Ode to Santorini

own it

THE PERFECT ESCAPE Whenever the Athenians wanted to dream, they would escape to the waterfront. Today, Athens Riviera has been transformed into the coolest destination for its constant source of Greek elegance.

Photographer: APOSTOLIS KOUKOUSAS Stylist: ANNA ZINCHENKO Hair & Makeup: DIMITRA ALTANI (D-TALES) Assistant photographer: NIKOS GKOKAS Assistant stylist: NATALIA DIMITRIEVA Models: KOTRYNA, ADRIAN (ACE MODELS)

Opposite page, Kotryna: Diane Von Furstenberg dress, Attica Citylink. Callista Crafts handbag. Sunday Somewhere sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Elvira Di Gaia x Kalogirou sandals, Kalogirou. Adrian: Jacket, polo shirt, trousers, belt and shoes – all by Corneliani, Attica Citylink. Garrett Leight Kinney sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Tumi suitcase, Tumi – Golden Hall.

PRIVATE JOURNAL NO3, LOCATION: CAPE SOUNIO GRECOTEL EXCLUSIVE RESORT

vinieta

This page, Kotryna: Diane Von Furstenberg dress, Attica Citylink. Celine sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Kurt Geiger shoes, Attica Citylink. Adrian: Jacket, sweater and trousers – all by Z Zegna, Attica Citylink. Garrett Leight Kinney sunglasses, Tartaras Eyewear. Steptronic shoes, Kalogirou. Opposite page, Dress, overcoat and mules – all by Vassilis Zoulias. Saint Laurent sunglasses, Delux Hellas.

Kotryna: See by Chloe dress, Attica Citylink. Zeus+Dione handbag, Attica Citylink. Gucci sunglasses, Delux Hellas. Mango hat. Elvira Di Gaia x Kalogirou sandals, Kalogirou. Adrian: Polo shirt and shoes – both by Lacoste, Notos. Gant trousers, Notos. Saint Laurent sunglasses, Delux Hellas.

own it

Made to Measure

Ciro Palestra, head tailor of Neapolitan haute couture garment house KITON, reveals the secrets of true elegance.

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

Asecond-generation head tailor at KITON and an admirer of Greece and its people, Ciro creates handmade garments drawing inspiration from the aesthetic tradition and timeless elegance of Italy. KITON as in chiton, the Ancient Greek garment? Precisely. The word comes from Ancient Greek and it is a reference to the greatness of the Greek civilization. The founder of the Napoli brand loves the country dearly, admires the Ancient Greek language and found the word “chiton” very fitting for his company. A chiton/kiton is a fluid piece of fabric that you wear – it doesn’t wear you. KITON is sculpted on you, almost flowing on your body. What is KITON’s biggest strength? Our exceptional textiles that ensure elegant results – and of course our tailors, who work only by hand. These people love the fabric, respect it, caress it; they know it like the palm of their hands and treat it with reverence. Their garments are their children. This isn’t machine-made clothing. Every piece is bespoke; made for a specific client

Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI

Tailored Experience

Made-to-measure shirts for the connoiseurs of handmade creation.

Aman’s shirt is like his skin; you do not simply admire it, you feel it. It is part of a man’s personal history and has much more to say than what its appearance reveals. Such a shirt is usually handmade, hiding within it technique, knowledge and time-honored methods of (design and) tailoring. The Probonas brand, founded in 1970 by Michalis Probonas, has its own story to tell, which started with the import of fabrics for high quality attire. Since 2000, Menelaos Probonas – the founder’s son – turned to tailoring made-to-measure shirts using traditional somatometry cutting techniques and perfecting the fit on the body. Showing as much attention to detail as humanly possible, the results are acclaimed for their impeccable design. He uses textiles sourced from the top European factories, made to high quality standards. At Menelaos Probonas’s studio in Kifisia, every creation is tailor-made to the customer’s personal wishes. Fabrics are selected from an excellent range of patterns and colors, while there are genuine factory sample books from famous manufacturers including Monti, Granti & Rubinelli, Canclini and Erba, as well as what is perhaps the oldest factory producing shirt fabrics – Switzerland’s Alumo. The shape of the collar and the cuff is adapted to the use of the shirt, also taking into account the proportions of the customer’s face and neck. Customers can opt to monogram the shirt with their initials in Greek or Latin script, at a visible or concealed spot, a feature also available in an equally wide range of colored silk threads. For special occasions, the brand even offers the option of different silhouettes for the shirt, as well as buttons that are truly unique in their appearance. Menelaos Probonas, Agiou Tryfonos 8, Kifisia, Tel: +30 210 3230078, menelaosprobonas.gr (Menelaos Probonas offers his services in his studio by appointment, at any day or time).

PRIVATE JOURNAL NO4 STATHIS BOUZOUKAS PRIVATE JOURNAL NO2

own it

“A CHITON/KITON IS A FLUID PIECE OF FABRIC THAT YOU WEAR – IT DOESN’T WEAR YOU. KITON IS SCULPTED ON YOU, ALMOST FLOWING ON YOUR BODY.”

