Sandra‘s Closet

When I was in the beginning of my 20s, I was dying to own a Piaget Possession ring. Luckily enough, my parents gifted me with one that I still treasure. You might imagine my excitement when the house of PIAGET approached me as their Swiss ambassador to be part of their social media campaign for the launch of the NEW possession jewelry collection.

We shot the visuals as well as the video that you can see below Mid March 2015 in Paris. 25 years after its first launch, Piaget is expanding its iconic line in honour of the third millennium.

But what is so special about this line? It’s a ring inside a ring, a second rotating band with which to play. “Turn, turn and captivate the world with a simple movement…” one little touch is enough.

It’s a symbol of power and of the choices we as women make for ourselves to take on the world.
I love the campaign’s slogan: “Turn, and the world is yours.” Imagine that with each stroke you can start over again. Isn’t that imagination magical and wearing it around your finger gives you the partner in crime to remind you of that fact every day.

Chabi Nouri, Director of Jewlery Marketing, Communications, and Brand Equity, mentioned to me once that turning the ring is for her “an addictive gesture.” She explained it: “Sometimes I stroke it gently with my thumb to help me think, and to refocus on what is really important.” I adore her approach. My ring can be like a piece of peace in this ultra-fast-paced contemporary world we are living in, a little companion to help reflect and think.

The new collection offers many different varieties to choose from. The choice is yours.
And here is the final video:

A huge thank you to the whole team of Studio Daylight for this amazing shoot!

A really great experience was to meet Jessica Chastain again, the new international ambassador for Piaget, who shot the advertising campaign in Paris the same day in the same studio right before me.

LoL, Sandra

Photos and Videos: Courtesy of Piaget
© Sandra Bauknecht
#myturn #piagetpossession

Stella McCartney unveils its’ S/S 2015 ad campaign images for the first time today featuring model Natalia Vodianova photographed in Ibiza by Harley Weir.

A frequent favourite of the designer and styled by herself, this is the 7th time Natalia appears in her campaign. The photos are inspired by the effortless spirit and fluid silhouette of the new collection.

My favorite looks from Stella McCartney’s S/S 2015 collection

The new campaign highlights the iconic Falabella bag in quilted metallic silver faux leather in mini and micro size, as well as in the embroidered denim crossbody.

Embroidered Denim Crossbody Bag

Baby Falabella Quilted Messenger Bag

The micro quilted metallic Falabella will be sold exclusively at Stella McCartney stores worldwide and online starting this March. Get yourselves on the wait lists now!

YOU CAN PRE-ORDER THE STELLA MCCARTNEY S/S 2015 RUNWAY COLLECTION HERE.

TO SHOP THE NEW RESORT 2015 COLLECTION, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Stella McCartney

The Spanish influence on the Sicilian traditions and colors is the inspiration for the images of DOLCE & GABBANA‘s beautiful S/S 2015 advertising campaign. Traditional elements deriving from both countries combine together to give the pictures a touch of Mediterranean sensuality. Domenico Dolce photographed the campaign under the artistic direction of Stefano Gabbana.

Both, the women and the men campaign, feature José Maria Manzanares, a 28 years old Spanish bullfighter. At the age of 12 he faced his first bull. He inherited his skills from his father and grandfather and made his debut on the arena before the age 20. Today he’s one of the most talented bullfighters in the world. I have to admit that I am totally against bullfighting but the costumes look amazing.

Female models: Bianca Balti, Vittoria Ceretti, Irina Sharipova and Blanca Padilla
Male models: Travis Cannata, Xavier Serrano and Misa Patinsky
Hair: Oribe Canales
Makeup: Pat McGrath

YOU CAN PRE-ORDER THE DOLCE & GABBANA S/S 2015 COLLECTION HERE.

Meet the Immacolata, Concetta and Addolorata Ceramic Dolls that walked the Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2015 runway. Such cute collector pieces.

I love this Dolce & Gabbana collection. And now enjoy the photos below, the men’s campaign is a true eye candy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Famous for her provocations and rebellious flare, just like Roberto Cavalli, Nicki Minaj has a nonconformist spirit which she uses to inspire and amaze her audience. It is no coincidence that one of the most successful singles of the singer is titled «Anaconda», and the snake is one of the iconic symbols of Cavalli.

Snake necklace by Roberto Cavalli

“I chose Nicki Minaj because she embodies the exuberant and modern femininity of the Cavalli woman. In recent years we have become accustomed to women castigated in clothes that hide their body shapes. With this campaign, I wanted to send a strong countertrend message. I wanted a sensual woman who is aware of her body, who is not afraid to show her curves, rather she make them as a strength“, states Roberto Cavalli.

The campaign was shot in Los Angeles by photographer Francesco Carrozzini. Personally speaking, this is what I would call a perfect match.

TO SHOP ROBERTO CAVALLI, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roberto Cavalli
Photographer: Francesco Carrozzini, Hair Stylist: Brent Lawler @ Streeters, Make-up Artist: Mylah Morales @ Tracey Mattingly, Location: Siren Orange Studio – Los Angeles

Greetings from New York City where I am at the moment for the launch event of Alexander Wang x H&M. The highly anticipated collection which had been announced back in April, will finally hit H&M stores around the world on November 6, 2014.

While I am writing this post, I am enjoying the view from my room at the Soho Grand hotel.

The invitation says it all. Tonight, the cocktail reception will start at 7.30pm, followed by the show, a pop-up store where we can buy the collection first hand and a live performance which I am absolutely convinced will be amazing.

