I am welcoming spring today with my new Louis Vuitton Bohemian Monogram Cheche cross body bag. The textile is very soft and comfortable with dazzling hints of coloured leather that comes in red (like the one I am wearing) or blue. The fabric is innovative due to a new weaving process that creates the black-on-beige jacquard pattern with fluorescent and lurex threads woven through. The lining is made from bright soft calfskin leather and so pretty. On the runway the bags were presented with long attached tassels that are available seperately. Today I am finishing off the look with the matching colourful Monogram Cheche stole and a nautical dress from the cruise collection. It feels unbelievably fresh and summery.
Below you can find all different models of this line. I tried them all and my favourite was definitely the Bohemian. Which one will be yours? Have a look at your nearest Louis Vuitton store.
Bohemian Red
Bohemian Blue
Gypsy PM Vert
Gypsy GM Blue
Tuareg Blue
Probably you are wondering why I have been showing you so many Louis Vuitton bags recently. This season they are my absolute favourites. Great shapes, innovative materials and extraordinary colours with that little edgy New Age twist convinced me right away.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton and © Sandra Bauknecht
Last week in St. Moritz, Dianne Brill, whom you have met yesterday, and I went for a coffee to the Palace hotel. My American girlfriend fell immediately in love with my tribute for Alexander McQueen sweater. I had bought the striped piece with the slogan “God save McQueen” almost two years ago. It seems like his decision to kill himself aroused much earlier. Our conversation about the death of this fabulous designer started and we came up with a BRILLiant idea for the perfect successor: Thierry Mugler.
It would be kind of ironic. If you start looking closer, you will see that McQueen took a lot of his inspirations from Mugler`s amazing former collections. Thierry was the designer of the Eighties. His style was very much of its time: Extreme proportions like padded and broad shoulders, wasp waists, body-conscious, even fetish exaggerations of the human figures. He used a lot PVC as his favourite material. The insect kingdom was a constant influence along with futuristic and robot themes. Sounds a lot like McQueen and today`s trends, doesn`t it?
Thierry as Manfred Mugler today
Alexander McQueen is definitely the brainchild of Mugler. So it would be a true irony of fate if Mugler who lives today as Manfred Mugler in Las Vegas after his retreat from the fashion world in 2001 took over. Instead of designing fashion the last years, his body became his design work of art. He transformed himself completely. Nowadays he is still involved in his bestselling perfumes like Angel, Alien and A*Men.
As I am having quite a big archive, I was lucky to find a catalog from Thierry`s S/S 1995 collection. I scanned the best pictures for you. Have a look and you will see how Mugler and McQueen are somehow soul brothers.
![Outlook[1]](http://www.sandrascloset.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Outlook1-209x400.jpg "Outlook[1]")
Recently Mugler served as main costume designer for Beyoncé Knowles latest concert tour. He also contributed to develop the entire show, from lighting to choreography. Several of his famous vintage pieces are seen throughout Knowles` videos.
It seems like he is ready to break fresh ground. Please Thierry come back!
LoL, Sandra
Two living legends: Thierry Mugler and Dianne Brill. He called her his muse.
Dianne and me
Meet my glamourous girlfriend Dianne Brill! The incarnation of a vixen with her signature features like the bouffant platinum blonde hair-do, the perfect eye make-up with long lashes and the amazing hourglass figure was known as “The Queen of the Night” in the Eigthies. The American maneater modeled for big names like Thierry Mugler, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood and wrote a book how to become a sex goddess with the title “Boobs, Boys and High Heels”. I had enjoyed reading it long before I met her at a party in Zurich where she is living now with her family.
Since 2003 she has an eponymous line of make-up that is inspired by the boudoir. Her love for detail shows in the most special and cute packaging that I have ever seen for beauty products. Have a look at my favourites named adorably “Panties in a Bunch”: six little lipglosses called for example Frilly Thong or Satin Hipster. This set is such a nice gift for a girlfriend as it looks like a box of chocolates. I mean how can you not love glosses in candy form? Her false lashes come in a set of three with glue included and are the best ones I know.
Dianne, me and Shawne Fielding
Log onto her website for a retailer near you and for more information on the entire make-up, perfume and care products collections. In Zurich you can find it at Jelmoli.
Happy Browsing!
LoL, Sandra
Over the years she became good friends with many other celebrities.
Welcome spring with Louis Vuitton`s Cosmic Blossom collection – a new collaboration with Takashi Murakami. After the success of the Monogram Cerise, Eye Love Monogram, Monogramouflage and Monogram Multicolore, Louis Vuitton presents the cute smiling flowers (the blossoms have been the Japanese artist`s signature work for a long time) in three vibrant colours (rose, blue and violet) on leather goods, ready-to-wear and accessories. The collection is modeled by Daisy Lowe and will be available at Louis Vuitton stores on April 15th 2010.
Interesting to know is that Louis Vuitton has developed a new serigraphy technique to give the leather goods a superb glossy effect and intense colour.
