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My Four Seasons: Manolo Blahnik’s Milano Retreat

Posted on September 20, 2017March 1, 2024 by Austin Morton

Manolo Blahnik is a citizen of Spain who headquarters his eponymous brand in London, but he’d be the first to tell you that the real magic happens in Milan, one of his favourite cities. The iconic shoemaker, who still whittles by hand the wooden forms that shape his inimitable creations, maintains several factories there.

“Milan is a city to discover,” Blahnik says. “It inspires me tremendously.”

For nearly three months out of every year, he sojourns in the fashion capital to personally oversee the transformation of his designs into wearable works of art. His residence of choice? Four Seasons Hotel Milano, where Blahnik has been a regular guest for more than two decades.

“My friends’ homes are my favourite places, but the first thing I do when I’m in Milan is to go to the Duomo.”

Milan is a city to discover. It inspires me tremendously.

“It’s my home away from home,” he says. “I’ve been coming here since the beginning … The people, the service and the food are all impeccable and to my taste.” Blahnik has returned to the same room for the past 22 years: “Room 212, my humble home.” When it came time to film the newly released biographical documentary, Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards, the Hotel was a natural location for director Michael Roberts, who captured select scenes there.

Blahnik is charmed by the building itself, which was a convent in the 15th century. And he has fostered close relationships with many Four Seasons staff members. One of those special bonds is with his long-time housekeeper, Ignazia Gammicchia. “We met many years ago,” he says. “She’s a woman from another generation – such a warm person, with the most beautiful manners. I adore her!”

“I adore the Palazzo Morando, where we had our [Art of Shoes] exhibition earlier this year.”

The Hotel has also partnered with the designer to introduce the Manolo Blahnik Package. With this special offering, in addition to a daily Continental breakfast, guests receive a signature pair of velvet and satin Manolo Blahnik slippers – made exclusively for the Hotel – and a foot treatment for two at the Spa.

“It was an homage to film director Ferzan Özpetek. I also thought about Turkish slippers, the deep navy with the gold embroidery,” Blahnik says of his design. “Simple, but very elegant.”

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Signature Manolo Blahnik slippers from the Hotel's Manolo Blahnik Package

Guests who book the Manolo Blahnik Package will receive a pair of these signature blue velvet Manolo Blahnik slippers, made exclusively for the Hotel.

Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

The courtyard of Four Seasons Hotel Milano

“I love the idea that the Hotel used to be an old convent – this greatly appeals to me. I think it’s fascinating that nuns would have walked in the same place where we are now staying.” – Manolo Blahnik

Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

A dining area at Four Seasons Hotel Milano

Savour a multi-course meal of Mediterranean and local cuisine al fresco at La Veranda, courtesy of Executive Chef Vito Mollica.

Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

A housekeeper at Four Seasons Hotel Milano

Greet the day at Four Seasons Milan with views of the Hotel’s lushly planted courtyard.

Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards hit theatres September 15 in the U.S. and premieres September 29 in the U.K.

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Around the World With Tory Burch

Posted on May 17, 2016June 21, 2018 by Natalie Bogan Morgan

It’s hard not to be bitten by the travel bug when you grow up hearing stories of your parents’ journeys around the world. As a child, Tory Burch was enthralled with the adventures of her parents, Buddy and Reva Robinson, who for six weeks every summer set off by steamer ship for Morocco, Italy, France, Greece and beyond.

They instilled in Burch a desire to travel, explore and learn.

My parents raised me with the knowledge that the world is a wonderful place. The more you learn, the more you want to know. – Tory Burch

The designer hopes she has passed that same curiosity on to her three boys – twins Henry and Nicholas, and Sawyer.

While the demands of her growing global company have her travelling mostly for work, she carves out time as often as she can to go off the beaten path. This is often where she and her team find inspiration for the collection, known for its bold and modern use of colour and print. Read on to see how Turkish Iznik tilework, Paris café culture and Indian mirrors have influenced Burch.

Made in Marrakech

Burch’s love affair with Morocco stems from her childhood. The designer grew up listening to her parents recount fond memories of exploring Marrakech. The pair honeymooned in the ancient city and then returned year after year, bringing art and antiques found in the souks back to the family’s Pennsylvania farmhouse.

Today when travelling, Burch and her design team fill their phones with images like this one – a splash of Moroccan tile they were drawn to because of its vibrant colours and dancing patterns. Photography courtesy Noa Griffel

Later, as Burch studied art history and started working in fashion, her expectations for the city grew. “It’s said that Alfred Hitchcock [was inspired to create] The Birds after staying at La Mamounia and hearing the crows every morning,” she says. “Matisse was inspired by so many of the country’s vibrant colours, which all filtered into his own work.” And, of course, the country’s mark on fashion is eternal, having been a sanctuary for Yves Saint Laurent.

