Out & About in Milan: My 3-Day Adventure
I’m back in London now after three fabulous days visiting Milan with my blogger friend Greetje (No Fear of Fashion). This trip started out as a casual conversation over coffee and cake last spring when I was visiting Greetje in Haarlem (near Amsterdam). A few months later we were booking flights and exchanging notes on hotels.
Le Monsieur and I had visited Milan in 2021, but our visit was brief: just a couple of days. This stay was short as well (three days) though it was enough time to see a bit more and get my bearings in the Brera neighborhood where we stayed.
We kept our itinerary simple: shopping, eating, and exploring. 😆 I have lots of photos to share, so grab a mug of your favorite beverage & come along for the tour.
Making the most of our first day
The forecast had called for rain (LOTS of it) for our entire visit, but fortunately it mostly held off until late at night. I arrived mid-afternoon, and after checking in and stowing my luggage, we started exploring the neighborhood.
Shopping was a primary draw for both of us, and the neighorhood we chose turned out to be optimal. There was one particular shop that I’d visited before and wanted to check out again, Whyci Milano (pronounced Why See). A quick seach on my map app showed that it was a short walk from our hotel, so away we went.
The store was full of lovely linen pieces. Greetje found this cheerful top…
and I found one in the same color but a different style that was better on my shorter frame. (Didn’t get a photo in the shop, will share once I’m back home.)
We strolled around the neighborhood getting our bearings for another hour or so, but were both tired from travel so opted for dinner at the hotel and turned in early.
Day 2
The weather continued to cooperate, so after breakfast we set out again. Being style bloggers, we’re always on the lookout for good spots for outfit photos. When I saw this gorgeous ivy-covered building across the street from where we were walking, it looked promising.
PANTS | SNEAKERS (SIMILAR)
(There was still rain in the forecast, hence the raincoat, but again we lucked out.)
A friend in London had recommended that we visit the atelier of brand Toosh, also walking distance (about 25 minutes) from our hotel. The atelier is open by appointment only, so we scheduled for 11am. We arrived early, so decided to have a coffee next door. The owner of Toosh, a lovely woman named Claudia, also happened to stop in for a coffee. She overheard our conversation and realized we were her clients, so introduced herself and invited us to come right up.
Toosh sells gorgeous cashmere sweaters and scarves, but they also make custom shirts, jackets, and dresses. You can select from several dozen styles and hundreds of fabrics, in every color imaginable. Measurements are then taken, and the order is placed.
I selected a shirt style (the same as the red striped one I was wearing in Paris) to be made in a gorgeous green linen fabric. Greetje found a lovely wrap blouse that can be worn several ways. The shirts will take a few weeks to make and then will be shipped to us. (Just in time for summer!)
I took a quick video of Claudia explaining the design process, which Greetje has posted on Youtube here.
From there, we walked over to see the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The area was packed with tourists, many of whom were wearing football (soccer) jerseys and paraphernalia, and doing team cheers and singing. We learned there was a big game that evening between Milan and Barcelona. (Milan won.)
But we did manage to get into one of the cafes for a light lunch, and had an awesome view from our table.
It was far too crowded in the Galleria to take good photos, so we decided to move on.
We did a lot of looking in the shops, but weren’t inspired to buy anything…
…except a gelato, of course!
I’d booked us in for dinner at a restaurant I’d really enjoyed on my first visit to Milan, Stendhal. It was just as charming and friendly as I’d remembered, and the food was excellent!
Day 3
We didn’t have anything specific on our schedule, and rain was in the forecast again for the afternoon. We walked up to Corso Como and took a peek into some of the shops, but again, didn’t see anything particularly inspiring. (Unless you count 10 Corso Como, which is full of fun and edgy designer fashions, well out of our price range.)
Walking back from Corso Como, we noticed this pretty mural wall…
And more stops for outfit photos…
We grabbed a panini at a lunch counter and decided to eat under the canopy outside. Just as we took our first bites, the sky opened up and it poured. (Of course I’d become over-confident, and had left my rain jacket behind, But at least I had an umbrella.) We finished our lunch quickly and made our way back to the hotel to wait out the rain, which lasted about 2 hours.
After the rain, another stroll and a stop for aperitivo!
Milan has some really stunning courtyard entrances!
We had an early dinner at a casual pasta/pizza place, and then it was time for me to pack, as I needed to leave in the morning to catch my flight to London. I always enjoy my time with Greetje, and it always goes by too fast!
I’ll share more about the (fabulous!) hotel once I’m back home. Ciao, Milano!
