By 
Italy will always hold a special place in my heart. I studied the Italian language and culture for three years in high school and it was my minor as an ungraduate in college. I spent a semester abroad living and “studying” in Verona, Italy; which will forever remain my favorite place in Italy. Obviously my love affair started with the food, I could live on pasta, bread and cheese for the rest of my life if it didn’t kill me and it’s no surprise my love for Spritz, a drink I can honestly say I loved before it became so basic. Next love was obviously the beautiful language, then the movies and of course, the amazing Italian people, who are known for many things, the most important to me (next to pasta) being how to spend a summer well. Gray Malin has captured some of these moments perfectly through his photography series La Dolce Vita, a perfect set of inspirational images that will instantly make you lust for sun, Spritz and a colorful beach umbrella. When my fiancé and I went to Positano I had to show him Gray’s lovely series at the fabulous La Fontelina Beach Club to lure him into a day trip to Capri. Hint, hint- it worked- and he even said that it was his favorite beach club out of all the ones we ventured to in the South of France and Amalfi Coast. Next time I think I might just completely skip Positano all together and just venture to Capri and Ravello themselves, they are so beautiful!
Gray Malin has been such an inspiring artist for my generation, the content he creates is effortlessly chic and timeless. He shoots at some of most well established swoon -worthy destinations for leisure and in some ways is the Slim Aarons of our time. So when my friend Adele invited me to a book signing for Gray’s latest book, Italy, I was beyond thrilled. The signing was held at the perfect venue, Serena and Lily, the home store of my beach house dreams. We arrived to a lively little party with Gray signing books and an abundance of Aperol Spritz’s to go around. After getting our copies signed we sat for a minute and went through some of the pages, a few of my favorites below. I immediately decided I must visit Lake Como, Sicily and the beach cities of Tuscany I somehow didn’t think existed. Overall, It’s a wonderful collection of Italian summer escapes and I am excited to have it on my coffee table! Enjoy.
Gray’s Italian Summer Inspiration
-MGN
Authentically,
