Sandra‘s Closet

Slouchy, chic and impeccably crafted, the Soft Stirrup bag is my perfect fall accessory. It is a supple interpretation of the iconic Stirrup shaped handbag symbolizing Gucci’s riding heritage with its signature equestrian hardware. Its spacious design (a laptop fits in perfectly) and the luxurious texture make it just right for work or the weekend and bring subtle sophistication to any look. Pair it with skinny jeans for a downtown vibe or a pencil skirt for uptown elegance.

One thing is for sure, you will see me on many occasions with my beautiful new grey washed leather Soft Stirrup. And while being at the Gucci store in Zurich (Poststrasse 3 – Phone +41 44 211 46 20), I couldn’t resist to get another must-have accessory for fall. The beautiful GG pattern shawl with fur trim in the season’s new berry shade.
I absolutely love my new treasures!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

“But I just don’t want to know, ‘Cos for twenty-four years, I’ve been living next door to Alice. Alice, who the f… is Alice.”

Thinking of Alice, you might start to hum the famous song. But as a true fashionista, you have to know, who Alice is.
It is the new bag of the season, a must-have accessory from the Chloé fashion house created for the F/W 2012 collection, that has placed its bets on modern, urban elegance.

Be the first to carry this fabulous piece and pre-order it at SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM (Good news for my British and Candian readers: Free shipping from August 5-20, 2012. Simply enter promo code AFFSHIP at checkout.) and LUISAVIAROMA.COM.

LoL, Sandra

Alice large handbag in blushed pink python and vegetal calfskin
3S0160 705 41Z

Alice large handbag in husky white shiny leather and vegetal calfskin
3S0160 703 00X

Photos: Courtesy of Chloé

From Monogram to Monogram Empreinte, from canvas to leather…
The journey made by Louis Vuitton’s celebrated Speedy bag is short but significant. The Speedy 25 Bandoulière, the smallest version of the Speedy with its recently added shoulder strap, is now available in Monogram Empreinte – the first icon to join this subtly sophisticated calf leather line, whose embossed Monogram pattern is the symbolic imprint of Louis Vuitton’s heritage and craftsmanship.

The arrival of the Speedy, the original and quintessential city bag, represents the consecration of Monogram Empreinte, a collection at once classic and contemporary, young in spirit yet chic at any age. While retaining its iconic shape, the Speedy 25 Bandoulière has acquired new details that are typically Monogram Empreinte, notably outsize zipper pulls and bold brass rivets.
Diminutive yet deceptively spacious, as versatile as it is stylish, the Speedy 25 Bandoulière can be worn in different ways: casually slung across the body or draped gracefully over the shoulder on its adjustable, detachable shoulder strap, or else carried in the hand or hooked over the arm by its emblematic Toron handles.

To the four existing colours of Monogram Empreinte – Infini, a deep midnight blue; Orient, a burnt orange; Aube, a dark violet; Aurore, a rich raspberry – the Speedy 25 Bandoulière adds a fifth: Terre, a warm chocolate brown that is another discreet yet distinctive reminder of the history of Louis Vuitton.

Impossible though it may be now to imagine, this icon among icons was not always called the Speedy. Born in the 1930s, the little sister of the legendary Keepall was originally christened the “Express”, in reference to that era’s passion for new and faster means of transportation.

It even, for a time, bore the name “Vernet”, after a street near Louis Vuitton’s home in Paris. Neither suited it quite so well as “Speedy”, the name by which it is now affectionately known at the four corners of the globe.

The Speedy 25 has a particularly fascinating history. In 1965, Audrey Hepburn, a loyal Louis Vuitton customer, asked Henri-Louis Vuitton to create a smaller version of the Speedy as a Special Order. The Speedy 25 became a constant companion of this most stylish of stars, as it has for countless women since.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Have you been looking for the perfect bag to carry to work that fits all your personal belongings, keeps your laptop safe, looks stylish and is made out of great leather for an amazing price? Sounds be too good to be true? Actually not, you might have just found it…

Let me introduce to the new addition to my closet: The Loretta Bag by Rodtnes, made of soft, thick calfskin leather of the highest quality that will only become more beautiful with time. The leather is very similar to the Togo leather from Hermès.

