[caption id="attachment_16325" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Monument aux Girondins Bordeaux[/caption]

I've decided not to Google anymore the places that I'm about to visit and leave it as a surprise. Starting with my trip to Bordeaux where I had to do it the old way, walking aimlessly and discovering the town one area at a time. I had 3 days in Bordeaux which are more than enough to see everything there is to see while walking and wine tasting at every corner. Bordeaux is the capital of the wine industry, at least that is what the French say because I'm sure Italians from Tuscany don't agree. 

Things to do in Bordeaux

Walk around the city

Half of the whole town is a World Heritage Site so you can't go wrong just walking for hours. Starting with the three main streets Cours Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, Allées de Tourny then moving into the backstreets where you'll be amazed by the neoclassical buildings. 

A walk on the riverfront

The Garonne river has been one of the most important sites for the city of Bordeaux with its port that would connect the town with the World and be the main drive to economic development. The old port isn't there anymore, but walking up the Pont-de-Pierre you can see how rich this town was from the architecture of the waterfront 18th-century buildings. 

Cité du Vin

Opened in 2016 with a modern architecture  Cité du Vin is the biggest cultural center dedicated to wine. They don't have one of these in Tuscany, so maybe the French are right, Bordeaux is the world capital of wine. With tasting rooms, 800 different types of wines and lots of wine history exhibitions it is a unique place for wine lovers. 

Food

I can't suggest a specific place because everywhere I ate it was a delicious experience. The city is very close to the Atlantic ocean so fresh oysters are a must try, but Bordeaux is a carnivore town and its most famous dish is entrecôte marchand de vin, also called entrecote a la bordelaise. This dish is a rib steak cooked in a rich gravy made from Bordeaux wine. The typical sweets are called Canelés, tiny round cakes soaked in rum which used to be made by the nuns of the convent of Annonciades in Bordeaux. 

Antique Shopping

Twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, the Foire à la Brocante des Quinconces is the appointment of all vintage and antique lovers who live in the region. I stayed at an Airbnb and the lady who owned the house had decorated it all from pieces found at this market. 

[caption id="attachment_16317" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Galerie Bordelaise, Bordeaux Wearing skirt MMissoni, Cardigan Gucci[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16318" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Galerie Bordelaise, Bordeaux[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_16322" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Wearing MMissoni Dress[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16340" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The big bell of Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16310" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Parosh dress, Gucci loafers, Sara Giunti Bag[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_16330" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place de la Bourse Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16328" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place de la Bourse Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16309" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Carousel de Bordeaux Wearing Parosh Trench Coat Fendi Bag[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16329" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place de la Bourse Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16333" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place du Parlement, Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16334" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place du Parlement, Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16332" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Place du Parlement, Bordeaux[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_16335" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Pont de Pierre Built in 1820s in honor of Napoléon[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16336" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Wearing Parosh Dress, Drunken Rabbit by Linda Ferrari necklace, Longines watch[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16338" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16339" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Puerta de Cailhau, Bordeaux. Built in 1495, this monument with a castle-like exterior was once the main gate to the city.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16320" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16307" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Bordeaux Antiques Market[/caption]




Photography @APBRAMBI

Since I’ve moved to Milan it has been very difficult to find people born and raised here. It seems like the real Milanese are a disappearing species leaving the city to us ‘invaders’ coming from all over the World. In a very traditional country like Italy, Milan is a beautiful exception made of a mix of cultures. In this series, I want to discover the city through the eyes and experiences of the people that have chosen to make a life for themselves in Milan.

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Like my assistant suggested, I have to be the first of the series also because you can not ask other people to talk about their lives without giving something of yourself. 

[caption id="attachment_16259" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Università Statale, Milano[/caption]

BACKSTORY

I've been blogging since the blogging stone age, and lately, with the move en masse to Instagram of everyone I know, it made me think of what I loved about writing online in the first place. I've always loved telling stories, and they were usually long and full of details, no one wants to start me on topics I love, so in 2010 I thought that a blog would be the best place for me to write thoughts and share my everyday life as a guide of Milan. The first article I remember was about an exhibition, PIG ISLAND by Paul McCarthy at Fondazione Trussardi. More exhibition reviews followed, and in September of 2010 I attended my first Fashion Week and the blog took a turn form the initial Milan Guide I had planned. Today I've embraced the 'It's all about me' social media movement, especially on Instagram so I wanted to go back to the origins of The Dolls Factory with a guide to Milan, but this time approaching it with more maturity and turning the lens toward the hundreds of people I have met and the hundreds I have still to meet through my work as an influencer, blogger, Instagrammer... (I'm leaving some space here because God knows what this job will be called in a few years)

[caption id="attachment_16255" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Naviglio Grande, Milano[/caption]

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GET TO KNOW ANJA

Origins 

I'm originally from Tirana, Albania. Moved to Milan to study Business Management at Bocconi University, because it was just a 1.15 minutes flight from my home. I knew nothing about Milan, had no relatives or friends here, but an adventure to the unknown has never frightened me. 