Have you visited Milan? What are your favorite neighborhoods or spots to eat, shop, and stroll?
Stay in touch
Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.
As you say, it was sooo nice meeting each other again. I highly enjoyed our time together. And the appointment with Toosh was a great extra.
Greetje
It really was fun, wasn’t it? 😀
Have only been to the Milan train station (same again this upcoming trip). Life is a bit grim when you aren’t inspired by the fashion shops in Milan lol. However, I did like the clothes on the Whyci website and they happen to have a shop in Florence (where I am staying). Looks like you are having a fabulous time – thanks for sharing.
Hi Susan, it wasn’t that the shops weren’t full of lovely things (they were!), it’s just that so much was too long or oversized for me, or just not the right style. If you love linen, there’s beautiful linen everywhere!
I’m in Florence right now, many styles are beautiful, but alas, too long, or too big. I have a question, there are no petite sizes listed anywhere, I was wondering if why, maybe Greete knows?
Beautiful pictures and great fashion tips, as always. LOVE that yellow color!!! So uplifting. And the store that custom makes the tops is wonderful. I know of them in North America for men, but not for women. Sigh. Thanks!
What wonderful pictures!! Thank you, Susan!
Love how you captured that very attractive couple (on their phones no less!) in the photo of Greetje. Beautiful composition there, all around. 🙂
Looks like a lovely trip Susan.
My husband and I have been in Milan since April 30 and will be here until June 3.
so many things to do and see in Milan….plus day trips to other cities. We are renting an apartment. Maybe we caught you two in some of our pictures. haha I’ll take a look.
I haven’t been to Milan for many years so thank you for taking us along on your travels. So fun and inspiring! I have a question about the leopard scarf. I love it and am thinking of purchasing but on the website it looks quite long. I’m afraid it might overwhelm my 5’1” frame. Are you wearing the exact one linked?
Hi Kathy, thank you and yes I am wearing the one linked. The nice thing about these scarves is that they’re lightweight and not bulky, so you can fold down to a smaller silhouette. (I’m 5’1″ as well.)
Thank you. Looks great for travel. Purchased!
Wow, that cathedral is more stunning than I remember. You two look like excellent travel buddies.
“Shopping, eating, exploring” sounds just fabulous. Thank you for sharing your time in Milan.
What a great post!!! I have only been to Italy in Europe, and love flying into Milan, but immediately catch the train to Varenna on Lake Como, and usually fly out of another airport, as I travel south.
Still, the sweet life of Italy (food, scenery, fashion) brings such great memories. I am sure I would love Paris for the same reasons, but hard to break the routine of wanting to go to back to Italy, when these visits are 5 years apart.
I’m not a sneaker gal…they don’t feel like me, something is just off BUT I’m loving the way your sneakers look in pix of you standing by the potted plant. so maybe I’ll try again. Hmmm.
I always love your photos! Please, please offer suggestions, advice, tips…anything! my photos definitely do not come out this good!
I love Greetje’s jeans! Link?
Thanks so much for sharing these photos of your visit to Milan with Greetje. It looks like you guys had some serious fun. Now to let my soccer fan loose. OMG!! Milan and Barcelona playing that night right there in the city! Eeeeeeeee!!!
I would have loved to have been there, even without a ticket, just to soak up that atmosphere! And who in their right mind can say “no” to gelato? Mmm, yum.
Happy travels!
Love the Bompard scarf! (I bought a beautiful twinset recently at the shop in London while there on vacation.) When I went to order the scarf this afternoon, I believe I had my first run-in with the dreaded tariffs. The scarf is priced at $140 but when I went to check out (and have it shipped to my home in the US), $228.64 in duties had been added making the grand total (with normal sales taxes added as well) a whopping $381.24. I’m sorry but I don’t know if I like it THAT much!
Yikes! I hope sanity eventually prevails and the tariffs are rescinded.
Success! I had left the scarf in my cart and when I went back to check on it today, the duties had miraculously disappeared! I quickly entered credit card information and hit the order button. Probably should have added an additional color but didn’t want to tempt fate…
Love these travel posts. I’m headed to Milan, Como and Venice this fall. I’ve been to Milan but it was decades ago and can’t wait to return. It’s such a fun city for design and I enjoy strolling around d neighborhoods, looking into shop windows and peaking into courtyards.
How fun to see you and Greetje together as I follow both your blogs!
We were in Milan overnight in 2019. Not long enough to explore very far, but we made the most of the limited time we had. A visit to the top of the Duomo and a walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II were both memorable.