A leaf from my journal.
Whenever I travel, I find myself observing how a city dresses. Clothing often reveals a place more quickly than anything else – the cadence of the day, the pace of the streets, the social codes of how people move through the world.
Milan has always fascinated me for that reason. The tailoring is sharper, the palettes restrained, the silhouettes deliberate. Even small rituals feel considered — a pause for a cappuccino at a marble counter, the way a coat falls just right over a shoulder, the natural confidence of people who dress with clarity rather than excess.
Spending time here always sharpens my own thinking about silhouette, discipline, and inevitably, about how those ideas find their way back into 431-88.
Below, find everything I saw, wore, explored and noted along the way.
What Made The Suitcase
Packing for Milan meant editing things down to the pieces I know I rely on.
— Old School Pants – from our earliest seasons
— Espresso Pants – very versatile, I wore them everywhere.
— Dhoti Pants – a holiday favourite – you don’t need ironing, I promise.
— Lungi Skirt – made it into the suitcase, even if I missed the photos.
For meetings & evenings : A few transitional layers
The SK Blazer & the Sequa Clutch in Black – a piece I’m always stopped for when I carry it.
Some Personal Essentials
— The 431-88 Planner
— Sunscreen, Airpods, Lipbalm
— iPad, sunglasses, a tiny perfume
— My grandmother’s vintage watch, always for good luck
What I wore, and why
A few small habits always guide how I style my looks when I’m travelling.
Boots over the Pavement
I almost always tuck my pants into my boots. It’s a personal pet peeve when hems brush against the street or dusty floors.
Balancing the Silhouette
I like to keep the overall shape in balance. If the top is tailored, I usually soften things with drape at the bottom, and vice versa.
Accessories on Rotation
During the day I carried my Margaux from The Row to meetings. In the evening, I switched to the 431-88 Sequa clutch, it instantly makes the look feel lighter and a little less serious.
The Appointments
Workdays in Milan move quickly: meetings, racks of clothes, fabric swatches passed from hand to hand. So much talent in one room, so many new learnings, and thoughtful conversations around craft and silhouette.
On my table
Far away from Italian coffee tradition, I still reached for my oversized almond cappuccino, usually twice a day. Marble counters, crisp linen tablecloths, oysters to start, a generous bowl of comfort pasta, and tiramisu to finish.
Less wine these days. More coffee.
What I picked along the way
Milan always sends you home with small reminders of the city.
— A leather bag from one of Florence’s old ateliers.
— Monogrammed toiletry pouches I couldn’t resist.
— A fashion magazine from a street kiosk, I still love buying print.
— Soft cotton night suits from a tiny Italian factory run by five women.
— And a bottle of wine from a dinner I didn’t want to end.
The last pages of Milan
This season reminded me that ego has very little to do with growth, some pieces I questioned sold out immediately, while others I loved didn’t move at all. In the middle of appointments, the news of war broke, putting everything into perspective. It reminded me how similar our fears and hopes are across borders, and how much people are searching for meaning, connection, and a deeper sense of home. But travel also reminds me how much beauty still exists in the world: in people, in cities, and in the small rituals that ground us.
See you soon.
Love,
Shweta x
