Sources of inspiration and secret addresses of Jil Sander's creative director

My imagery draws from artist Paul McCarthy (hauserwirth.com), photographer Wolfgang Tillmans (tillmans.co.uk) and painter Gerhard Richter (until 2/3 you can see his solo show at Fondation Louis Vuitton, fondation louisvuitton.fr). For the Spring/Summer 25 fashion show, my first as creative director at Jil Sander, the starting point was Richard Prince's Hoods sculptures: installations where surfaces and colour palettes dialogue in unexpected ways (the book Richard Prince: Hoods, 1988-2013, $75, at gagosianshop.com).

Pagine del libro “Richard Prince: Hoods, 1988–2013” (75 $, su gagosianshop.com)

The BOOK I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WRITE

The Rampant Baron by Italo Calvino. The protagonist, Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò, embodies a radical critique of conformism. His choice of an alternative perspective is a value that I feel deeply mine (Mondadori, EUR 12.50, at ibs.it).

LAST MEAL THAT IMPRESSED ME

The Milanese cutlet at Trattoria Milanese since 1933. After years between Florence and Rome, as soon as I moved to Milan I discovered this restaurant where time seems to have stood still even in the food: classic and delicious (@trattoriamilanese1933).

AN OBJECT FROM WHICH I WOULD NEVER SEPARATE MYSELF

High fidelity. At home I have two stereo systems, a Leben and an Air Tight. I perfected the listening with a pair of handcrafted vintage Maierton Apparat speakers for Auditorium 23 and an Ortofon EMT stylus (CS 300X(S) preamplifier, on lebenhi.com; airtight-anm.com; auditorium23.de; ortofon.com).

Preamplificatore CS-300X(S), su lebenhifi.com

LAST ITEM I PURCHASED

In Argentina at Christmas I bought matero: the typical cup for the mate ritual (gourd with mate bulb, 29 euro, aromasdete.eu).

Zucca con bulbo mate (29 €, suaromasdete.eu).

The BEST SOUVENIR I HAVE TAKEN HOME FROM A TRIP

A Polaroid by Nobuyoshi Araki taken in Tokyo in 2009, my first trip to Japan, and, recently, a llama wool scarf bought in Salta, in the Andes (@_nobuyoshi_araki_; Polaroids starting from 1,000 euros, on artsy.net).

The NEXT OBJECT THAT I AM ADOPTING

I am always looking for vintage valves, such as those used in radio stations in the 1950s. I am following some auctions on specialised sites (catawiki.com).

IN MY FRIDGE NEVER LACKS

Fresh fruit, prosciutto crudo and a bottle of the Valtellina red wine Mamete Prevostini (Sommarovina Sassella Docg - Valtellina Superiore, 35 euro, at svinando.com; mameteprevostini.com).

Sommarovina Sassella Docg - Valtellina Superiore, MAMETE PREVOSTINI (35 €, svinando.com).

The LAST CLOTH I ADDED TO MY GUARDAROBE

A wool suit with a three-button single-breasted jacket by Jil Sander in strictly blue, my favourite colour.

And THAT TO BE TRANSMITTED

A dark grey cashmere jumper from Lanificio Colombo. I would like it to one day be left to my wife Martina, who loves to plunder my wardrobe (kid cashmere choker, 1,190 euro, lanificiocolombo.com).

my favourite beauty products

I have an obsession with toothpastes. In the past I used Crest and Couto, now I alternate between Botot and Euthymol. To perfume, on the other hand, I remain faithful, I use Curzon by Geo. F. Trumper (toothpaste, EUR 3.55, couto.pt; euthymoltoothpaste.com; trumpers.com).

Dentifricio con fluoro, COUTO (3,55 €).

THE VIEW THAT INSPIRES ME

Wild nature. If I had to choose a place of the soul, I'd say the Aeolian Islands: the black sands of Vulcano, the lush vegetation of Salina, the sea caves of Filicudi and the essential solitude of Alicudi (Therasia Resort on the island of Vulcano, double from EUR 336 from 30 April, therasiaresort.it).

THOSE I TRUST FOR MY WELL-BEING

I would love Anthony Turner, the hairstylist I collaborated with for the Jil Sander show, to cut my hair. But we never find the time to do it (@anthonyturnerhair).

Completo della sfilata P/E 26, JIL SANDER.

A PLEASURE I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP

Music on vinyl. Lately I have been getting back into New Wave: Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths and the atmosphere of When, Vincent Gallo's 2001 album (open.spotify.com).

“A New Dawn (Splatter Vinyl)” dei Joy Division (30 €, su lafeltrinelli.it)

A RECENT DISCOVERY

The creams and shampoo from Team Dr Joseph, a high-tech skincare brand that combines science and natural ingredients (Pure Hydrating body lotion, 30 euro, 100 ml, teamdrjoseph.com).

The BEST GIFT I HAVE GIVEN

The white gold solitaire engagement ring I gave Martina when I proposed to her. It was designed by Angelica, a mutual friend of ours.

And WHAT I RECEIVED

Träumerei by Sakiko Nomura, the photo collection that, like Schumann's piece of the same name, evokes a dream between travel and intimacy (EUR 48, at shashasha.co; sakikonomura.com).

“Träumerei”, di Sakiko Nomura (48 €, su shashasha.co).

The ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD

Cy Twombly. His works are a gestural vocabulary in which every line is charged with spirituality. It is a deeply personal and iconic abstraction. I like to look at them at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, one of my favourite museums. I love getting lost in its halls, where Italian and international masterpieces dialogue fluidly (since last September, the museum has been hosting twelve works donated by the Cy Twombly Foundation,gnamc.cultura.gov.it).

If I HAD TO LIMIT SHOPPING TO A CITY DISTRICT, I WOULD CHOOSE

Area relax del Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel.

Shibuya and Nakameguro in Tokyo. I always stay at the Cerulean Tower, a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle. I like to unearth vintage treasures at Laila, where I recently bought Helmut Lang and Romeo Gigli garments, and at BerBerJin, in Harajuku, where I'm won over by their selection of denim and archival streetwear (double rooms from €375, ceruleantower.com; laila.jp; @berberjin_harajuku).

If I DID NOT LIVE IN MILAN, I WOULD LIVE IN...

Le Gaggiandre dell’Arsenale di Venezia, tra le sedi della Biennale. ©Andrea Avezzù - Courtesy La Biennale di Venezia

Venice. It is a city with a metaphysical and almost surreal dimension, a place where time follows different rhythms. For me, it is a constant inspiration, especially for its cultural offerings: getting lost among the exhibitions of the Biennale is a necessary ritual to nourish my creativity and my gaze (on 9/5 the Biennale Arte opens, entitled In Minor Keys, labiennale.org).