and a specific purpose, specific seams, every single detail. Our founder has deep love for the craft, he’s dedicated his life to it. He started with ten tailors forty years ago. The company now has 200 craftsmen who complete every order by hand, as well as an entire school. Structural quality, quality textiles and family tradition are the cornerstones of KITON. I’m part of the second generation of tailors and my son is in the third. He just graduated from school and he’s already in training at a company that knows how to progress while upholding its tradition. What are your Greek customers who want a bespoke handmade suit like? What makes them stand out? It’s been three-four years since I started following the Greek market and I’m impressed by how important it is. Greeks have taste and elegance. How old are Greeks who are drawn to KITON? We have customers as young as 25 and as old as 75. In fact, they are not just from society’s upper class but they’re also highly educated. Do you find Greeks conservative in their choices or do they dare to go, for example, for less traditional colors? When I started working, Greeks used to go for the classics. However, nowadays, after the trunk shows and our frequent presentations, they turn more and more to more distinct options. Without betraying their aesthetic, they turn to personal style, dare to wear new colors and shapes – always remaining elegant. After all, elegance does not mean wearing gray suits exclusively. You can be very, very elegant in denim trousers paired with a well-tailored blazer and shirt. Casual can also be elegant – but even then, a sur mesure jacket is always necessary. Is a tie always necessary? In Athens, I always wear a tie – even to a restaurant. It’s part of KITON dress code and all executives wear ties. When I’m at the seaside, I won’t wear a tie... Do Greeks have strength of opinion or do they leave choices to you out of insecurity? They know what they want to create, but they’re very happy, of course, to hear my suggestions. When they want a bespoke item of clothing, each man has a plan: they know their options, they’ve studied catalogs and fashion trends but they are still faithful to an elegance that is confident and not loud. This specific value is shared by the rest of the KITON collections… KITON always made some blazers and suits for the women who share our philosophy. Now, however, we create complete collections of womenswear as well as a high quality sportswear collection, which starts with denim and swimsuits and goes all the way to shirts, belts, handbags, shoes and of course, a full pret a porter range which might not be sur mesure but is still very carefully crafted in its choice of textiles and details, such as buttons and seams. I’ll give you an example. At the moment, we use Japanese denim textiles, which are of incredibly high class and have exceptional qualities. Thanks to their technology, they stretch only in width and not length and remain exceptionally thin. They are made for younger people who prefer more elastic textures and want their trousers to be like their workout clothes. After all, comfort is elegance, and that’s what makes us stand out as a brand. We want you to feel comfortable, not be afraid to move just because you’re in expensive clothes. You travel the world to satisfy your bespoke orders. Apart from Italy, which country have you found to stand out in terms of style? Although Americans have stepped up their style, Europe boasts depth and culture of fashion. Greece follows after Italy and third, in my opinion, comes Germany. Many would expect me to say Great Britain, but I think they’re just too traditional. Germans have evolved. They try to take the best they can from Italians, from wine and food to clothing and style. What type of person wins you over? I like clients with whom I can develop a relationship of mutual trust, which means I can create with them. Those who open up to me and have an active role in the process so I can make a piece of clothing that will satisfy them fully.  ΚΙΤΟΝ, Pret-a-porter and by special appointment at Mah Jong, Kanari 14, Kolonaki, Athens, Tel: +30 210 3622860 mahjong-boutique.gr

Vassilis Bourtsalas, founder of Bespoke Athens, draws inspiration from the classic aesthetic tradition and timeless elegance.

Bespoke Tales

Bespoke Athens does not merely specialize in hand sewn suits. Since 2004, it is exclusively dedicated to sewing together sophisticated moments of style.

Bespoke athens is a sartorial “gem” located in the center of Athens, on Anagnostopoulou 15-17 street in Kolonaki Square; the upmarket shopping center of Athens. It has long been a favored residential and boutique district in Athens surrounded by art galleries, cafes and restaurants. The square is the most popular place of resort for everybody visiting or living in Athens. Bespoke Athens was created on Christmas Eve of 2004, by Vassilis Bourtsalas, after he decided to change his corporate career and do what he really loved. “I believe that everything “true” and “genuine” is beautiful and that when you do things you love, miracles happen. I embody my passion and convictions for these values by dressing men like they’ve never been dresses before. People may say I’m an entrepreneur with Bespoke Athens, but I feel more like a “tailoring/style researcher”, who loves to share his findings afterwards. I’ve devoted my heart and soul on researching the craft of tailoring and on finding the finest craftsmen of the industry. It is my privilege to share my findings with my clients, by offering true craftsmanship with the finest cloths. To me, Bespoke Athens is not just a store. It is a tailoring lab and a gallery of style; a place for men who are looking for something exceptional, unique and rare, a private gallery of artists”. At Bespoke Athens when a suit, jacket, trousers or shirt is made the focus spreads on the quality of the cloth, the materials (buttons, linings, threads, canvas, etc), the fit of the garment, and the line as well. Of course, the quality of the craft will transform the garments into a piece of art, but what really makes the difference is the goal for a garment with “character”, and unique identity. Others call it style, but for Bespoke Athens “character” or even “personality” is even more than just style. There are no constraints and limitations. They love to break the rules! After they deliver one garment, they have already begun the process to make the next one even better. Various styles are available from various international talented tailors and Made to Measure houses, but with Bespoke Athens’s added spirit they become works of art. Bespoke Athens offers a complete collection for men to dress with distinctive and classic style. Their suppliers are carefully selected artisans from all over the world and are leaders in the “hand-made” category. Their talent and skill in beautifully creating stylish, hand-made suits, shirts and accessories separates them from the mainstream and place them in a category of their own. Some of the brands and tailors that you can find in Bespoke Athens are: Albert Thurston, Anna Purna, Chiaia Napoli, Chato Lufsen, Dolcepunta, Calabrese, Giusto, Jan Leslie, Robert Talbott, Saint Andrews, Sciamat, Simonnot Godard, Turnbull & Asser, and others. Fabrics range from Loro Piana, Drapers, Holland & Sherry, Huddersfield and the unique super prime English mill of Moxon. 