Loose Threads: What would Joan Didion say about Substack? Plus Menorca= a jewel in the Mediterranean.

By Rachelle Hruska MacPherson. July 13, 2025

I’ve just returned from an extended trip, re-energized in the way only time off can do… While we were away, we did what one does: lots of eating, swimming, reading, walking, and talking. During one of those meandering conversations, my husband asked me what my core reason was for writing this Substack. Is it more to satisfy my need to communicate, or more to market Lingua Franca? I suppose it’s both. I replied.

Joan Didion once, famously said: “'We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” And, I wondered what she’d say about Substacking.

Later that evening, this quote popped up in my feed from my friend Aminatou:

“We write to taste life twice.” I felt that line deeply. This Substack isn’t just about Lingua Franca— though I do hope it gives a bit of a window into the brand and the intention behind it. It’s also about something much more personal. It’s a way for me to slow down and make sense of the curiosities and wonders that pop up along the way.

Sharing them here is just my small attempt to better understand the chaos and put something thoughtful into the world. And anyway, why does anyone do things we’re not required to do? Sometimes it’s just because they’re fun for us. And, being “fun” usually means there’s a component of naturalness that comes with them.

I’m urging you to stop and take a moment to think about what is fun for you to do—those things that naturally bring ease or joy. What would it look like to make more time for them?

And maybe also consider carving out space for something that doesn’t come naturally?

I recently listened to Kyla Scanlon on Ezra Klein’s podcast (which I recommend you listen to in its entirety!) titled: How the Attention Economy Is Devouring Gen Z — and the Rest of Us. One of the more interesting parts I found, was Kyla’s case for friction (ie: the effort it takes to accomplish things). You should direct yourself to her Substack post on this topic:

The Most Valuable Commodity in the World is Friction

We were taught that effort matters! That working hard, learning well, and building value would be rewarded. I sound a little like old-man-yelling-at-cloud, but I promise I have a point - we have a world where friction gets automated out of experiences, aestheticized in curated lifestyles, and dumped onto underfunded infrastructure and overworked labor. The effort doesn't disappear; it just moves.

The whole piece made me think deeply about what it means to be human right now. Our systems will likely continue to fail us in increasingly visible ways—but maybe that’s also the opening. Leaning into friction might just be where the solutions live.

Which leads to:

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The Question of the Day: What is something that doesn’t come naturally that you want to do more of? For me it’s speaking Spanish fluently. What about you? Comment below your answer (or really anything you’d like!).

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Since I left you in the whirlwind of Andalusia, I’ve since been swept into the calm beauty of Menorca. What most guides don’t mention is that the defining feature of this island, to me, is what’s not there: no beachfront houses or hotels, and no organized service on any of the beaches. Its coastline is strictly protected and gloriously undeveloped, which means it’s beaches are pristine (we’re talking bathtub warm turquoise water that you can see straight through). Its vibe is relaxed and chill as opposed to “scene-y.” It gave our family exactly what we needed.

Our daily 8-minute walk to the beach became a ritual, and a reminder of how good it feels to unplug. There’s also something about being outside of the US and unplugging for this long that does something to you. I was really mindful of the significant break we got from the news cycle and the damage that is done from the stress that comes with having such a sporadic, destabilizing leader. Honestly, it felt really good to step out of the fray for a bit.

We went with our best friends and their pre-teen and teenage daughters, and it was one of those golden windows where our kids were fully engaged in all the lunch and late-night table conversations. Watching them see the world—and join in—was really fun!

Some highlights:

• Where we stayed: We stayed at a home run by the Zannier family, who’ve quietly built a portfolio of thoughtful, beautifully understated properties around the world. I want to now visit them all! They also own two must stop food places on the island: Nonna Bazaar for dinner and Nonna Beach for lunch. Nonna Bazaar is in a century-old Menorcan farmhouse surrounded by 400 hectares of cultivated fields and Nonna Beach is home of the best chicken I’ve tasted.

• What not to miss:

  • Hauser & Wirth’s island outpost: A former naval hospital transformed into an art center, restaurant, and conservation hub on Illa del Rei. Cindy Sherman and Mika Rottenberg were showing while we were there. We ferried over, ate at their Cantina, and wandered through the exhibits with our kids.

  • Boat day(s): We loved our traditional boat charter so much we did it twice. Endless coves, caves, cliffs. The best kind of otherworldly.

  • Cova d’en Xoroi: Yes, it’s touristy and yes it’s a bit cheesy. Yes, go. It’s a bar carved into a cliff and best at sunset (tickets in timed slots!).

Hauser & Wirth’s Cantina (left), Nonna Bazaar (right).

• Where we ate:

  • Café Balear (in Ciutadella): order the paella.

  • Ivette Beach Club in Cala Morell for lunch.

  • Sa Llagosta for Menorca’s signature lobster stew.

  • Coral Menorca for a beautiful sunset dinner.

  • Katú: no joke, some of the best Mexican food I’ve had—including in Mexico.

What I wore:
I tried to capture some outfits, especially because my marketing team keeps gently nudging me. Selfies still feel completely unnatural to this elder millennial, but with the help of my kids I managed a few:

From top left to right: Marathi Skirt and tank, Reina lightweight crewneck, Grikos stripe dress, Lampi wrap skirt, Grikos caftan, sunset sweat shorts.

What I read:

• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I don’t usually read Gothic novels, but this one is an international best seller for a reason. This story within a story kept me riveted.

• The Doorman by Chris Pavone. A really fun read that all four adults swam through happily and quickly.

• The Audition by Katie Kitamura. Worked for my friend Hannah, didn’t work for me. Many are raving about though so what do I know?

Quick Hits from While I Was Away:

• While I was soaking up the sun in Spain, half my feed was in Paris for couture. At LF, we were thrilled to play even a tiny part in the chicness. My friend Alison Sarofim, who recently launched the incredible beauty brand Loulu Hawaii, hosted a celebration at the Ritz with Moda Operandi, and commissioned us to make hundreds of Lingua Franca napkins for it embroidered with sayings like “bonjour” and “aloha.” LSD and AW were there, and based on the DMs we’ve been getting, I think we may have to offer these napkins online. For now, email info@linguafranca.nyc if you want to make dinner or cocktail napkins with us, and stay tuned while I figure out how to make these at scale.

• I LOVED LOVED LOVED the epic show Jordan Roth put on at the Louvre. WOW WOW WOW. He literally made his dress the bottom of the pyramid. He was a star in our first-ever fashion show in February and throws himself fully into everything he does. I love it.

• I was surprised by how much I loved the Skims x Roberto Cavalli campaign shot by Nadia Lee Cohen. The images and video were seriously fresh.

• While I missed Anu Duggal’s annual Camp Female Founders event in Bridgehampton, I was thrilled LF was part of it—we made hand-stitched cashmere robes for all the attendees.

• Meanwhile, my other talented pal Dee Poku hosted her annual “Dinner for Women Innovators” at Cannes Lions, where she previewed one of our dresses from Fall ’25. I cannot wait to launch this collection later in August.

• Also how cool: you can now swim in the Seine again. (!!)

• Chloë Sevigny said this was one of her most DMed and liked IG stories ever, ha. How great would it be to bring Souen back??

  

• I so relate to this it’s not even funny.

• You know that meme of how it feels to return to JFK after weeks in Europe? Yeah.

Anyway, I’m back now and excited to shoot our Bowery collection for Fall ’25 this Wednesday with our friend Sophie Elgort, and then I’ll finally get back out to Montauk after way too long away. Just a reminder that there are still kind, talented, interesting people out there doing cool things. Go find them—and dig it the most.

xo Rachelle