The bag has the perfect size that fits everything you need for work.
Let me show you what is in my bag:

Monogrammed patent-leather iPad sleeve by Gucci holding my iPad, pink textured-leather notebook by Smythson, Culte sunglasses by Miu Miu, smartphone holder by Montblanc, my MacBook that is stored perfectly in a special compartment of the Loretta bag, Monogram card holder and wallet, both by Louis Vuitton, a magazine and a statement necklace by Gabriele Frantzen (that can transform your business look in one step to a glamorous outfit for night, always be prepared…).

Below you can find the photos and more facts on the fabulous Loretta bag.

About Rodtnes

In early 2011 Mette Rodtnes, a designing architect, was looking for a beautiful and functional workbag. When she realized that what she was looking for did not exist, she started to to develop the Loretta – the very first Rodtnes bag.

External features:

– Adjustable handles
– Security straps (the handles are kept safely in place by two straps on each attachment location)

–  Long detachable shoulder strap

– Two side pockets with magnetic closing (one side pocket holds a compartment for a mobile phone)

Internal features:

– Compartment to fit a 13 or 15-inch laptop computer. 
(15 inch = appr. 36 – 38 cm on the longest side)
– Compartment to fit A4 documents, iPad etc.
– Smaller zipped compartment.
– Large compartment

Loretta Bag by Rodtnes
Height: 31 cm. Length: 39 cm. Width at botton: 16 cm
Available in black, caramel and grey.

€ 374.- (Readers of Sandra’s Closet will get a special 20% discount by using the promotion code sandrascloset at checkout until the end of August 2012).

Prices for Swiss orders include VAT.
Prices for EU and international orders exclude VAT.

To shop, please click here. Rodtnes is only available online.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Advertising 1: Transsibérien Bags

“For our Fall/Winter 2012-2013 campaign, we wanted to continue the journey we started with the fashion show,” says Louis Vuitton Artistic Director Marc Jacobs. “Our aim was to recreate, in a cinematic manner, the glamour of travel and the romance of going somewhere, of meeting someone, of looking out a window…”

To this end, the interior of the Louis Vuitton Express, which brought Paris Fashion Week to such a memorable conclusion, was reconstructed, in all its exquisite and extravagant detail, in a New York studio – the locomotive itself having already set off on a new adventure. Winding its way East across two continents, the Louis Vuitton Express is scheduled to pull in on Shanghai’s famous Bund on July 19th.

Advertising 2: Leopard Bags

Shot by Steven Meisel, this is the first Louis Vuitton campaign ever to evoke so exactly the ambiance of the fashion show. Unprecedented levels of know-how and attention to detail were deployed to create a compelling restatement of the romance of travel, true to the heritage of Louis Vuitton. In the role of the travelers, ten young models – accompanied by four porters – showcase the collection’s gracefully elongated A-line silhouette, embellished with jewel buttons and opulent brocades.

In keeping with the theme of travel, Louis Vuitton’s iconic Monogram canvas luggage, stored in an overhead rack or carried by a porter, shares the spotlight with the season’s standout bags, including the Monogram-sequined Sunshine Express, the black and white Leopard, and the spectacular Transsibérien, with its jewel buckle and dip-dyed goat hair.

Advertising 3: Sunshine Express Bags

“All of these glamorous travelers have an imaginary voyage in their head, which is wonderfully captured by Steven Meisel,” continues Marc Jacobs. “I cannot think of anyone who could pack a train with so many beautiful young women and their porters, and still make the ambiance feel light and romantic. As opulently dressed as the girls are, there is a lightness and a magic to everything this season – and that is reflected perfectly in these images.”

The Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 advertising campaign, comprising a total of 10 single and double-page visuals, will break in the August 2012 issues of magazines worldwide.

I am so in love with this collection… so amazing! Below you can also enjoy some behind the scenes shots.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The largest folks festival in the world, the annual legendary Oktoberfest will opened its doors again in September. In order to look absolutely stylish, Jimmy Choo with his exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail has designed a unique shoe as a tribute to the Bavarian state capital along with a matching clutch bag. Both pieces come in black patent leather with ribbons in 5 different colours to choose from.

The limited “Wiesn Edition” will be available exclusively in Jimmy Choo’s flagship store in Munich, Germany at Maximilianstr. 16 from August 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo

The evolution of the Rockstud collection continues with new explosive bags from the Va Va Voom series to must-have shoes, like the new pony hair iconic sling-backs below. Be the first to add an elegant edge toy our style this fall.

