Sandra‘s Closet

Fringe — it’s everywhere! Swingy fringed bags are making a huge comeback this S/S 2014 season. Of course, the trend never really goes away for long. Now, it is time to decide wether you will go for a boho version (Gucci) or opt for extreme sophistication (Fendi).
The variety of fringe is endless:

1 Fringed macramé and leather clutch by The Row
2 Scarab fringed textured-leather clutch by Valentino
3 Fringed suede shoulder bag by Gucci
4 Fringed intrecciato leather clutch by Bottega Veneta
5 Sella small fringed leather bowling bag by Tod’s
6 Fringe detail velvet Baguette bag by Fendi

Which one is your favorite? I couldn’t resist the Valentino one…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Valentino’s zodiac cuffs will have a starry future among fashion lovers around the globe. Spotted on the S/S 2014 runway, which was inspired by a trip to the opera, those bracelets are worn one each on each wrist. Get yours now!

I took my zodiac sign and my ascendent:

Aquarius gold-tone bracelet by ValentinoCancer gold-tone bracelet by Valentino

For all other zodiac signs, please click on the name to shop yours directly: Capricorn, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino

Flats are a must this summer. So why not shunning our heels for the humble high-top sneaker. From Balenciaga‘s multi-panel trainers to the effortless Converse classic, here are the best ones for the laid-back look.

1 Tyson high-top sneakers in confetti-print leather by Givenchy
2 High top trainers by Saint Laurent
3 Francy suede high top trainers by Golden Goose Deluxe Brand
4 Multi-panel high top trainers by Balenciaga
5 Chuck Taylor All Star polka-dot suede sneakers by Converse
6 Paneled satin high-top sneakers by Gucci
7 Embellished leather high-top sneakers by Versace
8 Dunk Sky Hi metallic leather wedge sneakers by Nike
9 Tokyo studded suede high-top sneakers by Jimmy Choo

LoL, Sandra

Sometimes, I am proud of myself, especially if I spot immediately an object of desire for the next season. In this case it has been CHANEL‘s amazing to-die-for backpack for S/S 2014 (see previous post from last November 2013 here please) which Karl Lagerfeld has transformed into a backboard for creativity, turning it into an arty and luxury accessory.

Playing with conventions the famous designer has personalised the backpack and given it an authentic and worn appearance: graffiti, tags, splashes of paint and colours, added details like scoubidous, snap hooks and luggage tags.

Every motif was specially conceived and reproduced thanks to a specific printing procedure which allows for a wide variety of shades and several colour effects. “There’s a certain lightness and a certain kind of humour in all this,” Lagerfeld declared.

Available in two sizes (as well as a third tote-shaped version) and three colours, the CHANEL backpack is available in the CHANEL boutiques, and also for a limited time at Colette, from now to March 8th 2014, where it is adorning the windows at the moment during Paris Fashion Week.

Colette – 31, rue Cambon 213, rue Saint-Honoré – 75001 Paris – France

A veritable reflection of Karl Lagerfeld’s endlessly renewed creativity, the CHANEL S/S 2014 backpack symbolises the instantly recognisable quintessence of the Maison: the union of luxury and fashion. A collector’s piece and THE bag of the season!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

Chase away the February blues with a pop of Valentino‘s fluo Rockstud bags.
Choose from a range of bright colors such as acid green, striking yellow or hot pink.

1 Va Va Voom leather shoulder bag in neon-green
2 Va Va Voom crystal-embellished leather shoulder bag
3 Glam Lock in neon-yellow
4 Glam Lock embellished leather shoulder bag
5 Glam Lock in pink with embellishments
6 Glam Lock in neon-pink

My favorite: Va Va Voom calf hair shoulder bag with neon yellow accents.

With those bags, you cannot go wrong. They make a style statement and vamp up every look.

LoL, Sandra

FOULARDS D’ARTISTES III NEW CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS FOR S/S 2014

This summer, Louis Vuitton continues its world tour of the vibrant street art scene by inviting three new artists from three different continents to collaborate on its collections of textile. The artists of this third season are André Saraiva, famed for his jaunty ‘Mr. A’ character who inhabits the walls of Paris, American Kenny Scharf, and INTI from Chile.

ANDRÉ SARAIVA
For André Saraiva, his studio drop cloth was the inspiration for the background of his interpretation of Louis Vuitton’s Monogram shawl. Once he had translated his paint spatters to the luxurious silk and wool wrap, it became a natural habitat for ‘Mr. A’, the artist’s signature blue figure with asymmetrical eyes.

KENNY SCHARF
Californian Kenny Scharf, a remarkable figure in the worlds of painting, sculpture and performance, describes himself as a pop-surrealist artist whose guiding principle is to reach out beyond the elitist boundaries of fine art and to connect to popular culture. He has covered Louis Vuitton’s giant silk crepe square with a colorful collage of astronomic motifs and symbols of pop culture on a blurred psychedelic background.

INTI
True to his name, derived from the Inca sun god, INTI is inspired by ancestral Andean culture, which he transcribes in brightly colored, monumental works. He revisits the giant square with a sun motif referencing the image of ‘Wiracocha’, god of TIWANAKU culture, one of the most important Inca deities. Infused with warm shades of gold and orange, the design is bordered in red with a pattern of ancient symbols surrounding the Louis Vuitton signature.

Alongside these artistic collaborations, Louis Vuitton introduces further new designs for S/S 2014.

Two are variations on the iconic leopard print created for Louis Vuitton by the artist Stephen Sprouse: the Leopard Spray giant silk crepe square combines leopard spots with a spray-paint motif in vibrant fuchsia or pimento,…

… while the Leopard Pop stole, available in coral or pimento, presents a delicate arty gradation of shades.

The Monogram Rayures shawl juxtaposes faded denim-style stripes with lines of brighter coral or pimento,…

… while the Papillon silk square is woven with a subtle tone-on-tone Monogram pattern. Its generous size and array of colors, including beige, black, fuchsia, orange and violet, make it a stylish and versatile choice all year round.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Lady Gaga is the face of Versace‘s S/S 2014 campaign, the first time that the famous singer has starred in any fashion advertising. Channeling Donatella’s iconic look, the very long platinum blonde hair, Lady Gaga appears in a series of images shot in London by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, wearing pieces from the new summer collection along with some must-have accessories, such as the new Palazzo bag, which was introduced at the S/S 2014 show.

The campaign marks the latest stage of a continuing friendship between Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga. It began with Lady Gaga wearing archive Versace pieces in her video for Edge of Glory, with most recently Lady Gaga titling a track on her new Artpop album Donatella. “I am honoured that my friend Lady Gaga is the face of our new Versace campaign. I wanted to capture her true beauty and spirit in images that are elegant and alluring. She is like family to me, the embodiment of the Versace DNA.”

TO SHOP VERSACE ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versace

We all know that Karl Lagerfeld is a genius and he has proved it once more with his S/S 2014 runway show for Chanel for which he had transformed the Grand Palais into a gigantic white-walled hangar of paintings and sculptures, very Art Basel-like. All seventy-five artworks that served as the backdrop for this artsy collection were made by Lagerfeld himself.

On the runway, he showed amazing backpacks, toughened with a spray-painted version of the iconic logo and colorful chains that will surely fly off the shelves.

Ladies, get yourselves on the wait lists now (I am already on). Those backpacks are the next season’s must-have and in the meantime check out the ones by MCM.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

Aquazzura, founded by Edgardo Osorio, has won the heart of every shoe lover around the globe in no time. And believe me, after having met the extremely good-looking and charming designer in Paris, I love his heels even more.

Colombian-born Edgardo launched his label in 2011, after having honed his skills at such renowned fashion houses as Salvatore Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli. Crafted on the outskirts of Florence, his impeccably crafted, elegant and extremely sexy footwear offers the ultimate mix of European luxury and Latin American extravagance.

This fall, he is launching a special capsule collection of his iconic Berkeley bootie in partnership with Shoescribe. Make sure to add at least one pair to your to-buy list and enjoy this sneak preview below of his amazing designs for S/S 2014.

Aquazura is available at net-à-porter and mytheresa.

LoL, Sandra

Still and photos in collage to the left: Courtesy of Shoescribe, to the right © Sandra Bauknecht
All other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli are a dream team and their S/S 2014 collection for Valentino is a divine piece of art (You can still watch the video here).

Like last season, when I had been already overwhelmed by their designs, they showed craftsmanship, sophistication, elegance and beauty in their 72 (!) looks on the runway. After an impromptu visit to the Rome Opera workshops, the duo was compelled to create a glamourous and opulent repertoire. The collection is a journey admits elements borrowed from imaginary ethnic groups. Embroideries, lace, capes, ponchos, fringes, leather, veil-like dresses, take all part in this outstanding collection.

Combining ancestral austerity and sensual opulence, the designer duo has created an amazing and ever-changing look based on today’s modern woman that we will surely spot everywhere on the streets next summer!

Light Cuir Vachetta Medium Stamped

Great news is that you can PRE-ORDER THE AMAZING VALENTINO ACCESSORIES STRAIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY for the next 5 days. I included the best ones in this post.
Happy pre-shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Gold Gryphon Miniaudiere

Black Vitello Fringe Ankle Boot

Light Emerald Patent Croc Scarab Finger Clutch

Black Rete Embroidered Bootie

Light Cuir Vitello Scarab And Gryphon Wrap Bracelet

Chocolate Vitello Gryphon Sandal

Rubin Studs Crown Hair Band

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino and © Sandra Bauknecht