Sandra‘s Closet

Personally speaking, it was THE show of Paris Fashion Week that I have been eagerly waiting for: Gabriela Hearst’s first collection for Chloé.

Hearst called her first collection for the French Maison the «Aphrodite» to her own brand’s «Athena». Chloé in Greek means «blooming». The question is if it is a new bloom for the Maison with Hearst at the helm. It definitely is in terms of sustainability and this key word was Hearst’s approach to Chloé’s F/W 2021 collection: sustainability was her inspiration, her technique, her fabrics and even her volumes.

The Uruguayan-American designer claimed in the press release that Chloé’s F/W 2021 collection could be considered «four times more sustainable compared to last year,» and she explained that she got there by «eliminating virgin synthetic fiber (polyester) or artificial cellulosic fiber (viscose) and sourcing recycled, reused and organic denim,» adding that «more than 50% of the silk comes from organic agriculture and more than 80% of cashmere yarn for knitwear is recycled.»

This earthy point of view is also something Hearst is known for at her own eponymous brand. For me, I had to look at the collection many times until it has started to warm up to me. You have to understand it to like it as there is not something really excitingly new for the eye, but for your consciousness. I can see the DNA of both brands. However, it is missing this romantic, bohemian playfulness I have always loved at Chloé, even that Hearst only sent dresses down the digital runway.

Gabriela Hearst presented the last look herself.

My favorite item was the coat Gabriela wore for the finale of the show, along with the eco-leather dresses and the printed puffer coats. Hearst created them by repurposing from Chloé overstock spanning designers and eras, with Sheltersuit, a nonprofit organization providing aid to the homeless, which also collaborated on a series of backpacks. The marble prints on blouses and dresses had been created by the artist Peter Miles using seaweed and eggs.

The show was presented digitally last week on March 3rd, one hundred years to the day of founder Gaby Aghion’s birth. Both Gaby and Gabi, as is Hearst’s nickname too, are two strong fashion designers that interpret femininity in their own independent way and respective generations. It is surely a very viable wardrobe with lots of investment pieces to last for a very long time. As Hearst noted to Gaby in a statement, «your House is in good hands» – I would sign that! At least she made me start to re-think the state of fashion today.

LoL, Sandra

The rebirth of Chloé’s Edith bag by Gabriela Hearst.

Photos: © Chloé

Due to the current pandemic, the wedding-world has been a turmoil. So many celebrations have been cancelled or rescheduled including mine. However, it hasn’t been all so bad, as brides-to-be have far more time than usual to concentrate on what they will be wearing on their big day.

As soon as social restrictions are lifted, nuptials will return. This will hopefully happen latest this summer. In case you are looking for the perfect wedding dress, have a look at Simone Rocha‘s first bridal capsule collection, that has launched exclusively at MYTHERESA.

«The idea behind this bridal collection is to translate signatures from the S/S21 collection into the world of bridal through fabrications, embellishments and embroideries,» the London-based Irish designer designer shared on Instagram. Known for her distinctive romantic designs, her debut bridal collection consists of eight ethereal dresses that feature her signature voluminous silhouettes and pearls. From lace organza, tulle and silk taffeta in petal pink, pastel yellow and classical white, to accessories including faux pearl headbands, earrings and hair clips, Rocha has included everything a modern, romantic bride could wish for. It is the perfect translation of some of her signature looks from her S/S 2021 collection into wedding-worthy pieces.

Last year, a large amount of cancelled weddings have been rescheduled for 2021. However, those who couldn’t wait, gave rise to starting more intimate ceremonies that are shared on Zoom for example, which leads also.  That in turn leads to brides-to-be are searching for more low-key style options. Unlike large, statement styles, Rocha’s dresses are comfortable and easy-to-wear, and transferrable to other occasions. A worthy investment, indeed.

TO SHOP THE EXCLUSIVE SIMONE ROCHA BRIDAL COLLECTION AT MYTHERESA, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

And don’t forget… tomorrow Simone Rocha’s highly anticipated H&M collaboration will hit the shelves. Probably a great way to experience Simone Rocha’s world before walking down the aisle…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Simone Rocha / Mytheresa
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Miu Miu Famous Cats is a collection of five t-shirts, each carrying a film-still printed with different feline characters. Multi-faceted and free-spirited, these gorgeous creatures may be courageous, cowardly, aloof, playful, loving and at times, even mean.

The cats playing starring roles and featured in the collection include;
Jake – the extra-terrestrial cat from the 1978 American sci-fi comedy, The Cat From Outer Space. When forced to land his spaceship on earth, he leads various humans on a series of riotous escapades.

