348: MDW Days 5 + 6 / That's curtains on Milan
Plus a secret SSENSE sale, private Portaluppi tours, and everything that got us through the week.
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 5 + 6.
Weather report
68ºF / 20º C — people were trying to talk to me about the weather back in New York and I had to tell them, “that’s none of my business”
Itinerary
Apr 9
11a Etruschi del Novecento exhibition at the Fondazione Luigi — well-curated Etruscan art and modern art influenced by Etruscan motifs *XD
11:30a Orior + Bocci preview — Orior’s furniture is made entirely by craftspeople in the Irish countryside, the company an Irish family business…the Reilly in me approves intrinsically, but the pieces themselves are sincerely beyond, and the new collection is already live on the site *LR
12p Installation of Tutto Bene’s ‘Legato’ collection in dialogue with Salvino Marsura sculptures *XD
1p Lunch at Pasta Fresca Brambilla *LR
1p Private tour of the Civico Planetario Ulrico Hoepli — designed by Piero Portaluppi and opened in 1930. Planetariums are a personal obsession. *XD
2p Lunch at Antica Trattoria della Pesa — had the saffron risotto *XD
3:45p Miu Miu Literary Club at Circolo Filologico Milanese — a panel on Simone De Beauvoir and girlhood *LR
5p Kaikado 150 cocktail — a new publication celebrating the 150th anniversary of Japan’s oldest tea caddy manufacturer. The work on view was simple and exquisite, in typical Japanese fashion. *XD
6p 5Vie Design Organization opening — held throughout the neighborhood after which it is named *XD
7p Architectural Digest dinner at Palazzo Ralph Lauren — hosted by Amy Astley and David Lauren *XD
8:30p Dinner at Ristorante da Giordano il Bolognese *LR
10p In Common With + Sophie Lou Jacobsen party at Palinurobar *LR + XD
Apt 10
1p Lunch at Antica Trattoria della Pessa — are you guys paying attention to these restaurant links? I hope so because we’ve been eating WELL. *LR
3p Shopping — drove by 10 Corso Como, Marni, Bally (for a second time), Prada (third time), the vintage store Shop the Story (also third time—I bought a ‘90s Prada set), and Antonia, a luxury multi-brand boutique inside the Portrait Hotel where I picked up this clever collapsible Nanushka bag. *LR
8p Dinner at Ralph’s Bar *LR
*LR: Laura’s schedule, *XD: Xavier’s schedule
Magasin intel
At dinner with sculptor Simone Bodmer Turner the other night, our sprawing group couldn’t help but notice her enormous, elegant black glass rings, which she’d picked up that morning on a quick trip to Venice from “a little shop behind the Peggy Guggenheim museum: $35 each!” Her own foray into jewelry, a collaboration with Agmes in sterling silver and gold vermeil, can still be hunted down (I have the large bubble earrings and swoopy brooch). *LR
A lot of the furniture I design for Ash is produced in Asia (specifically China, Vietnam, and India), so I was asking all the makers how they planned to deal with the tariffs. I didn’t get a sense that anyone has a strategy, but it’s probably going to remain more cost efficient to continue to produce in Asia than to pivot to American manufacturers. *XD
Speaking of tariffs, SSENSE just rolled out a sweeping private sale (be logged in) of 25% off select pieces with SHOP25, likely to catalyze duty-shy buyers (who have 90 days ‘til they actually need to worry again). From the site’s Everything Else homewares section, Frama chairs, Sabre bamboo cutlery sets, Phaidon design books, and a bunch of recently-mentioned-here brands and themes are hugely discounted. I’ve never actually bought furniture off SSENSE before, but this Ferm Living stool comes down to $228 with the code, so I’m playing guinea pig and just ordered it! Stay tuned. *LR
I fell in love with a painting by Massimo Campigli at the Fondazione Luigi Rovati, an artist with whom I was not familiar. There are many of his works for sale on the secondary market, and while a painting is sadly beyond my budget, there are several attractive lithographs available for under $1000. *XD
The Row home products that just debuted this week—bedding and blankets—are already live on the site, with a directive to “Inquire.” I’ve reached out. Also newly added is a tab called “Galerie” containing very Olsenic French mid-century pieces like those that outfit the brand’s boutiques. All are marked Price Upon Request, which, again, I have. But for, say, the Charlotte Perriand Cansado Table, one can expect to find a number around or above the $7,800 it’s listed for on 1stDibs. *LR
At the AD x RL dinner, I sat across from Ralph Lauren Home’s recently appointed Brand Creative Director, Sara Brown-Rubinstein. She’s working on new collections that are 18 months out, but I’m excited to see what she does! *XD
The tables at the AD x RL dinner had a Navajo theme (part of a forthcoming collection that will be available FW25) and were smartly set with pewter chargers, only available in the UK at the moment. I’m a big fan of pewter tableware, and a similar version is available from the iconic producer Match. *XD
Kaikado, which celebrated 150 this year, also collaborated with Loewe as part of its teapot exhibition (exclusively on site). It’s fancy tea canisters…I have one, gifted by a brand some years ago, and only just figured out what it is. It radiates good energy! *LR
And here’s everything that got us through the week—
Xavier:
I was staying with my friend Naz Muessel, who is a founder of The Levant Shop, and she had prepared and refrigerated a large batch of Nigella Lawson’s Cold Cure broth. I think it actually saved me this week, as I often I ran out of time to eat a square meal. I used Biologique Recherche Masque Visolastine every other morning to stave off dehydration.
As I was packing to leave I noticed I only brought blue and white shirts. In the stack are Marni, Sefr, Ralph Lauren, and two ‘90s-era Armani. Sneakers that were comfortable but dressy enough to wear to events. I packed this pair by The Row.
Lime e-bikes (the only way I make it to as many things as I do). The Laundress fabric spray for after you’ve been in a courtyard full of smokers. And Burt’s Bees in every pocket.
Laura:
Eadem lipgloss, duh. And Flamingo Estate manuka hand lotion. A battery pack that holds two full charges. These Compeed blister stickers! They’re hydrocolloids for your feet and they create a thick barrier.
On the clothing that did the heavy lifting: A Row thing for me, too, or actually two—these jeans and this trench (someone asks me about it every time I wear it, without fail). My Comme Si shirt, which is exactly what I want to wear when I don’t know what to wear. I flew with my Métier Cala 32 bag again, which is finally back in stock. And I wore the same jewelry every day: Erede hinged hoops, Lara Sonmez silver ring, and a vintage gold and emerald ring from Casa Shop.
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Strong work protecting your peace. That weather is NONE of your business