Dikili, Darling

In the summer of 2010 I was fortunate enough to study abroad for a month in Istanbul, Turkey. As a small group of about ten students accompanied by two wonderful and brilliant professors, we spent every day from the early morning till late at night walking the streets and observing the city’s unbelievably rich reserves of art, architecture, and history.

Although the entire experience was incredible, perhaps the most memorable part of the trip was our weekend excursion to the seaside village of Dikili. It was here that we ate fruit straight off the trees and swam in the turquoise water of the Aegean Sea. We spent our nights sleeping on the beach, dancing with the locals at outdoor parties, drinking Raki, and eating way too many Magnum ice cream bars.

 

What did we learn, you ask? I learned that wild almonds are poisonous and the only edible ones come from genetically mutated trees. I learned that freshly caught and grilled whole sardines are actually quite delicious, even when eaten with bare hands. I learned what a 2,800-year-old necropolis looks like. But most importantly I learned that ten-hour, uncomfortably humid bus rides and hotels with no locks on the doors make for wonderful adventures when in the company of wonderful people.

I’ve never met a Parker dress I didn’t like. Something about the way they fit suits people with long torsos like myself. I recently added this tribal-inspired printed piece to my rapidly increasing collection. A flow-y, brightly colored dress like this one would be perfect for the sort of trip I took to Dikili. Long dresses are always beach- vacation-appropriate because they are easy to throw on or in a suitcase, and can be worn with wedges, sandals, or bare feet respectively. No matter what, you’ll always look better in one of these dresses with a breezy attitude and a desire to explore unchartered territory.

Here are more great maxi dresses:

Three Floor Freshers Color Block Maxi Dress. Found at Asos.                                  Winter Kate Kamala Dress. Found at Shopbop.com

 

Floral Mesh Back Maxi Dress. Found at Topshop.