Jonesy – the mouse-chasing ginger cat resident on the ill-fated USCSS Nostromo in the 1979 blockbuster, Alien. With Ellen Ripley, he is the mission’s only survivor.

Three talking cats sit on Chibi-Usa’s shoulders from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, broadcasted Japanese animation series since 1992. Luna, Artemis and their daughter, Diana, are companions to the eponymous Sailor Guardians.

The nameless cat in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather was found wandering around the movie set, and was picked up and placed – impromptu – on Marlon Brando’s knee. His purring further obscured the actor’s famously muffled dialogue.

Finally, with her long lashes and crimson pout, Toodles Galore, from Hanna Barbera’s Tom & Jerry, reduces hapless Tom to a gibbering wreck every time he encounters her. And this despite the fact she never makes a sound.

Launching in March, t-shirts are available in plain white cotton and stills are printed alongside text contextualising their significance in big and small screen culture.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Miu Miu

Happy International Women’s Day to all my fabulous readers and all those fantastic women in this world! You are the fire, the light, the roar; you’re a woman. May the world hear you roar. All I wish on this special day that you never stop dreaming and believing in yourself. Don’t let yourself hold back by criticism of jealous people! Put on some fun clothes and enjoy this day.

I love the unexpected combination of denim and brocade. And even if it’s tempting, don’t bite your croissant bag too hard… it is a great way to indulge in something sweet without the calories!

My look: Brocade-detail denim jacket, ruffle detail skirt, croissant crossbody bag, and leaf embroidered high denim boots, all by Moschino, and vintage earrings by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken at Baur’s in Zurich.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, La Prairie announces lead patronage of Niki de Saint Phalle‘s most substantial U.S. retrospective at MoMA PS1 in New York.

On view from March 11 to September 6, 2021, Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life will feature over 200 works created from the mid-1960s until the artis’s death, highlighting Saint Phalle’s interdisciplinary approach and engagement.

Niki de Saint Phalle. Californian Diary (Order and Chaos). 1994

La Prairie honours Niki de Saint Phalle’s audacious and visionary feminist spirit – her defiance of social norms and her willingness to break the codes both in her personal life and work. The work of Niki de Saint Phalle has a particular resonance for La Prairie as it was her striking use of cobalt blue that was the inspiration behind La Prairie’s iconic Skin Caviar Collection colour.

Niki de Saint Phalle. Flaçon de parfum. 1982

In 1982, Niki was developing her eponymous fragrance from her atelier in a shared design studio in
New York where La Prairie’s team would often engage in creative exchanges. When La Prairie
encountered Niki de Saint Phalle’s cobalt blue – her favourite colour that she describes «as the colour
of joy and luck» – the link became clear: only cobalt blue would do. A fortunate encounter that would
spark a bond with the House of La Prairie and seal it forever.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Collection

Just as Niki de Saint Phalle raised awareness on modernist, progressive views, La Prairie’s founder paved the way to pioneering discoveries. Dr. Paul Niehans was a dreamer, a seeker of beauty. Art was central to his science, central to his dream to hold time in his hand, central to his pioneering spirit. A spirit mirrored in Niki de Saint Phalle’s inner flame of audacity. She expressed a new femininity, one which stood in opposition to the conventional influences and values of society.

Niki de Saint Phalle working on the set for The Travelling Companion at her studio near Milly-la-Forêt. 1977.

Through her lifetime, Niki de Saint Phalle used her platform as an artist to bring attention to various issues advocating for women’s equality to provoke and trigger conversations – a legacy that today continues to inspire new generations of artists and women beyond. Niki de Saint Phalle also shaped art movements such as Nouveau Réalisme. As the only woman in the 1960s-founded group, she offered a unique perspective and proved her art was as innovative as her male counterparts.

Niki de Saint Phalle. La femme et L’oiseau fontaine. 1967–88

«Niki de Saint Phalle created artwork that explicitly rejected patriarchal values and artistic convention. Her Nanas confront Western standards of femininity and decorum: they are brash, ecstatic, and embrace sexuality. She created her Nanas at such a large scale specifically so that they could dominate – literally tower over – men. Saint Phalle was also an iconoclast in her personal style and way of life,» according to Ruba Katrib, Curator of the exhibition.

Last Night I had a dream, 1968-1988

This collaboration with the upcoming exhibition at MoMA PS1 in New York is an opportunity for the Swiss luxury house to enable the world to experience Saint Phalle’s revolutionary work. It is also an expansion of La Prairie’s support of art and culture by creating new connections with the world of art and its various representatives, whether emerging or established artists or cultural institutions. A commitment that continues to flourish and to build on the House’s existing partnerships with art fairs Art Basel and West Bund Art & Design and the iconic Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland.

