A day at the beach

Originally Written for  Bitchy Online UK


Hello, August!

After months of working hard, it's the peak of the most glorious of seasons and time to play hard. Sensible people might argue that it's too late for investing in new beachwear but we believe that reinventing your wardrobe is always a good idea.

Beach time is the immediate association that pops in mind while thinking of summer. It's this precious time of the year when we soak up the sun, countless mojito cocktails and perhaps the longing gazes of half-naked strangers.

Whether you are lazying it out on a yacht near the French riviera , building sand-castles with your little nephews, or anything in between, the opportunities to look fabulous are endless. You can undress yourself in a million ways and let your point of view shine. Whether you brave a one-piece or opt for the safe bandeau bikini, remember that attention to detail here is as important as anywhere. Clever accessorizing can add versatility to your look, to ease the transition from sunbathing to evening cocktails at the beach. Add a pair of hand crafted sunglasses and a straw hat and there you have it – an instagram-worthy outfit.

The beach is the ultimate summer runway however it's one of the fun variety. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your playful side so arm yourself with a colorful towel and a few inflatable animals before you venture outside. 
Since we are spoiled for choice, don't feel bad if you can't make up your mind about your beach essentials. Inspiration is found everywhere and if the turquoise waters, powdery sand and palm trees can't inspire your wardrobe enough, you can always sneak a peak at the instagram accounts of our favorite it girls for some quirky ideas.

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Island Adventures

Another trip has come to an end. It is bitter sweet that travelling phenomenon, there's always something you'll miss forever once you leave yet another place. 

I can't deny, after another marathon of driving car rentals,running through airports and sleeping on questionable hotel sheets, I appreciate being back to the comfort of our faithful Merc, couch and the barking of an easily excitable pug. 

This trip was extra special because it involved going back to Greece, which had become my homeland for the duration of the past decade. I stand firm in my belief that "home" is a matter of choice and for me this land of sun, sea аnd scattered vegetation certainly qualifies as such.

Even though I've lived in Greece for years, there's always something new to see and another island to explore. 

This time we drove to Athens, which is quite a journey in itself, involving a 1000-km-trip, crossing the entire country. There are dangerous turns and marvelous views of the sea, simply put, I'd recommend this journey to a friend. 

I have to admit, Athens may be the cradle of Western civilization but it's not among my favorite cities. Nevertheless, there is a good reason I love to go back to Athens: F-O-O-D! My favorite little restaurant, Sardelaki, is right there, in the heart of Glyfada. I guess I'm growing wise (sounds better than old), since food is a top priority of mine and culinary tourism is always on top of my list. If you are ever in town, stop by for possibly the best sardines you'll ever taste. 

As you can imagine, I didn't drive for 1000 kilometers  just for the sardines, as good as they were. Athens was just a brief stop on the way to the strangest place I've ever visited - the island of Karpathos. After an hour of flying over the Mediterranean, we reached a windy island, devoid of vegetation, blessed (or cursed) with an unique topography.
This is an odd place where the main inhabitants seem to be cats and goats. There is so little going on, time is standing still (or least it's passing really really slowly). If I had to come up with a single-word definition of a "traditional Greek island", I'd say "Karpathos".

Navigating Karpathos is a challenge even for the most experienced drivers. Greeks aren't famous for being too safety cautious and this is evident in the picturesque yet dangerous roads, carved along the cliffs that encompass the entire island. I'd attribute the relative lack of accidents only to its minuscule population size (just above 6000 inhabitants) and its remote location, which discourages the less adventures traveler.

I was sad to leave this strange place and I'd love to return, despite my resolution not to repeat destinations. Karpathos is certainly not for everyone. Somehow the surrounding sea has shielded the island from the outside world. There is little trace of the modern industrial civilization, restaurants are family-run, their products are home-grown or they rely on  the catch of the day to feed their customers. You can drive for quite some time, without meeting another vehicle, without meeting a soul, actually (if you don't count the goats that roam the cliffs).
Gazing at the dramatic lunar paysage, offset by the sea, which shimmers in million shades of blue, you may find yourself engulfed in purifying solitude. This tiny self-contained cosmos may be just an hour away from the bustling Athenian metropolis but it resembles nothing familiar. For this reason you may love it or hate but it won't leave you indifferent.

 

      

 








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Bring on the gingham!

With the coming of spring, gingham has taken over the spotlight and ended the reign of plaids.

The charming checked prints may invoke countryside connotations but this need not be the case anymore. Major household names from Derek Lam to House of Holland to Balmain have revamped this timeless classic and turned it into the new stripe.

History serves to prove the versatility of gingham. We can channel the sweet innocent “Americana” from the Wizard of Oz or better yet – the untempered sex appeal of Bridget Bardot. Actually, her look with a full skirt, paired with neutral black and flats couldn't be more time appropriate today. Perhaps due to this latter reference, gingham is reminiscent of Parisian chic and a taste of summer.

Forget the associations with picnic, table cloths and boarding schools. The new gingham with exaggerated prints in fresh colors has a modern touch to it, with just the right amount of nostalgia for the glorious 50s and 60s. It has certainly gone trough a fashion makeover since Dorothy but it has retained its youthful DNA. Trend setters such as Olivia Palermo and January Jones rock the retro vibe in a modern cool-girl-way.

Gingham comes with an additional advantage – you can find it on everything. If you are not sure whether this trend is for you, you can still enjoy a fashion moment with gingham espadrilles, a purse or even sunglasses – the opportunities are endless. I however am on full on gingham mode and prefer to dive into the trend with cool separates – from t-shirts and bomber jackets to full skirts and pants. Served in the right amount, the cross-hatched lines will take you to the streets of a bustling metropolis, rather than to Kansas or rural France.

Gingham prints can be small-scaled of exaggerated. The former is easier to style because it blends from afar. The larger print is certainly more out there and represents a challenge but also an opportunity to truly flash your styling credentials. Pair it with a solid color or be bold and add … more gingham, channel the S/S runways and mix patterns.

It is time to de-minimalise your wardrobe. If you can overcome the associations with school uniforms, you are free to experiment with gingham and let your unique personal style shine trough the checkered print.

p.s. This is straight out of Bitchy Online UK:  it's a great new London-based online magazine. You can find the original article here.

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Hipster Alert: Illesteva sunglasses

Summer mode is fully activated and if you haven't already invested in a cool pair of shades, there is no better time to do so. Even if you have, your eyes will probably appreciate some extra coverage, especially if it happens to be fresh, edgy and ready for some serious beach fun. So do yourself a favor and check out Illesteva.

Designed in hipster paradise NYC and handcrafted in Italy and France, Illesteva are on par with other luxury brands but they are...better. With only 50,000 instagram followers, they belong to a relatively unexplored territory. There was never a better opportunity to make a fashion statement with your shades. Sunglasses, are normally quite conventional, after all, how much imagination can you fit in something so tiny, yet somehow Illesteva manage to push boundaries.

If you are a jet-setter, gearing up for Ibiza or still contemplating Coachella, you've probably heard of them anyways and I am a few years too late.

Illesteva was founded in 2009 by the New York-based designer duo Daniel Silberman and Jus Ske. Drawing inspiration from their downtown environment and background in design, music and photography, they create pieces that are the epitome of contemporary edge. The duo experiment with funky shapes and materials like acetate, bamboo, titanium and natural buffalo horn. This combination ensures a timeless result that you may enjoy forever, provided you keep them in their leather hard case.

Illesteva is already gathering a fateful fan crowd, celebrity enthusiasts include Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry and own very own Alexa Chung, just to name a few. You can find them online at illesteva.com and thank me later.

p.s this little article got published in Bitchy Online UK - a really cool new online managize, which is intended as an entirely girly zone. Check it out! The original article is here

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From the Dominican Republic with love

My dear online universe, I'm alive! 

It may seem that I have completely forgotten you, which is not entirely true. I was just busy living my life lately, rather than writing about it. Unfortunately, my recent adventures have finally come to an end. So here I am, pretending to enjoy the heat that has finally hit my country, and attempting to organize my thoughts into a decent article. 

The last month included a few take offs and landings and I finally managed to cross the Atlantic for the very first time. It may not seem like such a big deal to normal people but surviving a 10-hour flight seems like quite the achievement for a seriously nervous flyer (aka me).

