Explore 6 Fashion Cities Connected to Famous Models

Fashion isn’t limited to runways, magazines, and designer collections. Many of the world’s most recognisable models have strong connections to cities known for creativity, culture, shopping, art, and entertainment.

For travellers, these destinations offer a chance to experience fashion beyond the runway. You can explore historic neighbourhoods, visit museums, discover local designers, browse markets, enjoy regional food, and see how different cultures influence everyday style.

From London and New York to Paris, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Brazil, these six destinations offer different experiences for travellers interested in fashion and popular culture.

A Tour of 6 Fashion Cities Connected to Famous Models

1. London – Naomi Campbell’s London Connection

London is a natural starting point for a fashion-focused journey. The city combines historic architecture, contemporary design, luxury shopping, street style, museums, and a diverse creative scene.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell was born in London and began her modelling career as a teenager. Her long international career makes London a meaningful destination for travellers interested in the history of modern modelling. (Biography)

What fashion travellers can explore

• Mayfair and its luxury shopping
• Regent Street and Oxford Street
• Shoreditch’s creative atmosphere
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Local markets and independent shops
• Fashion and design exhibitions

The Victoria and Albert Museum is particularly worthwhile for travellers interested in clothing, textiles, design, and decorative arts.

You can also experience classic London food and explore different neighbourhoods between fashion-related stops.

Travel tip: London can be busy throughout the year, so check museum exhibitions, special events, and shopping hours before planning your itinerary.

2. New York City – The Hadids’ Fashion Connection

New York City is one of the world’s major fashion capitals and an important destination for anyone interested in modeling, design, shopping, and street style.

Bella and Gigi Hadid have strong connections to New York through their modeling careers, although neither sister grew up in New York. Gigi was born in Los Angeles and Bella was born in Washington, D.C.; both were raised in Southern California. (Wikipedia)

That distinction makes “The Hadids’ Fashion Connection” a more accurate way to frame this section than calling New York their home city.

What fashion travellers can explore?

• SoHo
• Fifth Avenue
• Brooklyn
• Fashion-related museums and exhibitions
• Vintage and independent stores
• Chinatown and Koreatown
• Local markets and cafés

Fashion lovers can also explore the Fashion Institute of Technology’s museum and look for exhibitions taking place during their visit.

New York is especially interesting during major fashion events. For example, the official September 2026 New York Fashion Week schedule included around 70 runway shows and designer presentations. (CFDA)

Travel tip: If you’re planning a trip around Fashion Week, book transportation and accommodation early and check the official event schedule before making plans.

3. Los Angeles – Kendall Jenner and California Style

Los Angeles brings together entertainment, fashion, shopping, art, and Southern California’s relaxed lifestyle.

Model and media personality Kendall Jenner has strong connections to Los Angeles, making the city a natural addition to a fashion-and-pop-culture travel itinerary.

Unlike cities where fashion is concentrated around traditional fashion districts, Los Angeles spreads its style experiences across different neighborhoods.

Fashion experiences in Los Angeles

• Melrose Avenue
• Beverly Hills
• Rodeo Drive
• West Hollywood
• Venice
• Independent boutiques
• Art and design spaces

Travellers can combine shopping with sightseeing, beaches, museums, and local food.

Los Angeles is also useful for travellers who enjoy seeing how fashion overlaps with entertainment culture. A single day might include shopping in Beverly Hills, exploring Hollywood, and ending with a meal or sunset near the coast.

Travel tip: Los Angeles is geographically spread out, so don’t underestimate travel time between neighbourhoods. Plan your itinerary by area whenever possible.

4. Paris – Kate Moss and Fashion Heritage

Paris is one of the world’s most recognisable fashion destinations, combining haute couture, luxury shopping, historic architecture, art, and café culture.

Kate Moss has a particularly strong connection to the city through the international fashion world, although she was actually born and raised in Croydon, London. Her career has been closely connected with major fashion houses and international fashion culture. (British Vogue)

That makes Paris an ideal destination to discuss alongside her international fashion influence, rather than presenting it as her hometown.

Fashion experiences in Paris

• Avenue Montaigne
• Le Marais
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Galeries Lafayette
• Le Bon Marché
• Louvre Museum
• Musée d’Orsay

Travellers can also enjoy French cafés, bakeries, local markets, and neighbourhood restaurants between sightseeing stops.

Paris is especially rewarding for travellers who want to understand how art, architecture, history, and fashion influence one another.

Travel tip: Spring and early autumn can be pleasant times for exploring the city on foot, but always check the current weather and event calendar before travelling.

5. Shanghai – Liu Wen and China’s Global Fashion Influence

Shanghai offers a fascinating combination of traditional Chinese culture, contemporary architecture, shopping, art, and modern fashion.

Chinese model Liu Wen was born in Yongzhou, Hunan, rather than Shanghai. However, her international modeling career makes her a useful connection when discussing China’s growing presence in the global fashion industry. She became the first Chinese model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and has appeared on major international fashion magazine covers. (Wikipedia)

Rather than saying Liu Wen made Shanghai famous, it is more accurate to present Shanghai as one of China’s major fashion and creative centers.

What fashion travellers can explore?

• Nanjing Road
• Xintiandi
• Art galleries
• Contemporary design spaces
• Historic neighborhoods
• Local markets
• Fashion and cultural events

Shanghai Fashion Week also provides a major platform for designers, brands, and fashion-related events. Recent official schedules have included runway presentations, trade shows, exhibitions, and events across areas including Xintiandi, Jing’an, and other parts of the city. (shanghaifashionweek.com)

Food is another important part of the experience. Travellers can try local specialities such as soup dumplings and other regional dishes while exploring the city.

