IN CONVERSATION WITH OLYMPIA OF GREECE

interview by JANA LETONJA

Olympia of Greece has carved out a distinctive place within contemporary fashion, moving fluidly between model, tastemaker, editor, and now designer. After studying Fashion Business and Marketing at NYU’s Gallatin School, she gained hands-on industry experience before becoming Moda Operandi’s first Contributing Editor in 2025, bringing her personal eye to curated edits, designer collaborations and storytelling. Now, that perspective is taking physical form with her first exclusive capsule collection for Moda Operandi and DL1961, a nine-piece wardrobe inspired by vintage denim, classic Americana, English tailoring and the effortless attitude of 90s off-duty supermodels. Equally at home between fashion’s different worlds, Olympia is evolving beyond being someone the industry wants to dress into a creative voice actively defining what modern luxury can look like.

photography by GRAYSON VAUGHAN

Your new collaboration with DL1961 feels like a natural progression from curating fashion to actually creating it. Did designing reveal a different side of your creative identity?
I’ve always loved putting things together and knowing instinctively what I’m drawn to, but creating something from the beginning is completely different. I became much more interested in the little details, the fit, the wash, how something actually feels when you put it on. It made me realize how much I love the process of taking an idea and turning it into something tangible. It’s definitely made me want to design and create more.

You’ve described the collection as “me in a nutshell.” What did you want someone who has never met you to understand about Olympia simply by looking at these clothes?
I wanted it to show that I’m actually very relaxed when it comes to getting dressed and I don’t take my looks too seriously. I’ve always loved stealing clothes from my boyfriends, my brothers or my father and mixing them with pieces that feel more feminine or polished. I think the collection really reflects that side of me. It’s effortless and a little playful.

The collection draws from classic Americana, English countryside dressing, vintage denim and 90s off-duty supermodels. Where did those references first enter your personal style?
I don’t think those references have ever not been part of my style. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with going through my parents’ old photo albums, and that’s exactly how they dressed. There was so much denim, classic Americana and that effortless English countryside feel. I think those images really stayed with me and naturally became part of the way I dress today.

There’s something particularly compelling about the idea of the 90s supermodel leaving the airport, effortless but still incredibly chic. What does “effortless” style mean to you?
I’ve always said you really see someone’s true side when you travel with them, and I think the same is true of how someone dresses on a plane. There’s something very revealing about airport style because you want to be comfortable, but you still want to feel like yourself. To me, effortless style is exactly that. It’s not overly thought out or trying to impress anyone. It’s being comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing and still looking like yourself.

Menswear is another important influence, and you’ve spoken about stealing vintage pieces from your father’s wardrobe while your brothers borrow yours. What draws you to clothes that aren’t necessarily defined by gender?  
I’ve never really thought about clothes in terms of who they’re meant for. If I like something, I’ll wear it.

You grew up surrounded by fashion, culture and tradition. When did you begin developing a style that felt distinctly yours rather than inherited from the world around you?
My parents would probably say from the day I could dress myself. I was very stubborn and always knew exactly what I wanted to wear, and more importantly, what I didn’t want to wear. Of course, I’ve been influenced by the world I grew up around, but I think I’ve always had a strong instinct for what feels like me.

Your background comes with a very recognizable identity. Has fashion given you a language through which you can define yourself independently?
Definitely. Fashion has always been a way for me to express who I am without having to explain myself. My background will always be a huge part of me and something I’m very proud of, but it doesn’t define every part of who I am. The way I dress has given me the freedom to show my personality, my sense of humor and the different sides of myself on my own terms.

You studied Fashion Business and Marketing at NYU before entering the industry professionally. How important was it for you to understand the business behind fashion as well as its creative side?
My grandfather on my mother’s side was always very adamant that we understood the business side of fashion and where it all starts. That really stayed with me, and I think understanding both the creative and business sides is incredibly important.

We’re living in an era where algorithms increasingly tell us what to wear, buy and desire. Do you think individuality in fashion is becoming harder to maintain?
I think it’s exhausting. I find myself shopping while I’m already online shopping because I’m constantly being shown the next thing I’m supposed to want.

Your capsule is deliberately built around pieces that are timeless and genuinely wearable. Has your own relationship with consumption changed as you’ve become more involved with fashion professionally?
Oh God, I can’t even talk about it. I’m definitely more aware of how much we consume now, which is why it was important to me that this collection was made up of pieces you’ll actually wear again and again, rather than something that only feels relevant for a moment.

Now that you’ve crossed into design, has it made you want to go further? Could you imagine eventually creating a label, taking on a larger creative-director role or developing something entirely your own?
Never say never.

You’re increasingly moving from being observed by fashion to having a voice within it. Ten years from now, what do you hope people will associate with Olympia’s point of view?
I hope people associate my point of view with a sense of ease and individuality. I never want fashion to feel too serious or too perfect. I’d love to be known for having a strong point of view, but also for having fun with it and always feeling like myself.