Guia Cleps created her female-led, Italian swimwear brand Reina Olga with her sister Isotta in 2014, and it has since become a favourite with fashionistas thanks to its striking silhouettes and bold prints.
Named after the duo’s grandmothers who love leopard print as much as they do, and inspired by a girl wearing an ’80s scrunchie on the beach – their fun swimwear is designed to champion all body shapes thanks to its flattering super-stretch materials.
Here, Guia shares her most memorable trips, her idea of the perfect day spent in her hometown of Bormio, Italy and what’s on her impressive travel playlist.
What is the first trip you remember taking?
Florida, when I was about eight and my sister Isotta was 11. We learned the most annoying jingles and drove our parents nuts – I remember lots of iguanas too.
What’s been your most memorable trip and why?
Eugenio, my partner in crime, took me on the most incredible horseback adventure in the Alps last year. It was all off road in the most powerful and immersive nature you can imagine. I could feel the afterglow for weeks after returning home.
Where or what is your escape?
Escape for me is where there’s stucco (it reminds me of home) and manual building work involved. If I wasn’t making swimwear, I should have been a builder.
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What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from your travels?
Don’t overpack.
If I could go anywhere tomorrow I’d go to:
To play tennis at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy.
How would you spend your ideal afternoon in your home city?
I’m a mountain goat, not a city rat… On an ideal winter day, I’d have lunch at Sunny Valley in Santa Caterina on the slopes, then go skiing with my family and friends, then back down to Bormio, head to the local pool for a dip and sauna, followed by aperitivo and a nice dinner at home with friends.
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What’s your idea of a luxury holiday?
Bringing reinforcements for my three-year-old bandit! For Eugenio and I, it’s all about being able to do a tonne of sport and having nice dinners, so true luxury for us means going somewhere where that’s all possible.
Where do you get your holiday inspiration?
Listening to friends and hearing about their adventures.
If you could sit next to anyone on a flight – dead or alive – who would it be?
Will Ferrell.
How do you recover from jet lag?
Funnily enough, I feel like I’m an expert on the jet lag topic. I always adapt my sleeping patterns to the arrival time zone while flying, so I never get jetlagged.
Your flight’s delayed an hour and your phone’s out of battery. How do you pass the time?
I’d read a book. No, who am I kidding? I would probably eat all my travel snacks in one go, and then try on some clothes in the airport boutiques.
Favourite hotel?
These days for me it’s all about the quality of the bed. So, based purely off that, I’d have to say the Four Seasons in the Maldives.
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Favourite airline?
It’s a tie between Swiss and Lufthansa – I’ve always felt my best with them.
What’s on your travel playlist?
My travel playlist has remained pretty much the same since around 2004, in no particular order:
– What’s My Age Again by Blink 182
– Everytime I Look For You by Blink 182
– Down The Line by Romare
– Paranoid by Black Sabbath
– Full Clip by Gang Starr
– Ooh Aah by Grits
– Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder
– Watch It Flow by Mose
– Crazy by Seal
– Go With The Flow by Queens Of The Stone Age
– Stay High by Tove Lo
What are your must-have travel picks?
Denim shorts from Zara, a white T-Shirt from American Vintage, coral slides from Mystique, tonnes of Olaplex, a hairbrush and two bikinis – even if I’m away for an entire month, I never bring more than two bikinis. These are the Guia – it’s my favourite, so I named it after me – and the Ginny in pastel yellow.
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Where next?
Venice.
FIRST THING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND…
Hand-luggage essential? Charger.
Packing: roll or fold? Fold.
Inflight book or inflight film? Film.
Music or podcasts? Both.
Time killer on a long haul flight? Work.
Bucket list top destination? Niseko during Christmas time.
Best shopping gem found abroad? Foresta g in San Pantaleo, Sardegna.
Beach or City? Beach (and mountains).
Ultimate holiday treat? A tennis court.
Any Questions or Tips to add?