Kerry Wheeler
“Put me on a beach and I’m happy,” says Michael Kors, whose campaigns are notorious for capturing the smart set on sun-drenched getaways, always freshly tanned and immaculately dressed. “For me, the joy that travel brings to life is everything.” He especially loves Capri—so much so that he named his parent company after it. For his spring-summer collection, he took inspiration from the Italian island and the iconic images of the women who made it famous: Jackie O. walking down a cobblestoned street in a floaty skirt and headscarf; Jane Birkin in a cropped lace top carrying her signature basket bag; and his own mother, Joan Kors, sitting by a pool. “I was immediately sold on being somewhere with such a storied history that’s chock-full of glamour but also has an easygoing quality,” says Kors, who first visited in 1994. “It’s the type of place where your captain jumps off his small boat and brings up a fresh sea urchin out of the water.” Here he shares his favorite haunts—including where to eat just-caught fish, walk among Roman ruins, and purchase the perfect sandals.
The place to stay
“Grand Hotel Quisisana is quintessential Capri. The views are fantastic and the location is unbeatable, in the very heart of town on Via Camerelle. It originally opened as a sanatorium in 1845 (its name translates to “here one heals”) but went on to become fashionable, hosting the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre. It’s as glamorous as it ever was, with gilt-framed mirrors, marble floors, chandeliers, and 19th-century works of art. Plus, the staff are on top of every detail and treat guests like family.”
Memorable meals
“The D’Alessio family’s historic restaurant, Aurora, has the best pizza on the island. Le Grottelle, on the east coast, has pasta and the freshest fish, with views to match. Da Paolino is set in a lemon grove toward the north: The ambience is festive and the food terrific. And I never pass up the homemade ravioli caprese and pezzogna with potato crust at the De Angelis family’s La Capannina, on the picturesque Via le Botteghe.”
Aperitivo hour
“The roof bar at Hotel La Palma is a new hot spot. It has cocktail combinations you’ve never dreamed of, such as the mezcal with chile and mango syrup, or the gin and passion flower shrub and capers. Get a drink at Hotel Luna‘s Capri Rooftop, which has magical views of the ocean. My go-to tipple is the Principessa, which is Champagne with wild baby strawberries.”
Stylish finds
“Visit the sandal shops: Da Costanzo, in Capri town, for bejeweled pairs, and Canfora, behind the Quisisana, for the most gorgeous, simple sandals—Jackie Kennedy stocked up here. I love the lemon soap from Carthusia and Borsalino hats from Fiore. And Cabana has beautiful things for the home. Pick a table in front of the Quisisana, on the main boulevard, and watch the stylish Caprese locals stroll by—it’s the ultimate fashion show.”
