Sandra‘s Closet

Watch the Burberry Prorsum Menswear Spring/Summer 2012 Show Live from Milan here on Sandra’s Closet, today at 5pm (Milan Time)!

Be among the first ones to see the hot male models parading down the runway in the next summer must-haves by Christopher Bailey.

The Burberry Prorsum S/S 2012 menswear collection will be available to purchase immediately following the show through the “Runway to Reality” concept developed by the brand. You can go on burberry.com and buy outerwear and bags from the collection.
Orders that are placed immediately after the show on Saturday 18 June until Monday 27 June 2011 will be delivered within 8 weeks.
After that you will have to wait until December 2011, when the collection will hit the stores.

More from Italy’s fashion capital to come!

LoL, Sandra

Why have one celebration when you can have two? We had double the fun on 11 June when Mulberry marked their 40th birthday with the launch of a beautiful anniversary book, ‘Mulberry’, at Firenze4Ever.

And I might have been in beautiful Tuscany, but nothing gets in the way of Mulberry’s love for English tea. We were treated to a cup of tea or a glass of elderflower bubbly and cucumber or salmon and cream cheese sandwiches – crusts off, of course. Afternoon tea wouldn’t be complete without cake, so I practised my cake-decorating skills with Victoria sponge.

Among the guests was not only a giant inflatable gold Bayswater, but also Mulberry’s Creative Director Emma Hill who had especially flown in from London for the event.

Emma Hill, Mulberry’s Creative Director

Me in front of the giant Mulberry Bayswater

I was given a copy of the lavish book so that I could take time to browse through the pages of behind-the-scenes peeks at Mulberry through the years, largely photographed by Venetia Dearden.

This beautiful coffee table book took nearly 3 years to create and is a collection of 480 pages of exquisite, never-before-seen images. It will be available in Mulberry stores and from mulberry.com from 1st July 2011 for £55/ $90/ €65.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Mulberry

While being in Florence, I was able to explore the new Pop Up Greenhouse by RED Valentino which will officially opens its doors today at Piazza Strozzi.

The temporary space will stay until the 17th of June.

It is a beautiful botanical scenario, where you unexpectedly find yourself in a luxuriant, verdant place like Alice in Wonderland.

In this imaginary greenhouse the young protagonist of the RED Valentino story light-heartedly continues her journey.

Her romantic fantasy and vivid imagination are her means of expression.

A cloud of delicate fluttering white butterflies comes to life, seemingly lifting this airy, magical world and carrying it to a fairytale setting. The decoration is divine.

Gardening elements become objects for displaying exclusive garments. Scarves are enclosed in transparent glass bulb boxes. Galoshes hang in wood crates while colourful costume jewellery is “planted” in small white flower pots.

If you are a romantic woman, you will fall in love with the magical surrounding. The collection was created solely for this fairytale space: each garment and accessory was especially designed and presented in this dreamy, light-hearted setting. Flirty garments and accessories are playfully paired up with garden elements. Work aprons and rubber galoshes becomes whimsical accessories for overalls, while flowers and butterflies embellish the fabrics of dresses, skirts, and accessories, all in a burst of colourful prints.

Even the colours are inspired by nature: rose, hyacinth, and thyme are used on natural materials that are traditional elements of the RED Valentino world.

This new chapter in the marvellous RED Valentino fairytale, signed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, will visit next St. Tropez, France from 11-18 July, 2011 at Place Celli. After that, Knokke, Belgium is the following stop from 4-7 August, 2011 at Place Van Brunnen Plein.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The closing dinner party of Firenze4Ever 3rd Edition took place in the beautiful gardens of La Specola museum. The theme of the party was „Animalier“.

I dressed up as a mixture between a mouse and a cheetah, a „cheetouse“.

Leggings and Top by Givenchy – Blouse and Cage Sandals by Alexander McQueen, Belt – Yves Saint Laurent, Headband with Mouse Ears by Louis Vuitton and Mini Boston Bag by Céline – Watch by Roger Dubuis.

Me with Dan Hasby-Oliver from Laststylelofdefense.com

Sebastiano and La Carmina were showing us the Japanese animalier trend: Pokemons, rabbit bags and plush dogs on the head.

