Sarah Harris

Deputy editor & fashion features director

Where will you be for the holidays?

I will be heading to the Cayman Islands to stay at the newly opened Palm Heights for Christmas and New Year.

Palm Heights Hotels © Courtesy of Palm Heights

What will you be packing?

I’m a really light packer, even for a two-week holiday – I only ever take things that I’m sure I’ll wear. I’ll pack a bikini for every day since they take up almost no room in a suitcase (my go-to is always Eres); an oversized cotton shirt as a beach cover-up; sandals by The Row that work by day and night (I never take heels for a holiday), and a few simple evening options that won’t scrunch up on a long-haul flight.

What are you most looking forward to?

From breakfast to the bed sheets, I adore the comforts of hotel life – I would live in a hotel if I could. Also, I’m excited to swim in the Caribbean Sea with my two-year-old daughter, Dree.

Palm Heights Hotel © Courtesy of Palm Heights

What do you hope to open on Christmas Day?

It’s the same every year: something gold and/or sparkly, please. And, for when I return home, a Ronan Bouroullec painting on my wall.

From left to right: Fernando Jorge orbit 18-karat rose gold, diamond and opal ring, £3,910, available at Net-a-Porter.com , Eres bikini top, £114, Eres bikini bottoms, £88, available at Eresparis.com , Gabriella Hearst dress, available at Gabriellahearst.com , Balenciaga shirt, £675, available at Brownsfashion.com , The Row sandals, £700, available at Matchesfashion.com

Ellie Pithers

Fashion features editor & senior associate digital editor

Where will you be for the holidays?

I’ll be in the French Alps for New Year’s Eve; a dose of icy alpine air always seems to sort me out after the excesses of Christmas. I’m looking forward to a spell at Le Coucou in Méribel, a new hotel designed by Pierre Yovanovitch with a delicious-looking spa; and a stop-off at Le Refuge de Solaise in Val d’Isère. Only accessible via ski lift, it promises superlative stargazing and fresh powder before breakfast.

La Refuge de Solaise © Elina Sirparanta

What will you be packing?

Cosy knits from Lauren Manoogian and a jacket from Aztech Mountain (Mugler’s Casey Cadwallader is head of design).

What do you hope to open on Christmas Day?

My ongoing project to convert my home into a concept store, much to the amusement of my flatmates, requires the addition of an onyx tray from Monologue London.

Le Coucou Spa © Pierre Yovanovitch

How do you relax?

An evening soak after a celebratory kir royale on the last run home. I eat crisps in the bath and watch all the movies I missed out on in December.

How are you spending New Year’s Eve?

Hopefully swathed in Paco Rabanne, twirling a fondue fork, swinging Chanel’s cable-car minaudière from my shoulder and not talking about Brexit.

From left to right: French girl sea soak, £19, available at Selfridges.com , Moncler logo-jacquard strap ski goggles, £435, available at Matchesfashion.com , Aztech Mountain nuke suit, £1,285, available at Aztechmountain.com , Bloc Studios ondamarmo tray, £950, available at Monologuelondon.com , Penelope Chilvers Incredible boot, £389, available at Penelopechilvers.com , Lauren Manoogian knitted coat, £685, available at Net-a-Porter.com , Chanel bag, to order, available at Chanel.com

Olivia Singer

Executive fashion news editor

Where will you be for the holidays?

To counterbalance the abundance of December, I am taking an ascetic approach and heading to the Lanserhof to embark on a seven-day detox programme. It's the best I’ve found – and I’ve done my research.

The Lanserhof © Alexander Haiden

What do you do there?

Overseen by a specialist doctor, I take advantage of every treatment going: from daily Shiatsu to intravenous vitamin drips to a wealth of both holistic and medical diagnostics and a regular schedule of saunas, swimming and naps. Food is scant (in accordance with the Mayr method, which revolves around giving your digestive system a break) but massages are plentiful. It seems like a fair trade to me.

The Lanserhof © Alexander Haiden

What are you most looking forward to?

Relinquishing any responsibility for myself and putting my physical, nutritional and mental wellbeing in the hands of a team who are fully equipped to ensure a sense of serenity. It means I will start 2020 off as the best version of myself: a well-rested picture of health.

What will you be packing?

I am obsessed with the dressing gown Craig Green has designed for London’s Standard Hotel and, as the majority of my week will be spent wearing one, it’s definitely a worthy investment. A cashmere tracksuit feels equally essential – and then a wealth of beauty products to apply in front of Netflix during the evenings.

The Lanserhof © Alexander Haiden

What do you hope to open on Christmas day?

A ceramic Hermès tray – the best bedside-table accessory in the world.

What are you wearing on Christmas day?

I consider the Christmas period an opportunity to recharge entirely – so the dressing gown and tracksuit will really be integral parts of most of my outfits.

How are you spending New Year’s Eve?

Having dinner at the home of one of my best friends, likely getting my money’s worth out of the tracksuit.

From left to right: Craig Green X The Standard London robe in pink, £152, available at Shopethestandard.com , Barrie cashmere hoodie, £1,195, cashmere jogging trousers, £746, available at Farfetch.com , Rodin hand cream, £45, available at Rodin.com , Hermès change tray, £465, available at Hermes.com , Byredo chai candle, £57, available at Byredo.com , Bamford geranium bath oil, £45, available at Bamford.com

Dena Giannini

Style director

Where will you be for the holidays?

