Sandra‘s Closet

Prada presents, for the occasion of the exhibition at the New York Metropolitan Museum, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, a special re-edition collection of some of the bags that marked the brand’s history.

Timeless pieces and collectors’ items, the bags are reproduced in their original versions and will go on sale exclusively in New York. 
This stylish timeline incorporates the years 1991-2005.

The design exhibition layout starts with the silk satin bag from 1991 and goes through the Savoy logo branded on brushed leather from 2005 via the Holliday and Brown prints from 2003.

Re-edition silk bag, 1991

Re-edition bag with Holliday and Brown print, 2003

Re-edition brushed leather bag, 2005

Thank you, Prada, for this idea! No need for me to fly to New York to get my hands on those re-editions, I just had to look through my closet and explore my own archive from 1991-2005. Thank God, I have kept all these bags. Now, my closet is filled with many “new” pieces.
What a lovely surprise!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada and © Sandra Bauknecht

Needing little introduction, Diego Dolcini is a purveyor and creator of some of the finest shoes in the world. Having worked with Emilio Pucci, Bulgari, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana to name just a few, Dolcini knows the beauty of high-quality, high-fashion shoes.

Launched in 1994, the company currently operates out of Italy and references art, cinema and architecture as design influences. The end result no matter what, is always strikingly beautiful.

To shop Diego Dolcini’s beautiful S/S 2012 collection, click here.

LoL, Sandra

Diego Dolcini with me

Enjoy some of Diego Dolcinci’s best S/S 2012 pieces below:

Photos: Courtesy of Diego Dolcini and © Sandra Bauknecht

The windows of the Louis Vuitton store on New Bond Street in London looked so beautiful this week that I had to photograph them for you. Filled with the most beautiful objects of desire for the summer season, it was a true pleasure looking at them. I am in love with pastels and the feminine eyelet lace.

My absolute must-have is the tiara that will be in stores this month…

… along with the bi-colour pointed-toe mules (see photos below).

Happy window shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

When I came across those photos of Blake Lively last week on the set of Gossip Girl, I fell immediately in love with the colour combination of her aqua blue clutch by Emily Cho, the yellow of her bi-colour trenchoat by Reed Krakoff (S/S 2012 collection) and the pale pink of her pumps by Rupert Sanderson.

What do you think? Isn’t the Emily Cho clutch a little too similiar to the iconic folded-over style of the one made by Alexander McQueen?! And the prices are pretty much the same.
Which one would you buy? I would definitely go for De Manta clutch by McQueen…

LoL, Sandra

Photos of Blake Lively via Zimbio

In Paris, I went to the Longchamp showroom to explore the house’s newest creations for F/W 2012. In keeping with the motto “More is More”, Sophie Delafontaine indulged in luxurious fabrics, lots of fur and extravagant colours. This is a collection where more is definitely more. Please see my favourites below.

If you are interested, check out Longchamp’s recent collaboration with Mary Katrantzou which is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Sophie Delafontaine, Artistic Director of the Longchamp House, with me.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Blake Lively was spotted at the set of Gossip Girl sporting the gorgeous Fendi Chameleon bag that should definitely be on your radar. Available in many different versions and colour combinations, it has already become a fashion classic.

Get Blake’s look:

Textured black trench coat by Yves Saint Laurent (30% off), Wisteria printed silk-satin and silk-twill dress by Preen, fine-knit cashmere cardigan by Gucci, gems studded leather gloves by Mulberry, sky-blue cashmere scarf by Burberry, black leather knee boots by Christian Louboutin and Chameleon bag by Fendi (see my favourites versions below):

Perforated Chameleon leather tote by Fendi

Tri-colour Chameleon bag by Fendi

Chameleon textured cotton tote by Fendi

Classic black Chameleon leather tote by Fendi

Really one is spoilt for choice!

LoL, Sandra

In case that my visit to the Gucci manufacture whetted your appetite to own a Gucci bag, I have some classy and beautiful suggestions for your shopping spree:

1. Leather-trimmed canvas bowling bag
2. Tigrette embellished nubuck shoulder bag
3. Monogram canvas and leather tote
4. New Jackie metallic leather shoulder bag (a must for all fashionistas)
5. 1973 patent-leather bag
6. Marrakech zebra-print calf hair tote

My favourite model for spring is this red Gucci leather hobo bag, a great addition to your wardrobe.
You can shop all bags by clicking on the highlighted text.

Have a lovely weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Welcome to Tuscany, where the Gucci headquarters are based in a little town called Casellina, at the gates of Florence. Here Frida Giannini’s beautiful designs come also to life.

Please follow me on an exclusive tour through the bag manufacture:

The first stop is the leather department where the research of fabrics is taking place. When the doors opened, I thought that I had arrived in paradise. Two tables full of the most luxurious materials, from matte crocodile to suede ostrich and colourful python leather. Gucci only uses exotic skins that have a certification to make sure all the guidelines are met.

