Centurion IDC Spring 2023

|Reſlections| For the

|Reſlections| For the past five years, American designer Brett Johnson has divided his time equally between the East Coast and Milan, as the Washington DC native has chosen Italy’s fashion capital as the headquarters and showroom for his eponymous clothing label. When based in the Lombard capital, where he spends his days fine-tuning his collection of smartly tailored knitwear and premium selection of shirting, trousers and outerwear, Johnson eschews apartment living, preferring instead the luxurious comforts of the Four Seasons Hotel Milan. During his free time, Johnson enjoys the city’s cosmopolitan vibe and impressive offering of culinary, cultural and retail delights. Despite being landlocked, Milan’s wealth and influence ensure that freshly caught fish reaches residents on a daily basis, and Johnson’s preferred choice to savour the bounty of the sea is Langosteria (langosteria.com). Owner Enrico Buonocore has become the fashion world’s favourite restaurateur, overseeing a hospitality group that counts four locations in Milan as well as dining establishments in Paris, Portofino and a chalet on the ski slopes above St Moritz, which opened its doors this January. In Milan, Johnson frequents the bistro, where he loves tucking into blue lobster and amberjack sashimi with jalapeño sauce along with seafood pasta dishes prepared by head chef Domenico “Mimmo” Soranno. “The ingredients are impeccable, and we are always in good hands with Mimmo. He’s become a friend, almost like a personal chef. When we shoot our lookbooks and advertising campaigns he’ll do the catering,” explains Johnson, as he sips his morning espresso in the airy confines of his showroom in the heart of Milan’s Quadrilatero della moda district. While his wife is partial to the champagne at Langosteria, Brett opts for mocktails. “The barmen at Langosteria are always coming up with fresh takes on classic recipes and they pair well with the fresh seafood.” For land-based treats, especially the prized cured meats of the Bel Paese like culatello di Zibello, Johnson is partial to Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone (ilsalumaiodimontenapoleone.it), which is a stone’s throw from his office and offers the option of alfresco dining in warmer months. Should Johnson have the urge to eat in his hotel suite, he and his wife From left: Fondazione Prada’s Rem Koolhaas-designed Milan campus; a performance against La Scala’s iconic red velvet curtain PHOTOS FROM LEFT: BAS PRINCEN, PETER RIGAUD/LAIF 38 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS FROM LEFT: SIMONA PESARINI, TOMMY ILAI venture over to gourmet food emporium Peck (peck.it), a Milanese institution since the 1880s. The flawlessly attired and attentive staff at the deli wrap up takeaway treats such as creamy burrata cheese from Puglia and trays of fresh pasta. “It’s a very tailored food-shopping experience with personalised service. I’m always impressed by the truffles, some as big as baseballs. My wife loves the ravioli with ricotta, which we’ll take back to our room and have prepared for us by the hotel’s kitchen.” For a dressed-down take on local food, he’ll pick up a fried panzerotti turnover to go from longstanding bakery Luini (luini.it). “It’s one of those guilty pleasures, and something everyone should try. I like the spicy salami and mozzarella. It’s the perfect spot to go after the movies,” adds Johnson. Luini happens to be close to Rinascente (rinascente.it), the city’s premier department store and one of Johnson’s favourite shopping destinations. “It caters to a broad audience and has a broad scope of brands, selling everything from fashion to electronics. I love it for my kids and my wife. You can pick up a perfume or get a new set of Bang & Olufsen speakers.” Since his wife is fond of fragrance – and Johnson’s own fashion label is planning to launch a line of scents in the near future – the pair often find themselves browsing the offerings at Mazzolari (mazzolari.com) next to Piazza San Babila. Given the city also claims the title of Italy’s design capital and hosts the annual Salone del Mobile furniture fair, Johnson has been sure to check out the locally produced creations at the design showrooms, especially at Giorgetti (giorgettimeda.com). “I feel like it balances the classic with the contemporary. I love the tables, with their finishings and marble insets. When we decorated our showroom, we purchased pieces since the aesthetic is complementary to our brand.” From left: the interior-design offerings at Giorgetti, which now occupies a new space on Via della Spiga; Langosteria’s chic dining room For a culture fix, Johnson makes time in his schedule to catch an exhibition at the Fondazione Prada (fondazioneprada. org) – not to mention to grab a mocktail at the classy bar in the Rem Koolhaas-designed concrete tower. He finds the site intriguing and enjoys studying it up close, given that it is the newest component within the empire of the celebrated Milanese fashion house. “What’s appealing to me is to see a famous brand now play in a medium beyond fashion.” Fond of strolling the city’s downtown on nighttime walks, he often finds himself passing by his preferred musical venue La Scala, where he’s caught several opera performances in the past. “It’s such a historic site and opera is king here. It has this ambience that never feels manufactured.” Hotel Happenings A trio of stylish accommodations have recently arrived in Europe’s fashion capital: Casa Cipriani offers boutiquehotel bliss with a gentleman’s-club feel across just 15 rooms and suites, the atmospheric Bar Arrigo and stunningly appointed spa (casaciprianimilano.com); chef Claudio Sadler has moved his Michelin-star eatery to the new 30-key Casa Baglioni, which boasts an intriguing 1960s-inspired design (baglionihotels.com); and Portrait Milano recently debuted with 73 Michele Bönan-designed rooms and a capacious groundfloor “piazza” chockablock with big-ticket gastro outlets and boutiques (lungarnocollection.com). Still to come this year: members’ club CORE: will open its first European outpost in a 4,000sq m palazzo a few steps from fashionista paradise Via Monte Napoleone (thecoreclub.com). – Claudia Whiteus CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 39