Living in Milan

I moved the first time in September 2003, left 3 years later for London, came back, and left again for Madrid, came back again for love and have been living here since. So it has been the usual on-again-off-again relationship that I am still figuring out.  

[caption id="attachment_16260" align="alignright" width="300"] Milan Naviglio Grande[/caption]

Current neighborhood 

I live on Naviglio Grande and have always lived in the south of Milan every single time I've changed houses. I think the neighborhood you move in first in Milan, in some way becomes your own Milan where you know the streets, tram stops, best cappuccino places, cocktail bars etc so you get stuck in some way. I don't think my relationship with my current boyfriend would have worked if he didn't also live in the South of Milan. (joking...not joking). 

The perfect weekend in Milan

My perfect weekend in Milan right now would be breakfast at Caffè De' Cherubini with their white chocolate brioche and a latte macchiato, then a whole day spent at Idroscalo. They have a dog area with access to the lake so now in Spring its perfect for me to have a picnic while Fuji, my Great Dane, is trying to decide if she knows how to swim. 

Om my Milan bucket list

I'm embarrassed but I have to confess that I still have to visit The Last Supper, also visiting the Monumental Cemetery is on my bucket list. 

How you order your coffee?

I used to order only latte macchiato, now I'm trying to drink less milk so I've started ordering a cappuccino with soy milk. The next step will be going caffeine free with orzo coffee. It is going to be a long process till I embrace the healthy lifestyle everyone seems to boast about. 

[caption id="attachment_16256" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tram 10[/caption]

Any Milan hacks you want to share with a new Non-Milanese?

A very important hack is the decoding of the Milan city map. Think of it as a pizza. Milan is a round pizza with different slices, and most of the straight big streets will bring you to Duomo  (the center of the pizza). There are key buses like Bus 94, or Buses 90/91 that bring you all around Milan. And all the trams will get you as close to the Duomo as possible.  

Three pieces of clothes you have bought influenced by how people in Milan dress.

Early on, when I started university I purchased what I would call an essential piece of uniform for the Bocconi university student, a pair of Hogan shoes. This was 2004 and the uniform at my university was Hogan shoes, Lacoste polo shirts, and Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Needless to say, I started with the shoes and ended up owning all 3 of these clothing items soon thereafter.  Looking back. I'm not proud of having caved to this kind of fashion pressure especially because a university student's budget doesn't usually include money for a Louis Vuitton bag. That said, I still have those items 14 years later, so maybe it was the most financially sound purchase I've done at age 18.  

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IN SHORT 

[caption id="attachment_16251" align="alignright" width="300"] Arco della Pace[/caption]

ATM, Bike Sharing, Car sharing or Walk?

Walk and then take the OFO Bike to get back

Naviglio Grande or Naviglio Pavese?

Naviglio Grande 4 Ever

Brazilian Sushi or Trattoria?

Brazilian sushi

McDonalds or Panino Giusto?

Both, every other week

Panettone or Pandoro?

Panettone, my breakfast from December to February

The hipster with a beard or the Investment banker?

The investment banker, I can't kiss people with beards because of my sensitive skin. 

Cinema or Netflix?

Illegal streaming from some obscure Russian website of shows that are not on Netflix: Game of Thrones, WestWorld, The Handmaid's Tale

[caption id="attachment_16250" align="alignleft" width="300"] Arco della Pace, Milano[/caption]

Esselunga or Carrefour

I used to be PAM, but I've turned into a Milanese and embraced Esselunga

Amsterdam Chips or Luini?

Luini, however long the line then eat it on the benches of Piazza San Fedele. 

Cash or Paypal?

PayPal

Samsung or iPhone

iPhone

Tinder or In Person

I've been in a long relationship before Tinder came around, but if I were single I'd definitely be on Tinder fishing in the ocean. In person, the pool is so small. 

[caption id="attachment_16252" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Arco della Pace, Milano[/caption]

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+ Keep up with Anja on Instagram 

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[caption id="attachment_16214" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Stresa, Lago Maggiore Photography by Andrea Brambilla[/caption]

This year I think we did celebrate spring very early, and just in a few weeks seems like winter is back. Rain or sunshine I love the lake just the same, even though this was the first time I'd seen waves hitting the shore with such strength. 

Lake Maggiore area has always been a favorite with writers and poets enchanted by its stunning views and the opulent villas. A mix of Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neoclassical architecture makes you dream of a gracious past. Matching the opulence of the villas are the gardens surrounding them with atmospheres just like out of a book. 

