Sandra‘s Closet

How hard is it to find your perfect black clutch? Depending on your own taste, it has to meet different criteria: from sophisticated, fashionable to functional or timeless. Such a little black bag is essential to complete your closet! Here is my selection of the best ones available right now.

1 PURE LUXURY Patent-crocodile clutch by Bottega Veneta
2 FASHIONISTA’S MUST-HAVE Monogramme leather clutchby Saint Laurent
3 ROCK CHIC Rockstud leather clutch by Valentino
4 INTO THE WILD Embellished suede fold-over clutch by Roberto Cavalli
5  ALREADY A CLASSIC Falabella faux brushed-leather clutch by Stella McCartney
6 LADYLIKE Chandra chain-embellished shimmer-suede clutch by Jimmy Choo
7 FOR EVERYDAY USE Antigona envelope clutch in black grained leather by Givenchy
8 GREAT WITH JEANS Broadway fringed suede clutch by Gucci

UNDERSTATED AND TIMELESS Marche leather and suede clutch by Nina Ricci
My personal favorite is accented with gold hardware and has three internal compartments – perfect for keeping your belongings organized. Carry it cross-body by day, swapping to the hand strap after dark.

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

During a dinner conversation last weekend, a friend of mine asked me for advice to find a great pair of winter shoes that is suitable for bad weather conditions.

Here is a selection of footwear designed with a gripped rubber sole for maximum traction, even in wet or icy conditions. Constructed with a sturdy block heel or a wedge, they are ideal for day-long wear or a winter’s night out. Now it’s the time to stock up on some sturdy and stylish footwear for the new season. Have fun!

1 Lace-up patent-leather pumps by Valentino
2 Two-tone leather platform pumps by Marc by Marc Jacobs
3 Safety pin-embellished leather pumps by Tod’s
4 Lizzie shearling-lined suede wedge boots by Michael Michael Kors
5 Shearling-lined textured-leather wedge ankle boots by Burberry
6 Barbara goat hair-lined suede boots by Pedro Garcia
7 Verna shell and faux fur boots by DKNY
8 Shearling-lined suede platform ankle boots by Alexander McQueen
9 Shearling-lined suede and leather knee boots by Emilio Pucci

My personal favorites are those three pairs below:

Those rubber sole wedges are ideal to walk during a cold winter night: 
Creeping Tessa embroidered velvet wedge pumps by Charlotte Olympia

Cute and edgy at the same time, those shoes look great with a mini dress:
Textured patent-leather ankle boots by Alexander McQueen

Wear them with a skirt or loosen the buckled tabs to tuck in your jeans:
Dart buckled leather biker boots by Jimmy Choo

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

LOUIS VUITTON’s “Celebrating Monogram” project takes place in honor of the house’s 160th anniversary. As announced this week in a previous post, six creative visionaries Christian Louboutin, Karl Lagerfeld, Rei Kawakubo, Cindy Sherman, Frank Gehry and Marc Newson reinterpreted the iconic Vuitton Monogram with a series of accessories. Finally the designs that will hit the stores Mid-October 2014 have been revealed.

Enjoy and better get yourself on the wait list now!

The Shopping Bag ($5150.00) and Shopping Trolley ($23,300.00) by Christian Louboutin

For his contributions to ‘Celebrating Monogram,’ Christian Louboutin achieved a rather amazing mind-meld of his own signature codes – red (of course), metal studs, feminine bows – with those of Monogram.

Camera Messenger ($4450.00) and Studio in a Trunk (Price on request) by Cindy Sherman

Perfect for globetrotters, visual artist Cindy Sherman drew on memories of the colorful hotel labels affixed to vintage Vuitton trunks. Her designs evoke Sherman’s own journey as a photographer.

Twisted Box ($4400.00) by Frank Gehry

Renowned for his designs on a grand scale – the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Vitra Design Museum near Basel, among many others – architect Frank Gehry applies his avant-garde mastery to the construction of this sculptural bijou of a bag in Monogram canvas.

The Punching Bag ($3400.00), Suitcase ($5900.00) and Punching Trunk (Price on request) by Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld’s extravagant Boxing suite is surely the most flirtatious of this collaboration celebrating the French Maison’s grand tradition of special-order luggage.

The Fleece Pack ($5900.00) by Marc Newson

Acclaimed as the most influential industrial designer of his generation, Marc Newson’s work ranges from concept jets to jewellery. When he accepted the invitation to join ‘Celebrating Monogram’ project, he set out to create a truly functional object; the result is this pure, sculptural backpack. My favorite!

The Bag with Holes ($2790.00) by Rei Kawakubo

Upon seeing Japan’s first Louis Vuitton store in 1978, Rei Kawakubo discovered the allure of French craftsmanship and art de vivre. Today, the creator of Comme des Garçons applies her radical, refined aesthetic to a House icon, revisiting the Sac Plat with boldly conceived asymmetrical cutouts and raw-edged details to produce this provocative ‘Bag with Holes.’

For more information, please visit the dedicated website.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, © Steven Meisel and © Karl Lagerfeld

There is no doubt! You are looking at the top sneakers of the season: CHANEL‘s iconic style meets sports allure with an outstanding shoe design. Dream on, fashionistas, how much nicer grocery shopping would be if we all wore couture trainers. Spotted with everything you can imagine, from chic twin sets and casual everyday looks to ball gowns, the new CHANEL must-have features the iconic CC logo on the sole.

Low or high like a boot, laced up until the knee, it comes in twenty different combinations of materials and colours: tweed in a multitude of effects (chevrons, woven, bouclé …), suede, in laminated, crackled or iridescent leather, and in distinct associations dominated by black and pink, orange, black and gold, red and green, pink and silver…

The CHANEL F/W 2014 sneaker will be available in CHANEL boutiques in September 2014. Also available at COLETTE in Paris from now to October 4th and at LANE CRAWFORD, ifc mall in Hong Kong from September 19th to September 29th.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel

Available from today is the new and amazing collaboration between Edgardo Osorio‘s shoe cult brand Aquazurra (for a previous post please click HERE) and style icon Olivia Palermo.

The collection features a little something for everyone’s closet, from suede boots made from the Italian label’s patented ultra-soft cashmere leather to lace-up gladiator heels and embellished sparkling sandals.

The pieces are sold in 12 specially selected stores around the world and luckily, if you aren’t in one of those major cities, the collaboration is also available exclusively on Net-à-Porter.

Hurry up to snag our own pairs before they all sell out. Below are my favorites. I attached you the photos with the shoes on the models as you really have to see them worn. So beautiful!

LoL, Sandra

Embellished suede sandals

Cutout leather sandals

Suede ankle boots

Photos: © Getty Images and Courtesy of Net-à-porter

Add a pop of color and excitement to your evening looks with those fun clutch bags. Fall’s juiciest arm candies are bright and ladylike. Either you go for Anya Hindmarch‘s bold graphics of household brands (1 and 4) or choose Charlotte Olympia‘s playful peach clutch (2) that is covered in suede perfectly mimicking the fuzzy texture of the fruit. I personally adore REDValentino‘s combination of fairy tales and fashion (6). All interiors offer enough space for your party essentials.

1 Coco Pops printed elaphe box clutch by Anya Hindmarch
2 What A Peach suede clutch by Charlotte Olympia
3 To Have And To Hold Speech Bubble leather clutch by Sophia Webster
4 Digestives printed elaphe and leather clutch by Anya Hindmarch
5 Knuckle bead and Swarovski crystal-embellished box clutch by Alexander McQueen
6 Snow White Disney© leather clutch by REDValentino
7 Embroidered leather shoulder bag by Moschino
8 Girls Perspex clutch by Charlotte Olympia
9 Manga printed leather clutch by McQ Alexander McQueen
10 The Mystery of Magnolia Beach embroidered clutch by Olympia Le-Tan

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands