Summer of Staud! Sarah Staudinger Kicked Off the Season at Positano’s Da Adolfo
Sarah Staundinger and George Augusto, co-founders of Los Angeles based label Staud, jetted off to Italy’s Amalfi Coast to host their own official start to the season.
Just after Memorial Day—the American calendar’s definitive summer kick off—Sarah Staundinger and George Augusto, co-founders of Los Angeles based label Staud, jetted off to Italy’s Amalfi Coast to host their own official start to the season.
If ringing in the sun-soaked weeks to come wasn’t enough of an excuse to gather a group of friends in Italia, a summer capsule collection created alongside one of Positano’s most secluded seaside hangouts surely was. A true hidden gem for the last 60 years, Da Adolfo is a family-operated beach restaurant just a 5-minute sail away from the coastal enclave—one often visited by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Emily Ratajkowski.
The Staud x Da Adolfo capsule’s intent is to channel the beloved feeling of dolce far niente, and the itinerary was inspired by three particularly Italian sentiments: tutto passa (everything passes), sprezzatura (effortless elegance), and ferragosto (peak summer). On Friday afternoon, guests jetted in from Los Angeles, New York, and London. The crowd included Anna Van Patten, whose debut in Euphoria aired over the weekend, Justine Skye, I Love LA’s True Whitaker, Vogue contributor Julia Sarr-Jamois, and Brigitte Chartrand, chief buying and merchandising officer for the capsule’s exclusive partner, Net-A-Porter.
After everyone checked into the pink-and-palm clad Palazzo Avino, a charming hotel in the village of Ravello, welcome drinks were hosted in the property’s garden overlooking the sea. While the moon rose, the group sipped on limoncello spritzes and snapped photos of the view before heading up to dinner at Rossellini’s.
The next afternoon, people were whisked away in shuttles tagged with the letters S.O.S: Summer of Staud. At Palazzo Avino’s Clubhouse by the Sea, a multi-level oasis built into the cliffside, the brand’s vision fully came to life thanks to custom towels, beach totes, paddle boards, ashtrays, and donut-shaped pillows all rendered in the label’s signature pomodoro shade.
As people swam out to a fish-shaped sea float, a floating bar serving ice cream and spritzes idled nearby. Guests queued up for psychic readings from Zeta Webber under Riviera garden umbrellas surrounded by lemon trees, took to a charm bar to make their own beaded necklaces and anklets, and snacked on Neapolitan pizzas and bowls of Caprese pasta that circulated.
On Sunday, it was time to see the famed Da Adolfo in all its glory. Guests were taken down the traverse of Ravello to a pier in Amalfi to board a yacht. Once anchored, a short tender ride transported party-goers to the tiny cove of Laurito beach via a small boat. As guests got a closer look, they spotted the iconic red awning of the restaurant, as well as beach umbrellas and sun loungers that lined the pebbled beach, co-designed by Staud and Da Adolfo. There was no shortage of the red fish motif; an ode to the ristorante’s charismatic logo. Restaurant staff were even dressed in cobalt blue and red logo tees, which quickly became sought-after merch too.
“Da Adolfo represents everything I love about summer,” Sarah Staudinger said. “The ritual of arriving by boat, the long and unhurried lunches, the feeling of being somewhere that’s both iconic and completely unpretentious.”
Hand painted terra-cotta pitchers filled with the lido’s signature sparkling wine and sliced peaches sat on tables waiting to refresh guests, and a large U-shaped table ensured everyone in attendance had a view of the sea. For the aperitivo, bruschetta and prosciutto over melon did the rounds, followed by sliced mozzarella melted over lemon leaves picked from the trees that grow behind the beach. The plates of seared tuna also proved to be particularly popular. Naturally, a few bowls of spaghetti followed suit—including some vongole that filmmaker Amalie Gassmann declared the “best she’s ever had.”
Reflecting on turning her dream collaboration into a reality, Staudinger proved that patience is a virtue. “I stalked this woman for six months trying to get her to say yes to me,” she joked, referring to co-owner Miriam, who sported the capsule’s red beaded mini wrap skirt for the occasion. (Judging by the smiles at the table, it’s safe to say everyone was pleased that Staudinger persisted.)
Should you find yourself in Positano, plan your reservations now as the Summer of Staud beach club setup will live on at Da Adolfo through the end of the season.
Lauren Perez, Justine Skye, Jordan Daniels
