Top Ten Places to Party Like Kate Moss

Photo courtesy of www.st-tropez.com

Sensational supermodel, ‘cocaine Kate’, devoted mother, rock star roadie or glamorous party girl; whatever you think of her there is no denying that Kate Moss has defined what’s hot and what’s not for well over a decade. Where Kate Moss has gone others have followed, and even now, in her state of semi-retirement and marital bliss, based between London’s leafy Highgate and the idyllic Cotswold village of Little Farringdon, her influence on what people do and where they go is undeniable. Nowhere has this been more apparent than Mossie’s choice of where to let her hair down. Unwanted paparazzi shots of her sunbathing topless on a friend’s yacht in St Tropez or stumbling out of top London hotels have done more for destinations than the largest PR budget, and have guaranteed that swarms of wannabes flock to wherever she was seen first. As the newly appointed face of St Tropez fake tan, Kate Moss’s attraction seems in no danger of flickering out. So, to keep you up to date with the movements of the cool crowd, I’ve put together a list of this fashionista’s favourite holiday and party destinations.

1. Phuket, Thailand

If you are part of the A list ‘jet-set’ crowd, winter doesn’t mean rain-drenched commutes and ever-encroaching evenings; instead it’s jetting to one of the two winter destinations, the slopes, or the sun (or both). Not a big skier, Kate Moss has been known to grace Thailand’s picturesque beaches over Christmas and New Year when the weather in her native London can get just too much to bear. And, if you’re wealthy, and a woman, Thailand can only mean two resorts; Chiva Som – world-famous restorative spa – or Phuket’s six star resort, Amanpuri, one of my top ten Aman Resorts worldwide. Often spotted with gal pals, her daughter, Lila Grace, or past squeezes, Kate Moss jets off to Amanpuri the way most people go to Marbella. It’s not hard to see why, this hotel has it all; extremely private villas surrounded by a think palm jungle that face Phuket’s picture-perfect Andaman Sea, parties rivalled only by St Bart’s at that time of year, and a crowd that resembles the who’s who of Hollywood, Wall Street and the fashion world combined.

2. St Tropez, France

An unmissable part of the summer social calendar, St Tropez is the stuff of legend. Originally a quaint Provencal village with a sheltered harbour, St Tropez is now where the world’s largest yachts bob to the breeze, every designer boutique you can imagine has an outlet and parties go on all night and all day. Unsurprisingly, Kate Moss likes to head to St Tropez nearly every year. Often spotted with a group of well-heeled friends, Mossy likes nothing more than heading to the mainland and docking at celeb-favourite, Club 55. Made famous by Brigitte Bardot, when she stumbled upon this humble beach hut-cum-sandwich shop while filming ‘Et Dieu… Crea la Femme’ in 1955, this slice of paradise is well worth the hype. Tens of tables with blue and white tablecloths dappled in sunlight play host to past presidents, supermodels, Russian tycoons and those just looking to be part of the fun. With the azure sea directly in front, the deep blue Provencal sky above, and the endless sound of champagne corks popping and blush rosé being glugged down appreciative gullets, it doesn’t get much better than lunch time at Club 55 from June to September. In St Tropez, big dogs, Kate Moss included, stay on yachts, but if your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, Muse Hotel, Hotel Sezz and Pastis Hotel are all gorgeous boutique hotels in and around the town itself.

3. The Cotswold’s, UK

Less than two hours drive from London but far enough to feel like you’re properly in the county, the Cotswold’s is, hands down, one of England’s most charming regions. Quaint villages with their Cotswold stone cottages give way to rolling hills and green fields; driving through on a fine summer’s day makes you feel that you’ve arrived into the definition of the quintessential English countryside. It is no surprise therefore that Kate Moss has chosen this quarter of the world to set up her dream home. Often papped having a pint at the local pub, with her giveaway sports car parked outside, it’s a known fact that Moss likes nothing more that a weekend in the country at her ten bedroom Grade II listed mansion. In addition to owning a house in the area, Mossy also picked the Cotswolds as the location for her wedding in 2011 to Jamie Hince. After the wedding ceremony in the local parish church, guests partied on till dawn in an elaborate tented village at her estate (apparently modelled on ‘Glastonbury meets Club 55’). Guests stayed at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach, a slice of boutique bolt-hole heaven with only 14 rooms. If you’re in the region make sure to visit Daylesford Organic Farm; the  impressive farm shop stocks every ingredient possible (all organic, naturally), world-famous Bamford Spa is on site and a restaurant and café, including a delightful courtyard, are both well worth stopping by for.

