how do you recognize a Milanese

I’ve been to Milan more times than I can remember but now that I’m here with my Milan-virgin Liesbeth I look at the Milanese ladies a little more objectively. I can tell you, a Milanese cookie has a totally different taste than, for example, a Parisian macaroon.

ground floor

No 12-inch heels for the Milanese. Very difficult to walk with on the cobblestoned streets of Via Montenapoleone or to cross the air vents on Corso Venezia. It’s a Celine ballerina or a Tod’s classic that determines her look. “Commodo”, is what the Italians yet modish. Besides Italian men don’t have great length, so this is the perfect shoe for the occasion, during daytime anyway.

VISIBLY french

The Milanese love to decorate themselves with French, visible, labels. A bright red matelassé by Chanel, the Metamorphose by Hermes, with it’s visible H stanched into the leather, Louis Vuitton bags, commonly with the LV-logo motif, or a Chanel body warmer combined with Céline sunglasses. French chique that can’t go unseen. Understated is apparently not their middle name.

where there’s smoke…

The places, where, in New York you aren’t allowed to smoke or can only smoke in places you can’t drink, are fuming and hospitable in Milan. Even in the courtyards (here they often have a roof) smoking is allowed and hotels ask us if we prefer to sleep in an infumatori or a non-fumatori. We went for the smoke, just because it holds a certain mood, keeps you thin and it’s so Milan meets Paris.

on the face

Where French and New York women classify themselves by understated done/undone make-up, here it’s the whole shebang. No stone (in this case product) is left unturned; foundation, eyebrows, lashes, lips, everything, yes everything, they are always “ in make-up”.

Good hair

The hair is styled and colored. Not bedroom-messy like our French girlfriends, no, it’s polished and voluminous. They do wear clips in their hair in spots we don’t really get.

A Max coating

I don’t mean large, I’m talking about the iconic woolen Max Mara coat. Did I say coat I meant cloak.