Courchevel, France

WHY GO? The fashion stakes rise with the altitude at this resort and nothing is as haute as Courchevel 1850 – the highest and most famous point. The après-ski scene is populated by Saudi royalty and Russian high society, and the Beckhams and George Clooney have also visited. There are myriad Michelin-starred restaurants – Hotel Le Chabichou is one of the best – and the terrace restaurant at Le Denali is a perennial hotspot.

WHERE TO STAY: The LVMH group’s hotel Cheval Blanc is the most luxurious booking in town (and Dasha Zhukova's favorite), with a Givenchy Snow Spa and in-house Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton boutiques. The Art Chalet, part of the Firefly Collection, is one of the coolest rentals. It puts a hyper-modern spin on the traditional chalet: glass elevators, a private nightclub, cinema and casino rooms.

SKI STYLE: Donna Karan shearling coats and Nicholas Kirkwood boots for day; couture and diamonds for evening. chevalblanc.com; firefly-collection.com