Sandra‘s Closet

Now the boys can relax and play a nice round of foosball, while the fairer sex is sure to be all over the game, too. The ultra-pink Barbie Foosball table definitely bridges the gap of gender quality.

From the imagination of young French designer Chloé Ruchon, a student at Decorative Arts School in Strausburg, comes this crazy creation. It was produced in partnership with Mattel and the Bonzini group, the worldwide leader of foosball tables.

In place of the standard aluminium figurines of soccer (or “football” in Europe) players are leggy-line-ups of Barbie dools, ready for action. Guys, don’t you dream of getting in the game with a bunch of girls in hot pants?

This super-glam spin on the game-room classic is limited to only 8 numered pieces. Bearing an asking price of $24.999.-, it is available for special order by contacting the FAO Schwarz NYC Flagship Store at + 1 (212) 644-9400 or by clicking here.

The Barbie Foosball Table belongs to Mattel’s limited “The Plastic Collection” of carefully curated Barbie items from around the world.
Enjoy some of the other stunning pieces (photos above):

1 Barbie’s Pop Art (first in series), $750.- 
2 Jonathan Adler 1959 Barbie mirror, $8800.-
3 Kitschy-cute rings made out of dolls’ shoes by jewelry designer Margaux Lange, $235.-
4 Barbie chair that references Starck’s Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck and Kartell, $650.-
5 Only 180 Commes des Garçons Barbies will be produced, each $350.-
6 Trenchcoat by Martin Grant, covered with little dolls kisses, $600.-
7 Barbie neon sign is built to order, $2500.-

Many designers have dressed the famous doll already. A real treat for the Barbie lovers and fashionistas! I am still not over my Barbie phase and would love to collect them all!

Therefore, I am dying to pay a visit to the first Barbie flagship store that has opened its doors this year in Shanghai. One thing is for sure, it captures the imagination not just of young girls, but of women of all ages.

Children can enjoy a walk on the runway in Barbie-esque clothes and learn how to sing and dance to the Barbie song. For adults there is a clothing line from Patricia Fields, the stylist behind Sex and the City, a café where you can enjoy Barbie-tinis and a day spa.

For all Barbie lovers, a little idea for a great girly birthday cake. Just put a naked Barbie in the middle and make the frosting look like her dress. Easy with an amazing effect! Your daughter is going to love you for it…

Life in plastic seems fantastic!

LoL, Sandra

Not so in the mood for dressing up for Halloween?! Here is the perfect look for a fashionista glam witch. There is no need to wear a polyester costume!

Try a sharp leather bustier dress and add some orange-black accessoires like those gorgeous leopard pumps and clutch by Roger Vivier. Some fun earrings like the spider studs by Betsey Johnson, long leather gloves and a half-mask give you the right amount of Halloween touch without feeling too disguised. Play with your make-up and opt for smokey eyes and a black lipgloss. This is partying in style! And you could wear those pieces all year around!

Do not forget to carve your pumpkins with a little CC or LV logo to set the right fashion statement for your decoration!

Happy Halloween!

LoL, Sandra

When Fashion meets Art, the outcome is mostly promising. Fashion is like art a medium for interpretation and expression. As for me, my body is my very own canvas that serves as a communication tool. Every day, I can express myself new and seek out what suits my personal taste. Clothing sends a message and communicates emotions. It can be your vision of the world.

Therefore the union between art and fashion is in particular very interesting. The possibilities are versatile. Miuccia Prada`s Fondazione Prada has supported many ambitious artists in their creative process and enjoys an international reputation in the art scene.

Supermodels become life models and pose for painters. Famous example is Lucian Freud`s portrait of a pregnant Kate Moss.

Other luxury brands had famous artists contribute to their collections in particular.  The numerous successful collaborations between Louis Vuitton and artists like Takashi Murakami, Stephen Sprouse and Richard Prince serve as a good example and show the French house`s commitment to the arts.

