Into Milan

Not too far away, in corso Vittorio Emanuele, the big department store La Rinascente has returned to its old glorious splendour. The newly refurbished Milanese institution has an unbeatable beauty and fragrance department designed by architect India Mahdavi, and the 7th-floor food hall offers a fantastic delicatessen and wine selection from all the regions of Italy. I like to stare out of the windows: you get the best view of the Duomo from the top floors.

One of my favourite Milanese success stories is B-Fly. From its humble beginnings as a denim shop, it now promotes young designers and operates as a showroom for art and design projects. It's particularly buzzy during the furniture fair Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

Other fun stops are Slam Jam, where the selection of quirky accessories, trendy clothes and colourful trainers mix well with gadgets and music; Purple Shop on corso di Porta Ticinese, for the young at heart; vintage store Cavalli e Nastri, hidden in via Gian Giacomo Mora and next door to the tiny but oh-so-fashionable bar Cuore (perfect for a drink), has a great selection of clothes, from Seventies Saint Laurent, to structured Capucci, to Roberta di Camerino's signature velvet bags. It's a destination for local designers, stylists and magazine editors.

Hotel Principe di Savoia, piazza della Repubblica 17, 20124 Milan (00 39 02 62 301; www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com)