Walking the streets of Milan, Italy

Feeling tired and sure that I looked the part as well, I stepped into the streets of Milan wearing the ugliest coat I own, bought for the purpose and not for aesthetics – a puffer jacket, almost knee length, water repellant and cold-proof. It was the best fit for the weather I was enduring during this trip, so I had to leave my fashion sense at home. My shoes were black Timberland boots, that I bought for hiking, but also served this trip well – comfy shoes for walking, specifically in conditions of ice and snow (I had been in Switzerland before Italy). Whilst I do typically place high importance on what I wear, I tend to adopt a “can’t bother, don’t care” attitude when I’m travelling with limited wardrobe options. The most important thing when travelling is to be comfortable.

The thing is we are talking about Milan here and as soon as I left the hotel where I had just dropped off my bag. I felt immediately self-conscious about my looks. I certainly did not look the part. I could not live up to the fantastic sense of style I was surrounded with. Milan breathes fashion. Most importantly, it breathes style. I’ve always been very mindful of the different meanings of these two words – fashion isn’t the same as style. Style is timeless. Fashion fades.

I wasn’t surprised, of course. After all, Milan is a world-famous capital of fashion, occupying a prestigious position next to the likes of New York, Paris and London. I think it’s funny this is one of the reasons I had been told there is nothing much to do in Milan – number one, it is great only if you can (and want to) shop for big fashion labels and, number two, its industrial past makes Milan seem uglier than other Italian cities. Yet, it’s precisely due to this past that Milanese Fashion occupies such importance in the world – it all started precisely in the 19^th century, when Milan as the capital of Lombardy was a big production centre for textiles and luxury goods. Some of the biggest labels born in Milan are Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Versace, but there are many others.

Walking in the streets in Milan might be intimidating precisely because of this – you are surrounded by beautiful and yet extremely expensive shops and everyone seems to carry with them an incredible sense of style. Yet, I was able to overcome my initial self-consciousness. I have always liked fashion and so I found it inspiring. I wouldn’t purchase anything from these big fashion labels (I don’t believe there is a connection between style and owning haute couture or designer brands). I’ve looked up to fashion all my life as a form of art that you can use to express who you are, and even how you feel to the world. Fashion has meant a lot to me, and I’ve come to develop my own style. But I’m not going to lie – since the pandemic, I started to spend a lot more time at home, mostly working from home in the past three years, and with that went that moment of the day when I’d think about the outfit I’d put together to get out in the world the day after. Reflecting upon it, I think this is something that is missing in my life. Fashion is a way I express myself creatively, and having abandoned that… well, a part of me was lost too. Something that I’ll find a way to recover, hopefully!

The streets of Milan were busy with this expression. Elegant, charming, unapologetically so. I really did love this about Milan. So much so that I found myself enjoying getting lost in those streets, people and buildings watching, wondering how come so many people had told me in the past that there was so little to do in Milan, that one day was enough to see it all! Maybe… but can you feel it all? I had only two days in Milan, and I was struggling.

Personally, I don’t think it’s just about the famous Duomo or the Galleries of Vittorio Emanuele. These are architectural marvels, beautiful in their own right and definitely a wonder to look at. But I found the most joy in exploring the other corners of Milan that seem to lack crowds of tourists, with a lot of points of interest seemingly hidden, as if the city was trying to keep them a secret.

I stayed in the neighbourhood of Moscova, where the famous Pinacoteca de Brera is based. Being a renowned art museum, it was hard for me to skip it – but I was on a budget, and the hefty price of €16 for a standard ticket seemed too much when I had so little time to see the city. Even in Brera, about 20 20-minute walk from the Duomo, was full of cute little corners, interesting shops and photography opportunities that I didn’t want to miss. I wanted to try to see the essence of Milan, without overspending whilst doing so. I have a friend from Milan who told me Moscova was a really nice area – and it is indeed! So I was surprised that this is where I found the best value room to stay in, in Hotel Ritter.

I also decided against visiting the Duomo. And this was probably a big miss, but let me explain – of course, it was overpriced, but I’d be willing to pay for it if the weather had been better. What I found really appealing about it was the chance to go up to the terraces and see the views. The downside of visiting Milan in December is precisely that the likelihood of rain, grey and hazy/foggy days is much higher. And so I decided to leave this for the next time I have a chance to be in the area. Don’t take me wrong – I’m sure it would still be an amazing experience. Although I was already so impressed about the city that I simply wanted to see more of it.

This is also an important lesson I have learned from my years of travelling – you don’t have to always enter all the big attractions to enjoy the city or the place you are travelling to. In fact, sometimes I’ve found that it eats away time better spent outdoors, exploring, getting immersed in the streets, peaking the shop windows, smelling the local foods. when I first started travelling I was so afraid of missing out… but now I’m so content with walking, slowly breathing the air of a new place, taking my photos, and often looking to avoid overcrowded places with tourists trying so hard to get the perfect Instagram shot (no judgement here, I am often part of that same crowd). It is perhaps an important piece of advice I can give, and certainly one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt from my experience. Soon enough I’ll share in this blog my favourite place in Milan – one that was free to visit and was basically empty 🙂

Thank you for reading. If you want to take a closer look at Milan’s Christmas spirit, check out this post: Milan during Christmas Season.

Love, Nic