A new design hotel opens in Sydney today and it's set to leave other hotels in the Australian city quaking in their boots! The QT Sydney embraces everything people want in a hotel stay these days - historical features, cutting-edge design, quirky interiors and the latest technology. Set in an old world building above the State Theatre and Gowings on Market and George Streets, QT Sydney celebrates colour and art with bespoke furniture and cosy but cool bedrooms.

The 200 bedrooms each have different quirks, like bowler hat lamps. One of my favourite things in the rooms is the minibars, which include retro games, such as Pick Up Sticks, lollipops and Ninjabread men (yes, you read that right!).

The restaurants include the Gowings Bar & Grill, a brasserie serving European-style food and signature seafood dishes. Parlour Lane Roasters is a European-style cafe where you can have a social breakfast with some of Sydney's best coffee options. In the evening it transforms into a wine bar. And Gilt Lounge is the place for sipping cocktails in a hip setting.

Don't miss the spa for its six treatment rooms, men’s barber and hammam-inspired steam room with an ice fountain. Instead of choosing from a menu of treatments, spaQ encourages you to book a block of time and select the treatment on the day using the therapist's knowledge.

It's always nice to have intriguing public spaces for guests so they don't have to spend their entire stay holed up in their room and QT Sydney has done a great job of this, with its lobby that serves as an after-dark playground and the pinnacle of the hotel, featuring LED wall art, mismatched chairs and games. What's more, the QT Sydney will give you interiors envy! I've already spotted a few chairs I want in my home! Rooms start from 420 AUD (£270). Visit qtsydney.com.au

Finally, a luggage collection to shout about has arrived on the high street. Editor of Vogue Japan Anna Dello Russo has collaborated with H&M to bring glamorous, playful and vibrant travel accessories to the masses. The collection, which features shoes, jewellery, sunglasses and bags, represent Anna's love for ornament and her taste for excess and amusement, with vivid turquoise and gold and her signature Italian baroque style.

The turquoise trolley suitcase (£99.99) with gilt motif is gorgeous and there is a matching beauty case (£69.99) for you to prop on top with a gold crown luggage tag. For those travelling with a carry on, there is a holdall bag (£34.99), which is also perfect for a weekend getaway. 'I tried to capture that sense of freedom, joy and excitement,' says Anna. 'Besides, when we travel we always want to bring our special pieces with us.'

'I like the idea of a trolley that can contain the whole collection and is complete with a crown-shaped tag: airports will be less grey and impersonal if you bring such a token of travel-ware with you. It’s like a dash of fairy tale magic, or Alice’s white rabbit as a door to a new dimension.'

The collection features ornate jewellery with bracelets shaped like snakes, chunky gold cuffs and thick chains. My favourite jewellery set is these earrings (£14.99) and the gold cuff (below, £29.99).

'Accessories are vital' the fashion icon says.

'Not only they allow you to play with fashion however you like, marking your outfits with a personal touch. They are also an essential tool to give new life to what you already have in your wardrobe: wear a necklace, a bracelet and earrings, hold a clutch and top it all off with a hat, and everything becomes new. Accessories are like vitamins to fashion: you should use them liberally as such.'

Creative advisor at H&M, Margareta van den Bosh, says: 'There is something feisty and over the top in this collection. Mostly gold, it is truly spectacular: these pieces will give a new life to everyone’s wardrobe. The idea is to have luxury that you can play with, at an affordable price.'

The collection lands in H&M stores on 4 October.

Ever wish you could skip the packing part of your holiday and not have to think about what to wear on the beach? Guests staying at the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives will be treated to this luxury thanks to its collaboration with designer swimwear brand Babajaan.

Launching in November and available until April 2013, the pop-up boutique will appear on the white sands of the resort's six-kilometre private beach with bikinis, kaftans and hats for you to buy - so you don't have to go beachwear shopping before your holiday!

Overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the fabulous concept sounds like the most relaxing and luxurious shopping experience ever. Expect to see exclusive swimwear designs, three kaftans and a selection of Panama hats.

You will also be able to customise your purchases by choosing the fabrics, embroidery, beading and chain details you like, so you can be sure you'll be the only one on the beach wearing them. The Panama hats will be traditionally woven by a Babajaan weaver, pressed to your desired shape and decorated with the ribbons and trimmings of your choice.

One&Only's director of retail Preston Schroeder said: 'One&Only is about unique experiences – and this collaboration, which gives our guests the opportunity to commission their very own bespoke fashion items, is a true One&Only experience. The items will be created and ready for the guests to wear in a matter of hours.'

