Sandra‘s Closet

Resolutions don’t have to be those dreaded things you make at the beginning of every year, only to be cast aside and forgotten. When it comes to fashion, committing to some new resolutions can help reinvigorate your personal style. Regardless of whether or not you feel like you’re a bit insecure when it comes to fashion, I recommend getting Dolce & Gabbana’s Welcome bag with statements that will remind you every day how gorgeous you are.

Welcome large printed leather tote

Always be yourself
Take a selfie
Life is beautiful
In case of doubt: Overdress
I am thin and gorgeous
Less is more (just kidding)

Take your style to the next level, 2018 is the year of making leaps.

LoL, Sandra

Welcome small printed leather tote

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Expensive handbags now come with raincoats (yes, I know, your Hermès Birkin also has a cover for protection). But! Suede meets spring showers? No problem anymore…

My favorite? Chanel‘s must-have It-bag. And if you just want to show the trend with your favorite handbag in your closet, visit Handbag Raincoat, a.k.a. the most genius items you probably didn’t realize existed. Coming in a variety of sizes, depending on how big your purse is, it will protect handbags from inopportune weather.

LoL, Sandra

Chanel S/S 2018

Balenciaga S/S 2018

Valextra Raincoat for Iside Medium Bag

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Yesterday, an Hermès Niloticus Birkin bag made «fashion history» when it sold for a record price of HK$2.98 million which is around US$383,522 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. As South China Morning Post reports it became the world’s most expensive handbag ever sold at an auction, the Holy Grail for bag lovers so to say.

The muse: Jane Birkin

Yesterday’s auction at Christie’s in Hong Kong

We all know that a Birkin bag is a safe investment due to its long waiting list and probably even more lucrative than stocks. According to the Independent, there was a study published in January 2016 that compared three different types of investments: the S&P 500 (an index that reflects the stock market and is said to be the leading indicator of U.S. equities); gold; and Hermès Birkin handbags. The research concluded that the latter are by far the safest investment of the three as they’re not subject to fluctuations in the market. Fans of the iconic piece tend to beat the lines by scoring it at one of those auctions where it has been continuously breaking price records.

In yesterday’s case, a matte white Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin 30 with a diamond-encrusted white-gold buckle and hardware was auctioned by an anonymous collector, who won the bid by phone and who is surprisingly not from Asia.

Object of desire: A rare exceptional Matte White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 30 with 18k white gold diamond-encrusted hardware.

What is so special about this Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin bag? It is one of the most coveted bags due to its extreme rarity, status symbol and exquisite craftsmanship. A similar style was auctioned for HK$2.94 million at Christie’s last year. The gradation of the color of the crocodile leather resembles the majestic, snow-capped Himalayas, from smoky grey to pearly white. The diamond-encrusted hardware make it of course extra scarce. 

So beautiful and rare: the Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Kelly 28 bag with Palladium Hardware, approximately €60,000–80,000.

Apart from the Birkins, Hermès also started to craft a few Himalaya Kelly bags for top clients, which are fabled as «the rarest handbags in the world».

Personally speaking on top of my wish list…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Hermès, South China Morning Post

Brett Heyman’s line of clutches and bags EDIE PARKER is inspired by the mid-century styles favored by showgirls and socialites of the ’50s and ’60s. The brand’s glitter-finish and acrylic designs are all-American – each one sketched in New York and handmade by skilled craftsmen in Chicago using New Jersey-sourced materials.

A piece from the F/W 2017 collection: Macy Kiss marbled acrylic box clutch

Such a sweet way to propose: Jean embossed acrylic box clutch

Bespoke Flavia Clutch

But what I absolutely adore is that EDIE PARKER offers you a bespoke service. You can choose the colors, the text, the shadow, the hardware and the font. This is such a beautiful gift idea that I had to share with you! For more information, click here please. It is so much fun to play around with this tool… you will see!

LoL, Sandra

Double-sided bespoke Flavia CutchPhotos: Courtesy of Edie Parker

Last April, Jeff Koons and Louis Vuitton teamed up on a limited edition «Masters» capsule collection of bags and accessories. This month, the duo will launch a second collaboration inspired by iconic pieces of legendary artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Nicolas Poussin, J.M.W. Turner and François Boucher. This second chapter will debut on October 27, 2017.

«Boucher’s Reclining Girl is a painting I often visit in the old Pinakothek in Munich. It strikes me as one of the most sensual images ever painted.» – Jeff Koons

François Boucher
Reclining girl (1752)
Alte Pinakothek museum in Munich, Germany

Paul Gauguin
Delightful land (1892)
Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki, Japan
Presently at the Grand Palais exhibition “Gauguin l’Alchimiste“, Paris

Édouard Manet
Luncheon on the grass (1863)
Musée d’Orsay in Paris

Nicolas Poussin
The triumph of Pan (1636)
National Gallery in London

Claude Monet
Water lilies (1916)
Matsukata Collection
National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, Japan

J.m.W. Turner
Ancient Rome (1839)
Collection of Tate in London

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Louis Vuitton

Is there a miraculous formula for creating an It-bag? Probably as Tim Blanks pointed out in an interview with Business of Fashion recently about the biggest trend for the upcoming S/S 2018 season, it is all about «making the ordinary extraordinary».

Fendi‘s new Triplette clearly conveys that message. One bag is not enough. More is more is the motto! Three small clutches connected by a Fendi logo charm (the label’s new signifier) allow you to store your personal belongings in a very organized way. But pragmatism alone won’t make an It-bag. It is the combination of sizes, colors and finishes that make it an effortless option for day and night. Each pouch can be detached and styled solo. My advice? Get two and mix and match!

LoL, Sandra

Triplette in black with white piping

Triplette in red, black and navy

Photos: Courtesy of Fendi

Something really exciting to share with you… for one week only you will be able to purchase the Gabriela Hearst bags that you cannot buy in a store or online besides now. These bags are highly sought after and trying to get them is almost impossible with extremely high waiting lists – on average there is a waiting list of 1,500 client per bag at any given time. If you really want the bag, you have to email, hope and wait.

The friends of Gabriella Hearst who were carrying the famous Nina bag as one of the first ones have caused a big hype: Miroslava Duma to the left and Brie Larson to the right.

My favorite: the Nina leather tote in cognac.

After having produced 20 of those must-have pieces for friends and family, the designer got so many requests that she created an It-bag without even thinking about it. Now, New York-based designer Gabriela Hearst has partner with NET-A-PORTER LTD to raise funds for Save the Children for the unprecedented hunger crisis and impending famine in Turkana, Kenya. The designer is committed to make a donation of $600,000. From the money raised, save the Children will provide cash transfers to those affected families, giving them the ability to purchase urgently needed food and clean water to help them survive the drought.

Gabriela Hearst …

… next to her beautiful Ella two-tone leather tote.

A trio of its own: the Nina, the Demi and the Ellie. Hard to decide… and not a lot of time left as they are selling out like crazy!

TO SHOP THE GABRIELA HEARST BAGS FOR ONE WEEK, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Please be aware that the proceeds from the sale of the bags by NET-A-PORTER will not be donated to Save the Children. Instead, NET-A-PORTER is helping to raise awareness about the important work that this charity does and the donation will be made by Gabriela Hearst directly. The donation is made up of the money Gabriela Hearst makes from wholesaling the bags to NET-A-PORTER.
Photos: Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst and Net-à-Porter

This season’s bags are reminiscent of the Bauhaus movement. Forget slouchy hobos and complicated origami silhouettes; fall’s bag is decidedly geometric in form.

Printed leather pouch by Balenciaga

Small Nile leather bracelet bag by Chloé

Leather clutch by Calvin Klein 205W39NYC

Macy Ribbon acrylic clutch by Edie Parker

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

It is always a pleasure to be invited by Montblanc to one of their special events. This summer, it was Florence calling for the launch of the new 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection which takes its inspiration from safari travel and exploration.

