5 Girls On Their Love Affair With Milan

Milan

— August 13, 2018 —

Sure, Milan is the fashion capital of the universe, but did you also know that it’s home to a) the best food ever, b) the best coffee ever, and c) the best architecture ever? Seriously—if your tastebuds and eyeballs are screaming out for a holiday, pack their bags and put them on the next flight to Milan. They will love you forever, promise. 

We recently took our own advice and jetted across the pond to visit Milan for a glorious few days. Go us! While in town, we caught up with five fresh new faces who’ve been calling the city home. We dressed them up in the swishest clothes we could find, and they told us all the hippest places to visit while in town. Win, win. 

Fall in love with Milan (and these absolute honeys) below! 

Name: Camilla
Nickname(s): Cami, Camill and Millo
Age: 17
Star sign: Aquarius

Where are you originally from, and how long have you been in Milan for? 
I was born in Milan and have been living here ever since, but I’m half German.

Can you list your favourite places to eat in Milan? 
I absolutely love Temakinho and Matcha. Le Drogherie Milanesi is also a nice place to eat Italian food.

And to drink? 
Pavè, Pandenus and Princi make really good drinks, but sometimes I like to spoil myself and go to the Martini Bar.

And to dance? 
I don’t often go dancing, but when I do I usually go to the Just Cavalli or the Old Fashion clubs. I would also really love to try a relatively new club called Volt.

Best coffee? 
I love to take my coffee at Panini Durini or Princi, even if I usually just drink it at home or at school.

Best place to people watch? 
I love to stand on my bedroom balcony and watch people walking along my street.

What’s been your favourite day in Milan so far, and what did it entail? 
The 29th of June! I was with some of my friends all day, and around 6:00PM we went to the Ippodromo of San Siro to see Martin Garrix’s concert, and I absolutely loved it. I’m a big music lover, so if you want me to have fun, just take me to a concert and I’ll enjoy it for sure.

What’s been the best thing about living in Milan so far? 
I love my city—how it’s organised, the people I meet… I would have to say everything about it. 

And the most challenging? 
The weather is a bit too hot during summertime, and too cold during the winter, and I don’t like that at all.

What are the top two reasons why we should see Milan for ourselves? 
You’ll always find something that suits your interests (for example, art, music, food, and fashion), and the city itself is really nice to walk around.

 

Name: Emilia Arkensved
Nickname: Emili, Arkis
Age: 17, 18 soon
Star sign: Scorpio

Where are you originally from, and how long have you been in Milan for? 
I’m from Gothenbourg, Sweden. I’ve been in Milan for two months now.

Can you list your favourite places to dance in Milan? 
The best places are probably around Parco Sempione—even if it’s some club on the west side or restaurants/bars inside the park. 

Best coffee? 
Many places! Felix Café in Navigli is a nice place.

Best place to people watch? 
I have to answer Duomo on this one. You can literally see all kinds of people there.

What’s been your favourite day in Milan so far, and what did it entail?  
I’m gonna say two days—midsummer and the day of the D&G show. Midsummer is a big tradition in Sweden, so we gathered all the swedish people we could find, and celebrated in Parco Sempione with a big picnic. The Dolce show in Lake Como was also great. I had never been to Como before, and the location, show, and vibe was just amazing.

What’s been the best thing about living in Milan so far? 
The evenings, definitely. People here are out having dinner so much later than in Sweden, and also just spending time outside a lot more during late hours. I’m more of a night person than a morning person, so I really like that.

And the most challenging? 
Accepting the fact that Italians are ALWAYS late.

What do you miss most about home? 
Family, friends and a little bit of structure. I know that I’m going to get tired of structure the second I get it back, though.

What’s the craziest thing to happen to you since you’ve been there? 
My friend had his phone stolen when were just walking down a street. The thieves were scarily smooth—they talked to us and did a high-five or whatever, and the second after they left, my friend realised his phone was gone, and the thieves, too.

What are the top two reasons why we should see Milan for ourselves? 
First, to see all the nice places like Navigli, Parco Sempione, Corso Como etc, and then to have some real milanese risotto [laughs]. 


Name: Rachel Joi Riggall 
Nickname(s): Rach, Rat, Joi (technically joi is a nickname/middle name/model name)
Age: 19
Starsign: Capricorn 

Where are you originally from, and how long have you been in Milan for?
I’m originally from Australia and I was in Milan for 3 months, from May until July. 

Can you list your favourite places to eat in Milan?
Favourite places to eat would definitely be Vegan world, Ghea, Anema e Cozze, Crazy Cat Cafe, That’s Vapore and Alhambra. 

And to drink?
Along the Navigli has some really nice places with amazing views, and another good place is +39zerodue. The way Italians live is very different to than in Australia—for example, most Italians have dinner at 10pm or later, or not at all, because they have Aperitivo, where you buy a drink and then get a plate of food. And, in most places you can get as much food from the buffet as you want, so most Italians do that for dinner. 

And to dance?
I didn’t really go out much, but First Club was pretty good and I’ve heard Armani is really good, too. 

Best place to people watch?
Definitely the Duomo or park Sempione

What’s been your favourite day in Milan so far, and what did it entail? 
I don’t really have one favourite day, but I loved exploring the city with my friends and trying out different vegan restaurants, or making a salad and going to the duomo or Sforzesco Castle then watching the stray cats after. Just going on long walks around Milan, because it’s quite small so walking or bike riding around is doable. 

What’s been the best thing about living in Milan so far?
Milan is very beautiful and so close to other beautiful cities, so it’s really easy to travel and explore other parts of Italy and Europe. But, apart from traveling, the food is amazing and Milan is quite small so you can walk or tram or bike ride everywhere, and there’s so many beautiful spots to enjoy, like the Duomo, Navigli, Sempione, and Indro Montanelli park. 