Photo courtesy of www.visitengland.com

4. The Ritz, Paris

No Paris Fashion Week would be complete without photos of Kate Moss plus hubby passing through the doors of the Ritz, Paris, parading a new outfit, each more covetable than the one before; sky high Louboutin boots, extravagant fur stoles and see-through tops have all been cat-walked past the Ritz’s obliging doormen. Still one of the city’s top hotels, The Ritz is also a classic. Built by Cesar Ritz in 1898, the very first manager of the Savoy prior to his next success in London, The Ritz is located on the Place Vendome, the epitome of Parisian chi-chi. With stiff competition from the Four Seasons George V, Le Bristol, Le Royal Monceau, the newly opened Mandarin Oriental and Le Crillon (temporarily closed for a refurb until 2015), The Ritz is constantly given a renewed stamp of approval from one of the world’s most influential hotel guest – Kate Moss herself. Often in town to walk for her pals (now disgraced) John Galliano for Dior and Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Kate is often spotted dining at Paris hot spots Restaurant L’Avenue and Cafe de Flore and has been known to party all night long at another of Paris’s top hotels, Le Meurice.

5. Golden Eye Resort, Jamaica

No stranger to the island, Kate Moss has visited this slice of paradise several times before. In addition to a visit in June 2012 to shoot a Harper’s Bazaar cover, another trip in October 2011, labelled by the press as a post-wedding ‘marriage-shock’ getaway with girlfriends, involved Kate Moss and her best friend Sadie Frost jetting out to Jamaica with their daughters (supposedly also BFFs) for some girly fun. Although there were rumours of house-hunting, paparazzi photographs show a different story; lots of lounging on sun-beds, drinking and partying her days away – showing that however much she is idolized, Kate Moss isn’t too different from the average island visitor. Kate Moss and co stayed at the world-famous Goldeneye resort, now owned by Chris Blackwell of Island Records fame, but originally built by James Bond creator, Ian Fleming. An idyllic combination of perfect Caribbean beaches, sleepy lagoons and beach-front wooden cottages, Goldeneye was where Fleming wrote many of his Bond novels – guests can actually choose to stay in Fleming’s own villa. As you would expect from any hotel patronized by Kate Moss, famous guests at Goldeneye include Jay Z and wife Beyonce, Princess Margaret, Naomi Campbell and Sting.

6. St Bart’s

Known as a millionaires’ playground, in this part of the world only Mustique measures up to St Bart’s in regards to its celeb credentials. Between Christmas and New Year the whole of Hollywood can be found sunbathing on its perfect Caribbean shores and partying till dawn on super-yachts and private hillside villas. Roman Abramovich’s annual New Year’s party at his 70-acre estate on Gouverneur Beach is always the toast of the town and the only place to be seen when the clock strikes midnight on the last day of the year. In 2012 Kings of Leon were flown in to perform to an array of superstar guests including P Diddy, George Lucas, Rupert Murdoch and Harvey Weinstein. Not one to ever miss out on the action, Kate Moss is a keen visitor to the island. Spotted last in December 2012, Mossy flew to the island for a photo-shoot with celebrated fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Luckily, her visit wasn’t all work-related; she managed to combine her stay with some holiday time with beau Jamie Hince. Although most of the A list stay on super yachts while visiting St Barts, the best hotel on island is Hotel Saint Barth Isle de France. A dreamy combination of crisp whites, bleached wood decking, and endless views of the turquoise sea from wherever you look make this boutique hotel the epitome of paradise. Just don’t act too surprised if you bump into Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in the lobby.