When I tell my friends I'm looking for a house by the lake, all ask 'why not by the sea?'.  To me, the lake is so much more than sandy beaches, which many of the Italian lakes have. The lake is a summer holiday surrounded by beautiful nature, a winter holiday skiing, a weekend of rain by the fireplace, a sunny day hiking, a visit to the museum, a writers' retreat... need I say more. 

 

[caption id="attachment_16212" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Stresa, Lago Maggiore Photography by Andrea Brambilla[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16213" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Stresa, Lago Maggiore Photography by Andrea Brambilla[/caption]

Discover more Italian lakes: 

http://www.thedollsfactory.com/2017/04/castadiva-como.html

http://www.thedollsfactory.com/2017/05/pool-days-lake-como.html

http://www.thedollsfactory.com/2017/06/lake-orta-italian-holidays.html

Come and find me in Milan's hidden courtyards...

Watch Longines Master Collection

Blue has been my favorite color since I have been little. It all started as a defiance to being told continuously that pink was for girls, and blue was for boys.  Even as a little girl I didn't like to be put in a 'box', especially a pink one. As a teenager, I came to request to have all my room turned blue, and my furniture too. My parents complied, tired of having another fight that would always end up about some feminist topic I was passionate at the time.  The thing is that I don't have a favorite color really, blue is just the color I had to embrace to make a point about a bigger issue.

Today I have a nephew and the color fight continues. I bought him a light pink bodysuit as soon as he was born, my brother refused to have his baby boy wear it. 30 years later and still blue is for boys, and pink is for girls. 

The truth is ... we are all rainbows. 

Dress Abodi

Shoes Manfredi Manara

Wearing

MiH Jeans made with ISKO™ Denim

Nobi Talai Top 

There is something contorted about Fashion Week, especially for me wearing Spring-Summer clothes in the middle of February’s freezing days, and Fall-Winter collections during the hot September month. That is because, as bloggers, we can’t wait to leave the previous season’s outfit behind and are very excited to show on our channels what just hit the stores, be it a very thin layered top in -4 degrees or an amazing cashmere coat in 25 degrees.

The only piece in my wardrobe that actually works great for every season is denim and with time I’ve learned that a pair of non-distressed jeans with a perfect fit and great material can be a lifetime companion.





This Fashion Week I made it a point to wear the perfect pair of jeans and found that perfection in a pair of M.i.h Jeans made of ISKO™ Denim. Part of the Bodycon collection, these M.i.h Jeans are made with cotton yarns that spiral around the stretch fibers supporting the body like a second skin, making up the innovative ISKO™ fabric.

The long-awaited brand Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is coming to Italy on  6 April 2018 and will be distributed exclusively from Sephora. I was in New York for Fashion Week on September 8, 2017, when the brand launched and the very next day I found myself at Sephora in Chelsea Market shopping for yet another celebrity beauty project. Like everyone else, I was surprised by the wide range of foundation colors. If there were an award to be given to the most inclusive makeup brand to ever launch we all agree that it should go to Fenty Beauty. 

Fenty Beauty, a brand that is both feminine and avant-garde, redefines the rules of make-up with light as air formulas that can be superimposed, with a complete line of shades designed for everyone. The assortment of the products based on the complexion has been studied to work in synergy and offer to anyone the 3-step method used by Rihanna to obtain an irresistible radiance, the Fenty Face.

The Fenty Face was created for women of all skin types, suitable for all personalities. These steps are the basis of the makeup, regardless of the look you want to achieve. That's where the fun begins. - Rihanna

 

 5 favorite products from the Rihanna Fenty Beauty Collection:

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

A soft matte, long-wear foundation with buildable, medium-to-full coverage, in a boundary-breaking range of shades. Going through the 40 colors and picking the perfect fit is easy f you already know your undertone color and if you are warm/cool toned. My color was: COLOR: 170 - for light skin with cool undertones. 

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter

A line of weightless, long-wear cream-to-powder hybrid highlighters in solos and expertly paired duos.  My favorite color that goes perfectly with my foundation is Killawatt Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Invisimatte Blotting Powder

A universal blotting powder that absorbs shine and diffuses the look of pores for an instant filtered look on the fly. 

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color

A weightless, 12-hour liquid lipstick with a soft matte finish—born in one head-turning red shade that looks incredible on all skin tones. The Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color comes in a  universal red shade chosen by Rihanna and obsessively tested to make sure that it was perfect for all women. 

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Invisimatte Blotting Paper

A set of ultra-portable blotting papers in a super-chic, refillable mirrored compact that looks like a lipstick case. I've never had blotting paper in my bag, but with this case, this is definitely a new addition.