Sandra‘s Closet

«Like a blanket that always stays with you – it has sentimental values.» – Nicolò Oddi

Sometimes, it is fascinating how a fashion item can rise to fame in a short amount of time, mostly thanks to Instagram. One piece that has been spotted all over is an oversized cuddly cardigan handcrafted from 980 grams of Cariaggi cashmere. Created by Nicolò Oddi in dialogue with his sister and muse Carlotta in the beginning of 2016, luxury Italian label ALANUI is defined by its colorful jacquard knitwear that pays homage to Native-American iconography, focusing on this one style only.  The production of one ethnic-style cardigan can take up to 11 hours.

Carlotta Oddi in her own design, a fringed pink jacquard-knit cashmere cardigan by ALANUI.

Carlotta Oddi herself steers a large part of that success – after all, she’s probably the label’s best testimonial. She’s admired by many for her individualistic look, which can also be seen in her 97,700 Instagram followers. It all started a few years ago when Carlotta flew to Hawaii with a large vintage cardigan in her suitcase, a gift from her brother Nicolò, a piece that became her travel companion and that inspired both siblings to create their own line.

TO SHOP ALANUI CARDIGANS ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

This season the siblings have added for the first time sweaters with fringe, cardigans with hoods, ponchos, and small accessories like cashmere hats. Moreover they launched their first collaboration with the concept store Colette. Today, the must-have knitwear has spread like wildfire, selling worldwide across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, and the USA. A statement of pure luxury that has inspired other designers to copy it.

ETRO seeked inspiration from ALANUI this season. I have to admit that I like those cardigans a lot and great news is that they are much cheaper. Who would have thought this?
From left to right: Fringed red intarsia wool cardigan, reversible intarsia blue wool-blend and jacquard jacket, reversible intarsia multi colored wool-blend and jacquard jacket, and fringed black and white wool-jacquard cardigan, all by Etro (all 40% off on sale).

By the way ALANUI means «large path» in the Hawaiian language. This might be a good omen, and it will carry them a long way further.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Alanui, Net-à-Porter and via Instagram @carlottaoddi

Those who think that cropped tops are only for the warm-weather months are sadly mistaken. This fall, they are shorter and trendier than ever, giving your favorite shirts a whole new look!
Get your crop top fix during the colder months with those super-short sweaters.

1 Cropped wool sweater by Stella McCartney
2 Cropped cable-knit wool turtleneck sweater by Valentino
3 Cropped ribbed wool-blend turtleneck sweater by Marni
4 Cropped cashmere sweater by Valentino
5 Cropped open-knit wool sweater by Isa Arfen

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

ALANUI, which means «large path» in Hawaiian language, is the result of accurate research and a dialogue between the siblings Nicolò and Carlotta Oddi, about journey, one of the fueling principles of the brand. A single item, an oversized cashmere jacquard cardigan, produced in a variety of patterns and colors, an adaptable piece with no immediate gender connotation and no season. Each ALANUI item is meant to be the perfect travel companion and handcrafted from 980 grams of Cariaggi cashmere, it can take up to 11 hours to make.

ALANUI’s Nicolò e Carlotta Oddi

Now, ALANUI has joined forced with COLETTE for a special collection which marks also the brand’s first ever collaboration. A tribute to the well-known store in Paris, this is the perfect occasion to celebrate the twenty years anniversary of the Parisian concept store and its iconic «blue colette». Comprised of three iconic ALANUI oversize cardigans, those must-have pieces are inspired by the native-American iconography and culture, and the Bandana, enriched by hand made embroideries resembling the maxi paisley typical of the foulard made in USA.

Exclusively for COLETTE, ALANUI launches also «ALANUI Kids», the first kidswear collection of the brand. The three cardigans for children, proposed in two different sizes, present same patterns and material of the adult styles. A special packaging is exclusively designed for the collaboration. Each cardigan presents a hand-woven label and it is sold in a box with colors paying homage to the store’s identity.

