BOHEMIAN PARIS

Sometimes there's nothing more fun than surrendering to a designer's vision (just ask Björk), and few visions are as entertaining as those of ruffles-and-taffeta-obsessed designer Christian Lacroix. The theatrical designer has worked his wacky fashion magic on the Hôtel du Petit Moulin, a onetime bakery in the heart of the Marais, the Paris district where he now lives. Reception is housed in what was once the storefront—there's just space enough there for a tiny bar, open only to guests. Each of the 17 rooms is individually decorated and includes riotously colorful fashion sketches by the couturier himself. Lacroix's personal favorite is room 301, the gold-and-black suite painted with a trompe l'oeil night sky. If this tiny five-story spot is booked up (and it's definitely a favorite of the glam set), hold tight: Lacroix is currently prepping his next hotel project, the Hôtel Bellechasse, set to open late this year in the 7th arrondissement, close to st-germain-des-Près. Either way, book your transatlantic flight on Air France: Despite their sober look, the flight-attendant uniforms were designed by you-know-who.

Hôtel du Petit Moulin
Tel: 33 1 42 74 10 10
Doubles from $235