Dear FBS,
Happy Friday! And happy Labor Day weekend for those of you in the US.
Tapping in from summer vacation this week—more specifically, from MENORCA—a little old-school island tucked in the Baleares. I got stung by a jellyfish on day one while swimming on a Cala. All is good.
The island’s not quite reached the apex that Ibiza is better known for: beach clubs, famous DJ’s (Charlie XCX did a Boiler Room set this summer at Amnesia), art exhibitions, and Pilates studios. And the locals prefer it this way. They’re known for protecting the island from further urbanization and development.
Instead, it’s charm is derived from arid enclaves, agrotourism, homey restaurants, and stylish spots overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Restaurants near the port close at 10 p.m., and life is lived at a slow pace. The vibe is, in other words, understated.
Laurent Morel-Ruymen, a French hotelier, said in a phone interview with the New York Times about his sway to Menorca, “If Monaco is the temple of Ferraris, then Minorca is home to the beat-up, rusty Land Rover. But its owner could buy half the island.” Maybe it’s that people are enjoying simple dressing. Clothes that energize the spirit rather than weigh it down. Maybe it’s that looking adventurous feels like a respite of the old suit and tie.
Then he notes, although things have changed in recent years, “you still won’t find Hermès there”. I know I left my most dressiest shoes at home.
If you make it to the island, and for arid-dressing in general, one rule to follow is: flip-flops, a straw hat, and a pair of linen trousers. Or for a more dressed up approach, open-toe sandals, structured linens, and trapeze dresses. The looks I’ve seen just ooze a carefree je ne sais quoi that feels deconstructed.
I’ve found that when you travel to the beach—notably the Mediterranean—some items are a must for the packing list.
The sun is blaring hot. A good SPF 50+ is essential as soon as you get off the plane. Investment goggles, swimming shoes, snorkeling gear, sunglasses, and tongs seem to be everywhere I’ve been. Plus, they make great vacation gifts and Christmas stocking stuffers.
MENORCA hotspots: dinner at Morvreda Nou, sunset at Coral, art viewing at Hauser & Wirth Foundation (great lunch spot too), traditional tapas at Lavall.
Let’s get down to business (beach edition):
NEWS:
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Screened at the Venice Film Festival this week. (GQ)
Tim Burton, Monica Belucci, Winona Ryder, Justin Theroux, and Michael Keaton marched on the 81st Venice Film Festival red carpet this week in rockstar swag to promote the film. Burton was wearing Saint Laurent creepers (fall’s hot shoe?), a jaunty wide-brimmed black hat, purple sunglasses and pens in the front of his jacket (old-school move).
The clan has method dressing down to a science, or rather, personal style. I’m excited to watch the movie. I never saw the original film, but I’ve heard about it endlessly. It’s a sign of a new generation coming onboard.
The 2024 edition of the movie hits theaters next week.
Alexa Chung is redefining what it means to be an ‘It Girl’ over 40. (NYT)
Once an employee at Vogue, face of Longchamp, and now a self-identified designer, Alexa Chung says, she’s in a “palate cleanse situation”, defined by basics and plain clothes.
She wrote for the Financial Times about the indie sleaze style she’s provoked in glossies, “If it’s coming back around again, I am more than happy to dry-clean my blazer, minidresses and ballet flats, because it’s a uniform I have never strayed far from.”
Still, she adds, indie sleaze has become a bit of a parody.
Are you surprised? Isn’t everything a meme before a style pendulum swing?
It’s to be seen if indie sleaze will make a comeback. The guiding question is: are we in the moment to climb onto the band’s tour bus?
New York fashion week is back September 6.
I’ll be reporting on fashion month and sending you style analyses from my desk. Stay tuned. With the elections this year, a trend-heavy summer, a low-key vibe on the music front, it’s bound to be a bumpy ride.
See you next week. Stay hydrated!
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