Travel tip: If you’re visiting specifically for a fashion event, check the official schedule because dates and participating venues can change from season to season.

6. Brazil – São Paulo, Salvador & Brazilian Style

Brazil offers a different fashion experience, where clothing and design exist alongside music, food, history, beaches, and regional culture.

Instead of treating Brazil as one single “model city,” it is better to explore several destinations with different cultural identities.

São Paulo is particularly relevant for fashion, design, shopping, and creative industries, while Salvador offers a strong combination of historic architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture, crafts, food, and coastal scenery.

Fashion and travel experiences

In São Paulo, travellers can explore:

• Paulista Avenue
• Designer boutiques
• Shopping districts
• Art museums and galleries
• Local fashion events
• Restaurants and cafés

In Salvador, visitors can explore:

• Historic streets
• Local craft markets
• Cultural attractions
• Beaches
• Regional food

Brazilian models such as Adriana Lima and Gisele Bündchen have helped bring Brazilian modeling into the international spotlight, but their hometown connections are different, so the destination is best presented through Brazilian fashion and culture as a whole rather than suggesting both models grew up in one city.

Travel tip: Brazil is a large country with significant regional differences. Choose destinations based on the type of experience you want rather than trying to cover too much in one trip.

Practical Travel Advice for Fashion Travellers

A fashion-focused vacation doesn’t mean you need an entirely new wardrobe. The best approach is to pack practical clothing that works for several activities.

Pack versatile clothing

Choose pieces that can work for sightseeing, restaurants, shopping, museums, and casual evenings.

Prioritise comfortable shoes

Fashion cities often involve plenty of walking. Comfortable shoes can make a much bigger difference to your trip than trying to create a different outfit for every activity.

Check the weather

London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Brazilian destinations have different climates. Check the forecast and seasonal conditions before packing.

Use public transportation

Public transportation can be an efficient way to explore major fashion cities and can help reduce the need for expensive taxis or long drives.

Explore beyond luxury shopping

Fashion isn’t limited to designer stores. Vintage shops, local markets, independent designers, museums, street style, art galleries, and neighbourhood cafés can provide a more interesting view of local culture.

Look for fashion events

If you’re especially interested in fashion, check official calendars for Fashion Weeks, exhibitions, museum events, design fairs, and local creative festivals.

Leave room for discovery

Don’t plan every hour around shopping. Give yourself time to explore neighbourhoods, architecture, food, and cultural attractions.

Fashion is only one way to explore a city’s creative culture. If music is another passion of yours, you can also explore our Top 6 Iconic Cities for Pop Music Travelers for more destination inspiration.

How to Experience Fashion Without a Luxury Budget

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy a fashion-focused trip.

Try:

• Exploring local markets
• Visiting free or low-cost exhibitions
• Browsing vintage stores
• Walking through fashionable neighbourhoods
• Visiting public museums on discounted or free-entry days when available
• Photographing architecture and street style
• Trying local food instead of focusing only on expensive restaurants

One of the best things about fashion travel is that you can observe style without buying anything.

A city’s architecture, people, art, colours, markets, and everyday clothing can all become part of your travel inspiration.

Why Fashion and Travel Work So Well Together

Fashion and travel are connected by culture.

When you visit a new destination, you encounter different colours, fabrics, architecture, traditions, food, art, and ways of dressing. Those experiences can influence how you think about personal style.

London offers a mixture of traditional and contemporary fashion. New York combines street style with major fashion events. Los Angeles connects fashion with entertainment. Paris brings together fashion, art, and history. Shanghai shows the relationship between modern Chinese culture and global fashion, while Brazil offers a diverse combination of regional culture, design, and lifestyle.

You don’t have to copy a model’s style to enjoy these destinations. Instead, use the cities as inspiration and discover what makes your own travel experience interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the best cities for fashion travellers?

There is no single best city for everyone. London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and São Paulo each offer different combinations of fashion, culture, shopping, and entertainment.

Do I need a large budget for a fashion trip?

No. You can experience fashion through museums, markets, neighbourhoods, architecture, street style, and cultural events without spending heavily on designer shopping.

What should I pack for a fashion-focused vacation?

Focus on comfortable, versatile clothing and walking shoes. Check the destination’s weather before packing and choose pieces that can work for multiple activities.

Can I visit Fashion Week as a regular traveller?

Some Fashion Week events and related activities may be open to the public, while runway shows and industry events can have different access requirements. Always check the official event information before making travel plans.

Is fashion tourism only about shopping?

Not at all. Fashion tourism can include museums, exhibitions, architecture, local designers, markets, cultural events, street style, photography, food, and exploring neighborhoods associated with creativity.

Conclusion

Fashion is much more than clothing. It can be a way to explore culture, art, design, history, and everyday life through the world’s most interesting cities.

London connects travellers with the legacy of models such as Naomi Campbell, while New York offers a huge fashion and entertainment environment with strong career connections to models such as Bella and Gigi Hadid. Los Angeles blends fashion with Hollywood culture, Paris brings together fashion and artistic heritage, Shanghai highlights China’s growing global fashion presence, and Brazil offers a diverse combination of fashion, culture, and regional style.

You don’t need to be a professional model—or spend a fortune on designer clothes—to enjoy a fashion journey. Visit museums, explore local neighbourhoods, discover independent designers, browse markets, try local food, and pay attention to the creative details around you.

The best fashion travel experience isn’t about copying someone else’s style. It’s about discovering how a new place can inspire your own way of seeing the world.