Milan is mini-break heaven for design and fashion lovers …
READ: Essential reading before any trip to Milan is The Sartorialist Milano, Taschen, which captures blogger Scott Schuman’s fascination with the city. He shared his tips with THE GLOSS. “Start the day with a coffee in the Original Marchesi 1824. For quirky, historic shops, buy pyjamas at Casa Del Bianco and head to Ceratina 1919 which has every sort of cleaning item you might need.”
SIP: Afterwards pop into Bvlgari Hotel Milano, also in the Brera arts district and the city’s famous golden shopping triangle. It’s a serene retreat with fabulous fashion photographs and reading material in the lobby area.
PEOPLE WATCH: The all day bar and restaurant 10_11 at the Ferragamo-owed Portrait Hotel is the place to meet-up, if not stay. If you’ve been to the sibling hotels of Portrait Firenze or Roma, you’ll know these hotels combine impressive art collections and fashion credentials. Portrait Milano is no exception, housed in a former seminary in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. Contemporary interiors deftly blend with historic colonnades, courtyards and baroque stone walkways. Worth mentioning is the swimming pool – for a dip pre- or post retail therapy in neighbouring Gucci, Prada and Versace boutiques – while its Piazza is often used for shows during Fashion Week.
STAY: One of this year’s hotel happenings is JK Place Milan, which opens later this year in the former Versace headquarters. For a fraction of the price, but still close to Corso Como, are the family run B&Bs, LaFavia Milano and The Couper Sant’Andrea – the latter shares a courtyard with Giambattista Valli boutique.
SEE: “An exhibition can be seen in two ways,” explained Giorgio Armani in his autobiography Per Amore. “On the one hand, there is the immediate satisfaction of the creator’s ego. On the other, there is the educational value, the unique testimony that you can offer to the public, but above all to young creatives, through your work: a lasting and satisfying feeling. That’s what I’m interested in.” Head to the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan’s temple of classical art, where Armani/Archivio, is on until May 3. The exhibition brings together 150 pieces from the understated suits of his early days to the red carpet gowns, each set against the museum’s masterpieces.
SHOP: The Galleria Vittoria Emanuele is one of the most elegant shopping experiences in the world, but beyond its designer boutiques there are plenty of gems.
For vintage clothing, try The Cloister in Via Valpetrosa (@thecloister.milano), and Wait and See Srl in via Santa Marta (@waitandseemilano). Find more vintage clothing, jewellery and antiques at a monthly flea market at the Mercatone dell’ Antiquario along the oldest canal in the Navigli on the last Sunday of every month.
For scent seekers, I also recommend the niche perfumery Fueguia 1833, via Tommaso Grossi. For homeware, the WMilano Concept Store is great to browse (@wmilanoconceptstore) and a must-visit is 10 Corso Como for cutting-edge fashion and café (@10corsocomo).
DIARY DATE: The annual design fair, Salone del Mobile, runs from April 21-26 and is arguably even cooler to attend than Fashion Week. This year’s theme is “A Matter of Salone”, exploring the physical and symbolic origins of design. While most of the main exhibitors are on show in the Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds, the most interesting installations and events often take place around the city, from Brera to the arty Zona Tortona district, beside the canal. I’ve stayed frequently at the arty Nhow Milano hotel in the centre of the action.
DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT: Treating yourself at the rooftop bar and restaurant of La Rinascente, a favourite haunt of mine, which gives a bird’s eye view of the Duomo.
