Travel & Hotspots
DIARY #2
Milan Fashion Week
I wake up in my Milanese single bed (the only sacrifice I had to make to spend the night in my favorite hotel in this city) and hope not to hear the tick tick tick sound against my window. But alas. Day two seems to be another grey, dreary and especially wet day in the city.
Yet I still decide to scoot over my comfortable look (Arma leather jeans, Prada motor boots and Claes Iverson sweater) and choose fashion. We are in Milan after all, and if you don’t go all out, you might as well pack your bags.
A wide fitted pair of Odeeh trousers (my new favorite) with a blue and green print is what I opt for with a top made out of the same fabric and the perfect sleeve length. On top I put on the prettiest jacket I have seen in years. A very light, embroidery number by Dries van Noten with a perfect silhouette. We are off to one of our favorite shows, so you pull out all the stops.
Dsquared is on the menu. Inspired by the army, we see various forms of feminine army pants on the runway. Capri pants with pockets stitched onto the side, tight around the butt, hips and legs and ultra sexy. On top the models were decked out in fabrics inspired by the army and tribal prints. There are two men seated in the front row richly suited up in uniform. Perhaps they were the inspiration for the brothers Dean and Dan Caten.
Yet again, my inner model mamma was proud of all the Dutch talent strutting down the runway in excessive numbers. There isn’t any other country that offers as many models as the Netherlands. Especially when you consider how small it is. Maartje Verhoef, Imaan Hamman, Julie Homans, Marhan Jonkman, Jamilla Hoogenboom all walked their last show in Milan before jetting off to the final station Paris.
We’re still keeping our feet on Milanese soil. For an appointment at the shoe brand AGL. And it happened to be our lucky day, because they asked us to pick out two pairs of shoes from their summer collection. The show models are all sample size 37 and the PR department won’t be needing them anymore. Hallelujah for small feet.
We’re almost too afraid to say it after all our copious Italian meals, but yet again our stomach’s start growling. Luckily I receive a text from Valentina Maina from Tods that she want’s to move our lunch appointment to half an hour earlier. Valentina is the best when it comes to picking out hipster joints that serve great food (check this out for the best restaurants in Milan), but today she opted for something more traditional. Tables covered in white linen and waiters with neatly ironed button ups.
After meeting up with Valentina, it was time to shop. We decided to ‘quickly’ drop by the Marni outlet (the damage: a shopper, a cloak for my youngest daughter who’s almost starting school and a dress for my eldest who seems to be growing out of everything) and then to the Disney store. Or else my girls won’t let met come back home. I bought them three outfits that will transform them into Mini Mouse, Mickey Mouse and Elsa. There. Disney could be scratched off my to do list. Another ‘quick’ visit to Intimissimi to score a bra and I got my hands on my favorite magazine (Marie Claire Runway) for me and our art director Daphne.
And that’s when it was time to head back to the bus, an overheated airport (why do they always have their heaters on full blast?), a turbulent flight back home where my love was waiting for me with gin tonic. Milan, you were divine, but you can use a little sunshine next time.
