July Outfits II, featuring Zoë Zissovici
The Maj Kiosk founder's ideal heatwave looks, plus links to Italian vintage items.
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This month, I’m excited to showcase one of my favorite vintage sellers, Zoë Zissovici, who runs the popular online vintage shop Maj Kiosk out of Rome (you’ll want to sign up for the mailing list to be the first to know about new drops—they go quickly). I’ve been purchasing items from the shop for years and am fairly certain I could draw a straight line from the vintage cargo renaissance we all experienced a few summers ago to the inventory she was sourcing for Maj Kiosk at the time.
Zoë finds that the joy of selling vintage has always been the collage process of styling and renewing the value of preexisting garments. Through Maj Kiosk, she aims to pique interest in vintage without relying on designer names or trends. Unsurprisingly, much of her closet is made up of Italian vintage items or well-loved pieces from her mom.
Here’s what Zoë plans on wearing this month…
OUTFIT 1
Vintage Emporio Armani linen pants
Patrizia Pepe Firenze tube top: Similar in a size 2 available here.
Nathalie Schreckenberg ‘maia’ necklace
Alexander Wang ‘amelia’ sandal: A few colorways are available on resale sites, but here is Zoë’s pair in a US 10.
Where I’d wear it: These are some of my most worn pieces, and I would pretty much wear this outfit anywhere. The pants were one of the first pieces I bought when I moved to Rome and were expertly tailored to fit. I tend to wear monochrome dressing when I want to feel intentional, but I also wear easy pieces. Night or day I want to feel comfortable and a little boyish and I’m just as likely to wear this with a baggy grey tee.
OUTFIT 2
Vintage Manila Grace silk dress
Vintage Loewe metal sunglasses
Vintage ABRO leather foldover bag
Birkenstock ‘boston’ clogs
Ole Lynggaard ‘love’ rings
Where I’d wear it: The heat in Rome has been brutal the last few summers, so at a certain point, I will only be wearing airy dresses during the day. I love a shapeless tenty fit with a plunging neckline and found this dress in a secondhand store recently’ it’s silk and about four sizes too big so it should be perfect. During the day, I walk a lot and need a comfortable shoe, and nothing can compete with Birkenstocks. The rings were my mom’s, and I sleep in them, so they’re part of every outfit.
OUTFIT 3
Vintage Sarah Pacini knit halter: Something similar by Sarah Pacini here.
Vintage Liviana Conti knit pants: Similar pair available via Vestiaire Collective.
Arche ‘egwel’ wedge
Where I’d wear it: I love viscose knit and am a hardcore collector of slinky sweatpant-cut bottoms. The top is a nod to Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. I’ll wear this out to meet friends for a late aperitivo as it’s already too warm for pants in the day. The shoes are very dear to my heart; a gift from my mom from her favorite French shoe brand. They fit like a glove, but I broke my ankle the first time I wore them (Roman cobblestones’ fault, not the shoe), so they’ve been in storage for a few years.
OUTFIT 4
Vintage Adidas terry sweatshirt: Similar sweatshirts in men’s M, another men’s M, and men’s S.
Wolford ‘fatal’ sleeveless top
Vintage Levi’s vintage 559 men’s jeans
Mussels and Musles silver ‘pebbles’ earrings
Vintage Furla tote: Available via Poshmark here (and see the link roundup below for a mini red version).
Where I’d wear it: This is my only ‘going out’ look. I’m not very fancy late-night, especially since Rome is a pretty laid-back city outside of the center, so I tend to go for baggy things and add a heel. This terry sweatshirt is a flea market favorite, and despite the intense tangerine color, I find it goes with basically everything I own. I got the earrings this year because I’m training myself off a lifetime of silver hoops and I love them, such a small detail but for me they really set the look.
OUTFIT 5
Vintage unbranded Italian knit dress
Jérôme Dreyfuss ‘billy’ leather bag: Similar available via eBay.
Staud ‘billie’ cream-clear mules: Available in EU 38.5, EU 38, and EU 36.5 via Poshmark.
Where I’d wear it: As mentioned, Rome is boiling hot all summer, so I’ve been collecting this type of semi-sheer, loose-fitting viscose or linen knit mini dress for everyday outings. I’m especially excited about this one since I was hunting for a white, high-neck version after seeing a maxi style in a Loewe show. The bag is a classic that my mom has had for years, and I finally joined the club. I’ve caved in due to necessity and carry XL bags during the day. Now that I’m leaving Rome for a well-paved city I can’t wait to actually wear all my heels.
OUTFIT 6
Vintage Carla G. wrap halter top
Vintage Maj Kiosk stock pants and bag
Havaianas slim flip flops
Alfex Switzerland watch: Available via eBay with a brown or black band.
Vintage Marly Sport glasses: Similar here.
Where I’d wear it: This is also a good afternoon errands-to-aperitivo transition outfit; it’s comfortable for running around but put together enough to look like I dressed to socialize. The Havaianas are a great shoe because they neutralize something that would feel too formal otherwise. The trousers and the bag were slated to be part of a Maj Kiosk collection, but I fell in love with them and pulled them for myself at the last minute. The glasses are such a special piece. I found them for €12 in a thrift store, and when I looked them up, it turned out that they were Serge Gainsbourg’s signature from a Parisian optician. You can find a few pairs on eBay or Etsy.
Finally, a few links to vintage pieces inspired by Zoë’s looks, including some items still up for grabs via Maj Kiosk:
Carla G Citron Dress (US 6)
Federica Tosi Bandeau (US 2/4)
Thank you to Zoë for sharing her looks (and perfectly articulating why I keep reaching for my Haivianas this summer), and thank you all for being here! 💌
p.s. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of the links in this newsletter.