A girl’s cheap guide to Milan

The Duomo Cathedral in Milan, by Stacey Cosens

Romantic old-time glamour, with an urban heartbeat. A place often overlooked for city weekends, Milan has some excellent hidden delights.

Think Milan, and you think fashion. As one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan hosts designers such as Moschino and Versace. As you walk into the city’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, your eyes are drawn to its two central main players Prada and Louis Vuttion.

The other thing that will grab your eye in the Galleria is its rather posh McDonalds. Careful not to break the elegant theme of the shopping mall too much, it’s usual logo, is black and gold to match it’s neighbours. Everything has a touch of elegance here.

In the main Piazza del Duomo, you will find yourself surrounded by tourists and pidgeons as you stare at the main attraction, the Duomo Cathedral. Visible from throughout the city, and one of the biggest cathedrals in the world, the gothic Duomo cathedral has over 3000 statues built into its walls. As you circle this magnificent building, the sheer detail of this building is remarkable. The cathedral took over five centuries to complete, and it’s easy to see why.

A short walk down the road from the Piazza del Duomo is the Castello Sforzesco. The 14th century castle was once home to the Visconti family and restored to its original splendour by the equally aristocratic Sforza family in the 1450s.

The castle is now considered one of Milan’s most loved attractions, and hosts twelve mini-museums running all the way from Palaeolithic history through to 1950s furniture. If you don’t fancy exploring the museums, just walking through its grounds is entertaining enough. Outside you are greeted by an impressive water fountain and as you walk through the grounds you’ll spot statues and courtyards before you come into Milan’s answer to Central Park.

While you explore Milan’s historic monuments, you’ll have a sense of being transported to another time. The city has so much history, and you’ll get an instant sense of this.

While exploring Milan’s intertwining streets and avoiding getting flattened by the ever present trams, you’ll find yourself on Milan’s main high street, think of it as Milan’s Oxford Street. As you make your way down this road you’ll spot familar brands such as H&M and Mango, as well as less familiar European brands such as Pull and Bear and local boutiques.

No matter what your budget, you should find something that catches your eye. Pull and Bear is a particularly impressive brand with cheap t-shirts and stylish fashion staples; it is the perfect mix of H&M and Topshop. While we have a few of our own Pull and Bear stores in the UK, it’s well worth checking out the Milan store with its blaring dance music and three floors of clothes.

Flights and hotels are cheaper than you think, Ryanair has previously sold return flights to Milan for as little as £2 and hotels can be as little as £35 per night. This city is perfect for a short two day break.

Stacey’s adventures in NYC: Part Two

Stacey Magnolia bakery

Concrete Jungle, where dreams are made of…

Stacey Magnolia bakery

Me at Magnolia Bakery

What most excited me about my trip to New York, as well as the beauty of the city, was the shopping. Never had I been surrounded by so many beautiful clothes and so much spending money.

I had planned ahead well, I knew how much passion I had for shopping and I wanted to be able to shop til I dropped without worrying about money too much. The great thing about the American high street is the overwhelming choice of casual clothes for a small price.

Forever 21 do this best, think of it as a hybrid of Primark and Topshop. It manages to tap into key trends of the season, without looking cheap and without the money draining price tag. Thankfully, Forever 21 has finally made it across the pond and is slowly but surely taking over the country, as well as its UK website. Cheap and chic fashion is here!

 For the preppy casual look, that’s slightly cheaper than Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Aeropostale is your first port of call. Casual t-shirts, baggy jogging bottoms and comfy hoodies are in no small supply. American Eagle also manages to embrace a more stylish side with cute but casual skirts and dresses.

 However, if you find yourself strolling along Fifth Avenue, it’s impossible to miss the Abercrombie and Fitch building with its blaring techno beat and topless male models welcoming you at the door. It’s not everyday you start your shopping with a Polaroid of you and a handsome scantily clad man. I enjoyed the experience so much; I began collecting pictures of me with the models.

 The clothes in Abercrombie and Fitch are slightly pricier than most shops, but America is the place to stock up, as it will cost you a lot more in the UK. Also, if you’re in New York, these prices are a lot less intimidating than what you’ll find in Bloomingdales and Saks!

 If you prefer more of a unique vintage feel, head down Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Here you’ll find boutiques and vintage shops as well as the odd cool designer store. It’s a long road, but the mix of gorgeous shops is worth it, all the more so when you reach Magnolia Bakery. Its cupcakes made famous by Sex and the city.

 While there is always a queue, it’s worth it for the delicious lovingly made cupcakes and being round the corner from Carrie’s famous stoop on Perry Street.

 Finally, I couldn’t end a trip in New York without a trip to Soho. Spring Street has every shop you could ever wish for; from Mango to Urban Outfitters to our very own home-grown Topshop!

Stacey’s adventures in NYC: Part one.

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years” – Thomas Wolfe (American short story writer and novelist, 1900-1938)

Stacey on Empire State

 For years I had admired New York on TV shows and films, wishing to be part of the Manhattan rush. I longed to be Carrie Bradshaw, walking down Fifth Avenue in Manolo Blahniks with arms full of shopping bags. After years of longing, I took the plunge and made it my mission to visit New York, dragging my mum with me. Flights booked and hotel paid, my adventure was ready to begin.

In a yellow cab on a June evening, I passed over the Brooklyn Bridge into night time Manhattan. The lit up skyscrapers came into view, from the Chrysler building to the Empire State.

As we cruised down Fifth Avenue to reach our hotel near Times Square, I stared in awe of the designer shops I had seen in so many ‘Sex and the City’ episodes. I knew I couldn’t afford anything in these shops, but the window displays made my heart flutter.

Then it came into the view, the bright lights of the big city, Times Square. I couldn’t believe my hotel was so close to the street synonymous with New York. It was late, but the hustle and bustle had not ceased. It instantly felt like home.

To make sure I got the best out of my five night trip, I planned each day to a tee, with my trusty notebook and fold out map. I was determined to see as much of the city as physically possible. With my encyclopaedic knowledge of New York from books and TV, I knew every place I wanted to tick off.

The first issue was finding my bearings, as I stepped out into Times Square, I had two questions. Which way were the shops and where could I get breakfast?

Excited to embrace the American culture, I opted for pancakes as my first New York meal. I recoiled at the sweetness; heavy, doughy and sickly sweet. My British constitution couldn’t handle it.

After asking a handful of Americans, we finally made it to 34th Street, where we found the first landmarks aside from Times Square; Macys and The Empire State Building.

With my head right back, I looked up to the top of the Empire State Building, it was the tallest thing I had ever seen.

We waited for a clear day to go to the top of the Empire State Building, and when I finally made it to the top, after queuing and six flights of stairs, as well as an asthma attack, I saw the view that made it all worth it. New York City.

I could see for miles, looking over the compact sky scraper filled city. So much crammed into such a small space, yet it didn’t feel claustrophobic, it felt exciting. I wanted to explore it all.