It wouldn’t be LuisaViaRoma if they didn’t have some surprises for us that night. A beautiful ballet performance waited for us in the gardens. The dancers were dressed up as animal creatures. Kind of spooky but really beautiful.

The DJs of the night were pretty famous: Daniele Cavalli (Roberto’s son), whom I had met already at the last Firenze4Ever event in January, and Henry Holland, the designer of House of Holland were rocking the crowd.

Daniele

Henry

The last days were just so amazing, filled with many exciting moments. I have so much more to show you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last night, LuisaViaRoma held a private dinner party at La Specola in the Salone degli Scheletri with a very special opera performance. Surrounded by skeletons, the scenery was incredible. We all had a lot of fun during our night at the museum. Only Ben Stiller was missing…

LoL, Sandra

BryanBoy

La Carmina – a Tokyo based Gothic Lolita and Japanese fashion blog

Yvan (Face Hunter)

Wendy’s (Nitrolicious) hands

Andrea Panconesi (Owner of LuisaViaRoma) and Eva Cavalli, wife of Roberto Cavalli

Eva with me
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I have arrived in Florence for the 3rd edition of Firenze4Ever. LuisaViaRoma voted me among the most influential international fashion bloggers and invited me to three days of fashion fun. So stay tuned for many exciting photos of very special events.

Mulberry, the English brand that will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, will be launching an exclusive behind the scenes book by Venetia Dearden and celebrate this with a classic English tea party. This is just one of the many fascinating things to happen. Tomorrow I will kick off the F/W 2011 season with the Total Styling Lab.

Please enjoy the first pics of today’s opening night. I am sure that you will recognize parts of my outfit from my previous post.

Blazer and cropped metallic leather motocross pants by Balmain, top by Tom Ford, shoes by YSL, bag by Céline, jewelry by Chanel and my new watch by Roger Dubuis.

Next week I will tell you much more about my beautiful new watch by Roger Dubuis.

Me tonight with Chiara Ferragni (The Blonde Salad)

…giving an interview…

…and having fun with my two favourite blogger colleagues BryanBoy and Wendy (Nitrolicious)

…trying to convince them to take off their iconic glasses…

…et voilà!

Now, I am in the hotel room enjoying my goody bag.

Good night!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The reason why I am in the Hamptons is the global press launch of Baume et Mercier’s newest addition to their watch family: The Hampton. Sandra’s Closet is one of the first ones to unveil this beautiful new creation.

Let me take you on a little trip to make you understand more about the idea behind the collection.

Baume et Mercier took inspiration from the Golden Twenties. It was the era of jazz, the emancipation of women like Marlene Dietrich and Louis Brooks and the spirit of the Great Gatsby. Most importantly, it was the beginning of leisure time. Recharging your batteries and the relaxed style of the Hamptons has transformed into a watch.

Alexandre Peraldi, Baume et Mercier’s Creative Director, had a myriad of models from the `20s, `30s and `40s to get inspired from.  The first Hampton collection had been launched in 1994 and today, it is celebrating its rebirth.

The new Hampton watch has a satine domed volume at 12 and 6 o`clock, an enhanced curve sapphire crystal and a curve case side at 3 and 9 o’ clock.

In different workshops, we learnt more about the design process which was very interesting. Below you can see some wax templates and first sketches.

Alexandre Peraldi got inspired by the Art Déco architecture that is emblematic for this period along with the amazing art community in the Hamptons. Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock were all part of this movement.
Below you can see the studio of the Pollock-Krasner house where one of the workshops took place.

Today, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the brand’s ambassador, Stella McCartney, Cindy Sherman enjoy their vacation homes in Long Island’s happening East End.

For the straps, Baume et Mercier invented a new technology to achieve different levels of softness. The alligator cannot grow too big in order to have the perfect size of the skin’s pattern. The animals mostly come from Louisana and Florida.

The production of the sapphire glass takes 10-25 minutes per step.

The Hampton’s range for women comes with a quartz movement, the gentlemen’s watches with a mechanical one.

The prices are affordable, a key aspect for Baume et Mercier. The core collection for men for example is around CHF 3000, the emblematic pieces retail between CHF 7700 -13000.