Babajaan founder Sandra Moleirinho said: 'The beauty of the Maldives, the elegance of the resort and the style of the guests have all been the inspiration for this exclusive line, a sophisticated yet barefoot beach-style, ideal for the well-heeled traveller.'

Once you're kitted out for the beach at the luxury resort, you can show off your style while enjoying One&Only's amazing activities, like sea plane excursions, dolphin safaris and cooking courses!

If you love travel, a good photography exhibition and you're in Paris over the next few months, you need to check out this fabulous showcase of photographs in Paris's outlet shopping village, La Vallee Village.

Fashion meets travel at the retro art exhibition featuring the works of renowned fashion photographer Norman Parkinson.

The Travel In Style exhibition features 23 iconic fashion photographs showing 'timeless elegance' where you can see the chic humour, glamour and style of travel from the 1950s to the 1970s captured by Parkinson.

Norman Parkinson worked with leading fashion magazines Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and was also the official photographer of the British royal family. He is known throughout the world for inventing modern fashion photography and revolutionising the genre.

The collection of photographs shows refined travel and iconic adventures, like the top image of women chatting in New York in a photo titled Young Velvets for a 1949 issue of Vogue. The second image, Cardin Hat Over Paris featured in a 1960 issue of Queen Magazine. The India photograph captures 1950s model Anne Gunning in a gorgeous pink coat walking through colourful Jaipur. It featured in a 1956 edition of Vogue. The last photo, title The Art of Travel, captured the true jet-setter and appeared in a 1951 issue of Vogue.

Want to see the rest of the exhibition? Head to Espace La Vallee at La Vallee Village from 15 September 2012 to 6 January 2013, from 10am to 7pm, for the free exhibition.

If you've been to La Vallee Village before, you'll know it’s a 35-minute journey outside the centre of Paris close to Disneyland, but this free exhibition is well-worth the travel, plus there are 90 outlet boutiques, like Diane von Furstenberg, Armani and Paul Smith for you to enjoy a whole day of shopping.

Just in case you're jetting off to another European city, you'll find outlet villages by Chic Outlet Shopping in Dublin, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Bologna, Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich too!

You know how I like my afternoon tea and the latest to catch my eye is one inspired by designer Marc Jacobs at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong.

The fashionable afternoon tea is based on the shape, colour, print and texture of the iconic Lindy handbag from Marc's autumn 2012 collection with features like the pretty bow and autumn collection hues incorporated into beautiful cakes.

'We are excited to be working with this gorgeous classic collection of Marc Jacobs, The Lindy, which is youthful and lovable,' said Sidney Schutte, executive sous chef at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental.

'When creating the tea set, we were inspired by the feminine bow and the punk mini stud infused with 80s style as well as the warm solid colour tone in this autumn’s collection.

'We instill these design elements through the use of refined details and contemporary colours in the delicious pastries and savouries, reinterpreting the sweet yet sophisticated style of the handbag.'

The Marc Jacobs tea set features savoury bites, including Beetroot Horseradish Ravioli, Smoked Turkey Spinach Quiche and Cucumber Cream Cheese Ribbon on Crispy Sour Dough Cracker. The sweets include a mini Marc Jacobs Mocktail, Pistachio Biscuit layered with Strawberry Mousse, Grand Cru Manjari Mousse with Chocolate Marzipan and MO Bar’s signature light-as-a-feather (and perfect for fashionistas watching their weight!) Ginger and Raisin Scones.

The afternoon tea is available from 1 to 30 September in the MO Bar. It costs from HKD200 (£16.50) per person including a three-tier tea set, cake buffet and a choice of JING tea or coffee. You'll also receive a special Marc Jacobs gift set (while stocks last)!

Summer feels like it's really here! To celebrate August and to wish everyone happy holidays, Havaianas has made a video full of Brazilian spririt, beaches and Havaianas! Apart from making you want to get on the next flight to beautiful Brazil, the video represents the flip flop brand's values with a mixture of feelings and emotions, showing everyone from children to fashionistas in the city wearing Havaianas. It certainly got me in the mood for summer fun. Enjoy!

Today I'm lusting after this travel underwear tidy. The chic pocket has 14 compartments for your bras and knickers. It's printed on organic cotton and in true jet-setting style, the underwear roll features an image taken in the stunning Seychelles. Could packing your smalls be anymore fun? 99 euros from Plume