Zaha Hadid, the Pritzker Price winning architect, who is known for her highly futuristic and curvaceous designs has joined many of those interesting projects as well.  She created the Icone Bag out of moulded plastic for Louis Vuitton and teamed up with Karl Lagerfeld for the 50th anniversary of the Chanel handbag to develop the Chanel Mobile art container, “a museum that can travel”. Her architectually inspired shoes for Melissa and jewelry for Swarovski have already become collectors`pieces.

Last week, it was a busy and important time for all art lovers as the 41th Art Basel took place. Before the opening of the famous art fair, I was very lucky to attend two amazing events in Zurich that inspired me to write this post.

First, the opening of the fifth annual “Art in the Park” outdoor exhibition that will go through August 1st, this time devoted to Pop Art. If you are living in Zurich, I truly recommend a visit to the beautiful garden of the hotel Baur au Lac where Gigi Kracht, the show`s creator and curator, shows in cooperation with Zurich`s Galerie Gmurzynska many impressive works, including the famous “Lucky Numbers One through Zero” by Robert Indiana, gigantic installations of cereal boxes with interesting insinuations by young and hyped Finish artist Jani Leinonen and sculptures by Allen Jones and Rotraut, the widow of Yves Klein and sister of Günther Ücker, just to name a few of the oustanding pieces. At the dinner I was sitting next to Jani Leinonen who gave me an impressive insight into his works and we had a great conversation about fashion and art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, I saw Jani again when Galerie Gmurzynska opened the exhibition Zaha Hadid and Suprematism. Drawing on Zaha Hadid`s formative inspiration from the masters of the Russian Avant-garde, the famous architect both curated and designed this historical exhibition. I loved the unbelievable installation in which the exhibition is taking place. The works of the recently named one of the 100 Most Influential of People of 2010 by TIME Magazine come in a variety of mediums. Enjoy the photos. The exhibition at the Galerie Gmurzynska will go through September 30th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At previews, I always love to observe what people are wearing. To borrow the cliché, Marni, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons and Prada are loved by the art crowd. Said to be intellectual fashion.

As I just met Allen Jones, Jani Leinonen and Zaha Hadid, I got inspired by their works to put together some great oufits. Have a look below. I hope that you will like them.

LoL, Sandra

The shape of the first Vanitas took inspiration from a Louis XV chair bought by Gianni Versace from a French antique dealer for his house in Miami. It was launched in February 1994 and has since then been an ongoing bestseller of the Versace Home collection. Available in silver or gold-foil wood structure and several lacquered colours, it can be combined with the upholstery in all the textiles from the Home collection. The extremly vibrant colours and baroque prints that are Versace`s signature give this piece of furniture an outstanding decorative power.

The magic alchemy of contrasts can be found in the “New” Vanitas (please see the photo to the right) perfectly that presents itself in a new contemporary way without loosing its Maison`s DNA. The sharp-cut remodeled version will be exhibited at the Salone del Mobile 2010 in Milano this week.

 

 

 

My suggestion would be to have one or two of those chairs as an eyecatcher in a rather modern room but not to go over the top with a complete baroque-style ambience. It is like dressing yourself, you don`t want to look disguised and neither wants your home to appear like a museum. Remember: It is all about that special unexpected twist!

LoL, Sandra

Today I would like to show you the ultimate dream closet. Before moving to Switzerland, I lived for 2 years in the States. This was when I met my lovely friend Yoanna, the owner of this amazing house in the Chicago area. The former Miss Poland with an incredible taste built the mansion with her husband around 6 years ago. Her dressing room is not only enormous, but it also includes a wet bar, a sitting area and has the same wall colour like Ladurée in Paris. It is the perfect place to store all her designer pieces.

Yoanna with me

I guess you are wondering now how the rest of her home looks like. So I won`t withhold that from you. Please have a little tour and start dreaming. Probably you will find some inspirations for your own house. I am totally in love with her boudoir-style very feminine bathroom. Good luck convincing your husbands!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht