Every fashion month, you’ll find Broadway producer Jordan Roth taking in the new clothes from his front-row VIP seat, and this Paris Fashion Week was certainly no different. The fashion fixture—who often attends couture week in the City of Light, too—attended the spring collections for Loewe, Schiaparelli, Valentino, and more this season. And, of course, Roth brought a number of statement ensembles to the affair—be it a surrealist Loewe dress, or an elegant and draped Balmain tuxedo jacket.
While Jordan delivered tons of fashion moments at the shows, however, it was his off-duty schedule that Vogue was particularly interested in learning about. Ever wonder where regulars stay, shop, and eat during the exciting week? Below, Roth shares his personal guide to Paris.
Where to Stay
I love living in the Old World beauty of Paris, and nowhere lets me fulfill my Parisian palace fantasy like La Reserve. A sumptuous Belle Epoque residence, originally built for Napoleon III’s half brother, with the most attentive personal service and the largest closets of any hotel I’ve ever been to (a Fashion Week lifesaver!). I also love the legendary experience of The Ritz, epitomized by its special suites designed and named for the iconic people who stayed there (Maria Callas, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and of course, Coco Chanel). Gliding down the blue carpeted steps out into the Place Vendome on a sunny Paris morning is one of those moments for the books!
Where to Eat
One of the most glorious meals I’ve ever had in my life was at the three-Michelin-starred Alléno Paris. A multi-course tasting menu of literal art on plates, presented in the most exquisite room with such personalized hospitality and care. I had always stayed away from these kinds of restaurants—thinking that my request for no dairy or gluten would be met with a big eye roll and a firm no—but they could not have been more graciously accommodating, without sacrificing any of the delicious beauty. Another exquisite tasting menu not to miss is Kei, a magnificent Japanese-French fusion experience. And for a more casual bite, I love Loulou outdoors on the grounds of the Louvre, watching the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower. I mean, so Paris!
Where to Drink
I’m not much of a bar person, but the Hotel Costes bar is always a great scene, especially mid–Fashion Week. And the Bar Hemingway, named for another frequenter of The Ritz, is a cozy haunt.
Where to Shop
While the giant brand extravaganzas make Paris a shopper’s paradise—don’t miss the Dior megaplex on Avenue Montaigne, complete with a fabulous restaurant, Monsieur Dior, that serves one of Christian Dior’s own recipes, and a museum displaying the jaw-dropping archives—what I really love are the only-in-Paris tiny storefronts of artisans presenting their own work. Lydia Courteille’s bold, provocative jewelry collections; Marc Auclert’s contemporary mountings of antique artifacts; And Alina Alamorean’s organic sculptures for the body are three of my favorite jewelry stores. Maison Bonnet’s multigenerational family house of custom made eyewear is the epitome of chic. Didier Ludot and Moji Farhat have both curated impeccable collections of vintage couture and ready-to-wear finds.
Where to Sightsee
As busy as Paris Fashion Week is, I always make time to visit some of the museums that are the cultural core of the city. No matter how many times I’ve wandered the treasures of the Louvre, I always see something new or in a new way. The Rodin Museum with its epic gardens is my Paris fantasy come true, and the Picasso Museum is always beguiling. And of course, the special museums that collect, protect and contextualize the masterworks of fashion history: Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Palais Galliera— any exhibition at any of these is always a must-see for me.
