346: MDW Days 1 + 2 / Fuorisalone

Laura and Xavier take Milan.

Introducing Magasin’s pop-up newsletter-within-a-newsletter, where we’ll be covering shoppable observations from scenes of interest daily: Milan Design Week, Days 1 + 2.

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Weather report

73ºF / 22º C — it’s the nicest it could possibly feel outside, and yet the Italians are all wearing trenches and blazers…that perma-shoulder-season mindset just shows their commitment to fully doing fashion

Itinerary

Yali Glass, Bally, Villa Necchi

Apr 5

2p Check into Casa Brivio *LR

3:30p Facial at Casa Cipriani Milano Spa *LR

4p Villa Necchi — designed by the architect Piero Portaluppi, effectively a whole country house built in the middle of Milan. The northside bathroom is one of my favorite rooms I’ve ever stood in to date. *LR

4p Arrive by train *XD

5p Shopping — I hit a range of vintage including Cavalli e Nastri, Foto Veneta Ottica (all eyeglasses), and the excellent Shop the Story (recommended by our own

Delia Cai

), some home accessories stores Pettinaroli, Pineider, and Ginori, plus made the kind of purchases I’d been anticipating since booking my flight: goth origami heels from Prada and the week’s piece de resistance, a peplum’ed leather jacket from Bally. *LR

8:30p Dinner at Nuova Arena — a fabulous restaurant and I heard a hot table this year *XD

9p Intermezzo cocktail curated by Truls Blaasmo — feat. pieces from Atelier de Troupe, studioutte, rugs by CC-Tapis *LR

10p Dinner at U Barba with Sarah Levine *LR

11p Afters at Bar Basso *LR + XD

Prada, Bocci, Completedworks

Apr 6

10a Breakfast at Sissi — had a brioche with prosciutto, there was a line out the door for tables but it was nice enough to walk and eat *XD

10:30a Villa Borsani press day *LR — I really thought I was going to see the interiors designed by legendary architect Osvaldo Borsani on this trip, but as the site was made public through the organization Alcova, the entire villa had been cleared to make room for exhibitions. Was happy to see Completedworks’ Anna Jewsbury debuting her new furniture, plus discover some good new names—I liked Ryuichi Kozeki and AtMa!—but was admittedly dampened by the neutralization of the venue.

12p Shopping — Cavalli e Nastri (uomo) and Bivio. Contemplated a Prada shirt in a heavy brown cotton, I think I’ll be going back to get it today. *XD

1p Casa museo Boschi di Stefano — Art Deco time capsule of the home of a prolific art collector. Putting (non-folksy) stuff all over your walls is so cool. *LR

3p Fondazione Prada — plus a sad sandwich from Bar Luce, the prettier-than-it-is-tasty Wes Anderson-designed cafe

5p Presentation of works by Annabelle Selldorf, Akira Hara, Chiarastella Cattana, The Back Studio, and Yali Glass at Sofia Zevi — I liked the small glass table lamps by Yali *XD

6p Gucci Bamboo Encounters cocktail at Chiostri di San Simpliciano

6p Casa MB — stopped by with Alex Teighi-Walker to see a show of sublime paintings by Yoab Vera *XD

7p Bocci cocktail — with The Future Perfect's David Alhadeff, Orior, Calico Wallpaper, Shore Studios, and Christopher Farr. It was packed, but looking up provided a nice view of the 141 series light installation, which I prefer more as a spaced-out field (as done here) rather than a cluster. *XD

7p Garance Vallée x Monde Singulier cocktail *XD

8p Dinner at Le Specialità with Annie Goldsmith — there’s a good chance this is the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life *LR

9p Dinner at Trattoria del Ciumbia — very sexy interiors by Dimore *XD

11p Belmond + Apartamento party at Da Orient — to celebrate the release of their joint cookbook, Campania *LR + XD

*LR: Laura’s schedule, *XD: Xavier’s schedule

Xavier’s look

Kotn Unisex Antifit Jeans $138 / Mr. Porter Linen Shirt, $180 / Loro Piana Leather Jacket, (similar, $9,075) / Louis Vuitton Brown Work Boots (similar from Prada, $1490)

Magasin intel

Teatro Manzoni, Pettinaroli

• I’m not the only one buying Bally. Backdrop’s Natalie Ebel got herself some jeans and a pair of studded boat shoes, and Chandelier Creative’s Michael Scanlon told me he bought a jacket from DSM New York days before arriving to Milan because he didn’t want to risk it not being in stock. *LR

• All the vintage stores here are heavy into Callaghan, an ‘80s label once designed by Romeo Gigli. It leans more brocade than Gigli’s namesake brand—which tends more luster/iridescent—but the fits just are as bonkers-flattering. *LR

• I walked to see one of my favorite places in Milan, the gorgeous Teatro Manzoni. Designed by Alziro Bergonzo, it has an incredible mural among myriad other details. Not associated with Salone this year but definitely worth a visit. *XD

• “All the Italian teens are wearing glitter jeans…and gold shoes.” H/t Schumacher’s Benni Frowein.

• The leather shop Pettinaroli makes mini shell coin purses not unlike the limited-edition ones Lemaire released through its collaboration with Carlos Peñafiel last month. DHL is €55 (I know), which still puts the €98 objet at considerably less than its now-sold-out French counterpart.

• I often find the incredible private spaces of Milan that play host to these design presentations compete with or even overwhelm the work itself. There are definitely events I’m planning on attending this week just to see the venue. *XD

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