7. Jodhpur, India

After the Fitzgeraldian-themed extravaganza of Mossy’s 30^th birthday, it wasn’t going to be long before one of her illustrious clique threw something inspired by the F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, ‘Great Gatsby’. Partying is something that this jet-set takes seriously – no half-hearted attempts there. In 2012 Naomi Campbell, otherwise known as Kate Moss’s BFF, threw the party of all parties at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India, one of my favourite hotels in Rajasthan. Thrown in aid of her boyfriend’s 50^th birthday, the several day long affair included a first night bash within the city’s magnificent Mehrangarh Fort which dates from the 15th century. The piece-de-resistance however was the black tie sit-down Gatsby-themed meal within Umaid Bhawan’s splendid art deco domed interior. With its indoor underground swimming pool, domed lobby and gardens that would put any British royal residence to shame, plus a guest list that included Diana Ross, Sir Bob Geldof and Sarah Ferguson, this must have been quite the bash to be a fly on the wall.

8. Ibiza, Spain

Kate Moss likes to party. Ibiza is the party island. It therefore makes sense that Kate Moss and co regularly go to Ibiza to let their hair down and party till dawn.  Forget Pacha , Privilege and Space, when Kate Moss does Ibiza it’s all secluded villas in the hills, private beach parties and hanging out with fellow A-listers on their yachts. Kate Moss has visited the island on family holidays with her daughter , famous friends (she was famously papped walking the town with Chloe Green, daughter of Philip), and her hubby Jamie Hince. Never one to hide herself away, whenever she is in town the paparazzi always manage to catch a snap of her sunbathing topless on one of the islands many beautiful beaches. If you want to recreate Ibiza Kate-style on your next visit, make sure to stay at Cas Gazi, the favourite boutique bolt-hole of those in the know (Richard Gere and the King and Queen of Norway have all spent the night). Located in the heart of the island, Cas Gazi is surrounded by olive groves, pine forests and fruit trees – you might not even make it down to the beach such is the nature of this rural retreat. Wherever you stay make sure to take a trip into the old town; a world away from the high-rise horror of San Antonio, Ibiza town, with its elegant harbour and winding streets, often comes as a surprise to those who aren’t in the know.

9. Claridge’s, London

Turning 30 is a major milestone in any woman’s life; so, naturally, as Moss’s big birthday approached, editors, gossip columns and Kate’s faithful fan-base began to speculate in a serious way as to where this party girl was going to celebrate the big three zero. Not one to do things by half, after a boozy lunch entre filles at London’s Mandarin Oriental, Kate Moss took over an art deco suite at one of the city’s most exclusive hotels, Claridges. Kate Moss and her closest girlfriends got ready for the night ahead at the suite before travelling to a ‘Beautiful and the Damned’ themed extravaganza at Sam Taylor Wood’s house in Marylebone. Supposedly the supermodel’s favourite novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous story is a tale of love, decadence, money and vice – all quite fitting for a guest-list that resembled some of the world’s most beautiful people. Following an appearance at the themed party thrown in her honour, the real party happened later that night back at Claridges. Kate Moss’s suite was full of fellow partiers until the early morning and was the site of those orgy rumours.

10. Glastonbury, Somerset

A staple presence at one of the world’s most famous music festivals, Kate Moss is papped at Glastonbury year after year. Known for being the creator of ‘festival chic’ (think Hunter wellies, short shorts or a thigh-grazing mini-dresses), Kate Moss doesn’t miss an opportunity to get down and dirty with fellow festival-goers. She famously attended the festival in 2007 with former flame Pete Doherty, where he performed with his band, Babyshambles.  And in 2011 she watched from the sidelines as her soon-to-be hubby performed with his band, The Kills. Regular camping however, Kate Moss does not. Instead, VIPs (including Mick Jagger this year) stay in a range of luxurious yurts; two of the best brands at Glastonbury include Sshh.. and Land&Sky. Roomy and spacious, the yurts include ample storage space (for supermodel wardrobes), sheepskin covered sofas and day beds, expansive double beds, gilded mirrors and, if you’re lucky, warming open fires should there be any dreaded rain; there is simply nowhere better to rest your head after partying at the festival of the year. Also a fan of the annual Isle of Wight festival, Kate Moss attended the festival in 2011 with a gaggle of 30 plus girlfriends to celebrate possibly the world’s most famous hen party, ahead of her wedding to Jamie Hince the following month. Celebrity pals in attendance for the three-day bash included Jade Jagger, Meg Matthews and Sadie Frost. However, the wet weather got too much for the party and they ended up checking into The Priory Bay Hotel for an end-of-weekend dinner.

Have you been on holiday and seen Kate Moss or know one of her favourite spots? Or just love her as much as I do? I’d love to hear your thoughts…