For the next three days you have the priviledge to shop these items before they are available to all customers. Just click on the highlighted text below to be transfered directly.

The booties shown on the photo above will be on every fashionista’s shopping list, so stay tuned as I will keep you posted once they hit the stores. In the meantime, enjoy these must-haves:

Rockstud kitten heels by Valentino

Already a fashion classic since this must-have kitten heel was first spotted on all editor’s feet in the front row. Click here for some photos.

Animal printed Rockstud kitten heels by Valentino

This newly introduced version will surely make your heart leap with joy.

Va Va Voom leather satchel in a rich shade of bordeaux by Valentino

I could not think of a better name for this lady-chic bag.

Textured leather mini shoulder bag by Valentino

Forest green is the It-shade for the F/W 2012 season. So you better get started now…

Rockstud patent loafers by Valentino

Such an amazing silhouette, stylish and comfortable in one.

Rockstud small leather tote by Valentino

Structured, sleek and with a cool-girl edge, Valentino’s Rockstud tote has been the editors’ bag of choice since its launch. What a stud. My must-have for F/W 2012.

LoL, Sandra

For its upcoming highly anticipated ‘fashion meets art’ collaboration, Louis Vuitton has teamed up with avantgarde painter, pop art artist, fashion designer, sculptor, street performer and poet, Yayoi Kusama. At the age of 82, she is an artist of many talents.

The preview is not even on the official website, the Louis Vuitton press offices keep everything secret. But thanks to WWD and Stylerumour, the first photos have emerged.

Here is your very exclusive and so exciting preview of what the Japanese dot-enthusiast and Marc Jacobs have come up with. Personally speaking, I am crazy for those polka dots, especially the red and white ones that remind me so much of Minnie Mouse. Also included in the collection are wave prints. The colours are yellow, red, black and white.

The collection will be unveiled Mid July 2012 in Louis Vuitton stores around the globe, with a second wave of goods arriving in October.

Ladies, get yourselves on the wait lists now!

LoL, Sandra

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Pump Monogram Nylon Dots Infinity black

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Monogram Shawl Dots Infinity black

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Sunglasses Waves Rond White

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Pareo Monogram Waves white

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Lockit GM Monogram Nylon Dots Infinity yellow

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Cuff Dots Infinity yellow

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Lockit MM Monogram Vernis Dots Infinity yellow

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Pump Monogram Vernis Dots Infinity yellow

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires Monogram Vernis Dots Infinity red

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Ballerina Monogram Nylon Dots Infinity red

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Montre Tambour Dots Infinity 28 mm

Yayoi Kusama Louis Vuitton Bangle GM Dots Infinity red

Photos: Via Stylerumour and Franck Mura via WWD

Finally, Switzerland has a Mulberry store. Located in Zurich’s luxury shopping district, the new shop has a selling surface of 150 square meters on two floors, with a wonderful selection of accessories, shoes and womenswear from the English luxury brand.

Del Rey in Black Soft Spongy Leather –  990 EUR

Check out the newly launched Del Rey bag, inspired by American singer Lana Del Rey, one of fall’s must-have bags.

Mulberry, Storchengasse 4, CH-8001 Zurich

LoL, Sandra

Del Rey in Black Forest Soft Matte Leather – 990 EUR

Del Rey in Deer Brown Grainy Print Leather – 990 EUR

Del Rey in Petrol Veg Tanned Lambskin – 1120 EUR

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

Get ready to fall in love with the new season’s It-bags!

The pre-fall 2012 must-have bags are here, including Mulberry’s much sought-after Del Rey. Take advantage of this exclusive pre-shopping invitation to get your hands on this piece along with the other It-bags of the new season like YSL’s Chyc clutch in dark cherry. Be the first to indulge in pre-fall’s new arm candies. For the next three days, you have the privilege to shop those items before they are available to all customers.

To shop, just click on the highlighted text below.

LoL, Sandra

Del Rey leather tote by Mulberry

Chyc clutch with logo closure by Yves Saint Laurent

Chameleon leather tote by Fendi

Silvana bag with snakeskin insert by Fendi

Rockstud leather shopper by Valentino

Safari large single shoulder bag by Marc Jacobs