Editor’s Letter: The Inspiration Behind the Summer 2017 Issue

At the tail end of last summer (you know, the one when everyone was posting photos of inflatable unicorns, dancing to Drake, and obsessively reading The Girls and Sweetbitter), I took the Domino team out to my family’s place in Bridgehampton, Long Island, where we stayed for a few days, cooked, played Cards Against Humanity, and talked about what we wanted Domino to be.

It was total inspiration by doing—style editor Elaina Sullivan arranged flowers, photo editor Meghan McNeer deejayed, and executive editor Alex Redgrave perfected her Little Gem salad for lunch while we defined our mission statement. We beaded necklaces, grilled clams, and went to the beach. It was the perfect balance of off-duty/on-duty, where we gave ourselves the space to step back and be creative—and that is when some of the best ideas are born.

But most important, it was super-fun. We didn’t take anything too seriously and kept the spicy margaritas flowing (style director Kate Berry’s super-simple killer recipe: boil down Minute Maid Limeade with sliced jalapeños and pour in a pitcher with tons of fresh lime juice, tequila, and crushed ice) while setting the tone for a focused and refreshed season ahead.

When approaching the Feel Good issue, we wanted to re-create those ultimate summer vibes. Helmed by our new executive creative director, Michael Ciancio, and executive editor Alex Redgrave, our go-to guide is a culmination of months of work and compiling all the amazing ideas from our superstar contributors and staff on how to make the most of those 100 days—our digital series will include a new idea posted every day.

You’ll also find a roundup of spots along coastal Italy chosen by J.J. Martin—the expert on living la dolce vita—who will be popping up at Hotel Il Pellicano, Le Sirenuse, and on the island of Capri, offering her fabulous LaDoubleJ line of clothing, accessories, and tabletop. We also visited the Mariani siblings of

at their newly renovated hacienda, where they are rewriting a cooler, younger wine culture in Sonoma.

And when it comes to company culture, I’m so inspired by the approach of our cover girl, Emily Weiss, of Glossier. Her game-changing beauty brand is reshaping an industry and empowering a new generation with fresh faces and streamlined design. But beyond that, the incredibly talented team working there really knows how to have fun together. Just like we did last summer…

Here’s to all the sunny days ahead!

Pick up the summer issue on newsstands now and subscribe here.