Milano in Lace

Urban Outfitters (sale) Dress | American Apparel Bandeau | Tiffany's Earrings | Aldo Sandals

Wore this lace dress I nabbed at the Urban Outfitter's end of summer sale for a jam packed day in Milan a couple weeks ago as well as this Saturday in NYC for brunch at Joseph Leonard and to see The Book of Mormon on Broadway later that night.

Like I mentioned in this post last week (updated to include a restaurant from that day), I tried to pack pieces that didn't take up much room in my suitcase to leave enough space to buy shoes & other shopping on the trip. I modified the look (below) by wearing a mens t-shirt over it and wrapping a jean jacket around my legs in order to grant access into the Duomo to start the day (women can't get in with their shoulders/knees showing but men can be half naked??). After that we headed to lunch at Cafe Trussardi, gelato at Ciccolati Italiani and dinner at Ristorante Solferino, a must try both for the amazing food and neighborhood (Brera). Full with quaint restaurants and outdoor bars; cute boutiques, design and antique stores; and more charm than the area surrounding the Duomo just south of it, the Brera district was probably my favorite and a must if you're looking for a reasonably priced yet excellent meal in Milan.

{wardrobe modifications to grant myself entry into the Duomo}

{lunch at Cafe Trussardi}

{Cafe Trussardi chicken salad w/ paprika chips...}

{...and veggie club sandwich w/ fried egg}

{gelato break at Cioccolati Italiani and the chocolate cream (choice of white or dark) that they fill the base of the cone with...}

{dark chocolate & mixed berry cup and pistachio & rosa dark-chocolate filled cone}

{our cute little waiter at Ristorante Solferino}

{unbelievable gnocchi with pumpkin cream & pecorino and creamy burrata cheese w/ fresh cherry tomatoes to start}

{homemade tiramisú to finish}

Island Dining

J. Crew Popover Shirt | Club Monaco Sweater | Urban Outfitters Jeans | Aldo Sandals | Forever 21 Bag

Wore this Club Monaco sweater (pretty much every day of the trip, in fact) over a blue pinstripe J. Crew shirt and white jeans for a brisk dinner on the water at Albergo Ristorante Verbano one of the first nights in Italy. Given it was on a secluded island, the restaurant sends a boat to pick you up at your hotel for a serene ride before dropping you off at Isola Superiore. The amazingness (not a word) didn't stop there. The food was probably some of the best of the trip (bold statement) with the freshest seasonal vegetables, rich flavors and interesting combinations of locally sourced specialties. See pictures and captions below for a little taste...

{boat ride to Isola Superiore}

{view from the dinner table}

{the (free) goat cheese/summer vegetable appetizer & a little Prosecco to start}

{Summer tomato soup with burrata cheese, strips of puff pastry & poppy seeds} 

{Homemade macaroni w/ summer vegetables, ragout, fresh cheese flakes and basil}

{Roast pikeperch fish from Lake Maggiore w/ shallots, white wine erbulance and rosemary foam}

{Coffee parfait w/ baked peaches and macarons with a dark chocolate drizzle}

{Pineapple carpaccio w/ blueberry sorbet and wild berries}

{enjoying a classic Italian Spritzer (Campari, white wine, club soda) post-dinner while watching the Italian Tango school perform  on the patio of our hotel}