Sandra‘s Closet

This was my look on the last day of Paris Fashion Week. I started off at the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show with a ponytail. Later at the Miu Miu F/W 2012 show, I opened my hair and wore my little tiara.

You might recognize the dress from a previous post. As you see, I am following my own recommendations.

My look: Floral leather biker vest and matching tote bag, both by Céline, neon lace-sleeve wool-blend crepe dress by Christopher Kane, coat, suede booties, earrings and tiara headband, all by Miu Miu.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

My last show for the F/W 2012 season was Miu Miu yesterday.

Imagine Austin Powers and the dandy style, add some late sixties and very early seventies and the outcome would be Miuccia Prada’s moodboard for her Miu Miu F/W 2012 collection. The pants worn cropped played a major role as already seen at Prada. It seemed like she had an obsession with them. Just in the end of the show, some short dresses with lots of embellishments appeared on the runway. I loved it, it was a fresh and different approach to the winter season and her colour combinations were absolutely gorgeous.

And do you know who else I spotted? Marc Jacobs who just had presented his F/W 2012 collection for Louis Vuitton earlier in the morning, was sitting front row and congratulated Miuccia later on her designs. Yes, she nailed it again as the matching-print pantsuit is a must for the next season! And Miu Miu will definitely be on my shopping list!

Enjoy the photos of the show and see which famous blue-haired singer was there below:

The blue-haired celebrity I was talking about was Katy Perry who came to the Miu Miu show in head-to-toe Prada.

When she saw her friend, American actress, Kate Mara, all dressed in Miu Miu, she seemed to compare their looks. I thought that it was pretty funny to watch.

Below you can see Anna dello Russo wearing the famous Miu Miu sunglasses.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday morning in Paris, I attended the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show which was the best I have ever seen (It even topped Chanel’s Paris – Bombay…).

When I arrived, I found myself inside a 1920’s inspired train station with a huge Louis Vuitton station clock hanging from the ceiling. And what looked like the runway in the middle, was actually something else…

The show started on time as usual and a gigantic gate opened, there was steam. All of a sudden, I saw rails…

…and an amazing old-fashioned train with a lot of steam rolled inside the hall. The crowd cheered and applauded. Believe me, it takes something to charm the fashionable audience.

Inside the wagon, the models were seated. You could already see the gigantic hats. The ambiance reminded me immediately of the Titanic era. The ladies looked like belonging to the upper class de-boarding the “Vuitton Express”.

THE BAGS

Each lady had a her own porter helping her to carry the oversized bags which were absolutely divine. Hat boxes, vanity cases, weekend bags and petites valises all make an appearance for everyday use. The traditional canvas Monogram finds itself trimmed in real crocodile or embroidered in sequins on a blanket wool, trimmed with box calf. The Speedy has an intense reworking this season, based on and featuring a round signature buckle.

Mink makes its way into Vuitton baggage, utilising vibrant colours to accompany its rich, sumptuous texture.

THE LOOKS

Marc Jacobs played with proportions and this collection seems to be for the tall ones among you. It is all about elongation. The clothing is layered in rich, sumptuous fabrics; long skirts over cigarette pants, long coats over all, each look topped by a tall hat. There is a certain, simple geometry to this elongation, an extended A-line to engulf the entire body.

The normal sized porters seemed tiny in comparison to the tall models. Marc Jacobs did it on purpose to reinforce the point of his towering female silhouette; the men are merely added accessories.

The materials are rich, from kangaroo leather that is patch-worked and bejewelled with plastics to heavy metal yarns replicating Afghan blanket fabrics and brocades and jacquards.

I loved Marc’s thinking about the company’s nineteenth-century origins and travel heritage. Can you believe that he started Louis Vuitton’s Prêt-à-porter collection fifteen years ago… time flies!

Marc after the show in the train

The “Vuitton Express” from inside

Me in front of the train

Bryan Boy with me, isn’t his Jil Sander hat too cute?!

Anna dello Russo

Famous guest: Sarah Jessica Parker

Another reason for my enthusiasm for this amazing, outstanding Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show might be that it reminded me so much of a collection inspired by the Titanic era that I created during my fashion design studies.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This spring, Gucci launches a new floral fragrance collection, consisting of 5 new scents, in tribute to one of its most iconic motifs: The Flora Garden Collection. For more information on the history of Flora, please click here.

