The City of Lights has seen gloomy weather during Men's Fashion Week, and its patrons have in turn been weary. Stefano Pilati went for power dressing with a twist at Yves Saint Laurent. Leather pants and accents on black suiting was the staple. Similar to Costume National, shoes came with metallic bands. There was a downtown edge to collection; so much leather detailing that it felt a bit like stealthy kink.

With W's proliferating like bunny rabbits around the world, who would have imagined it would have taken them this long to make a home in the City of Light? Located in a grandiose 19th-century Haussmann building in the 9th arrondissement, the W Paris - Opera's fabulous position offers convenience to opera-lovers and hipsters alike.

We’ve been waiting eagerly for a glimpse of W’s new property in Paris, which was announced in April of this year, and looks like it will arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day. It's the first property in France for the company.

Mia Moretti is a New York DJ. This is her take on four places she likes, and one place she doesn't.

Paris in the springtime gets a lot of press, but Paris at Christmas has its own special magic. Now, the Mandarin Oriental Paris has opened 39 beautiful suites to serve as your home base in time for the holiday season. Of the spacious refurbished rooms, the standouts are quite obviously the seven duplex suites located on the seventh and eighth floors, with spectacular views of the rooftops and monuments of Paris from their private terraces. Designed by French interior designer Sybille de Margerie, she marries Parisian haute-couture details with understated lines and refined materials that echo the hotel’s Oriental influence.

You may have dreamed of the Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas windows or longed to feel posh carrying around a shiny Harrods bag, but these days, the retail outposts that stand for imagination and quality aren’t huge department stores—they’re legendary concept stores around the world that truly embody both their home cities and a certain international sophistication that’s common to all. We’ve showed you our favorite online showcases, but when you’re out on the road here are five that have long been on our hit list—and one we can’t wait to visit.

While the domestic options are absolutely of international quality, sometimes staying in extra-special rooms can make a long trip that much more exciting. These incredible suites represent the best the world has to offer in luxury hotel suites.

In the high-stakes hotel spa wars, there are no shortages of ethereal and glorious sounding treatments and interiors. However, Raffles has introduced a whole new plateau by employing Philippe Starck to design their sleekly sexy new Spa My Blend by Clarins, the latest addition to the chic new Royal Monceau hotel. Starck has created a sea of striking white, awash in neutral light, offset only by the deep blue of the 28-meter swimming pool.

In one of those glorious twists of language, Le Crayon, translated to English, actually means "Pencil." But the wild color palette of this groovy Parisian boutique hotel suggests that it might have popped straight out of a Crayola box. Sister to the more avant-garde Hotel Le Seven, the new Hotel Le Crayon, at 27 rooms almost more a guesthouse than hotel, goes a bit heavier on the kitsch.

Yes, we know: Le Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower. But assuming you’re not proposing this time around, here are eight other international top spots to enjoy breathtaking views while you fill your belly.