Happily, Burch was not disappointed. “On my first, and every trip since, the city lived up to my imagination,” she says.

“Everywhere you go, there’s a hotel, store or street with a story about how the city, the people and the culture have inspired someone to create something unforgettable.”

Morocco’s brilliant Majorelle blue, especially when set against crisp white, has influenced colour combinations in the designer’s own collections. “And in one resort collection a few years ago,” notes Burch, “we translated a straw hat I found in a Marrakech souk into a conversation print we used on tunics, dresses and swimsuits.”

Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

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En vogue à Paris

It’s fair to say that Burch owes a bit of her success to the City of Lights. After all, it was in a Paris flea market that she discovered the green floral tunic that inspired the Tory Tunic, a staple that’s been in every collection since Burch’s first season. More than a decade later, she continues to visit the iconic city to explore new places, while stopping by her long-time favourites including the Deyrolle, a 185-year-old curiosities shop, and Café Marly, which overlooks the Louvre.

“Paris never ceases to inspire me.”

“Just walking through the streets or sitting at a café, you notice the incredible Parisian sense of style,” says Burch. “It’s in the city’s DNA.” Burch’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection is evidence of her love for the city, having taken a cue from the café scene in Éric Rohmer’s 1972 film L’amour l’après-midi, where stylish women passed by the restaurant, each flaunting a unique look.

The Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2016 collection took inspiration from Éric Rohmer’s 1972 French film L’amour l’après-midi, which translated into a celebration of classic seventies sportswear on a New York runway. Photography courtesy Tory Burch

“On the runway, that meant that every look was different, whether through print, length or silhouette,” she explains. “But they all had the same subtle nod to great, classic ’70s sportswear.”

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

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All eyes on Istanbul

“Istanbul is one of those cities where you can stand in one place, whether inside or outside and take in an extraordinary, 360-degree view,” Burch says. The designer opened her first boutique in the Turkish city in 2013, having visited once before.

“It’s magical – from the sultans and pashas to the mix of old and modern architecture, it has such an incredible history and culture,” she says. The self-admitted history and art aficionado appreciates Istanbul’s past, preserved in the city’s streets and buildings, as it blends with the area’s new, vibrant art scene.

“You don’t have to know anything about architecture to appreciate [it],” she says. “If I could go back in time and learn from the Romans, Byzantine and Ottoman artisans . . .”

“My design team and I have spent hours in the Blue Mosque, studying patterns and colour combinations,” says Burch. Photography courtesy Noa Griffel

Through the years, as Burch and her team spent time at the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace, the colours and graphics in Turkish tile work, textiles and architecture found their way into the collections. The designer is especially drawn to the “colourful florals of Iznik tiles, layered textures of Azerbaijani rugs, hammered copper accessories and tassels” found in the historic spaces.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

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Colour collision in India

“When I’m in India, I’m a tourist in the best sense of the word,” Burch says. “I want to soak up every second.” During her time in south Asia, the designer often fills her days exploring area temples, museums and shops, forgoing sleep in favour of immersion in the local culture.

Inspiration abounds in India, where Burch appreciates the melding of culture and history. Throughout the years, her collections have been inspired by classic Indian patterns, embellishments and techniques she finds throughout the country. Photography courtesy Tory Burch

On one such whirlwind vacation to Rajasthan in 2009, Burch took an elephant ride to the grand Amber Fort, where she and her fellow travellers got more than they bargained for. “At the top, there were several young men who we thought were selling beautiful woven baskets,” she says. “Turns out, they were snake charmers.”

“When I’m in India, I’m a tourist in the best sense of the word. I want to soak up every second.”

Burch’s love for the country is clear in her clothing designs, though it’s hard to pinpoint what she finds most inspiring – the pace of life, the landscape of mountains and jungle, or the artisan details tucked into India’s historic architecture. “Every trip to India offers something new,” she says.

A Tory Burch Design Inspired by India Icon

Burch snapped the photo at left during a trip to India, capturing an intricately carved sculpture dressed in flowers. The icon inspired the design at right, a red floral appliquéd tulle dress. Photography courtesy Tory Burch

Faithful followers of Burch’s designs will recognise the classic Indian patterns, embellishments and techniques appearing on the company’s tunics and totes throughout the years. For example, she says, “The mirror-work details in one season reflected the ornamented rooms in the Sheesh Mahal.”