Do you remember Nicki Minaj and Prince playing at the Versace x H&M launch in 2011 or the amazing party to celebrate Maison Martin Margiela x H&M two years ago in NYC? We always talk superlatives. Be sure to follow me tomorrow on instagram @sandrascloset for live updates.

By now you might have seen some sneak previews of the very sporty collection. The press release reveals that Alexander Wang X H&M captures the speed of the city, mixing sports and performance of everyday life. The pieces are meant to be worn on the street, in the gym, at the club – the way women and men live their lives today.

Rihanna led the way and was already spotted in a look from the collection: a stretchy crop top and leggings emblazoned with Wang’s blocky logo.

In addition to apparel for both women and men, the collection includes shoes and bags, as well as “objects,” a selection of everyday items that are infused with a sense of humor and irony, as for example mini sized boxing gloves as key-rings or a whistle on a two-finger ring and for the victor, a magnetized Alexander Wang trophy cup.

Below you can enjoy a sneak preview of the advertising campaign shot by Mikael Jansson for Wang’s one-off collaboration with H&M that features sports gear like a hockey stick and boxing gloves plus real athletes, soccer player Andy Carroll and kickboxer Rivaldino dos Santos.

The female models are Joan Smalls, Raquel Zimmermann and Isabeli Fontana.

“We wanted to take certain elements of each sport and portray the ultimate warrior,” Wang told WWD. “The girls had to feel big and heroic, and Mikael used sunlight glares to heighten that effect against a stark white backdrop.”

I am truly excited for tonight’s event! Stay tuned for more!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of H&M

Supermodel Cara Delevingne is undoubtedly taking over the world, just named one of the industry’s highest-paid models by Forbes. Her face can be seen in multiple ads, she has walked a gazillion of runway shows, Mulberry named a bag collection after her and the blonde beauty is one of the “Instagirls” on the cover of American Vogue’s famous September issue.

Her latest coup, as the face of Tom Ford Black Orchid fragrance, has landed her in a pool of orchids photographed by Mario Sorrenti. Aren’t her eyebrows just divine?!

LoL, Sandra

Vogue US Cover September 2014 shot by Mario Testino

Chanel F/W 2014 Ad Campaign photographed by Karl Lagerfeld

When I saw Wolford‘s new advertising campaign shot by no other than Mario Testino, I was really impressed. The Austrian hosiery brand lives clearly a new spirit. Testino, who is one of the world’s most influential photographers, creates images, that evoke the essence of an emotive, self-confident femininity that is sensual and aesthetic whilst being stylish and provocative.

TO SHOP WOLFORD ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Wolford

Here is your exclusive preview of Mulberry‘s F/W 2014 ad campaign that has been released this morning. The British fashion house returned to its roots in the countryside with a blast of fresh air to invigorate its new and very British winter collection through the lens of one of my favorite photographers Tim Walker. Cara Delevingne is once more the face of the campaign and presents the Mulberry Cara Delevingne Collection, which is infused with her own style.

Mulberry has designed a beautifully classic and very elegant collection for F/W 2014 with argyle and arran-inspired knitwear and iconic Houndstooth and check, all influenced by traditional British tailoring, textures and prints. Even the footwear references two key British styles – the all-purpose rain boot, beloved by country-dwellers and city-commuters alike, and the quintessential lace-up brogue.

The F/W 2014 bags were inspired by the brand’s interpretation of how to make everyday life feel more beautiful, and how to make beautiful things practical. The new Tessie embodies the mood of simple, unfussy elegance and is among my new season’s must-haves.

The team stayed in a Scottish lodge and woke up every day to early morning mists, huge breakfasts, homemade shortbread and wild Land Rover rides across rushing rivers and up off the beaten track, arriving to a place of serenity and calm at the location for the shoot, with no phone signal, miles from anywhere and with not a soul in sight apart from the local gamekeepers’ dogs and a flock of sheep. One little lamb quickly became Cara’s favourite!

So cute! Such a great campaign and lovely collection…
TO SHOP THE NEW MULBERRY COLLECTION, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

Alexa Chung stars in Longchamp’s F/W 2014 advertising campaign for a second successive season sporting the new Le Pliage Héritage bag, the epitome of the brand’s leather savoir-faire, whose striking trapezoidal shape was inspired by the iconic Le Pliage, which celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

In a nod to heritage and tradition, the campaign was shot by Max Vadukul in the privately owned Château des Ormes, a jewel of French 18th century architecture on the banks of the River Vienne near Tours. I am convinced that the new addition to the Longchamp family will surely be a bestseller…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Longchamp

“In the new campaigns, I wanted to express the power and freedom of Versace today. The women’s images are about strength and sensuality, with women in total control.
The men’s campaign stands for a man’s right to be whoever he wants to be.”

Donatella Versace

It is this time of the season when all the new ad campaigns are popping up. I have to admit that I love observing who shot which campaign and how each brand likes to present itself. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott are definitely some of the most successful photographers when it come sot campaign shooting. For Versace, the duo showed, under the creative direction of Donatella Versace, supermodels Anna Ewers and Stella Tennant in a world of femininity and strength, dramatic and provocative.

The men’s campaign is about the individuality and self-expression of the Versace man. The images are shot on an entirely plain set, as the Versace man needs nowhere to hide. The models Filip Hrivnak and Daniel van der Deen wear pieces from the F/W 2014 collection inspired by the biker and the Wild West.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versace