With my friends and family at the Geejam Hotel in the foothills of the Blue Mountains near Port Antonio. Everything about Jamaica over the holidays is fresh, fun and full of flavour.

The Geejam Hotel © Courtesy of Geejam Hotel

What are you most looking forward to?

Its newly renovated Bushbar is an amazing place to catch performances by talented local musicians and surprise sets by music legends. Home to state-of-the-art studios, where some of the industry’s most iconic artists have recorded, it’s the perfect place to embrace Jamaica’s creative roots.

Bushbar Restaurant © Courtesy of Bushbar Restaurant

What will you be packing?

Plenty of swimsuits that can double as tops, from my go-to swimwear designers Leslie Amon and Talia Collins. I also like easy, colourful dresses from La DoubleJ and, a new favourite, Sika. In addition to the local treasures I always pick up, I’ll be accessorising with my raffia Delvaux bag, Manolo Blahnik sandals and Dior headscarf.

What do you hope to open on Christmas day?

A Leica camera, because my phone will be tucked away for some quality digital detox time. And diamonds, of course - a woman can dream!

From left to right: Delvaux box bag, £2,131, available at Modsens.com , Leica camera, £4,500, available at Parkcameras.com , Vanda Jacintho artsy earrings, £275, available at Vandajacintho.com , Tiffany ring, available on request at Tiffany.co.uk , Dior headscarf, £290, available at Dior.com , La Double J accordion knit dress, £310, available at Ladoublej.com , Leslie Amon pink swimsuit, £183, available at Leslieamon.com , Manolo Blahnik sandals, available at Manoloblahnik.com , Hermès towel, available at Hermes.com

Poppy Kain

Senior contributing fashion editor

Where will you be for the holidays?

In Rye – just two miles from the sea and only an hour and a half from London, it was recently dubbed “London’s Long Island”. With its jumble of cobbled, medieval streets, huddled cosily around a hilltop, and a roaring log fire in every pub (or micro brewery) grate, it’s as picture-postcard perfect as it gets for the festive season.

Mermaid Street, Rye, Sussex, England. © Joe Daniel Price

Where will you be staying?

Shortlisted for the World Architecture Awards, St John Rye is remodelled from a 1950s ambulance station. It’s a sensational, tucked away conversion that you can rent. Plus, its enclosed exterior courtyard is ideal for entertaining.

St John House © Wojciech Ketz

What are you wearing on Christmas Day?

A Chopova Lowena dress with a pair of Grainne Morton’s one-of-a-kind earrings, which are made entirely from found objects and precious metals.

Alex McArthur Interiors © Courtesy of Alex McArthur

What are you most looking forward to?

A dip in the sea on Christmas morning, and an early evening bike ride round Rye Harbour Nature Reserve – a flask of hot toddy with extra cinnamon and cloves to hand – before watching the fishing boats sail home up the estuary. I also love the expansive hot-pink sunsets setting the late December sky on fire.

What are you hoping to open on Christmas Day?

A mountain bike.

From left to right: Gosset champagne, £56.53, available at Masterofmalt.com , Le Bonnet lambswool beanie, £53.49, available at Trouva.com , Trickers country boot, £415, available at Trickers.com , Chopova Lowena checkerboard kilt mini dress, £1,080, available at Brownsfashion.com , Grainne Morton earrings, £975, available at Grainnemorton.co.uk , Salsa Cycles mountain bike, £4,500, available at Salsacycles.com , Santa Maria Novella candle, £58, available at Smnovella.com

Naomi Smart

Shopping Editor

Where are you spending the holidays?

On a road trip, zig-zagging between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua. Known as the land of lakes and volcanoes, its lush landscape feels like one sprawling nature reserve ripe for adventure. Christmas day will be spent at El Coyol, a secluded villa on one of the world’s smallest private islands, overlooking Lake Nicaragua.

Cathedral of Granada, Nicaragua © Getty Images

What will you be packing?

A very streamlined wardrobe that will work 24/7 – cool day dresses from Loewe and embellished sandals from Jil Sander. I’ll leave room in my suitcase for all the ceramic souvenirs I’m likely to bring home.

How are you spending New Year’s Eve?

Quad biking around Ometepe, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua searching for waterfalls for an all-day celebratory picnic.

El Coyol © Courtesy of El Coyol

What do you hope to open on Christmas day?

A piece of jewellery from James de Givenchy’s Taffin, or a sculptural lamp from Carmen D'Apollonio.

From left to right: Hunza G bikini, £155, available at Mytheresa.com , Jil Sander sandals, avaiable at Jilsander.com , Loewe dress, £2,600, available at Loewe.com , Loewe belt, £395, available at Loewe.com , Taffin ring, price on request, available at Taffin.com , Carmen D'Apollonio lamp, price on request, available at Carmendapollonio.com , Carolina Herrera Jackie carafe, £268, available at Cabanamagazine.com

This article was originally published in the December 2019 issue of British Vogue.

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