Milan’s spectacular Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II at night. Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
Entrance to Teatro Manzoni. Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
Naviglio Grande in Bloom. Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
My favourite apartment building in Brera. So good! Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
It’s that crazy time of year again when so many of us are fine-tuning our Milan itinerary in hope to make the most of our visit to Salone next week. Woohoo! Long-term readers will be well aware of my eternal love for
If you’re heading to
Cathay Pacific Airways’ ethos and a belief that travelling well is an important part of living well, resonates deeply with Team Yellowtrace. Because when people travel well, the trip can become more memorable and rewarding. This philosophy has been at the heart of everything the airline has done for over 70 years, ensuring they continually strive to enhance the overall travel experience with exquisite food – in the air and on ground, with
If you’re not going to Milan yourself this year (and even if you are, for that matter), don’t forget to
Related:
Team Yellowtrace are flying to Milan courtesy of Cathay Pacific, who fly to Italy several times each week. Cathay’s great connections from Australia allow getting from Sydney to Milan in under 24 hours, including transit times. For more information visit
Duomo di Milano. Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
Behind the scenes on the streets of Brera during Milan Design Week with Team Yellowtrace. Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.
NO 1. The most important tip I can give you is to only ever wear comfortable shoes, and by this I mean sneakers. Trust me on this and please, don’t be a fool.
NO 2. Clearly, your wardrobe planning will be a fairly important part of the week – how to be super comfortable while looking chic is a constant battle! For me, comfortable shoes like sneakers are a non-negotiable wardrobe item (yeah, no kidding), and I either wear tailored pants with a crisp cotton shirt or t-shirt and blazer, or flowy skirts and dresses with something warmer to throw on top for cooler evenings. The key is to be comfortable for the whole day, so plan your outfits accordingly. Also, since I almost never go back to our apartment to change before dinners and parties, I try to wear something that’s appropriate from day to night. Nothing a little bit of red lipstick can’t fix. Unless I’m attending something fancy like the Salone gala dinner, in which case I make sure I dress properly the way a Milanese lady would – an evening dress, great shoes, good handbag and fantastic hair!
NO 3. Make sure your handbag/ backpack/ fanny pack (I really just wanted to say ‘fanny’) is packed lightly and only take bare essentials like the business cards, phone, and high-speed charger – because running out of ‘juice’ during the day would be a disaster! Your bag can get pretty heavy during the day, especially if you start collecting too much information. Resist the temptation to pick up all the pretty printed collateral, and stick to digital files only. Your back and your suitcase on the way home will be much better off.
NO 4. Establish and know your path of travel during the week and stick to your guns. Do not change plans because you followed some cute hashtag on Insta. You will lose too much time this way. If you want to take to the next level, plan your itinerary several days in advance with custom maps broken down into a daily schedule. This is what I do. Every. Single. Time.
NO 5. If this is your first time in Milan, just accept you will miss a lot of stuff – make peace with this and don’t suffer major FOMO. You will still see more great stuff than you ever bargained for.
NO 6. If this is your umpteenth time in Milan, you’re possibly not even reading these tips. But if you are, don’t be an annoying douche that says – “It’s just not as good as last year!” FFS, seriously, don’t ever say that $hit. Make sure you stay open to receiving moments of pure delight and sheer awe. These experiences don’t happen for those who feel “they’ve seen it all”. Just sayin’. Also, remember the enormous human effort that goes into dreaming up and producing each minute element of every single show. You may not personally like it, but don’t forget to show some respect.
NO 7. Pace yourself and don’t go too hard too early in the week, although you probably will. The burnout is strong during Salone. Also, be highly selective and ruthless with your time. Period.
NO 8. Always say yes to prosecco. Or a spritz. It doesn’t matter what time it is, because, during Salone, it’s spritz o’clock all the time.


Hogan has a brand new store on Via Monte Napoleone, 5, designed by Checkland Kindleysides.


The Forest pop-up by Kengo Kuma at Valextra Store Milan, Via Alessandro Manzoni, 3.


Celebrity chef Carlo Cracco’s Michelin star restaurnat




Located at Via Zante 14 (on the way to Linate Airport),
I can’t believe that in all these years I never mentioned the good ol’ favourite
TRANSPORT.
FOOD.
Landing early in Milan with Cathay Pacific means you can arrive fresh and ready to dig straight into some hearty Italian brekky and kick-start your day of exploration. The city’s main railway station,
Eating in Milan is an adventure in itself. The variety of local signature dishes is vast and delicious, with the likes of ossobuco and risotto alla Milanese to name a few. But if you’re looking for something more humble but equally tasty, the local favourite panzerotti is just for you. It’s a deep-fried donut-calzone hybrid delight – layers of mozzarella and tomato tucked in a slightly sweet and spongy flatbread. A small pinch to the wallet (about €3 apiece) and the perfect treat for when you’re on the go.
Cool off and surrender yourself to Milan’s best gelato. Try
ART.
A holiday in Milan is not complete without a visit to


Everyone’s favourite
Gucci’s new headquarters in Milan are located in an abandoned aircraft factory close to the city’s Linate airport, designed by Piuarch. The 30,000 square-meter complex comprises of offices, showrooms, a runway, and a restaurant.


Last year Gucci unveiled their Art Wall project in New York, and Milan (of course). Located in Largo La Foppa (between Garibaldi and Moscova), the 176 square-metre urban canvas changes its appearance regularly. Perfect Milan selfie op, no?







Speaking of fashion in Milan… I mean – get out, right? I know! Anyway, above images were all borrowed with thanks from the
FOOD + ART COMBINED = WINNER!
Located south of the city centre in Largo Isarco lies
End your day with a feast for the eyes and the belly. Perched on the rooftop of
SHOPPING.
Get your walking shoes on and hit the shops for some retail therapy. From boutique stores to big brands, there’s more than a touch of Vogue peppered across the streets of Milan. Made up of four streets of pure sparkle, the Quadrilatero d’Oro, otherwise known as the ‘rectangle of gold’, is where you can find the big brands and the latest ready-to-wear trends and designer clothing. For the bargain hunters, head out to the outlet stores. There’s some around the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II or try II
LOCAL MARKETS.
With a heavy population of the stylish and creative comes an ample supply of second-hand goodies and artisan pieces.
STAY.
If you’re a design nerd, then staying at a design hotel is probably a high priority. The classic








These extraordinary images are taken from Ingressi di Milano (Entryways in Milan) book by Karl Kolbitz, published by
This
[Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace, and courtesy of press.]
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