Vending machines selling luxury goods seem to be on the rise. Katie Grand, editor-in-chief of LOVE magazine has teamed up with Selfridges to create such a machine for the beginning of London Fashion Week until October 15th. The new retail concept can be found in the lobby of London’s It-hotel St Martin’s Lane where many editors, models and buyers are staying at the moment.
You can get a lot of fantastic items, some highly exclusive, let me name a few:
-Falabella bag by Stella McCartney
-leather and sequined dress by Alexander Wang
-draped dress by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania
-a unique pair of trainers by Rick Owens customized by Chrome Hearts with solid silver hardware
-Amazona handbag by Loewe
-limited Dior nail polishes
-Mimosa candles by Diptyque exclusive to Selfridges in yellow
–Falke’s new „secret socks“ for men
-a vintage Rolex watch
-embossed leather wallets by Comme des Garçons
-clutch purses by Mulberry
A word to the wise, do not get drunk in the hotel bar, you might lose control and this could end on the way to your room passing the LOVE machine in a financial disaster.
LoL, Sandra
The traditional French house Hermès is starting to be more and more advanced by surfing on the internet trend. Similiar to the Sartorialist, they created their own street style inspired photos of It-girls all over the world for a standalone website named J’aime mon carré (I love my scarf). There you can find ideas and instructions on how to wear and knot your Hermès scarf.
Cashing on the recent 70’s trend, Hermès shows how hip the classic accessory can be.
It is definitely another sign of how luxury, fashion and street have merged in the last years.
If you like to be part of it, you can still get your pictures taken. Today in the Swiss Hermès boutiques in Basel, Bern and Zurich where last night the brand new and gorgeous store celebrated its opening. Other cities to follow will be: September 25th, Surabaya, Indonesia, September 27th Paris and November 3rd, Hong Kong.
LoL, Sandra
Some impressions of last night’s party:
The new Hermès store in Zurich on Bahnhofstr. 28A
Stilt walkers with Venetian masks were welcoming the guests.
Sophie C. Anache-Strobel, store manager, in HERMÈS with me wearing a LOUIS VUITTON dress and scarf, an ALEXANDER WANG leather jacket and a PROENZA SCHOULER PS1 clutch.
But I had a little HERMÈS accessory as well: A silk twilly wrapped around my wrist.
The party continued in the beautifully decorated Zunfthaus zur Meisen.
Isabella Fendt, the mastermind behind ballerinas to go, had a brilliant idea when she invented the disposable ballets flats that are sold exclusively in shoe automats placed in night clubs. What a relief for hurting feet!
You can buy the pain killers for 7 Euros in four different colours and in sizes 34-43. They also come with a little pouch to store your high heels. Unfortunately, only available in Munich at the moment. But I am sure that this concept will soon spread all over the world…
LoL, Sandra
The Swiss based label Ginger Tea & Nuts has launched its online shop today.
Individual T-shirts, longsleeve tops and more for babies, girls, boys and mamis are available with cute little prints. Each piece is a one of a kind and can be personalized at your request.
Ginger Tea & Nuts offers worldwide shipping. Please send an e-mail to for further details.
LoL, Sandra
Tory Burch is an American fashion designer who launched her namesake brand in 2004. The label was an immediate success, filling the gap in the market for clothes that offered good quality to an affordable, accessible price.
Today, her fans include celebrities and fashion lovers all over the world. Her collections are available at her own beautifully decorated, unique Tory Burch boutiques, online at net-à-porter and in more than 450 select department and specialty stores worlwide.
One of her bestsellers are the Reva ballerina flats that have become a wardrobe essential. And they definitely deserve their cult status combining casual chic with unsurpassed comfort.
Recently at a birthday luncheon, I took a photo of two of my stylish girlfriends who wore by coincidence almost the same look. They are like Tory herself mothers of three kids and like to be fashionable and comfy in one. Well done, girls!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Tory Burch and © Sandra Bauknecht
A limited collection to covet: Ugg for Jimmy Choo, launching in October but available now for pre-order at Saks (shipping worldwide) and Ugg Australia.
