Nothing has ever made us want to live on a Greek island more than Mamma Mia. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, opens this week and stars Lily James as the young Donna (played by Meryl Streep in the first instalment) and Amanda Seyfried as Donna’s daughter Sophie.
If you ever want to live the carefree Mamma Mia life, here’s what you need to do.
#1 Move to Greece, obviously
Newsflash: the sequel was actually filmed mostly on the island of Vis in Croatia, but the story is still set in Greece. There’s so much to explore on the islands – some you’ve never even heard of! – and there are a few Greecian quirks you need to get used to.
#2 Live in a villa – how can you resist it?
Villa Donna and the island of Kalokairi from the film are fictional, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the Skopelos vibe (it’s where the first Mamma Mia movie was shot). Check out Villa Maroulas in Crete and Mansion Sophia in Santorini (the name is a happy coincidence!) for a taste of the Greek villa life.
#3 Wear overalls
Talk about dressing for the occassion. Overalls are Donna’s signature look and Meryl Streep couldn’t have described it better: “Part kid, part worker and part fun.” Come through, Net-a-Porter.
#4 Also wear these
Well, we don’t expect you to rock overalls all the time, so other wardrobe keywords include denim, prints, maxi skirts, breezy cheesecloth pieces, sandals, straw bags and hats, and sunglasses. Think Greek goddess on holiday, and take a cue from Lily James for chic accessories.
#5 Refine your beach hair
In case you’re not already blessed with naturally wavy, sun-kissed hair, here’s how to do it.
#6 Own a boat
You live on a Greek island now. A yacht or a speedboat would serve you better than a car. Plus, it’s a lot more romantic.
#7 Sing whenever the urge hits you
Pray your neighbours are understanding (or deaf to your antics), because without a song or a dance, what are we? Greece is too beautiful to not inspire the occasional musical number. ABBA is on Spotify, in case you don’t want to sing a capella.
#8 Buy a sturdy bed
Because you’re bound to do a few jumps with all the singing.
So what do you say, would you take a chance on Greece?
Read also: How to spend 48 hours in Mykonos