“With Flora by Gucci, I wanted to express the loveliness of the Flora woman charming, romantic and optimistic. Now with The Flora Garden Collection I am celebrating multi-faceted way the Gucci woman expresses her personality.”

– Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini

Gorgeous Gardenia, Gracious Tuberose and Glamorous Magnolia will be available in Switzerland in April 2012 in selected department stores and perfume shops.

Eau de Toilette 30ml (CHF 90), 50ml (CHF 112) and 100ml (CHF 168)
Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 69)

Generous Violet and Glorious Mandarin will be sold in Gucci stores only.

Gorgeous Gardenia

A sumptuous white floral: Gucci’s faithful creation of the perfect gardenia.

Top notes: red berries, pear
Heart notes: white gardenia, frangipani flower
Base notes: patchouli, brown sugar accord

Glamorous Magnolia

A soft rosy floral: Gucci’s recreation of this most lustrous bloom.

Top notes: freesia, green leaves, citrus zest
Heart notes: peony, magnolia
Base notes: musk, sandalwood, warm chocolate accord

Gracious Tuberose

A fabulously fresh floral: Gucci’s homage to this most charismatic of flowers.

Top notes: violet leaves, peach
Heart notes: tuberose, orange flower, rose
Base notes: cistus (Rock Rose), white cedarwood

Glorious Mandarin

A gloriously juicy fruit: Gucci captures the exhilaration of mandarin.

Top notes: mandarin, peony
Middle notes: jasmine, pina colada accord
Heart notes: ambergris, white musk, creamy wood

Generous Violet

A sophisticated woody floral: Gucci’s salute to the bountiful violet.

Top note: violet leaves
Heart notes: orris, violet petals
Base note: suede accord

Each bottle reveals a different coloured juice – be it pale pink, green, blue, violet or yellow; their boxes emblazoned with the corresponding flower from the Flora pattern. You just would like to have them all, wouldn’t it be a lovely display for your bathroom?!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci, © Sandra Bauknecht

Blake Lively was spotted at the set of Gossip Girl sporting the gorgeous Fendi Chameleon bag that should definitely be on your radar. Available in many different versions and colour combinations, it has already become a fashion classic.

Get Blake’s look:

Textured black trench coat by Yves Saint Laurent (30% off), Wisteria printed silk-satin and silk-twill dress by Preen, fine-knit cashmere cardigan by Gucci, gems studded leather gloves by Mulberry, sky-blue cashmere scarf by Burberry, black leather knee boots by Christian Louboutin and Chameleon bag by Fendi (see my favourites versions below):

Perforated Chameleon leather tote by Fendi

Tri-colour Chameleon bag by Fendi

Chameleon textured cotton tote by Fendi

Classic black Chameleon leather tote by Fendi

Really one is spoilt for choice!

LoL, Sandra

Heidi Klum was spotted this weekend on the streets of Los Angeles in a gorgeous military green jumpsuit (light chino, 100% cotton, 279,00 €) byCLOSED.

She paired her casual look with a comfy pair of sneakers. My favourites at the moment are the Tokyo suede and patent-leather high-top sneakers by Jimmy Choo. Add a pair of metal-frame aviator sunglasses by Gucci and a statement ring, such as the blackened oxidized-silver filigree ring by Bottega Veneta for a fabulous blend of cool and chic.

The perfect look for a mum-on-the-run!

LoL, Sandra

Here are finally the photos of the Polyvore Live Runway Show presented by Covergirl during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC that was only modelled by bloggers. It was such an amazing experience to meet all the other bloggers and to be on the catwalk myself. The minute I spotted style icon Giovanna Battaglia front row, my heart beat went up immediately!

For more information on the four designers, I recommend my previous post by clicking here.

The show started off with the elegant, very feminine designs of Vengsarkar Budhu for his label Gavaskar. Lace dresses and floral prints in white and red were the highlights on the runway. In a recent interview, the New York based designer said: “Passion is the only element that keeps me going everyday because I know I was born to design. You have to believe in yourself, your work and never give up.”

