This was the first London Fashion Week I’ve missed in years! I must admit, I had to get a daily fix of catwalk news from Vogue TV whilst in the US. I particularly LOVED Issa London and Matthew Williamson.

The View at The Spanish Steps Rome, Italy

But I’m not too upset I had to rely on virtual updates…because I’m setting off  for Milan to catch the shows in 2 hours time!

I’m meeting a tall, dark and handsome friend who lives in Rome (the type of Euro-stylish gent who wears his trousers rolled up just so and his pocket square folded to perfection) for a two night fashion fix. We’re booked into The Gray Hotel

The Gray Milan, Italy

– a gorgeous hideaway with a fab central location, right opposite Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shops.

Known for its sleek, creative design, The Gray is super-cool. I’m hoping for one of the rooms with a bed suspended in mid-air…might help me seduce the Italian! Here’s hoping for a molto bene Milan Fashion Week!

You did well to avoid London last week Melissa – schools starting back and London Fashion Week combined to clog up the roads and meant I wasn’t so much cruising down the King’s Road with the radio on and the windows down and more stuck in wall to wall traffic having a fall out with the Cabbie.

Your East Coast Road Trip sounds like fun – I’m impressed with the hot air ballooning! But it’s not like to you miss LFW, you’re normally first through the doors at the shows. Have you given up shopping in a bid to finally manage travelling with carry-on only?

PK

Well Paul, although I didn’t need any persuasion to visit New York at all, the guarantee of eligible bachelors certainly got me there a little faster and The Inn at Irving Place was my first stop.

With just 12 rooms spread across two restored terraced townhouses, this is the perfect hotel for anyone wanting privacy and relaxation in one of the busiest cities in the world.

I absolutely loved the furnishings and took lots of snap-shots on my iPhone of the Tiffany lamps, cherry-wood floors and antique fireplaces that I intend to replicate in my own little flat. Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen eat your heart out.

And for any Brits missing their daily cup of Earl Grey, there’s even a charming English-style afternoon tea served in the salon, scones and jam included! A little home from home – perfect.

But after pounding the Manhattan streets, maxing out my credit card in Bergdorf Goodman’s and channelling Audrey at Tiffany’s (well a girl can dream…) it was the Martini Lounge (just as you predicted Paul!) that I looked forward to every evening. This cosy haven has a martini menu that would even impress Mr Bond himself; alas no man of mystery for me but I did find something even better, my old friend from when I merrily graced the New York social scene, Serena Riley. She is as much of a luxury travel addict as me so has promised to block out the next few weeks of her ridiculously busy schedule to try out the hottest SLH hotels on this side of the pond we can find.

Fabulous!