The capsule ALANUI x COLETTE will be sold at COLETTE from today till the 30th of October and on the online store starting now for one month.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Alanui x Colette

One key F/W 2016 trend: all sorts of artfully bow embellished sweaters, upping the cool factor in the autumnal standard. Get inspired with the most trending ones, preferably in black and white, all handpicked by me only for you!

Virgin wool-blend sweater with lace ruffles by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini

Virgin wool sweater by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini

Sequin bow-embellished knitted sweater by Saint Laurent

Bow-embellished wool and cotton-blend cardigan by Boutique Moschino

Gayle grosgrain-trimmed knitted sweater by J.Crew

Virgin wool-blend sweater with lace ruffles by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini

Happy Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Iconic superhero characters from the world’s most popular comic books have inspired many designers, this season it is – very unexpectedly – the house of VALENTINO.

Wonder Woman Sweater by Valentino

In December 2015, the French Maison had already launched a Wonder Woman inspired small capsule collection in collaboration with Gwyneth Paltrow that was sold over her website Goop. However these 25 pieces were only the preview of a much larger selection that has been released this month.

Last Friday, you could see Italian street artist, Solo, in action, painting a mural at the brand’s Fifth Avenue New York flagship store. Great news is, that you can shop the superhero iconic pieces from now through the summer. The amazing collection – Wonder Woman Valentino — “pays tribute to all women” and features a whimsical explosion of patterns, colors and silhouettes.

And if you are not so into Wonder Woman, you can look for the Spiderman inspired pieces which are also pretty cool. I am totally sold on those fun pieces and you?

Spiderman Sweater by Valentino

It is time to be the super heroine of your own style!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino

Being in Los Angeles, you might not think immediately of cashmere and blankets. But funnily enough sunny California can get chilly, believe me, I know what I am talking about right now as I am here. One of the best unstated luxury brands for cashmere products is The Elder Statesman, founded in L.A. in 2007 by Greg Chait.

Greg Chait with me

First launched as a menswear label, the brand has expanded its offering to a wide range of a products including, but not limited to, women’s and men’s ready to wear collections, knit and woven accessories of all kinds, optical, children’s items, and a robust selection of home goods.

Each garment is made in the USA by a team of skilled craftsman using special cashmere felting and hand looming techniques. Looking for sumptuous knitwear with borrowed-from-the-boys appeal, here you go!

You can shop THE ELDER STATESMAN online at FARFETCH, NET-A-PORTER or in Switzerland at TROIS POMMES THE STORE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Elder Statesman

Prove them wrong and follow my advice! If you have space, keep your clothes, there will always be a time for them again.

Knitwear dressing made a big comeback on the runways for the F/W 14 season and I am so happy that I have kept these S/S 2008 Prada pieces. They are so perfect for this fall.

F/W 2014: Stella McCartney – Céline – Marc Jacobs

My look: Cardigan, long knitted top and flared pants, all by Prada, wooden clogs by Miu Miu, pound printed modal and cashmere-blend scarf by Mary Katrantzou, orange colored Birkin bag and Hapi leather bracelet, both by Hermès, rose diamond necklace by Piaget and Double C diamond black lacquer white gold ring by Cartier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Thank you for your sweet comments regarding my recent outfit post “Amazing Grace“. So many of you liked my Grace sweater by Pringle of Scotland. The iconic brand was founded in 1815 at the birthplace of the Scottish knitwear industry. From the beginning technical innovation has led to the creation of knitwear as outerwear, the signature argyle pattern and the classic twinset.

For the first time, Pringle of Scotland is set to trial a new retail format focusing on cashmere editions, its expertise in knitwear and show casing the current collections with the opening of a seasonal store in St.Moritz, Switzerland, that will be open from now to April 2014. Catering to the resort’s discerning global clientele, it will showcase exclusive Scottish handknits, luxurious cashmere and fur accessories and special re-editions exclusive to the Engadin store.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Pringle of Scotland

During Paris Fashion Week, I went to some amazing events that I would like to share with you. Let’s get started with one that was truly outstanding, something that you don’t see every day.