For lunch we experienced a truly beautiful scenery. We went to the Kennedy house located directly at the beach where the advertising campaign was shot.

Even our pictures were taken and transformed into little pieces of art.

Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini to the left with the beautiful Baldwin family that modeled for the campaign.

What a lovely day! Stay tuned for more to come and to see the final result of the new Hampton watch by Baume et Mercier.

LoL, Sandra

Greetings from the Hamptons! I arrived here yesterday after a very pleasant but long journey. Baume et Mercier, the well-known Swiss watchmaking company, invited me to experience and enjoy the seaside living in the Hamptons. During those three days, the new interpretation of the house’s famous Hamptons Collection will also be unveiled.

The claim is: Life is about moments. I am pretty sure that I will be able to share many of those with you in the next days. So please stay tuned for more to come.

Baume et Mercier sent me a booklet before the trip with all information needed that included also a very detailed list “What to bring” which I truly liked.

Last night, we started the experience with a lovely dinner at the Surfside Lodge in Montauk, NY. It is a place for surfers to hang out and is full of beautiful little details.

Here you can see me with my interpretation of the Hamptons style. I chose the maritime colour combination: White-blue-red and added some nautical stripes.

Blouse – Prada, Dress, Jacket and Shoes – Gucci, Bag, Earrings and Bracelet – Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Starting from today, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, is on view until July 31, 2011 at the Metropolitan Museum’s second-floor Cantor Galleries.

So if you just can’t get enough after having seen Kate Middleton’s bridal dress, that was made by Sarah Burton for the house of McQueen, you might consider a trip to NYC. The designer’s costume institute retrospective features approximately 100 ensembles and 70 accessories from the late designer’s prolific 19-year carreer with some outstanding pieces from the Givenchy Archive in Paris, custom-made items from the closet of Isabella Blow and even his graduate collection at Central St.Martins among others.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, the Museum’s Costume Institute Benefit took place Monday night with high-profile guests in high-profile fashion. The Met gala has anyway become over the years the fashion community’s biggest red carpet night. It was no wonder to spot some McQueen tributes to the mix.

My favourite two looks by Alexander McQueen were Gisèle Bündchen who looked so radiant in her red gown next to her husband Tom Brady…

… and Anna Dello Russo, known for her eclectic style, showed up in a pant suit from the S/S 2011 collection, divine!

As for me, the ultimate highlights were the „Stella Girls“ with Stella McCartney herself making an appearance in a black and white tuxedo gown of her own design. It was a modern, probably experimental but uncoventional look. The British designer is also a Co-Chair for the fundraising event.

The Stella McCartney parade was led by Madonna in a silky blue gown with a beautiful embroidered train. With her 50’s hair and make-up, she looked very Hollywood. Wow!

Very pregnant Kate Hudson glowed in her champagne-coloured Stella gown and long tousled hair.

This is my favourite. Gwyneth Paltrow chose to go with long sleeves which was a popular trend at the gala. So simple and absolutely stunning. The actress is good friends with the British designer.

Rihanna in a one-shoulder black lace gown, an iconic Stella look!

Adding some colour drama, Eva Mendes enhanced her complexion by wearing a cobalt blue plissé dress by Stella McCartney. So beautiful!

What a night!

LoL, Sandra

I desire, therefore I am.

Sisley’s art project continues. This time, the fashion brand has joined forces with Italian illustrator and comic book artist Milo Manara for a limited edition S/S 2011 capsule collection, including T-shirts, tops, skirts, shorts, handbags, shoppers and sneakers for both genders.

Portraits, illustrations and whole comic strips starring his provocative heroines come to life on Sisley’s clothes and around the wearer’s body. Black-and-white prints, sometimes with sparkling elements, and colour prints faithfully reproduce different drawing techniques, from chalk to acrylics, to recount the adventures of numerous female characters.
The collection will be available in a wide number of Sisley shops and sold in dedicated shopping bags.

Good news for my Milan based readers, Milo Manara, will be the guest of the brand’s store in Piazza San Babila on Thursday, May 5, from 5 to 7 PM and sign the limited edition T-shirts.

LoL, Sandra