More information at moma.org/ps1. I would love to see this exhibition and truly hope that we will be able to travel to the U.S. soon again.

LoL, Sandra

Niki de Saint Phalle with La Fontaine Stravinsky

Photos: Courtesy of La Prairie, © 2021 Niki Charitable Art Foundation
© Michiko Matsumoto, © Leonardo Bezzola Estate

Designer collaborations have had their time. Today, it is more trendy that two brands team up together, such as The North Face x Gucci, Jimmy Choo x Marine Serre and many more. However, H&M, the Swedish retailer, that made designer collaborations fashionable, is sticking to its concept, not as loud as before, but definitely something for the fashion-loving customer around the globe, as for the first time, the Simone Rocha universe is opened up and extended to everyone. Meet the London-based Irish designer and get a glimpse of what this year’s collaboration will bring.

Fashion Designer Simone Rocha

History and heritage. Details and fabrications. Family and community. The many facets of womanhood. For fashion designer Simone Rocha, born in Dublin in 1986, her work and collections are a tribute to what she holds dear. She began her career as part of the talent hub Fashion East, where her take on modern beauty won praise as she reclaimed ‘girlish’ elements — florals, embellishments, collars, pearls — in a nuanced manner. Since debuting at London Fashion Week in 2010, she has become internationally renowned for her intricate and meticulously-researched collections, always with a nod to her own heritage: Ireland and Hong Kong.

In creating the collection for H&M, Rocha spent time reflecting on and revisiting her brand’s archive, combing her past collections and carefully reworking beloved pieces into unexpected new designs that feel right for now.

«To be honest, it was really emotional going through all the pieces — it was a wonderful chance to reflect on seasons I was especially proud of, and to revisit collections that felt like milestones, and little gems of ideas that we maybe didn’t push as far as we wanted to the first-time round. The archive is so important to the way I work as a designer anyway. We are not a brand that abandons ideas each season — we often look back on past propositions or continue to evolve a silhouette, or shape,» says Rocha.

The Simone Rocha x H&M collection includes her signature womenswear alongside menswear and kidswear, marking the first time she has offered a wardrobe for the whole family. All the garments are designed to be in conversation with each other. So, what to expect from this year’s awaited collaboration? Delicate tulle dresses, tartan tailoring, beaded shirting, cable knits, outerwear such as trench coats and signature accessories like sparkling jewellery and pearl-embellished shoes. The entire range comes in Simone Rocha’s identifiable and poetic colour palette that mixes cream, pink, red and black. The majority of the Simone Rocha x HM women’s collection goes up to size EUR L=44/46 and UK L=16/18 and US XL=48/50.

«My approach at every stage of the design process was to remember that for some this would be an introduction to Simone Rocha, a chance to enjoy the brand for the first time, while for others this will be a chance to recall the history of a brand that they have followed for a while. Maybe they will be able to buy a version of a piece that they missed the first time, or a piece they always wanted but didn’t get. Through H&M, they will be able to access a new, timeless, special piece to mix in with their existing items from past runway collections. I really hope there is something for everyone — every woman, every guy, the whole family,» says Rocha.

Family is of utmost importance to Rocha, as well as her community of friends and collaborators. Therefore, the Simone Rocha x H&M story is brought to life by the people who surround and inspire her. To name a few: stylist, collaborator and close friend Robbie Spencer, model and friend Tess McMillan, sisters Adwoa and Kesewa Aboah, activist and artist — and acclaimed actress Daisy Edgar-Jones.

«Any time that I’m on set with Simone, or behind the scenes at a show, you just feel this certain warmth — there’s never any stress, and you can tell that she fills her work space with people who really inspire her in her everyday life, and that’s what brings this certain sense of community, and certain sense of ease. I always just feel so comfortable, because you are surrounded by people who are just really fun to be around. I have worked with her for four seasons now, and every time I’m just so excited to see everyone — to see the designers, the stylist, all the people who help me get dressed, it’s the same faces. It’s a really, really amazing community, truly. And I always look forward to laughing and catching up,» says McMillan.

The Simone Rocha x H&M collection launches 11 March.
I love the campaign… reminds me so much of a Jo Malone ad. To see me wearing Simone Rocha, have a look here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © H&M

GEM DIOR, Victoire de Castellane‘s new collection, celebrates her love of stones by presenting pieces with singular and surprising shapes. This amazingly beautiful line of abstract, 1970s-flavored watches and jewelry features patches of various gemstones — marking the first time the Dior designer has created a watches and jewelry collection together.

