My mother has gone to the same hairdresser’s for over ten years – their bond goes beyond a great haircut and involves complicity, shared anecdotes and a mutual understanding that those two hours between cut and colour act as a tonic, a way to recharge and face the world with new found optimism and a swishy new do. For our December issue, The Party, I knew I wanted interviews and features creating that very same atmosphere – after all, any festive occasion begins with getting ready so who better to catch up with than the founders of Blanche Store and More? This all-female business duo, Monica Messori and Patti Bussa, have created a little haven in the city of Milan with a salon that is so much more than a hairdresser’s but a concept store in its own right with influencers frequenting it regularly (Chiara Ferragni and sisters are fans FYI). I hope you enjoy our first December feature and that, most importantly, grab onto Monica’s and Patti’s entrepreneurial spirit should a spark of an idea be floating around your head ready for 2019.

Tell us a little more about Blanche – how did your adventure begin?

Blanche Milano is an all-female project born out of our intuition and bond as lifelong friends as well as business partners. Blanche is found at Porta Venezia, one of the most famous Palazzos in Milan, Palazzo Galimberti. The choice of location is an expression of our store with its Liberty buildings and the store itself is split into three main areas. ‘Il Salone’ which offers haircare, make up and skincare appointments, ‘La Zona di Vendita’ where customers can browse and shop a curated selection of gifts ranging from tech to jewellery and skincare and finally, ‘La Zona Professional’ where experts in the field can shop for professional tools and accessories usually not available in Italy and which can become incredibly sought after especially during MFW. Our mission is to constantly renew ourselves and continue offering new experiences to our clients  – this is why Blanche is more than a shop or concept but a Store and More, as the name suggests.

What are your favourite hair tips and tricks ahead of the festive season?

We love soft waves styled with an iron to channel a Kate Moss sort of style as well as super easy ‘half up, half down’ look which looks incredibly natural. Alternatively, a low and loose chignon or a low ponytail with a centre parting which is impressive in its own right.

What can we expect in terms of trends for 2019?

In 2019, almost everything will be allowed – in particular, we are looking at crops, slightly longer bobs, medium lengths and natural colours and tones making a come back.

Your clientele is young and incredibly stylish. How do you feel having worked with a variety of influencers including The Blonde Salad founder, Chiara Ferragni?

Working with such sought-after personalities has certainly been fun – understanding their needs and their requests have also provided incredible motivation.

What will your Christmas in Milan look like?

The Christmas season for us is always incredibly busy. Our clients are very demanding especially in our city where fashion and nightlife are so prominent. We are looking forward to making them feel their best while keeping their look very natural and understated.

Your Instagram profile is incredibly fashionable and avant-garde. When it comes to using the platform to showcase your work and sell your concept, what would your advice to young entrepreneurs be?

For our content, we try not to be banal or predictable. There are so many profiles which all look the same so our advice would be to choose niche concepts to communicate through different points of views. Aesthetics, authenticity and unique content are also key.

For your dose of Blanche Milano, you can check them out right here. If you enjoyed the interview, have some ideas for upcoming features or fancy a good old chat, you can find us on Instagram @squiggles_comms and annamaria_sgueglia and Twitter (@SquigglesBlogs).

Happy start to the festive season!

Love,

Annamaria x