Sandra‘s Closet

Are you tired of seeing your new bag hanging on other shoulders in the city? Would you love to have a designer bag in good quality just for yourself?
Fendi has the solution: The DIY Baguette Bag. The raffia (trend material this summer) bag in the iconic baguette shape comes in a pretty presentation box including a DIY embroidery kit with multicoloured threads, needles, thimbles and inspirations for your arts and crafts. I love the idea of creating an individual hand made piece and still having a brand accessory but I don`t agree with the price. Almost €800.- that I am doing most of the work myself is definitely too much.
Great concept – bad pricing!

LoL, Sandra

Chanel`s new lipstick Rouge Coco is based on Gabrielle Chanel`s first lipstick designs in the Fifties. It is replacing the exisiting Rouge Hydrabase and comes in 30 shades, each named after an influential time in Coco`s life like “Camelia” (a deep rose), “Paris” (a bright red) or my favourite colour “Mademoiselle“ (a soft pink). I combine it with the lip pencil “Tulip” for a lighter look during the day and with the deeper tone “Griotte” for a nice pout at night. You can see the new bestselling shade in action on Vanessa Paradis who is the face of the campaign.

Peter Philipps (Chanel`s art director of make-up) made an interesting point as he has intended to bring the lipstick back into the lipgloss generation`s life. I am very happy with the new formula that provides softness along with the right amount of colour.

What I totally adore that you get a Chanel button with each lipstick`s purchase. You can collect or combine them with others. Pinned on a denim jacket, sweater or like I did on a black little bag, you have a trendy Eighties look with almost no money.

Since Balmain`s relaunch in 2006, Christophe Decarnin is at the helm of the old French fashion house. He is an amazing designer and I am truly in love with his tough-chic looks. Decarnin is the leader of the disco. This season his military chic is again influencing the chain stores wherever you look. Four seasons in a row Balmain is on fire for me, so so so hot!!! All the pieces I got are my favourites. As I am very petite, the tiny dresses and the amazing jackets with extremely tight sleeves and embellished shoulders seem to be made for me. My trophies this summer will be the destroyed jersey shirt and hot pants. This is perfect combat chic with an easy feminine edge to it.

But let`s face up to the facts his collections are extremely expensive. Therefore I spotted something to avoid the red-hot price tags. Have a look at the Loha Vete collection available through www.luisaviaroma.com and www.matchesfashion.com. You can find similiar T-shirts with lace inserts that are approximately € 210.- and have a good quality (the Balmain one is about € 800.-). The distressed pants are also looking pretty cool.

The least expensive alternative would be to do it yourself. I would recommend using scissors and probably a nail clipper for the small nicks. Take a tee, cut holes into it and poke at some of them with your fingers to enlarge the gaps. Enjoy!

Decarnin is keeping the wheels of fast turning fashion. But let`s see how long this will last… hopefully a long time!

LoL, Sandra