Sandra‘s Closet

There are fashion collaborations and there are major fashion collaborations. Louis Vuitton & Yayoi Kusama‘s 2023 partnership is very much of the latter, encompassing both the universes of women and men through ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, luggage and trunks and fragrances, these wide-ranging and intricate collections appear in two parts, with distinct thematic directions reflecting Yayoi Kusama’s motifs and motivations.

Cruise 2023 Show

Yayoi Kusama has partnered with Louis Vuitton two times now. Kusama, who’s consistently produced variations of her signature polka dot art since the 1970s, is one of the world’s most famous artists thanks to the enduring popularity of her Instagram-friendly Infinity Rooms and instantly-recognizable polka-dotted pumpkins.

The last time that Louis Vuitton met the magic of Yayoi Kusama was in 2012. Yet this relationship never ended – ten years after, it evolved, and expanded with conversations continued and extended.

For collectors and Kusama fans alike, Louis Vuitton’s capsule offers once more a rare opportunity to get luxury goods laden with the artist’s touch. There is the appeal of the artisanal process applied to certain items — Louis Vuitton’s craftspeople developed a special technique to make some of the 3D paint daubs look «wet,» as if they’d just been painted by Kusama’s hand — and that this is the first time that Kusama’s art has been applied to LV menswear.

Kusama’s touch even extends to a special edition of three perfumes, complete with matching monogrammed canvas case.

Drop 1 will launch on 1st of January 2023 in China and Japan, followed by the rest of the world on 6th of January 2023.
Drop 2 will be available in Louis Vuitton stores starting 31st March 2023.

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama’s collaboration will be celebrated within a fully immersive visual landscape, ranging from window displays, to Pop-ups, to anamorphic billboards, alongside AR experiences, an XR game and a dedicated advertising campaign.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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For F/W 2022, British designer Ian Griffiths, who joined Max Mara in 1987, seeked inspiration after seeing the major retrospective of the work of Sophie Taeuber-Arp at the Tate Modern in London. She was not only an artist, but also an architect, a dancer and a designer at the same time. During the turbulent early decades of the twentieth century, she met at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, with fellow artists of the avant-garde including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst and Guillaume Apollinaire night after night. Their performances, publications, recitals and readings produced an astonishing new aesthetic: Dada, a call for peace corresponding with the outbreak of World War I, which resonates with the times we are living in now.

Max Mara F/W 22

From the beginning, Max Mara’s ethos has been to turn ideas into garments that women will not only desire but want to live in: an all-round wardrobe for the modern, stylish yet elegant strong woman. Always respecting the philosophy and iconic elements of the brand, the colour camel, for example, Ian Griffiths is constantly looking for styles that show self-expression. Whimsy was the desired effect of the teddy bear material for F/W 2022, which the designer cut not just into oversized enveloping coats, but also full skirts both short and long, dresses and even sweatpants.

Personally speaking, I was immediately drawn to the Mito camel hair maxi dress, «the teddy dress». This long dress comes with fitted sleeveless bodice in double pure camel fabric, with a slightly low waist. The wide skirt is made of pure camel teddy fabric, with slant pockets on the sides. It is lined with monogram fabric and comes with a concealed back zip fastening. For me, a must-have for my museum. Stay tuned to see me wearing it very soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Max Mara and © Sandra Bauknecht
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The Dolder Grand makes Christmas extra magical with a very fun Advent Calendar created by Finnish artist Jani Leinonen , who had already designed the impressive floral Easter Egg past Spring. Highlighting the center of the Canvas Bar & Lounge, this pop art work will make every art lover’s heart beat faster with its secret messages hidden behind the 24 doors. I attended the cocktail reception in presence of the artist in this vibrant Valentino Pink PP outfit.

My look: Embroidered cardigan (Look 46 Pre-collection S/S 2021) by CHANEL, bow-detailed wool and silk-blend crepe bralette, wool and silk-blend crepe skirt, One Stud 100 embellished patent-leather pumps, pink VLogo signature gloves, VLogo signature earrings, and One Stud mini leather shoulder bag, all by Valentino, and feather, crystal and bead earrings by Oscar de la Renta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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For more than 160 years, creative exchange has taken place in tandem with the heritage and innovation of Louis Vuitton. These artistic collaborations have expanded the Maison’s universe, enlivening collections with imagination and surprising expression. With LV DREAM, Louis Vuitton celebrates these inspiring ideas and their creators as an expansive exhibition within the building of the former La Belle Jardinière department store, alongside a café and chocolate shop in collaboration with the Cheval Blanc Paris Chef-pâtissier, Maxime Frédéric.

Beginning December 12th, 2022, LV DREAM welcomes visitors to discover a rich exploration of Louis Vuitton’s collaborations through time and across a broad range of historic and contemporary pieces. Comprised of nine rooms with many interactive components, this immersive journey revisits the highly original interpretations in constant dialogue with the Maison. The exhibition plays out with endless dynamism spanning the earliest artistic undertakings such as window displays and perfume bottles; specially commissioned trunks; iconic Monogram reworkings by renowned artists; the diverse range of ready-to-wear collaborations; and the first three chapters of the Artycapucines collection of reimagined Capucine bags.

Inside, visitors will follow a circuit arranged according to themes such as «Louis Vuitton: As Seen»; «The World of Louis Vuitton According to Rei», and «Leather Goods in Fashion». Among the highlights: two portraits of Louis Vuitton by Alex Katz and Mister Cartoon that have never been exposed to the public. The World of Vuitton According to Rei, a room dedicated to Rei Kawakubo, artistic director of Comme des Garçons, who envisioned two capsules for Louis Vuitton: Party Bags in 2008 and Bags With Holes in 2014. Here, the scenography encourages visitors to experiment with the scale to feel as though they are actually inside the bags. Interactive scenography can also be found in Art Meets Fashion, the final space where a digital wall projects motion-sensitive animations adapted from collaborations with Daniel Buren, NigoÒ, Grace Coddington and Christopher Nemeth.

To extend the experience, LV DREAM introduces «Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton» – a café and chocolate shop (Chocolaterie), both overseen by the renowned Chef-Pâtissier of the Cheval Blanc Paris. Among the leading names in the artistry of patisserie and chocolate-making, Maxime Frédéric honed his craft at the palace-hotels of Paris, including Le Meurice and George V, before joining the Cheval Blanc Paris in 2020 and winning the 2022 Gault & Millau Guide prize for Pastry Chef of the Year. Surrounded by tropical plants, the Café offers a lush respite for visitors with a specially developed selection of fresh pastries that play on the Maison’s motifs. The Chocolaterie, meanwhile, showcases a delightful assortment of chocolates that once again draw inspiration from Louis Vuitton codes, packaged in emblematic boxes.

Finally, in the gift shop, visitors can browse items developed with an exclusive LV DREAM design, along with a selection of small leather goods, accessories, fragrances, and publishing.

Conceived for Parisians and tourists alike, LV DREAM builds upon previous exhibitions that have explored the Maison’s history of collaborations. Here, imagination and creative output become an experience for all to discover.

Opening date: 12th December 2022
Location: 2 rue du Pont Neuf – Paris 1er (former Belle Jardinière department store)
Opening hours : Monday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm
Free admission to exhibition upon reservation via Louisvuitton.com
Free entry without reservation to «Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton» and gift store

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Tiffany & Co. announced its latest creative venture with artist Daniel Arsham, debuting a sculpture and limited-edition bangle to celebrate the new Lock collection. Uniting Arsham and Tiffany’s shared ideals of innovation, masterful craftsmanship and rebellious creativity, the House worked with the New York-based contemporary artist to create a limited series of 99 sculptures, each entitled «Bronze Eroded Tiffany Padlock.» The «eroded» bronze sculptures reimagine a padlock design from The Tiffany Archives through Arsham’s unique, distorted aesthetic that subverts both time and space.

The padlock has an important place in Tiffany’s history as an archival motif that goes back to the late 1800s, when the House first offered its clients functioning padlocks. Today, some of its most audacious jewelry designs are modeled after them, including bangles from the new Lock Collection.

The padlock-inspired sculpture is an expression of Arsham’s «Future Relics» aesthetic, where the artist recontextualizes contemporary objects through the lens of an imagined future. The artist creates tension in time, achieved through the sculpture’s eroded quality and hand applied patina that is reminiscent of Tiffany’s proprietary hue.

Inside the sculpture is a limited-edition Tiffany & Co. x Arsham Studio Lock bangle. A bold visual statement about the personal bonds we form with each other, the Lock collection is for all genders, anchored in a single inclusive message: «No rules. All welcome.» This exclusive 18k white gold Lock bangle is handcrafted and set with diamonds and tsavorites—a vivid green legacy gemstone that the jeweler proudly introduced to the world in 1974. Tsavorite’s verdant green hue hints at both the color of the sculpture’s patina and the Arsham Studio color. This heritage of discovery aligns with the aesthetic vocabulary of Arsham’s future «discoveries.»

«The ‘Bronze Eroded Tiffany Padlock’ is the third expression of the Tiffany and Arsham Studio story,” said Daniel Arsham. “It’s very personal to me, but there’s also an element of history in there—a link between generations of craft, between function and design, between craftsmanship and beauty. These are the elements that make Tiffany so unique, the elements that allow it to consistently hone the ‘sweet spot’ between heritage and modernity. I wanted to create an artwork to celebrate that.»

Tiffany & Co. x Arsham Studio «Bronze Eroded Tiffany Padlock»

The edition is a series of 99 works.
Each has been treated by hand at Arsham Studio in New York, each crafted over a span
over 400 hours of hand finishing.

Each sculpture (with accompanying limited-edition Lock bangle) is priced at $59,000.
Limited-edition Tiffany & Co. x Arsham Studio Lock Bangle

Handcrafted in 18k white gold.
Over 93 diamonds totaling over 3 carats.
Over 28 tsavorites totaling over 1 carat.
The «Bronze Eroded Tiffany Padlock» comes encased in a custom-made Tiffany Blue® art-handling crate with metal hardware. An additional Blue Box holds dual-branded white handling gloves.

The sculpture and accompanying limited-edition Lock bangle will be available at select Tiffany & Co. stores around the world on December 1st.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © 2022 Tiffany and Company. All rights reserved. @tiffanyandco #LockCollection
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Louis Vuitton inaugurates its first restaurant in China, The Hall by Louis Vuitton, located alongside the newly opened Chengdu Maison at Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li.

Situated in the heart of the city, the Chengdu Maison embodies Louis Vuitton’s Art de Vivre, culture and lifestyle set across two buildings connected by a glass bridge and encompassing a total area of more than 2,000sqm. This fall, just nine months after the Maison’s opening, Louis Vuitton China presents its first dining dimension The Hall by Louis Vuitton, welcoming guests for both lunch and dinner service as well as afternoon tea. The restaurant is housed in the historic architecture of Guangdong Hall, which served as a merchants’ gathering place during the early Canton days, translating these historic traditions of social commune into a new urban landmark.

Refined, light and exceptionally modern, the menu takes inspiration from pan-European flavors with classics from both French and Mediterranean cuisine, brought to life by a dynamic program of visiting international Michelin-star chefs (from China and abroad) who each take to the kitchen’s helm to bring unique creativity and not-to-be-missed excitement to diners. As its first, Louis Vuitton welcomes Michelin-star chef, Olivier Elzer from November 2022 until March 2023. Together with Chef Elzer, The Hall by Louis Vuitton will showcase its first seasonal menu where creative local flavors meets French finesse.

A specially curated wine list weaving together French with Old World Italian will also feature an exceptional selection from the Jura, the birthplace of Louis Vuitton himself, as tribute to his memory and admiration. The cocktail list draws inspiration from house icons to create an imaginative menu that walks guests through the Maison’s culture.

The Hall by Louis Vuitton features original artworks from artists including Lu Xinjian, Zhou Yilun and Nanchuan Daocheng. Amongst many specially crafted furniture pieces and objects from the house’s Objets Nomades collection, a coral embellished chandelier designed by atelier oï takes center stage as a vivid counterpoint against the restaurant’s calm and peaceful ambiance. Yunmi, a restaurant group who also owns a series of reputable restaurants including Da Vittorio Shanghai, is operating the restaurant.

The Hall by Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Maison Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu
1120b, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, No. 8, Zhongshamao Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, China

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday
Lunch service 11:30 – 14:00 Teatime 14:30 – 16:30 Dinner service 17:30 – 21:30
Reservation: +86 (028) 86116567

LoL, Sandra

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

The Artycapucines Collection sees six leading contemporary artists bring their unique visions to Louis Vuitton’s timeless and feminine classic: the Capucines bag.

This fourth chapter of the collection is further proof of how the iconic bag can inspire unbridled creativity. Six international artists – Amélie Bertrand, Daniel Buren, Peter Marino, Park Seo-Bo, Ugo Rondinone, and Kennedy Yanko – have transformed the blank canvas of the bag named after Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Parisian street on which Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854.

Each bag in the 2022 Artycapucines Collection will be released in a limited edition of 200 and available in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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On November 9 and 10, 2022 Prada will present the eighth iteration of Prada Mode in Dubai featuring an installation by artist Damien Hirst. A traveling social club with a focus on contemporary culture, Prada Mode provides members with a unique art experience along with music, dining, and conversations.

In Dubai, Prada Mode will feature a new edition of Pharmacy by Damien Hirst, following the iteration presented at Prada Mode Moscow in 2021. Hirst created the Pharmacy restaurant in Notting Hill, London in 1998, six years after the inaugural installation of the same name at the Cohen Gallery New York. Pharmacy was conceived as a fully functioning restaurant and bar in an installation of Hirst’s floor- to-ceiling medicine cabinets, and specially made butterfly paintings. Hirst designed furniture, architectural details such as a huge molecular model in its window, light boxes, and a wallpaper design taken from a catalogue of prescription medicine. It is fitting for this to be made especially for Prada Mode: the artist’s long-time friend Miuccia Prada designed the staff uniforms for the original restaurant.

«I’m thrilled and honoured to be invited by Miuccia Prada to recreate Pharmacy for Prada Mode in Dubai after our successful collaboration in Moscow,» said the Damien Hirst. «I’m working really hard with a complicated but beautiful space, ICD Brookfield Place, to create harmony between the inside and outside of the new building. Once again, Prada have found a space that will provide the perfect place for it.
I’m so excited to be doing this! I’ve always thought great restaurants can be seen as art, and art without the evidence as we always remember great meals on great evenings with great people in great places and in this way Pharmacy is definitely a kinetic artwork, that works best filled with people and art existing and living and breathing and eating and drinking and enjoying themselves as one.»

For Prada Mode Dubai, Damien Hirst will transform a dedicated space at the landmark ICD Brookfield Place, the newest landmark building in Dubai designed by Foster + Partners. The building has become a lifestyle and business destination and home to some of the world’s leading corporations and an array of high-end restaurants and bars, representing the development of a cultural epicentre in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre district (DIFC).
On November 9 and 10, early access to the club will be available for members to participate in morning and afternoon panels and discussions as well as nightly events, sampling specialty cocktails and dining throughout.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Prada
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Abu Dhabi, are inspiring greatness at its best by collaborating with the Dubai-based world-renowned contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri for the inception of ‘The Six Elements’ Phantom.

Jafri is known for creating the world’s largest painting on canvas, Journey of Humanity (see above) over seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dubai. With his work having been shown in the most prominent Art Institutions across the globe. The Dubai-based artist is described as ‘The Pioneer of Magical Realism’ and this century’s true zeitgeist, bringing painting with raw emotion back to the forefront of the art world. Sacha’s work acts as an electric shock to the senses, reminding us of the magic in the mundane and awakening the child within us all. His recent paintings celebrate the life’s achievements of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Barack Obama, HE Nelson Mandela, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson. Sacha Jafri is widely regarded as one of the world’s most celebrated living artists and has raised more than $140 million for charities across the world from the sale of his art.

Coming back to this beautiful collaboration. These six one-of-one Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II motor cars will each feature a unique, painted Sacha Jafri Gallery, inspired by the one of the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Air, with Humanity as the ‘sixth element’. The project has the expressed aim of raising $1 million for charity, with associations to be announced later this year. The chosen beneficiaries will be Humanity-centric, spanning three sectors: Education, Health, and Sustainability.

Selected for his inimitable vision, style and use of colours, Jafri is crafting a unique Gallery for each Phantom Series II, themed around the Six Elements. The principle of adding Humanity as an element builds on the ethos of the British artist’s works around the five traditional elements. The underlying message is the need to reintroduce a sense of humanity to the world and to find balance within ourselves.

For Sacha Jafri, each of the elements evokes different emotions, spirit, energy and purpose. Fire represents passion and belief. Fire is balanced by earth, which represents grounding and roots. Air is the essence of life, enabling us to breathe. Wind enhances our feelings of freedom, whilst Water, supports our lyricism and fluidity. Humanity brings love, embrace, and the linking of souls.

«The six Rolls-Royce Phantoms will embody the emotion of each elemental force. The artistic journey begins and ends with emotion and intention, fuelling my inspiration to create the colour palette of the ‘Six Elements’. Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Air are enhanced by the addition of a ‘new element’, Humanity – the very essence of life itself.
Rolls-Royce is a brand of intention, excellence, power, detail and passion – a brand that has been on a similar journey to my own. It has set new levels of achievement, with pioneering accolades yet to be surpassed. By embracing empathy, we are able to reconnect the spirit of our world, in connection with our Elements and the souls of not only the individual, but of the very idea of universal consciousness.
We are embarking on a journey that aims to continuously fulfil those values, keeping our intentions pure and driven, eternally. This commission is indicative of these principles, not only incorporating art for the sake of aesthetic inspiration, but also a nurturing of the soul, an uplifting of the spirit, and the embodiment of a true charitable cause.»
Sacha Jafri, Artist

The Rolls-Royce Phantom ‘The Six Elements’ motor cars will also feature a unique digital element. The marque is simultaneously launching «The Rolls-Royce That Keeps on Giving» NFT initiative, which includes six individual flythrough animations.

Each time any of the six NFTs are traded, a royalty of 20% will be donated to the chosen charity. The six distinct one-off NFTs are linked to each of the six Phantoms, however, owners can sell their NFT separately if they choose to do so. These NFTs will be uniquely embedded within the glove compartment of each Phantom Series II, enabling each of the six owners to view their NFT experience whilst sat within their car.

The eighth generation of Phantom was unveiled in 2017. When creating this new expression, Phantom Series II, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers were guided by the requests of clients, who implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motor car. In answer to these client demands, only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations have been incorporated. Indeed, Phantom Series II is not about what should be changed, but in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

Utterly unique to Phantom, the marque offers an extraordinary art-within-art canvas: The Gallery. Running the entire length of the fascia and conceptualised to house Bespoke creations with an uninterrupted glass enclosure. In this instance, these ‘Six Elements’ Phantom Series II motor cars were designed at the Home of Rolls-Royce around Jafri’s hand-painted galleries.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce, © Sacha Jafri and via Humanity Inspired
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French fashion house BALMAIN has partnered with digital artist JEFF COLE to create THREE EXCLUSIVE NFTs inspired by the Balmain Unicorn sneakers.

Balmain S/S 2022

Only on MINTNFT can you make bids of these exclusive NFTs that include both physical and digital utility:

– One pair of Balmain Unicorn sneakers, signed by Creative Director Olivier Rousteing
– One original sketch of the Balmain Unicorn sneaker, signed by Balmain’s Head of Sneaker Design, Safa Sahin
– Two VIP access passes to the Balmain Festival V03 during Paris Fashion Week 2022, in September
– Balmain’s own NFT, the «Non-Fungible Thread», which creates additional utility (drops later during 2022)

Make your bids. Get your Unicorn.
Auction closing: Friday, June 24, 2022, at 12PM EST

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © MINTNFT
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