With this beautiful vegetable-tanned leather collection that is finished with vintage gold hardware for the modern adventurer, Montblanc continues their story of innovation.
So gentlemen, whether you plan an excursion to the sandy dunes of Sahara or a safari to the plains of East Africa, this line is for you.

If you are rather an urban nomad, you will love those 1926 Montblanc Heritage piece as well as they offer an extremely chic and stylish way to carry personal items or technology around the city.

Ladies adventurers: Divine Bonga, PR Montblanc, and my humble self, exploring the launch event.

I am absolutely convinced that many ladies will fall for its vintage feel and the earthy, easy to combine desert hues, too. At the latest, when they spot the bright red printed lining that is inspired by the vibrant fabrics worn by the regal Maasai tribe.

Dubbed the Heritage 1926 collection in recognition of the year Montblanc added leather goods to its business with a small collection of pen cases, the new range features backpacks of different sizes, portfolios, document holders and brief cases, as well as a mid-size weekender and some fine stationery.

Hugh Jackman with me

The launch party took place at Europe’s largest private garden. Italian hospitality at its best with great music, fine food, beautiful displays to create a whole world around the new collection and a special guest that is a true adventurer: Montblanc ambassador Hugh Jackman who had flown in for this special occasion.

An Italian worker explaining how the tanning process of the leather works.

Montblanc’s Creative Director, Zaim Kamal explained to me that for the first time, Montblanc has been using traditional Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather that will take on a patina with age. An early trend for next summer has been spotted at Pitti Uomo, the biannual menswear and accessories trade fair in Florence: Seventies-style bohemianism that plays exactly with that vintage feel that makes the products genuinely personal.

At Montblanc’s manufacture in Tuscany where the leather goods are produced.

The morning after the launch party, I visited the Montblanc manufacture in Tuscany and saw with my own eyes the leather craftsmanship that goes into each of those pieces. I was extremely impressed by the different steps that have to be applied in order to achieve the antique gold color finishing of the metal fittings or the bridge and clasp closing systems.

I am sure that the new 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection will be a full success among all gentlemen and ladies adventurers. Below you can enjoy some more of my impressions of this fantastic event in Florence …

LoL, Sandra

At the launch event in Florence dressed in Gucci.

The evening started with a cocktail reception in the largest private garden in Europe.

Every little detail was perfect.

Mr Hugh Jackman had fun as we did!

On our way inside the tent where dinner was served, we felt like adventurers on a safari.

You could feel the mood behind the collection perfectly.

Seated dinner

Beautiful ambiance

Pieces from the 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection on display.

Photos in Collage/Still: © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Montblanc
All other photos from the event: © Sandra Bauknecht

With just enough room for your phone, keys and cards, mini bags are a fuss-free day-to-night option. Perfect for traveling light, these compact bags are just as stylish as their regular and oversized versions. From shoulder bags to cross-body, clutch and tote styles, mini bags come in a range of colorways and designs.

Look out for Givenchy‘s Antigona, Dolce & Gabbana‘s Sicily, Fendi‘s Peekaboo, Stella McCartney‘s Falabella and many more, for scaled-down versions of iconic bags.

Trend alert! Wear two or three at a time! Below are some of the best options to choose from.

LoL, Sandra

The Falabella tiny faux brushed-leather shoulder bag by Stella McCartney

Galleria Baby textured-leather tote by Prada

Peekaboo mini whipstitched leather shoulder bag by Fendi

Lock small leather shoulder bag by Valentino

Sac De Jour Nano textured-leather tote by Saint Laurent

Antigona Mini leather shoulder bag by Givenchy

Sylvie mini chain-embellished leather shoulder bag by Gucci

The Marcie mini textured-leather shoulder bag by Chloé

Sicily small embellished textured-leather tote by Dolce & Gabbana

Paloma nano spiked matte and patent-leather tote by Christian Louboutin

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, via Pinterest, Fashionjunkiie, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar