A book on fashion, a book of menus, and some SPF to get whipped up about.

Hi. It’s been a minute! Or maybe not? With Labor Day weekend on the horizon, I keep hearing doleful lamentations about how fast summer flew by, or how bewilderingly jam-packed it was…as though some unforeseen force caused these circumstances, and now we want retribution in the form of more time (aka summertime “back pay”).

The thing is, we do this to ourselves. My summer was BIZZZ-ZZZY—with two journeys to Europe in the mix, some long weekends upstate, and a cavalcade of out-of-town visitors—but that was my choice. (This is something I’m learning—steadily, as I get older—and constantly reminding myself.) To moan over how quickly my July whirred by would be a massive f-you to the glorious two-week trip to Italy that occupied half of it, and an insult to all the visiting friends I pointedly and deliberately made plans with. Yes, my summer was full, but I filled it up. Boredom bores me.

So instead of panicking over summer’s end and wishing for time I’m never going to get back, I’m looking forward to the fall and all the plans I have the option of making—or not making at all. The days ahead are ours to map out, and that’s always something to get excited about.

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1.

How is it that a book from 1956 is getting me excited about fashion? Actually, it’s Vanessa Friedman’s recent review of said book, What Shall I Wear, by Claire McCardell (aka the godmother of American sportswear), that truly has me excited to pick up a copy in the first place. Will report back.

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2 / 3

European trip #2 was a short escape to Greece last week for my birthday, and this brilliant sun-shielding hat I recently scored at Baggu posed as the perfect reminder not to overpack—more room for souvenirs. Maybe it’s an old(er) age thing, but I’ve gotten much more comfortable with the idea of packing within the framework of location + an outfit I could easily wear every day, then supplementing with various swap-ins or add-ons. The sun hat obviously fell squarely within those parameters.

Another sun-protecting sensation I recently came across: THIS whipped-up sunscreen! The brand Vacation calls it ‘dessert for your skin,’ but I think it’s the coolest beach-party brag since ‘Co-ed Naked Volleyball’ t-shirts. It’s funny that even in adulthood, we still look to novelty when it comes to taking care of ourselves (I’m thinking of vitamin gummies here).

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4.

Nearly every page presents a reason why I can’t stop digging into this exciting new book on European menu design through the ages. As much as QR codes and digital menus became a necessary component to dining out during the worst of the pandemic, I’ll forever crave the tangibility of paper menus and how they further express a restaurant’s identity and ethos. And from an almost anthropological perspective, it’s fun to flip through the menus just to clock the popular dining trends of yesterday, and what’s remained timeless…like champagne.

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5.

During my trip to Greece last week, I visited the Cycladic island of Paros, where I happened to meet Andria Mitsakos, an American expat who now owns and operates the brand, Anthologist, and its two boutiques at the hotels Cosme and Parilio. Most of the items in the Anthologists’ hotel shops, from the sculptural and folkloric-influenced gold jewelry, to the leather goods and homewares, are private-label pieces designed by Mitsakos herself, who then sweeps marketplaces around the globe for the perfect artisans and small-scale manufacturers to produce them. I love well-curated hotel shops, and Mitsakos’ is especially destination-worthy for the uniqueness of its products. I treated myself to the most hysterical woven straw purse in the shape of a watermelon (there was a pineapple too!). It’s just fun to look at—it actually holds a lot for a watermelon. 😉

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