Takashi Murakami`s artistic style is called “Superflat” and comments on “otaku“, the Japanese lifestyle with obsessive interests, particularly in anime, manga or video games as well as consumerism and fetishism. The printed artwork shows mostly flat planes of colour and graphic images involving characters from the Japanese comic world.
Some of my own Murakami - Louis Vuitton pieces that I collected over the years.
I love Louis Vuitton`s Cosmic Blossom flower power and will surely get a piece for my little Murakami collection!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton and © Sandra Bauknecht
My Swiss based readers will know what I am talking about: The White Turf St. Moritz is quite a spectacle. The setting against the magnificent alpine backdrop of the Upper Engadine is amazing. Established in 1907 the International Horse Races of St. Moritz on the frozen lake are a unique experience and believe me fashionwise, too!
Me today at the White Turf in a black overall with fur details and fur boots, both PRADA SPORT, hat DOLCE & GABBANA, scarf GUCCI, studded bag MIU MIU and sunglasses BALENCIAGA.
St. Moritz has anyway its own style. You see so much fur in all different ways like nowhere else in the world. CAFT (Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade) would not know where to start. Dressed in mink, sable or chinchilla head to toe, the looks have a very Russian approch to it. True to the motto more is more.
Come up here one day and see for yourself!
St. Moritz is always worth a journey!
LoL, Sandra
Katie Holmes was spotted in Jamaica on her way to a helicopter carrying the large Sofia top handle flap bag by Salvatore Ferragamo in the trend colour mercury. But what truly got my attention was the smaller version in the hands of her daughter Suri Cruise. The two bags were a Christmas present by the Italian fashion house.
But the twin look is no surprise. The 3-old and her mom are often seen dressed indentically, most of the time in outfits designed by Katie for her Holmes& Yang (her partner is the stylist Jeanne Yang) line of clothing that came out last year and is available exclusively at Maxfield, L.A. by special order (+1 310 274- 8800).
The Ferragamo bag comes in different colours and materials and has a “Kelly bag” style flap with signature hardware. If you like it, have a look at www.luisaviaroma.com. They sell a large variety. Some of the python models are even marked down and a great way of getting your hands on the trend material for accessories next summer: Snake skin! The “Sofia” is not an It-bag, but a classic companion for many seasons to come.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Ferragamo
Get ready for this coming Saturday! On February 20, an exclusive knitwear collection by Sonia Rykiel for H&M will be available in around 200 stores worldwide. The colours are flamboyant and the designs like her signature graphic stripes very à la mode.
It is the second part of the collaboration after the amazing success of Rykiel`s recent lingerie collection for H&M. The advertising campaign was shot by Sølve Sundsbø and captures the spirit of the brand perfectly, especially with the models` hair frizzed like the designer`s own.
It is also H&M`s first guest designer collaboration that includes children.
Available are very cute pieces for girls aged 18 months to 8 years.
Nathalie Rykiel
During my studies, I interned with Sonia Rykiel, the „Queen of Knits“, and worked by her side in her design office located above the famous Parisian shop in Saint Germain des Prés (175, blvd St. Germain). It was a very interesting time for me – not always easy but definitely a worth-while life experience. Today Nathalie Rykiel, Sonia`s daughter, is the president and artistic director of the fashion house.
I was in love with her knitwear a long time before I got to know her. Every piece I own has never gone out of fashion and was absolutely worth the investment. Therefore I am really looking forward to the Sonia Rykiel for H&M collection.
The ultimate accessory is the UNICEF bag by Sonia Rykiel for H&M. Thirty per cent of the proceeds from the bag will go to a project supposed to improve the lives of children in cotton-growing communities in India. Read more on: www.hm.com/allforchildren.
Below you can find my favourites. Get your hands on an iconic piece with Rykiel`s hallmark stripes and rhinestones. Slogan sweaters are also always a major part of her collections. „Mon Pull Rykiel“ might be a good start! Combine your look with a little beret plus platform shoes and the Parisian joie de vivre will be all yours for little money!
If you are not able to make it on Saturday, no worries please, the whole collection (except for the UNICEF bag) will be sold online.
LoL, Sandra
Photos courtesy of H&M
Have a look at the revival of the old French fashion house of Carven. Founded after the Second World War in 1945 by Madame Carven who turned 100 last year and initially launched to cater for petite women like Madame Carven herself, the house is debuting now a new exciting ready-to wear collection designed by former Givenchy designer Guillaume Henry. The looks are great, modern, never pretentious and most amazingly low priced. The cocktail dresses are in the price range of €330 to €450. It is definitely a label to watch in the future. Above you can find my favourite picks all available online.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Carven
After the success of Chanel`s latest nail polishes “Jade” (mint green) and “Particulière” (taupe), a new hype will start when the “Les Pop-up” collection for summer is going to hit the stores in April / May. So ladies get yourselves on the wait lists now! The new limited shade to have is an electrifying turquoise blue called “Nouvelle Vague” reminding me a lot of Andy Warhol.
![Outlook[1]](http://www.sandrascloset.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Outlook1.jpg "Outlook[1]")