The stylish versions of the ultracomfy must-have boots have already got their own nickname: Chuggs. But with a $495.- and more price tag, not everybody can affored to keep warm in style.
Two icons, one collection – I am crazy for them!
LoL, Sandra
Stefano Pilati, creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, is responsible for the “Edition 24” collection, designed to meet the needs of a woman going on overnight trips.
It is a new attempt at travel fashion. The 24 looks are meant to be layered, mixed and put to versatile use from the airplane to boardroom, from day to evening. The leightweight, functional, stylish and timeless pieces that do not wrinkle easily are low-key, less expensive versions of the French house’s high-fashion designs. I think this is a very modern vision, a new concept of luxury, making packing –which I always hate- less work.
Below are some ideas that I put together for you.
Get your style passport!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of YSL
Isabella Blow was a fashion editor and an international style icon. Her unique, free spirit was admired and she inspired many artists and designers. High-profile names in the fashion industry owe their start to her, Philip Treacy, Alexander McQueen, Sophie Dahl and Hussein Chalayan among them.
In 2007, Isabella Blow committed suicide after having severly suffered from depression and ovarian cancer.
Martina Rink with Christiane Arp (Vogue Germany) and Josef Voelk (The Corner), Photo:©Harald Fuhr
Today is the official launch of an amazing book dedicated to her: “Isabella Blow” by Martina Rink with an introduction by Philip Treacy. First presented in Berlin last Thursday at Fashion’s Night Out at The Corner, it is an hommage to her original, outrageous personality. This lavishly illustrated volume includes reminiscences and stories along with personal letters written exclusively for this book by Mario Testino, Manolo Blahnik, Dita van Tesse and Anna Piaggi, just to name a few.
The author Martina Rink is a Parisian-German born Fashion Director who began her career working with Isabella Blow as her personal assistant. Her insight knowledge makes this oeuvre so special. £29.95, Thames & Hudson, ISBN 978 0 500 515358.
LoL, Sandra
After my Fashion’s Night Out in London, I had another little treat on Thursday. Stella McCartney closed her boutique on Bruton Street in the afternoon to host a small special event for her girlfriends. I was so lucky to be there as well.
The presentation of her fabulous Resort 2011 collection was an eye candy. Gorgeous flower prints reminding me of the works by the Belgian painter and botanist Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) who was called the “Raphael of flowers” evoked a longing for spring. Stella made the prints look as fresh as when first painted.
Slightly clashing pinks, clean whites and vibrant blues gave this collection a fresh and vigorous feeling. The world’s most famous vegetarian designer who has built an empire on fur-and leather-free products knows her business. Without sacrificing sexiness for sustainability, she mixed elements of the sixties and nineties. The lace fabric with a three-d effect was to die for. I marked my choice with the little hearts.
If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact the London store at .
In case you are not ready for spring yet, have a look at this stunning winter look that is available now. I am in love with the graphic well-tailored cuts.
By the way, Stella told me that there are no umbrellas this season, it is all about hats for her. Awesome, I am so on for this!
Before leaving my best shopping experience ever, Stella signed my Fashion’s Night Out T-shirt.
I will frame it now.
LoL, Sandra
Have you always dreamt of having a cup of tea with your favourite designer? Now your dream becomes true, you can have a tête-à-tète with Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Donatella Versace. The Prêt-à-PorTea set characters recline in your cup.
What a lovely way to enjoy your afternoon tea. To the Haute Brew!
Karl Lagerfeld will be more accessible from next year anyway. Groundbreaking news this week was also that the genius has cancelled his show, which was scheduled to take place in Paris on October 3rd, to focus more on his new vision: The launch of his “Masstige” line next year. The term is coming from the combination of “mass market” and “prestige”. The Kaiser seems to be a true visionary by exploring his notion of “mass elitism” using his own name.
The collection, which will be of good quality but more more affordable than designer clothes, will only be sold online. By saving the inherent costs of opening a boutique and investing more in the product itself, Karl Lagerfeld is anchoring himself in modernity and will make his company highly profitable again.
I like his vision of everybody in the streets well dressed! Go for it, Karl!
LoL, Sandra