Each creation, inspired by couture and Mr. Dior’s colorful fabric samples, is made up of asymmetrical and angular sections set side by side like mineral strata. This collection celebrates natural and authentic beauty through unique, strong pieces.

The new Gem Dior line includes seven watch models with irregular, octagonal faces and clasp-less bracelets, as well as 11 pieces of jewelry — rings, bracelets and earrings, that draw inspiration from the geometry of stones. Additional interchangeable alligator bracelets come for the watches.

I am loving it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

After a year like no other, supporting and celebrating feels more important than ever for NET-A-PORTER that showcase their #PowerToChange commitment by collaborating with incredible female designers to create an exclusive INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EDIT, reflecting the designers’ personal interpretation of female empowerment. 13 exclusive pieces across ready-to-wear, lifestyle and jewelry, with 100 percent of the NET-A-PORTER profits donated to Women for Women International, helping women living in war-torn countries rebuild their lives and creating lasting change in their communities.

To showcase these 13 exclusive fabulous pieces, some incredible women have been invited to wear these T-shirts with pride, among them supermodel, mother, writer and activist Coco Rocha, Interior designer, culinary storyteller and entertaining expert Athena Calderone and Model, student and co-author of Mixed Feelings, Naomi Shimada, just to name a few.

The exclusive collection consists of nine T-shirts, designed by Stella McCartney, Emilia Wickstead, Westman Atelier, Tove, Anya Hindmarch, Jennifer Fisher, Simone Rocha, Amina Muaddi and Ninety Percent; jewelry by Roxanne Assoulin and Alighieri, and homeware by Anissa Kermiche.

Model and LGBTQ+ campaigner Teddy Quinlivan sports Westman Atelier’s ‘FORCE FEMININE’ T-shirt.

«Nothing is more powerful than women connecting, inspiring and advocating for
each other which is why I’m so honored to be supporting Women for Women International. We have to invest in those who are held back by social, cultural and economic inequality. Women are the driving force of change.» – Gucci Westman / Wetsman Atelier

Author, writer and founder of Gal-Dem – the award-winning media company committed to sharing the perspectives of people of color from marginalized communities – Liv Little is wearing the Tove ‘Womanhood’ embroidered T-shirt.

In addition to the donation of 100 percent of profits from the sales within this collection, for every public post tagged #PowerToChange, @womenforwomen and @netaporter on TikTok or Instagram, between now to March 8, 2021, NET-A-PORTER will donate $1 to Women for Women International.  I encourage you to take part in this, so please do share your posts and pledges!

TO SHOP THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EDIT, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Net-à-Porter
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

One thing you should not have missed when visiting Gstaad, is the outdoor sculpture MIRAGE GSTAAD. Until this month, the mirror house designed by Los Angeles-based artist Doug Aitken stands on the hiking trail between Schönried and Gstaad and can only be reached on foot.

With every available surface clad in mirror, it both absorbs and reflects the landscape around in such ways that the exterior will seemingly disappear just as the interior draws the viewer into a never-ending kaleidoscope of light and reflection. With the help of my tripod, I shot this outfit post by myself – a comfortable look that is perfect for hiking around Gstaad.

My look: Lawrence space-dyed cashmere sweater, and Lauren fringed space-dyed cashmere wrap, both by Gabriela Hearst, skinny jeans «Kate» by Dolce & Gabbana, Biker II leather boots by Jimmy Choo, Loulou heart-shaped acetate sunglasses by Saint Laurent, Clash de Cartier ring in 18K rose gold with amazonite by Cartier, and waist belt by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

 I am obsessed with Pierpaolo Piccioli‘s take on the iconic Valentino Rockstuds for S/S 2021. He is making them bigger and better than ever, as the Rockstud take on gargantuan proportions. So-called Roman studs, Roman architecture inspired this iconic motif able to manifest the Maison’s bourgeois and punk essences. Here I combined my new bag with a beautiful cape dress and long gloves. This is one of my favorite looks of the season. For another outfit inspiration with the bag, click here please.

My look: Cape-effect belted double-breasted houndstooth wool mini dress by Michael Kors Collection, Eloise 100 suede knee boots by Christian Louboutin, hoop-drop clip earrings by Saint Laurent, embellished leather gloves, and Roman Stud quilted leather shoulder bag, both by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken in front of the Chalet au Lac.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.