I was invited to the elegant salons of the association France Ameriques in avenue Franklin Roosvelt, where a very special collaboration, PRINCESS GRACE, MORE THAN AN IMAGE, between Pringle of Scotland and Central Saint Martins was presented.

The collection designed by young talents of the renowned college of arts and design in London features pieces in the finest 100% made in Scotland knitwear, inspired by the wardrobe of H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco, who had loved the historical British brand very much and had been frequently seen in it.

H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover had come all the way from Monaco to attend this intimate event in honour of her late mother. She had also supported the students and had given them access to the palace archives.

In April 2012, the findings were revealed in an exhibition hosted by the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco featuring never before seen material, showcasing Princess Grace’s daily wardrobe in the most relaxed and familial situations, particularly knitwear and Pringle of Scotland archive styles.

The students took those aesthetic elements and translated them into this beautiful capsule collection…

… under the creative supervision of the famous Professor Louise Wilson O.B.E. (see photo below to the right). Being among the world’s most influential fashion educators, her former students include Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic among many others.

Personally speaking, I found one aspect very moving when H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover explained that this project has meant a lot to her: “There have been many exhibitions on my mum, but this is special, when she wore knitwear, it meant we were more informal, it meant happy times.“

And as Marie Claude Beaud, Director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, put it “Grace Kelly has been a princess, an actress…but above all a woman, a mother”.

With this in mind, the collection truly manages to highlight the most personal, discreet and daily aspects of the Princess without loosing its historical heritage, it looks modern and desirable.

Pringle of Scotland’s ambassadress Tilda Swinton was leading the conversation.

Interesting to know is that the title PRINCESS GRACE: MORE THAN AN IMAGE derives from a quote that the Princess gave to Time Magazine in 1955, whilst still the film actress Grace Kelly, “I don’t want to dress up a picture with just my face”. This sense of exploring the person behind the image is evident throughout the project. She will stay in everyone’s imagination forever.

And this fall, it is official, we will not only dream of an Hermès Kelly bag.Pringle of Scotland’s Kelly sweater will be on everyone’s shopping list and it will be definitely more accessible. The capsule collection will hit the shelves in Switzerland in September at Jelmoli.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on the movie “Grace” that will hit the cinemas in the end of the year and enjoy some more impressions of this beautiful event in Paris below.

LoL, Sandra

Gorgeous Tilda Swinton with me

Photos: Courtesy of Pringle of Scotland, © Sandra Bauknecht;
Photos of Princess Grace: © Jae Lee, © Alice Bastion

In celebration of the holiday season, I recommend buying some festive knits. Combine a stylish holiday sweater with a sexy pencil skirt and some high heels to take the look to new heights.

Appliquéd wool turtleneck sweater by Moschino, bonded PVC pencil skirt by Tibi and red patent-leather pumps by Dolce & Gabbana.

Rossella Jardini, Moschino Creative Director, gives the following style advice: “When designing our sweater, I played with the classic Christmas elements and added a Moschino touch! I would suggest wearing them with a simple pair of skinny jeans.”

To shop those preppy little sweaters, click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.

1 Santa Claus sequined merino wool sweater by Markus Lupfer
2 Reindeer intarsia wool-blend sweater by Stella McCartney
3 Reindeer appliquéd knitted wool sweater by Moschino
4 Ho! Ho! Ho! knitted sweater by Lot78
5 Reindeer-intarsia wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Mason by Michelle Mason
6 Maria metallic-embroidered knitted sweater by Meadham Kirchhoff

Meadham Kirchhoff about their inspiration: “Christmas is the best time of the year, the decorations, the tree, the food….. We love everything about it. The inspiration for the embroidery came from original 1960’s gift paper I wrapped Edward’s presents in last Christmas.”

I adore those sweaters and couldn’t resist the one by Stella McCartney. Which one is your favourite?

LoL, Sandra