Flaxen-bobbed illustrator and fashion darling Jenny Walton lived in New York for almost two decades before she felt the itch. Next thing she knew, she packed up her dogs and collection of couture and moved to Milan. It’s a city she had visited before as a well-heeled traveler, but now as a local she’s leaning into the dolce vita of it all.
“I find myself wearing lipstick and heels a little bit more when I’m in Italy,” she says. “There is something romantic at the base of Italian style.”
Of course, there’s also the city’s legendary population of sciura (wealthy older women) to inspire too. Walton cites them as a big influence on her current look. “Their exactness, in terms of putting together a look, is inspiring. I put more effort into my look here, getting my hair done more regularly, things like that.”
You can see it all reflected in the sharpness of Walton’s red lipstick, the curves of her updos (so artful!), and the overall preciseness in which she styles herself. Here, Walton tells us about all the wonderful beauty places she’s discovered.
La Porta Blu
“There are two great stores for hair accessories in my opinion (besides Gioielleria Pennisi, where starting this week you can find the hairpins that I designed). The first is La Porta Blu; it has gorgeous hair accessories. The second is Mazzolari, where I buy a lot of my headbands.”
La Porta Blu, Largo Augusto, 3, 20122 Milano MI
Image Regenerative Clinic
“They do everything from facials to botox to surgeries here. I go once a month for a Hydrafacial with Paola, who is fantastic and not only gives me a foot massage during the facial but is also teaching me Italian (and I help her with English). Between all of the coffee and wine, a Hydrafacial is always a good idea when in Italy.”
Image Regenerative Clinic, Via Pietro Mascagni, 14, 20122 Milano MI
Armani Spa
“My favourite place for a massage is the spa at the Armani Hotel. While the massage is lovely, I really love it because of the relaxation room afterward. There’s a pool and sauna, and it’s just the most relaxing place. Plus you have great views of the city (usually spas are in the basement, so it makes this one’s setting extra-special).”
Armani Spa, Via Alessandro Manzoni, 31, 20121 Milano MI
Dessange
“Lately I’ve been getting my hair cut and colored at Dessange. It’s not very expensive, and the women there are all lovely, although they don’t really speak English, which adds a bit of a thrill to the whole experience. ‘Will they misunderstand and shave off my hair?! Let’s see!’ It gives a do or ‘dye’ sense of urgency to improving my Italian skills, because I find the idea of a shaved head quite motivating.”
Dessange, Corso di Porta Vittoria, 32, 20122 Milano MI
Qc Termemilano
“Photographer Tommy Ton first brought me here years ago during the shows, when I was not yet living in Milan. Qc Terme is so fun because there are all of these different spas inside and pools outside (there’s even an old tram in the garden that’s been converted into a sauna). The best time to be there is during aperitivo, when there is a mad rush to get the food and drinks; you’ve never seen so many people in bathrobes running around. It’s really funny.”
Qc Termemilano, Piazzale Medaglie D’Oro, 2, 20135 Milano MI
This story was originally published on Vogue.com.