And the most challenging? 
For me the most challenging thing is the language, because no one really speaks English. But, I’ve learned a bit, and I can get myself around, though google translate is definitely my friend [laughs].  
Also, Milan isn’t really my market atm, but I’m making the most of my time here. 

What do you miss most about home?
I miss the beach, my friends and family of course, the language and people driving on the left side of the road [laughs]. As well as going to my dance and aerial classes. 

What’s the craziest thing to happen to you since you’ve been there?
I became vegan.

What are the top two reasons why we should see Milan for ourselves?
The Duomo—the architecture is amazing and so intricate. And, of course, the food.

Name: Shixuan Hu
Nickname(s): Xuan
Age: 22
Starsign: Aries

Where are you originally from, and how long have you been in Milan for?
I am from China. I have been in Milan for three years, and I am studying industrial design at an Italian university.

Can you list your favourite places to eat in Milan?
Zona Porta Genova is my favourite place. I like to go with my friends and have a cocktail. There’s a chinese restaurant in Chinatown called Shanji, which is good, and Spontini is also my favourite. 

And to shop?
Duomo and some vintage shops in Area porta genova. 

Best coffee? 
Every bar in Italy. 

What’s been your favourite day in Milan so far, and what did it entail?
I like Christmas the most, because Christmas is similar to Chinese New Year. For me, it’s a day of family reunion. Although I can't go back to China and I miss my family so much, I don't feel lonely when I am at festival. I have made a lot of precious friends who have been with me for Christmas.

What’s been the best thing about living in Milan so far?
A variety of delicious restaurants.

And the most challenging? 
For a foreign student abroad, every day is a challenge.

What do you miss most about home?
My family.

What are the top two reasons why we should see Milan for ourselves?
It’s Milan! You need to see Duomo, you should come here to eat the best gelato and the best pizza, and drink the best coffee in the world!

Name: Giulia
Nickname(s): Julie
Age: 21
Starsign: Scorpion

Where are you originally from, and how long have you been in Milan for? 
I come from a small town in the Veneto region, Feltre but I have been living in Milan for two years now. For my first year of university, I lived in Venice, a beautiful city but not a lot of stimuli. So, I decided to move to a city that never stopped and could continually amaze and inspire me—Milan. Also, for my design studies.

Can you list your favourite places to eat in Milan? 
I love Otto and Casa Ramen in Paolo Sarpi. The whole street, actually, being a lover of ethnic cuisine. But, I also frequent the Lu Bàr in the Porta Venezia area, and also Hamerica's or De Santis for their sandwiches or Beato Te or Oganic for their pizza.

And to shop? 
With shopping, I prefer vintage shops or to go looking for gold in the markets, but also super basic shops like Zara, Mango or And Other Stories. Areas like Corso di Porta Ticinese offer the smallest, most delicious boutiques! 

And to drink? 
I like going to the Botanical Club or the beautiful terrace of the Floristeria. In reality, I am an eccentric person with simple tastes, but I habitually frequent a niche place called Tutti Fritti, which has a little more swag than the rest. Or, Freeda, which is covered with plants. Living next to the navigli, I also frequent the Mag or Gino 12, which is the best for cocktails.

And to dance? 
I’m very involved in Milanese nightlife—every weekend, I'm in Macao (which reflects my tastes), and I also frequent places like Il Tempio del Futuro Perduto, the famous Dude Club for techno evenings, and also Love or Parco Folarnini. 

Best coffee? 
For me, the best coffee in Milan is Marchesi, not in the Galleria, but in the Meravigli area. I also love DiVioleDiLiquirizia in the Brera area. 

Best place to people watch? 
It is certainly Sempione Park. Although, it is not the best park in my opinion—I prefer Idro Montanelli of Palestro, which also attracts me a lot as a zone. Every now and then, I sit and read and observe in the Church of Santa Maria alla Porta. Also, the corridors of the Prada Foundation Observatory (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele).

What’s been your favourite day in Milan so far, and what did it entail? 
One of my favorite days was when, after being able to do gymnastics in the morning, I went to buy plants with friends out of Milan in a large greenhouse. Or, when we went to discover the "skeletons" of Milan with our 35mm. Or, when I had the opportunity to be a model for a shoot created in a non-permanent theater inside an old school in Milan.

What’s been the best thing about living in Milan so far? 
For me, the best thing about living in Milan is freedom. It’s not having to worry about anything, how you're done or how you want to look. You can be who you are, create a new character or embrace your own. As far as people are concerned, I was more enthusiastic as soon as I arrived, even though I met personalities that I would never have been able to find in other cities. But, I am not part of any circle in which the aesthetic is more important than personality. Milan it is a city that satisfies all tastes and habits. The choice is up to you.

And the most challenging? 
The most difficult thing for me, even if it may seem trivial, is smog. Sometimes I can’t stand it, especially when I come from a city where trees and not houses prevail.  

What’s the craziest thing to happen to you since you’ve been there? 
Milan is a city that can give you many surprises. In fact, out of the two years I’ve been here, the strangest thing to happen to me was when, the morning after leaving my house and arguing with my boyfriend, I decided to randomly walk around without even knowing where I was. I found myself in a tram with two other people—the editor of a newspaper and an English teacher. We drank a coffee from Marchesi Prada, grabbed a taxi and two bottles of wine, and went to wake up all my house until late afternoon. It was a beautiful evening/day. 
 


Words: Maddy Woon    Photos & Fashion: Chloe Hill

Camilla & Emilia are represented by IMG
Joi is represented by URBN
Xuan is represented by Special Model Management
Giulia is represented by Euphoria & The Lab


Shot on location in Milan, Italy

                    

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