Planning a cultural weekend? …

LONDON

Schiaparelli, photography Kuba Dabrowski.

At Schiaparelli’s recent Haute Couture show in Paris, creative director Daniel Roseberry channelled prickly predators, from scorpions to alligators, in a collection of trompe-l’oeil effects evoking tails, horns and giant wings.

Salvador Dali’s Lobster Telephone, 1938.

Surreal and stunning, his creations matched Elsa Schiaparelli’s dictum, “In difficult times fashion is always outrageous”. To see how Roseberry has drawn on his legacy, visit “Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” at V&A from March 21.

Norman Hartnell evening gown, 1957, worn by Queen Elizabeth II.

Someone who did not frighten the horses with her diplomatic dressing and off-duty style was Queen Elizabeth II. Her archive, one of the most important of 20th century British fashion, will be on display at the “Her Life in Style” exhibition at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

Fashioning The Crown by Justine Picardie, just published by Faber.

The Only Blonde In The World by Pauline Boty, part of “Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” at National Portrait Gallery, from June 4.

“Wes Anderson: The Archives” at Design Museum until July 26.

STAY At The Newman, London’s newest hotel in Fitzrovia. Its aesthetic is inspired by the area’s inspiring characters such as Nancy Cunard, once Fitzrovia’s bohemian queen, whose iconic bangles and penchant for polka dots subtly permeate the hotel’s design.

Ember Locke aparthotel’s studios offer good-value glamour in a great location within easy reach of Kensington High Street and the Natural History Museum.

ROME

PM23 opened last May – the home of the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation at Piazza Mignanelli 23 – currently hosting “Venus”, an interesting homage to Valentino as seen through the eyes of Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Twelve of her installations feature alongside 33 archive pieces. For an aperitivo, pop into the Six Senses or The Hassler, both with rooftop views.

STAY Palazzo Dama, a boutique gem near the Capitoline, with Villa Borghese and the Vatican a leisurely stroll away. 

Or First Musica, a pitch perfect crash pad with rooms lined in Loro Piana fabrics and wall paintings. Dine at the traditional trattoria Al Moro, steps from the Tevi Fountain and don’t leave without a gelato from Giolitti.

ANTWERP

Dynamic, designer-laden and dripping in diamonds, Belgium’s “second” capital Antwerp is only a 45-minute train ride from Brussels. Take time to admire the station, hailed as the Railway Cathedral, a masterpiece of beaux arts and art nouveau architecture and a fitting introduction to Antwerp’s marvels. Its cobblestone streets, Renaissance architecture and food and drink scene impress (there are 17 Michelin-starred restaurants), as does Flemish artistry in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, and shopping at some of the boutiques of the so-called “Antwerp Six” – designers Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee and Dirk Van Saene. The six designers are the subject of a new exhibition at Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu) from March 31. They met at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and share an avant-garde aesthetic characterised by deconstruction and asymmetry, along with minimalist colour palettes.

STAY At Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, a restored 13th-century monastery set within the city’s botanical gardens. Rooms are designed according to the Japanese wabi sabi principle of embracing imperfection – think gently rumpled linens, roughly plastered walls, poured concrete floors and wooden furniture.

Of note is the spa which offers everything from acupuncture to osteopathy and has its own apothecary offering, Saint Charles skincare. Don’t miss a Belgian beer and a bite to eat at Le Royal Café.

NEW YORK

Preceded by the Met Gala on May 4, co-chaired this year by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, “Costume Art” opens at The Costume Institute on May 10. It will juxtapose historical and contemporary garments with the Museum’s vast collection, and profile body types (naked, pregnant, ageing, classical).

STAY At The Manner, a new hotel in SoHo with 1970s Milanese-style interiors. Functional and a fraction of the price is Walker Hotel Tribeca, within walking distance of the cultural triangle – Greenwich Village, SoHo and Chinatown. Get a corner room with a great view.

BERLIN

“Many Shades of Grès” at the Museum of Decorative Arts demonstrates how Madame Grès’ pleated gowns were inspired by ancient sculptures (May-November).

STAY At Hotel Zoo, fashion references include Diane von Furstenberg rugs, Tom Dixon lighting and fashion photos by Andreas Kock. No wonder Tilda Swinton is a fan. 

The Sunday flea market at Mauerpark is good for clothes, vinyls and East German kitsch. It’s also the setting for karaoke parties led by Dubliner Gareth Lennon, aka Joe Hatchiban.

SEE MORE: The Most Poignant Fashion Exhibition To See Now: Ashes To Fashion