Designers’ Favorite Winter Getaways From Aspen, St. Barths to Nepal

With a record number 112.4 million Americans expected to travel through the end of this year, WWD checked in with 10 fashion designers to find out their favorite winter getaways. 
Just as travel-scrolling on Instagram can be a journey in and of itself, trip planning may be equally time-consuming and enticing. For hardworking creatives, any down time can be welcome, but choosing just one is no small task. So, who can blame anyone for having more than one favorite?

Here, the designers list some of theirs.

Prabal Gurung
“My favorite winter escape has always been Nepal, my home, and the source of my deepest inspiration. There’s a stillness in the Himalayas that reminds me to breathe, to listen, and to create from a place of truth. I go there to reconnect with my family, with the artisans and students of the Shikshya Foundation, and with a kind of beauty that isn’t curated. It simply exists. It’s a homecoming of the soul, a reminder that fashion, at its best, is about connection between the hand and the heart, between who we are and where we come from.

“One of my most memorable winter holidays, though, was in Jamaica. I went there alone one Christmas and New Year’s, carrying little more than a few books, a sketchpad, and a notebook. It turned out to be one of the most cathartic experiences of my life, a journey inward that ultimately became the beginning of my memoir ‘Walk Like a Girl.’ There was a warmth there, not just in the weather but in the people a kind of effortless grace and rhythm to life that felt deeply alive and unguarded. Jamaica holds a special place in my heart because it reminded me that solitude can be sacred, and that creativity often blooms in the quiet spaces between joy and reflection.”

LaQuan Smith
“My favorite winter escape has to be Aspen. There’s nothing quite like shopping in an exquisite fur coat, settling beside a crackling fire with a breathtaking view of the mountains, and gearing up for a day on the slopes. I love fully immersing myself in the Aspen experience; it’s the perfect blend of luxury, adventure, and serenity. Being born and raised in New York City, I’m no stranger to the cold, but there’s something truly magical about Aspen in the winter, especially during the holidays.”

Aslynn Park of Ashlyn
“I love getting away to places surrounded by nature. In the winter, we go to Quebec. I even like the long drive. My husband and I take turns driving. He will drive for a few hours and then I will drive for a few hours. My kids are quiet in the car. We like to go tubing at the mountain on those big round tubes. In the summer, we often go camping as a family — it’s quiet, the air feels fresh, and the colors of the trees are always changing. I find beauty in those simple moments, being outside, and away from the city, just observing and talking. It reminds me how much inspiration comes from the everyday.”

Christian Siriano
“My favorite getaway is Jamaica. I stay at this incredible, very private resort called GoldenEye that my friend Alicia Silverstone first took me to around five years ago. It’s just the best place to actually escape and hide and chill for a while. Oh, and also to swim, drink, eat the best local food and, of course, play tennis every day!”

Lela Rose
“Jackson Hole is the most gorgeous place and one that everyone wants to travel to. I get to live here. This is a pretty, amazing place to do a staycation. I’ve done it in the summer, and I have dreams of doing it in the winter. We don’t live on the mountain so I would go stay at the Caldera House, because it’s a ski-in, ski-out luxury resort. There are two fantastic restaurants. One of them is Shin Shin for sushi. Caldera House also has delicious cocktails, and a hot tub, where you can get your cocktails. That is not something that I have lived amongst. One of my favorite things to do on the mountain is to do side country skiing at Cody Peak. You have to hire a guide, because it’s dangerous. You hike up an hour and a half or two hours up with your skis strapped to your back. It’s powder ski down. You’re getting fresh tracks. It’s pretty epic. After having a great time at dinner at Caldera House, you can just go to the Mangy Moose to listen to a band late night. They aren’t the greatest bands in the world, but they are always fun.”

Dennis Basso
“For an extended one, I absolutely love St. Barths. St. Barths is extremely relaxing with so many great restaurants like La Guérite, which has a very calm, beautiful easy way. You don’t have to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, which I like. We like to go when it’s a little bit offseason and not during the holiday period. We really love staying at the Eden Rock. It’s on the water. We like the ocean earlier in the day and then the pool later in the afternoon. There is that tiny airport in St. Barths. You just have to white-knuckle it for the landing. 

“And Palm Beach is always a good idea to me. We always stay with really close friends. You feel like you’re living there a little bit. I love all the restaurants like Le Bilboquet and how immaculate it is. When you go out to dinner, all the people are so beautifully dressed. You’re always bumping into someone you know. I’m one of those people who likes to see people they know all the time. That passes from one generation to the next generation.”

Tanner Fletcher’s Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell
“Our favorite winter getaway is South Shire in Bennington, Vt. This is such a cozy inn filled with historic charm that is rare to come by. During the holidays, it’s festively decorated, quiet and a lovely place to find refuge from the city. Bennington is close to many antique hot spots within Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. We love to explore the larger area, get tips from locals, and find unique treasures. It’s just far enough away where you can feel detached from the city without venturing too far. The inn itself is beautifully preserved. The staff is lovely. And there is a quaint Thai restaurant in the historic dining room where the owner is both the waiter and the chef. Our favorite part is that each room is completely different and equipped with a working wood burning fireplace that you can tend to yourself. The original living room often has a fire burning where guests can gather, drink wine and play games.”

Peter Do 
“Winter is my favorite time to stay in New York, because I’m so busy. It’s so magical and quiet. Everyone is almost nicer, too. I feel like people slow down and see each other a bit more. Usually my mom comes up from Philadelphia and we walk around. I’ve lived here for over 10 years and there are so many great areas. I usually take long walks. The other week I walked from Central Park to New Jersey. It took five-and-a-half hours. We went up through Harlem into the Heights and over the bridge and then we walked back.”

Julian Louie and Luka Primack of Aubero
“I’m from Santa Cruz, Calif., and so is my partner Luka. We spend as much time as we can in Santa Cruz. It is a masterclass in texture. It is all of nature’s beauty in the physical world.”