I was so honoured to present the final look for Lauren Bagliore. Her edgy designs are absolutely amazing. The so-called Teofilia dress on me can be worn in many different ways. This is her signature: She is the ultimate draper by using fabrics that just fall in the right way and that can be tied easily for a new look. Her eclectic pieces are tailored to make women feel sexy and fierce.

Sweet Lauren told me that her S/S 2012 collection titled “Le Strade della Decostruzione” was inspired by her recent trip around the world in literally 30 days.

We really experienced the daily life of a model with not even five minutes time to get changed into the new outfit and to get a different hairdo for the very romantic vintage-inspired collection by Dana-Maxx. I absolutely adore her designs and was so happy to wear the red chiffon Eliza “La Costa” dress.

The lovely redhead told me that her beautiful S/S 2012 collection was inspired by the vibrant colors and beautiful floral architecture seen in Barcelona, Spain.

The last designer on the Polyvore Live catwalk was Sergio Guardarrama and his Celestino collection. His S/S 2012 collection was inspired by porcelain dolls. Sergio wanted to take women back to a time when anything was possible, to make them feel youthful and beautiful. He absolutely succeeded and came up with a chic couture-like collection.

Here are some photos of the front row guests:

Giovanna Battaglia

Riccardo Pozzoli, Angelo Tropea, and Chiara Ferragni of the Blonde Salad

Stephanie Horton, Head of Global Communications, SHOPBOP and Megan Salt, Director of Communications, VOGUE

And here is the video of the show, enjoy!

Stay tuned for a backstage post to follow…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Polyvore, © Anna Webber

Exclusive on Sandra’s Closet, your Baselworld 2012 preview: The Austrian company Swarovski will present their first collection entirely intended for men. After launching the first collection of men’s jewelry and accessories in 2010, it seems to be the next obvious step.

The new line which is called Piazza Grande will be officially presented in the end of the week. Here is your sneak preview. For a closer look, just click on the tiny pictures. Prices start at CHF 900.- and go up to CHF 1350.-.

I have to admit that it took me some time to get used to the Swarovski crystals on the dial which is quite an unusual look for a man. But this is obviously the emancipation of the stronger sex!

LoL, Sandra

To conclude my Gucci adventure in Italy, I would like to share those fun pics of the other bloggers who were also part of Gucci’s 16 handpicked style bloggers participating. Most of us knew each other before, so it felt like going on a trip with old friends.

Betty (Le Blog de Betty) from Paris with me at the Sheraton Diana Majestic hotel in Milan where the Gucci show took place.

Her nails were from the Lady Gaga workshop at Barneys in NYC.

Those feather cuffs are from Topshop and she put them over her leather jacket, love it!

This is American-born Misha from Tokyo (Tokyo Fashion Diaries) who loves wigs. I adore her crazy and eclectic style.

On her colourful nails were little pumpkins painted that actually looked like the Vivienne Westwood logo.

Outside the Gucci show with Tina (Bagsnob) from Dallas and famous Bryan Boy.

You know that already, I love him!

Tina with Ingrid (The Bag Hag Diaries) who carried the amazing Céline python box bag in neon yellow (remember my fluo pink version?) and me before the show.

Outside the Gucci manufacture: Lovely Emily (Fashion Foie Gras) from London with Tina (Bagsnob) and me.

Tina got all excited seeing how her new 1970 Gucci bag is made.

Sexy back!

My vintage Gucci bag.

At the Gucci Museo: Misha looked like being part of the installation at the museum’s contemporary art space.

I truly enjoyed the whole trip! And I hope that you did, too…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

After or – of course before – your visit to the Gucci museo, you can enjoy a nice lunch at the restaurant that is located on the museum’s ground floor.
And here the logomania is to be taken literally, see for yourselves:

Aren’t those little sugar “cubes” just too cute?!

This happens when you are having lunch with bloggers…

Right next to the restaurant is the museum shop that offers a large selection of art, fashion and photography books plus all sort of Gucci-labelled goodies, from chocolates to Caran d’Ache pencils and small leather goods.

In a seperate room, so-called “Icon Store”, you can find all sorts of special edition bags and scarfs, made for the museum. These pieces are only available here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht