Megan Hess, fashion illustrator and author
HOTEL
L'Hotel in Paris. It's a tiny boutique hotel situated right in the heart of my favourite part of Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Before it was a hotel, it was home to Oscar Wilde. Everything is absolutely charming, from the chic staff to the bespoke rooms. In fact, every room is completely different. Whenever I stay there, I ask for a new room – I'm slowly working my way through. See l-hotel.com.
AIRLINE
Qantas. I feel at home on a Qantas flight. As for funny stories, I was flying from Melbourne to LA when the little old lady beside me was very unwell and threw up all over me. I hadn't brought a change of clothes in my carry on so my only option was to wear a spare Qantas uniform. I did the rest of the flight dressed as a Qantas crew member. Even though I was sitting back in my seat, people kept waking me up and asking for drinks or headsets. Not funny at the time but I do look back and laugh.
RESORT
The Palazzo Versace. It's one of the only true fashion hotels in the world and the attention to detail is incredible. The interiors and suites are so lavish in their head-to-toe Versace design. It's the perfect hotel for a romantic getaway as a couple but I also love that it works well for families too. The choice of restaurants is also a major draw card. It's pretty hard to beat the fresh seafood buffet by the pool. See palazzoversace.com.au.
LUGGAGE
A large Samsonite roller to check on. It's the toughest bag out there and considering its size, very light. For carry on, I have an oversized Oroton tote. It's the perfect plane bag. It's light, large and fits everything inside. It's a beautiful black patent leather and even after a million flights, it still looks brand new.
ACCESSORY
I wear the same cashmere cape on all long-haul flights. It provides the perfect warmth and feels like a blanket. I never wear it otherwise and as soon I arrive home I put it in dry cleaning, so it's all ready to go again on my next trip.
NEXT ADVENTURE
I'm about to head back to New York for the launch of my new book. Of all the cities in the world, New York is my favourite. I've been working with clients there for the past 15 years and I get the same surge of excitement every single time I land and hear those NYC cabs honking.
Brisbane-born, Melbourne-based Megan Hess is one of the world's most sought-after fashion illustrators, with a client list that includes Vanity Fair, Chanel, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue, and Cartier. Her new book is The Dress – 100 Iconic Moments in Fashion (Hardie Grant, $29.95). See meganhess.com; hardiegrant.com.au.