Crocodile and alligator skins

Matte, rubberized crocodile leather

One of my favourites: The matte suede-effect ostrich leather to the left.

Among the beautiful python samples,…

…I spotted the emerald-coloured one used for my 1973 bag.

The famous interlocking GG started 10-15 years ago with Frida Giannini. Before that time the signature fabric was the one to the right. Frida lives and works in Rome.

One of the most expensive fabrics is still handmade on a wooden loom in a procedure dating back to the 18th century.
It takes the Gucci’s craftsmen one hour to create a maximum of 15cm.

It is truly impressive to see how much work, time and dedication is going into the creation of the right fabrics for a Gucci bag. And all made in Italy!

Next stop is the cutting department where all the important skin materials, such as anaconda, python and lizard, are cut. The artisans have to spend many years working with standard leathers before being allowed to cut noble skins.

The reason is clear: You need lots of skins for an excotic leather bag as the craftsmen have to match the colour and pattern of the skin to achieve maximum beauty. And when it comes to these fine materials, you want to limit the wastage to a minimum.

Third stop: The prototype room. We were not allowed to take photos in there as the Gucci team works one year ahead. My eyes spotted prototypes for 2013 (how exciting!). But I am very sorry, my lips have to be sealed!

90% of the work is done manually in this department. Everything starts with a design. From the paper pattern, the artisans develop a product which after the designer’s, in this case Frida Giannini, final approval will become a sample.

In the prototype room, we were also introduced to the amazing travel trunk which is exclusively done here. Two craftsmen work one entire month on this piece. Design by Tom Ford.

In 2011, ten pieces were done. Among the lucky owners are  John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez.
The price for the travel trunk in fabric as seen here is € 30.000 (special order).

Here are the photos of the crocodile version made out of 23 skins for € 240.000. Divine!

Paulo (in front), who has been with Gucci for 38 years, and Marco are the two artisans producing the travel trunks.

Final stop: The room where the iconic Bamboo handles and accessories are produced.

Gucci uses exclusively Chinese bamboo because of its quality. There is still a lot of wastage as it is very important that the bamboos have a fairly regular diameter and that distance between the noses is equal.
Please enjoy the procedure:

1. Choose the right bamboo and smooth it.

2. Bend it with heat.

3. Give it the burnished colour.

4. Cut and finish it.

5. Apply the sealing wax by hand.

6. The protection will help to maintain its shape.

7. Prepare the wholes for the metal parts to be attached.

Once you see all the work going into a bag, you appreciate it even more. The Gucci people are truly dedicated to their work and you can feel their passion for the product which comes with a very high level of perfection.

No, I didn’t need a doctor even that I went into raptures over the Gucci manufacture. Similiar to a science lab: Some of the workers wear white coats embroidered with the Gucci logo.

Thank you, Gucci, for letting me be part of this amazing experience!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I am completely exhausted but so happy! The last days were filled with so many exciting moments and lots of fun. Here you see me yesterday night having dinner with some friends at the ABC Kitchen after the Polyvore Live fashion show which was amazing! If you would like to know who was at the dinner, check out the secretstylist by clicking here.

You can see the braid and the make-up look I wore for one of the outfits on the catwalk. Red lips and only mascara. On my nails: silver (Reade) and blue (Commerce) only on the ring finger from Ten Over Ten.

Here is my Valentine’s Day treat: This gorgeous “punk”-style purple fur bag by Tom Ford. It has a hidden mirror in the handle and comes with a flap-over closure. Completely in love!

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
And don’t forget if there is nobody to treat you, treat yourself!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © secretstylist

Destination: Summer. Blazing sun, cloudless skies, infinite possibilities. A dip in the sea? A pause by the pool? A spot of shopping or sightseeing? Take a sunbath. Pull up a deckchair. Roll out a beach towel. Take your place in the sun with Louis Vuitton’s new summer 2012 collection.
London’s It-girl Poppy Develingne is heating up the cold temperatures outside in these sunny photos shot by David Roemer in Playa Del Carmen.

Poppy is a regular fixture on the fashion circuit. No wonder, with her mother Pandora being the head of personal shopping at Selfridges, Poppy’s keen fashion sense has always been pumping through her veins.

Capturing the relaxed spirit of summer to perfection, the season’s must-have cotton canvas totes come in chic neutral shades of beige and indigo or else in fruittee red or yellow stripes, always printed with a bold vintage-style label vaunting Louis Vuitton’s articles de voyage.

Coordinating with the travel-print totes, chunky wedges in navy, beige or red suede calf leather with natural leather trim exude relaxed sophistication, while flat sandals lend themselves to sightseeing.

Alternatively, stylish cork wedges or laid-back thongs in new summer shades of Monogram Vernis dazzle in combination with matching cross-body bags or the diminutive Alma BB.

Launch date in Louis Vuitton stores on April, 15th 2012.

I am so much looking forward to those glorious golden days in the company of the summer collection by Louis Vuitton and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton