Rapid Fire With Ali LaBelle
We asked Ali about her inspiration for the trip and how she likes to travel. For more from Ali, subscribe to À La Carte.
What's your design philosophy in three words?
Vintage-inspired, story-driven, curatorial
What draws you to Milan creatively, and what makes it different from other design capitals you've explored?
Milan sits at this interesting intersection of contemporary art, historical architecture, and craftsmanship—it’s uniquely modern and heritage and old and new at the same time. Plus, everyone dresses up a bit just to walk down the street, and I love that.
How do you approach exploring a new place as a designer?
For me, it’s less about packing in as many planned activities as possible—it’s in the wandering, the photo-taking, and the sidewalk café lingering where I find the most inspiration in a new city. Building in time for discovery is essential!
Milan is such a design-forward city and the obvious choice for someone who loves architectural tours, art, and fashion, but as a lover of food (and leisure!), I wanted to incorporate Turin’s historical café culture into the trip—the two cities feel like complementary experiences.
What's the story behind choosing these two cities together?
How does this trip connect to your upcoming book and your creative practice?
My book (out next year!) is all about facilitating meaningful dining experiences for people—not just through cooking, but through setting a table, creating an atmosphere, and thinking through the little details. I’m excited for all of us to experience the spirit of Italian hospitality together.
What's one moment or experience from your personal travels to Milan that shaped why you curated these specific stops?
I toured Villa Necchi last time I was in Milan, and it completely reconfigured my brain—I don’t know that I’ve been so specifically impacted by a single place like that before. All of the stops on this trip are meant to stay with you like that… Places and experiences you want to capture and remember forever.
Walk us through your design discovery process. When you're exploring a new city or experience, what are you looking for?
I’m always trying to notice the little things—the color of the trash cans, the typography in the street signage, the hand-painted house numbers… Those are the details of a place I’m most interested in, and they’re not the things you absorb when you’re just hopping from tourist trap to tourist trap.
What's something about Italian design that most people don't understand or expect?
I think some people imagine all of Italy to be very, very old—Roman ruins, Tuscan vineyards, things that have been around for centuries. But Milan specifically is the birthplace of so much design innovation across so many disciplines—there’s an appreciation for aesthetics there you won’t find in most American cities.
Is there a designer, brand, or artisan you're particularly excited to share with travelers on this trip?
I lost my mind in Pettinaroli last time I was in Milan—it’s a stationery shop that’s been open since 1881, and it’s just a treasure trove of paper goods, custom cards, maps, wax seals… Everything a fellow stationery lover would appreciate.
What's your favorite ritual or moment when you're in Milan?
Aperitivo! I love the energy of everyone collectively transitioning from day to night with a cocktail and a snack. Really, there are few things I love more.
What's something you always pack or bring to Italy?
Film—I go through tons of film every time I travel. It’s a gift to get home and see what I managed to capture.
What's one thing you hope travelers take home from this experience?
Travel is such a good way to get back into an absorbing mindset—I always feel more connected to my creativity when I return from a trip, and I hope that everyone comes back feeling energized to dive into whatever project or idea is waiting for them back home.