; 39-02-7602-3313).
PARIS
With its views of the Tuileries and proximity to the headquarters of Hermès, Chanel, and John Galliano, the Meurice (228, Rue de Rivoli; 33-1-4458-1010) is the preferred hotel for high-on-the-masthead editors. Between shows, everyone eats a club sandwich, or just the macaroons, at the convenient institution Ladurée (21, Rue Bonaparte; 33-1-4407-6487).
They get Dries Van Noten they normally can’t find in New York at the experimental boutique L’Eclaireur (10, Rue Hérold; 33-1-4041-0989). Café de Flore (172, Blvd. Saint-Germain; 33-1-4548-5526) is another regular spot for coffee or the house salad; it’s not cheap, but it’s between-shows fast.
When there’s a break in the schedule, they socialize and shop (for Repetto flats and Chloé tunics) at Colette (213, Rue Saint-Honoré; 33-1-5535-3390), and one-of-a-kind jewelry at Ornements (96, Rue de Grenelle; 33-1-4544-0023).
The Chinese food at Davé (12, Rue de Richelieu; 33-1-4261-4948) isn’t the best, but advertisers host dinners here, or on the ever-so-discreet second floor at the pricey Caviar Kaspia (17, Place de la Madeleine; 33-1-4265-3332). No one goes to bed before a glass of Champagne to end the day at Bar Hemingway (Hotel Ritz Paris, 15, Place Vendôme; 33-1-4316-3365).