Punta Cana Airport

Flying for what seemed like ages was absolutely justified on my very first morning in Punta Cana. I managed to get up a 5 am (not a big achievement, considering I was jet lagged anyway) and caught the Dominican sunrise. To be honest, this is quite something, since I'm normally busy sleeping or partying at this ungodly hour. Therefore, due to the lack of many comparisons, the sunrise at Playa de Arena Gorda seemed magnificent, at least to me.

Lonely footsteps

 Having the beach all to myself was another perk. I walked for miles and the only sign of human presence were my lonely footsteps in the sand (for the sake of writing I'll pretend I didn't notice the massive resorts that are stretching along the coast). It was another one of my spiritual moments: being alone yet not lonely, feeling connected to nature, looking at the ocean and thinking that everything familiar is all the way across it.

 This blog was supposed to be about fashion, it turned to be with no direction whatsoever. Oh well (again)...

I packed so lightly for this trip, I fitted almost everything in my cabin-size suitcase. After all, how much space do bathing suits and sunglasses take. I think I did enjoy a fashionable moment though, as I got to wear my fairytale-esque Maje dress for the very first time. 

I paired it with my Alexander McQueen shoes, which I've been wearing so much, I think they may have gotten a vintage quality to them. 

The more I travel, my curiosity towards otherness grows stronger. All-inclusive-tourist sounds almost like a dirty word to me, so I tried to avoid falling into the stereotype although I did stay at an all inclusive hotel. I'm happy I met some lovely local people and took interest in their lives. The children from the video bellow were my favorite thing out of the whole trip. I thought that the 10 dollars I gave them were the best spent money ever, only to find out later that they have a "jefe" who takes virtually all they make. Silly me. Oh well...

Beach essentials

breakfast for champions

Before I knew it, it was time to go. After all, what are 12 days in paradise. I was splashing in the Carribean sea and a few hours later I was over the Atlantic, experiencing some major turbulence. On my way to the airport it occurred to me that wherever we go, we leave a little bit of our hearts and we take a little bit with us. Every trip changes us, and hopefully, when we come home, we are a better version of our old selves. 

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Neon trend 2014

Love it or hate it, neon has emerged back from the 80s and appears to have settled permanently in our wardrobes. Thinking Hollywood, dodgy party hotels and bohemian night seekers? Well, not exactly. The new trend has transcended its roots. It is all over the runways and more importantly – outside them. It's fresh and sophisticated with an almost futuristic appeal.

Experimenting with neon is a sign of character – it takes guts to wear something that screams LOOK-AT-ME! In this sense, the trend is a symbol of female empowerment. Many of us are shy when it comes to colors but our favorite celebrities from Jessica Alba, to Lupita Nyong'o and Alessandra Ambrosio are rocking the neon trend. It reminds us that we can make a fashion statement and have a little fun in the process.

If you haven't done so during the past seasons, it's a good time to invest in neon anything – from clothing, to shoes, bags or simply nail polish. You can ride the trend in many different ways: you can go flashy or ladylike. Neon is subject to personal interpretation but it's essential to be served in just the right amount. You may want to avoid too literal interpretations of the 80s, or causing nausea to your companions with a head-to-toe look. If it has to be head to toe, opt for monochrome or some smart color-blocking. As usual, less is more. Balance your neon pieces with neutrals. Use a splash of neon as your statement piece and go ladylike in the rest of your outfit. Instead of being too literal and opting for a tight jeans combo, go for a classic tailored silhouette.

Whether you'll opt for a bright beanie or you'll brave a fluorescent gown, enjoy the neon ride!

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RIP Frankie Knuckles

It is a sad day today. I just learned of Frankie Knuckles' passing.

To those of you who've never heard of him, he was considered the Godfather of House Music and played a major role in the development of the genre. Needless to say, his creative efforts helped lay the foundation for a movement that expands beyond music today - it is a lifestyle. 

Having grown up with electronic music, I can't go untouched by the news of his untimely death. I am sad because he was among the iconic figures of a genre, which is becoming way too commercialized nowadays and loosing its underground appeal. I am also grateful to him. Mr Knuckles, thank you for Your Love. Thank you for dedicating your four decades long career to changing the face of dance music. Frankly, this person has been hugely influential for entire generations in general and myself in particular. I would not have been the person I am today if it wasn't for my musical preferences. So thank you, RIP and I hope that your legacy will withstand the destructive powers of commercialism.