15 summer things that inspired me this week #12

Bonjour, or should I say kaliméra, everyone! One thing I've realized while island-hopping around the Cyclades is that we Greeks absolutely love wishing people well: good morning, good week, good month, good holidays, good meal... basically good (“kalo”) + whatever seems to be relevant right now. Throw a bit of good health into the mix, and you’re guaranteed to become a Greek grandma’s favorite.

Most of these wishes also double as greetings, and since we’ve just entered July, it only feels right to wish you all “kalo mina”, a very good month—may it be full of salty hair, golden-hour dinners, stylé outfits far, far away from Madison Square Garden1, and precious little discoveries that stay with you long after summer is over. Like stumbling upon a beachside workshop run by Mr. Depastas, the oldest clay artisan still active in Sifnos, who told me he could fill the entire island with every piece of pottery he’s made over his lifetime:

Thanks to this newsletter, coming to my country this year has allowed me to experience its offerings with a renewed kind of enthusiasm, amplified by an obsessive desire to only ever recommend the very best of the best to anyone visiting from abroad. It’s my own little digital version of Greek filoxenia, if you will, and I take it very seriously.

I have to admit that both the Greek mainland and its islands can offer a refreshing kind of inspiration to creatives and non-creatives alike—one with a certain lightness and breeze that feels very specific to being close to the sea, but also rooted in a rich ancient heritage we are more than happy to invoke at the very first occasion. This includes some very special sightseeing all over the country, of course, but also so much inspiration found in traditional clothing, art, interiors, and the general scenery itself, with a certain sense of timelessness that makes it feel like it could have all been conceived yesterday.

Greek islanders especially have excellent taste for these things: in the perfectly whitewashed houses, the carefully coordinated color palettes in windows and furniture, the beautiful tapestries handmade by mothers and grandmothers, all the tiny artefacts and unexpected decorative details that seem to appear in every corner.

A care for beautiful things that comes from centuries of lived-in tradition and craftsmanship, one that is still well protected and has certainly not been curated by/for any kind of algorithm. There’s an almost innate sense of aesthetics and beauty that’s surrounding you all the time, something that was here long before us and, hopefully, will remain long after us. It makes me emotional just thinking about it.

In this week’s list: the best second-hand store in Athens that can rival Parisian boutiques and a very fashionable apartment you can book for a stay, my favorite Athenian spots for OG Greek sandals, my Acropolis outfit and the best time to visit, spotting my favorite Greek handbag brand on the ferry, the gorgeous Airbnb we stayed in Sifnos, infiltrating a British wedding in a small chapel and the looks of the guests, a Lady Di–like character and her designer tote bag on the beach, summer outfit inspo from stylish vacationers (featuring a gorgeous summer dress), the pieces and sandals I wore the most (including a great T-shirt dress!), and what’s in my summer makeup trousse (with the best Charlotte Tilbury lip liner dupe)!