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

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Celebrating the past in Ginza

Though she spent a whirlwind week in Japan when opening the first Tory Burch boutique in Ginza, the designer admits that her stay wasn’t nearly long enough. “We packed a lot into a short amount of time, but we barely scratched the surface,” she says.

During her 2010 excursion, the designer explored Tokyo-area markets and temples, including the Senso-ji, a Buddhist temple where smoke from incense burners is said to bring good luck. “It’s a popular and spiritual place for young couples to get married,” she says. “I remember vividly seeing one young bride in a stunning traditional kimono.”

A few seasons ago, Burch found inspiration in a blue woven samurai suit she saw during this trip to Japan, which made its way into a collection of armour-tinged knits and patterns.

“It reminded me of the suits of armour my father and grandparents collected on their travels,” explains Burch, who captured the intricate detail in this samurai suit during a trip to Tokyo. Photography courtesy Tory Burch

On her next visit, Burch hopes to day-trip around Japan’s countryside, learning more about local culture and enjoying the cuisine.

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo

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Created in partnership with Tory Burch

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floral art installation at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

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5 Secrets to Living La Dolce Vita

Posted on March 1, 2016June 3, 2025 by Josephine McKenna

Wisps of mist float above a patchwork of vineyards while the early morning sun paints the sky a soft pink. From the medieval village on the ridge above, you hear the sound of church bells as your convertible zigzags past the vines. It may be early, but you’re already dreaming of fresh pasta al dente and a drop of Barolo for a lazy lunch on a sunny terrace.

For Italians, this is perfection. This is la dolce vita.

In The Good Italian II: The Prince Goes to Milan – a short film presented by the Italian menswear brand Caruso – the fictional Prince of Soragna embodies la dolce vita from the moment his Lancia Aurelia sports car pulls up at the entrance of Four Seasons Hotel Milano. Throughout the film and his stay at the Hotel, the prince (played masterfully by actor Giancarlo Giannini) seeks out and enjoys only the finest in food, entertainment, fashion, accommodations and service. He requests perfection in every bite, in every experience.

And he’s not alone. Italians from Florence to Milan have an appetite for only the finest cashmere, the most fragrant basil and the most handsome sports cars. Together, these are essential ingredients of la dolce vita, a unique recipe for life that locals have been perfecting for centuries.

Fortunately, they’re quick to share their secrets with anyone craving to live like an Italian.

“In Italy we always look to share happiness with another human being and try to make the most of that moment. The food, wine and the experience of living – it is only beautiful if you can share it with somebody.”
– Mauro Governato, Four Seasons Hotel Milano

1. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza”

Italians are passionate about food. On the street, you’ll hear people sharing recipes and debating about where to find their favourite ingredients. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at La Veranda and Il Palagio, is particularly proud of his linguine with pesto, a highlight in the film.

No one makes pesto like Italians from Liguria. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at Four Seasons hotels in Milan and Florence, learned the secrets to making the perfect pesto in this rocky coastal region.

Photography Courtesy StockFood / Julia Cawley

He learned the art of making linguine in Liguria, the rugged coastal region in northern Italy where it originated. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza. You won’t understand pasta unless you have been trained by a Ligurian,” the chef says with a smile.

The linguine is one of Mollica’s most popular dishes, and the chef loves to share his special recipe with guests, who can venture into the kitchen for a private class. And like the prince in the film, he is very particular when choosing the ingredients to go with his signature pasta.

“It’s important to use the freshest ingredients and the best technique so we produce something really amazing.”
– Vito Mollica, Executive Chef

“Liguria is a small, hilly region, so they made terraces on the hills to grow their vegetables,” he says. “They don’t produce a lot, but they produce the highest-quality artichokes, asparagus and basil.”

2. Spezzato is the key to great Italian style

Italians dress to impress, and competition is especially fierce on the streets of Milan, the country’s fashion capital. After all, this is the land of spezzato, a word created especially to describe the artful way Italian men mix and match jackets and trousers versus simply suiting up.

Spezzato, a signature of classic and effortless Italian style, describes the way men and women put together jackets and trousers that complement each other but are not part of the same suit.

Photography Courtesy Tommy Ton / Trunk Archive

Here, style is more than just looking the part – you must live and breathe it through a commitment to top-tier fabrics and tailoring, worn with an air of unstudied, effortless elegance. The prince in the film is the picture of Italian swagger, from that first flip of the scarf as he takes off for the Hotel to the moment when he lovingly caresses the suit he knows is perfect for the occasion.

The best way to start crafting your own Italian style identity is to mimic the masters, and, thankfully, Four Seasons Milano is located in the heart of the city’s fashion district – with big-name designers like Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana and Tod’s only a short stroll away.