shop – well hello lovie

Well hello lovie!

What a treat, 3 days in Milan and I’m leaving so inspired! Design….it’s everywhere. From the beautiful shop window displays, to the stunning architecture, to the way the women dress and to the food presentation….and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ll certainly be taking away some new ideas and will fondly think of Milan as my design capital of the world. I based myself predominantly in Brera which is considered the artist district, so here’s some of my takeaways:

eat/drink

Dry Bar – it’s part cocktail bar, part restaurant (specialising in pizza) and part aperitivo – make a booking or try your luck

Princi Bakery – this became my regular breakfast/lunch go to place. Cheap, friendly and incredibly tasty! Croissants to grilled topped focaccia to espresso.

Eataly – an Italian food hall on steroids – seriously! 3 levels of everything and anything Italian (cheese, meats, wine, fruit/veg, gelato, espresso to name a few). They also have 2 restaurants, one casual pizza/pasta, the other more upmarket. I could live in this place and die happy!

Proscuitto hanging at Eataly

3 levels of foodie heaven

Who doesn’t love chilli?

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Brera district – artisan jewellers, bespoke perfumeries, leather goods, boutique clothes and a few vintage shops thrown in. My top pick was the shop of Angela Caputi who is based in Florence and I’ll be revisiting when I arrive there – I did purchase some bold white/black earrings which I think will get a great price per wear ratio.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – if you’re cashed up this is the place to go. Known as the Golden Quadrilateral, it’s a fashion district in the streets north of the Duomo. Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbano – you get the idea!

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Duomo – this goes without saying. The Italian Gothic style is incredibly intricate and you could spend hours just taking in the detail of the exterior. I understand now why it took six centuries to complete! (Just watch out for the men who offer to take a photo of you with your own camera who of course will then run off with it!)
Sforza Castle – I spent hours exploring the castle taking in the grandeur of the design along with the surrounding moat (now filled with grass) which took my breath away. I continued through the attached Sempione Park and loved seeing the Milanese exercising, having picnics, eating/drinking and celebrating the good life. A beautiful way to spend a few hours wandering.

stay
Personally, I prefer to stay away from the main tourist area and experience living in the region as authentically as possible. On this trip I stayed at Zebra Verde and the apartment exceeded my expectations! Original design and architecture, clean, stylishly decorated, large for a one bedroom and the bed was super comfy!

How did I spend most of my time? Literally walking the streets. No tourist bus or tour for me – I get my joy by wandering with no map, taking in the sights and coming upon the unexpected. Milan was a true delight – even the dogs strutted with style!

Be fabulous xx

Well hello lovie!

I was lucky enough to recently spend my birthday wandering around the West Village and it’s definitely my favourite little piece of Manhattan! I love the tree-lined streets, the cobblestones and the vibrant yet elegant architecture. Here’s a few of my favourites that I wanted to share with you:

eat/drink

Magnolia Bakery – you can’t go past the red velvet cupcake – divine!

Murray’s Cheese Shop – a cheese slice of heaven! Get the experts to help you put together a cheese platter, grab a bottle of red and settle in for the night.

Bluestone Lane Coffee – Come and say G’day to the Aussies bringing the Melbourne coffee culture to NY. Great coffee and the classic – avocado smash.

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Studio Manhattan – a funky mix of bags, accessories and decor with a modern, New York, non-tourist slant.

Jonathan Adler – check out the beautiful candle range from this style guru. I couldn’t go past the Champagne Pop followed closely by the Havana!

Diptyque – clearly I have a passion for candles! I could have bought a dozen different fragrances here but my favourite find was the glass, mouth blown candle holders.

Walk the High Line – this was a highlight! Wander along this disused railway track that is now a fabulous urban park as it winds between the old warehouses and apartments giving great views and a different perspective of NY life.

Visit Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop – for those of us that were SATC fans, this is a fun photo-op! If you’re not a fan then still wander the local streets and be charmed by the beautiful architecture.

Window Shop – my favourite street is Bleecker Street and even though I couldn’t afford the crazy prices, it was free for me to admire the beautiful and innovative window displays. A girl can dream!