I am doing a bit of coastal convalescence. Americans would be loathe to call a vacation anything but a euphemism. What are we French?
That said, sunlight is the best disinfectant and I’m sick of taking antibiotics after my exciting Istanbul surgery adventures after a physician was a bit cavalier about my request for preventative care given details in my case file.
So why not get a little bit of time off with the loved ones and see some sights. A spot that particularly captured my imagination has two distinct demographics with widely divergent tastes.
There are a number of beautifully styled women in their prime forties and fifties with gracefully maintained skin, silk caftans and sunhats. They seem to have children and husbands and are otherwise living their best life.
And then we have the younger crowd who I’ll call the cut-outs. In an ideal world, this would be Norma Kamali technical fabrics showing off her pioneering swimwear. That would be very sexy.
But it’s mostly different ways of showing off suggestive swathes of bare skin. Lots of neon colors and odd areas that get close to the action (side boob is popular) but still count as being covered up. It is also mostly skintight but occasionally some volume is added to let some other salacious details pop.
These appear to be gaggles of girlfriends mostly. They don’t have men with them that I’ve seen though I’ve seen a few couples where a young man has a woman dressed like this on his arm. And they are all dressed up in very warm temperatures full beat mug that would make a drag queen think “not very demure.”
When you make odd choices for travel and off the beaten path you sometimes see a hospitality culture that is both expensive enough to attract the tasteful but with enough flash that it plays on social media. And believe me this spot is extremely Instagram friend.
I am neither caftan Parker Posie mom nor young beautiful aspirational influencer (or OnlyFans star depending on who you ask so I am staying out of the culture clash between richer hipster travelers and “it’s expensive so let’s show off” persona.
I am in a more wrap dress and kimono style woman when pools and beaches are involved. I am happy to enjoy the salt room and infrared sauna before a massage without styling my every single fit for the occasion. That said I did feel as if I nailed the vibe. All cotton and silk with one floral kimono for the pool. Even I need to live a little.