Kiini Bikini

The hot swimwear currently sported by It Girls around the world is the bikini by Kiini and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld smolders in the Kiini Yaz Top and Bottom. Created out of necessity by Turkish born designer Ipek Irgit, each piece by Kiini is crafted by hand from crocheted cotton yarn, elastic, and high tech fabrics using no ties, clasps, or buttons. The colorful crochet accents give the classic cut of the bikini a modern hippie vibe. 

When asked about her inspiration, Irgit explained that she herself was in search of the perfect bikini, “Something different to what’s out there, looks cool and would also support my 34Ds… I really don’t like bikinis that are made with cheap materials that thins out or sags after a couple of wears or the ones with too much push up. I just really dislike padding. They are so annoying. People should stop being afraid of nipples.” The muse struck and Ipek Irgit invented the Kiini. She pictures the ideal Kiini wearer as, "Brave, open-minded and strong. In her words, 'someone not afraid of catching attention because believe me, when you wear a Kiini, it is guaranteed you will be stopped on the beach at least ten times a day'." Julia Restoin-Roitfeld is clearly a Kiini kind of girl.

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Kiini image courtesy of kiini.com. Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in bikini by Kiini courtesy of instagram/juliarestoinroitfeld.

Hvar, Croatia

A holiday should be a departure from the grind of everyday life to a place of beauty and creative stimulus, a time to relax and rejuvenate your normal life. But in the case of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld — born and raised in the city of lights and surrounded by the world’s finest art, fashion, and food, breathing in the very air of romance, glamour, beauty, and sophistication — what constitutes a holiday getaway?

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld can go virtually anywhere she wants in the world and her favorite spot to escape is Hvar, Croatia. Julia's gorgeous boyfriend Robert Konjic just happens to hail from Croatia and she has come to adore not only Robie but his homeland, feeling quite comfortable on holiday there. Hvar is the crown jewel of the Dalmatian Islands. The weather is always picture perfect and the beaches, where Julia likes to spend much of her time, are pristine rock-pebbled wonders situated along freshwater turquoise bays surrounded by pine forests. Paradise!

Since Hvar is separated from the mainland of Croatia, the enticement of privacy attracts other beautiful and well-known celebrities from around the world. It is a spot where you can truly connect with nature. Ancient olive trees, fields of lavender, robust vineyards, and of course fresh fish and seafood make up the staples in this Mediterranean nirvana. After a long day on the pebbled beaches with Robert, Mademoiselle Restoin-Roitfeld loves a bit of wine along with her favorite Croatian dish of Lobster Spaghetti made with the freshest tomatoes. While booking your plane fare and packing your bag, whet your palate for your journey to Hvar with Julia's favorite Croatian recipe. Sretan Putovanja! This really is the perfect holiday...

Lobster Spaghetti With Fresh Tomatoes

Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients
½ cup fruity extra virgin olive oil

2 large cloves garlic, sliced thin

2 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled and very finely chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 one-pound lobsters, cooked and shelled, or ¾ pound cooked lobster meat

3 tablespoons finely slivered fresh basil, plus sprigs for garnish
1 pound spaghetti alla chitarra or spaghettini

Red chili flakes

Directions

1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 5 quart sauté pan or a wide saucepan. Add garlic, cook over low heat until it softens, then add tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook 3 minutes over medium heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for spaghetti.
3. Dice lobster meat. Place 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add lobster and cook until just warmed through. Fold in half of the basil. Cover and set aside.
4. When water boils, add pasta and cook until barely al dente. Drain and place in pan with tomatoes. Stir in remaining oil. Cook, stirring gently over low heat, about 5 minutes, until pasta and tomatoes are warmed and well incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper; fold in remaining basil.
5. Transfer to 6 shallow soup plates. Top each portion with lobster, garnish with basil sprigs and serve, with red chili flakes on the side.

Yields: 6 servings – Invite your traveling companions!

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in Hvar, Croatia photographs courtesy of twitter.com/RestoinRJulia

Ganesha

When in Ibiza on holiday, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld always takes time to stop at Ganesha, a vintage shop owned by Vicente Hernández that is filled with treasures rumored to rival those in Aladdin's cave. Reportedly "a kind hearted grey whiskered character [with] more than an eye when it comes to shapely figures and bright Latin color," Hernández travels to South America regularly to find new merchandise for the shop making it the hot spot in Ibiza to discover funky vintage jewelry, sunglasses, bags, clothing, furniture, and more. Located at Calle Guillem de Montgri 14 in Ibiza Town, this magical little boutique consistently attracts famous visitors such as Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, and Elle Macpherson. Note as well that Ganesha is esteemed as Ibiza Town's oldest shop, a tribute to Vicente's eye for goodness. 

What are a few of Julia's favorite finds at Ganesha? She is wearing two of her treasures in the photographs seen here. While shopping at Ganesha in the summer of 2008, Julia scored the romantic white dress she wears above, the perfect lightweight accompaniment to the season. Another stroke of luck while shopping at Vicente's place — the gorgeous sequined dress we see to the right, a sparkling relic from the days of cabaret. Mademoiselle Restoin-Roitfeld remarks, "I bought this cabaret dress... in Ibiza in the summer of 2006. I saw it in the window, tried it on and it fit me perfectly! It was meant to be. I've only worn it once and it was photographed a lot. It's one of those pieces I can wear at home, for my own pleasure, or I could just frame and hang on the wall." Spoken like a true Roitfeld...

Photograph of Ganesha by Vicente Hernández © 2008 8020 Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in vintage cabaret dress courtesy of style.com 
Photograph of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld in vintage white dress © 2010 Natalie Joos. All Rights Reserved.