Hours à la Milanese

Eight and a half hours, this is how long I stayed last November in Milan on my way to Parma. 8 1/2 is also the title of a famous Fellini film, but that is another story.

One can spend days and hours by strolling through the shops, cafes and restaurants in Milan. Let me take you along a virtual tour to some special places I go to every time I visit Milan, no matter how long I stay in the city.

There is no better place for a stylish women to spend an inspiring time than at the so-called “Quadrilatero d’Oro”, the famous shopping streets around Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea. Obviously, I always stop by Prada, Marni, Dolce&Gabbana, Armani and a lot more that call Milan home. But there also numerous other names not known to everybody that stand for tradition, quality and that certain Italian spirit.

No stay in Milan without a perfect espresso macchiato and a delicious pastry at the famous Pasticceria Confetteria Cova on Via Montenapoleone served by the same old baristas wearing a white jacket uniform. Who knows how long will be possible to enjoy an espresso at this historical café Milanese mentioned even by Hemingway in his stories. Since last summer 80 percent of Cova Srl. belong to the LVMH group. I hope Pasticceria Cova will not be soon replaced by the next Louis Vuitton store.

Just behind Pasticceria Cova, on the small Via Bagutta, the marvelous flagship store of the Venetian shoemaker Rene Caovilla is always worth a visit. The embroidered and beaded shoe creations of the house Caovilla were cult objects long before the era of Jimmy Choos and Louboutins.

Just next door, a nice lunch at Ristorante Bagutta, since 1924 an institution in Milan.

I also had the opportunity to visit the temporary exhibition “Hatology” at Palazzo Morando Costume Moda Imagine in the corner of Via Bagutta and Via Sant’Andrea showing the famous hats of the Italian fashion journalist Anna Piaggi who passed away over a year ago.

Talking about head and hair, I love the unique selection of combs, hair brushes and hair accessories at Jäneke boutique on Via Santo Spirito. At this point, a special thank to Signora Mariepier who not only helped me a lot by finding some hair accessories, but also took the picture of me with the diadem in my hair​​ posted in the beginning of this blog entry. Here is a close-up image of the gorgeous sparkling tiaras and headbands made by Jäneke Milano.

Anyone who has tried on the ultra-lightweight and colourful down jackets, trenches and coats by Aspesi Milano, will never want to wear other jackets than those any more. The Aspesi store on Via Montenapoleone is one of my favourite stores ever. It has several areas and each of them is designed quite differently. Here are two iphone pictures which I took at Aspesi store in the summer. In November, unfortunately, I could not make it in time to stop there by.

And last but not least, two photos of Griffe Montenapoleone Vetrerie di Empoli. Since my first stay in Milan years ago, I visit each time this wonderful store for admiring its glasses, bottles and vases and to add to my collection at home one or more glasses.

As this one is my first blog entry for 2014, I would like to raise a toast to the New Year, of course with a champagne glass from Vetrerie di Empoli;-)

Wish you an exiting Year 2014!