Sandra‘s Closet

Founded in 2009, the brand Olympia Le-Tan is well known for its creation of originals handbags and minaudières, which are a combination of embroidery and French savoir faire.

For the S/S 2021 collection, Barbie™ is the cover girl of Olympia Le-Tan’s book-inspired clutches. Borrowing imagery from the archive of Mattel, the gilded hard cases are covered in canvas and skillfully embroidered and appliquéd to mimic the doll’s iconic features in all sorts of situations. They are also threaded with a special limited edition number at the back, plus ©2021 Mattel.

Pair them with your favorited dress and statement heels to complete the look. Don’t forget what Barbie teached us: «You can be anything you want.»

TO SHOP OLYMPIA LE-TAN, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
Below you find my two favorites that found their way in my closet and one with the cutest typo!

LoL, Sandra

Barbie embroidered appliquéd canvas clutch by Olympia Le-Tan

Barbie embroidered appliquéd canvas clutch by Olympia Le-Tan

Photos: © Olympia Le-Tan, © Sandra Bauknecht,© David Biedert Photography
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CHANEL‘s signature watches receive the rainbow treatment for Watches & Wonders 2021 with the introduction of the Electro collection «inspired by the electronic dance music culture of the 1990s,» as Arnaud Chastaingt, director of the maison’s watchmaking creation studio, explains. «This musical movement created a radical new visual universe,» and became Chastiangt’s starting point for this new watch collection centred on the J12, that enters a polychromatic world of the rainbow setting.

Let’s have a look at those amazing timepieces constituting the CHANEL Electro line:

J12 Electro Box
The J12 Electro Box is a 12-piece collection of black ceramic watches each set with baguette-cut sapphires of the same colour, and together form the rainbow gradient. The set costs over CHF 1 million.

J12 X-Ray Electro Star
This 38 mm model in 18k white gold is set with over 32 carats of baguette-cut diamonds and 13 carats of sapphires. Totalling 267 baguette-cut stones, the sapphires are set on the flanks of the case and links, creating a rainbow gradient of colour. It’s powered by the cal. 12.1 movement made by Kenissi, the movement maker partially owned by CHANEL.

J12 X-Ray Electro Caliber 3.1
A creative and technical feat, the J12 X-RAY watch, featuring the Caliber 3.1 movement, is made entirely of sapphire crystal and set with baguette-cut diamonds. A fully transparent creation, available in a limited edition of 12 numbered pieces.

J12 White and Black Electro Dream
This polished white ceramic J12 has the bezel, crown, and back in 18k white gold. It is similarly set with coloured sapphires on the dial and bezel, while the movement is the cal. 12.1 automatic made by Kenissi. The J12 Black Electro Dream is the chromatic opposite – matte black ceramic with the same coloured sapphires and cal. 12.1 movement.

J12 Electro Dream
This is the base model, a 33 mm ladies watch in polished black ceramic and equipped with a quartz movement. The numerals and scales on the dial and bezel are printed in a rainbow gradient of colours.

Première Electro
Next up is my favorite watch from the entire Chanel Electro collection (as it is also one of the more affordable ones). The simplistic octagonal Première Electro gets a complete new look through the gradation of the leather and a shocking-pink Chanel logo. The watch is powered by a quartz movement.

Code Coco Electro
This quartz watch is a very modern take on the classic jewelry watch. It’s a bold statement.

Boy Friend Electro
Last but not least, the CHANEL Boy Friend Electro is the watch that stands out from this collection. Instead of using bright rainbow colors as accents to emphasize the inspiration behind the collection, CHANEL settled on captivating gem-setting.

Chanel actually makes blingy ladies watches look cool. I am loving it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL

Today, more than ever, the world needs the power of creative freedom. A force to open up new horizons, to move us forward. A force to share and be shared. A force as powerful as love. A force that brings Lady Gaga and Dom Pérignon together. Celebrating the Queendom, the collaboration is born from the collision of their two effervescent energies. A celebration of creativity, in the form of an artistic experiment, the release of rosé champagne and a limited edition sculpture design by Lady Gaga that will see the sale proceeds donated to the Born This Way Foundation.

Lady Gaga is a woman of the 21st century – boldly speaking her mind, and driving change through her art, her commitments, her actions. Through her Born This Way Foundation, she has been at the forefront of empowerment and well-being issues for 10 years. She has been a powerful voice for the LGBT+ community. Her One World concert initiative raised over 120 million dollars for the World Health Organization and the frontline healthcare fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. And this year, she was honoured for her art and activism by the Martin Luther King Center. When she reinvents herself again and again, she inspires the world to open up and grow.

Lady Gaga is a long-time aficionado of Dom Pérignon. This champagne has accompanied her throughout her life as an artist, as an activist, as a woman, to elevate moments of celebration shared with family, friends, Little Monsters (Lady Gaga’s fans) …

The intensity of the collaboration relies on the assembly of the elements that each creative personality brings. The visual experiment by Nick Knight, choreography by Richard Jackson, the costumes by Nicola Formichetti, the hairstyles by Frédéric Aspiras, Sarah Tanno’s make-up and Miho Okawara’s nails… All combine to create a vibrant take on the concept of the power of inspiration. To serve as the music for the film, Lady Gaga chose her song Free Woman, from her album Chromatica.

Nick Knight and Lady Gaga

Nick Knight is a visionary photographer and director. He has been a progressive image-maker for three decades, with era-defining campaigns. This collaboration brought him and Lady Gaga together again – a match for her boundless creative energy. His imagination orchestrated this new confluence, by delivering a shared vision through electrifying and shimmering visuals. «My desire was to create a burst of positive fantasy – a beautiful world that exists only in people’s imaginations. Fantasy is such an important part of our lives; it makes us dream and fuels our creativity. And right now, the world needs celebration. I wanted to create something which would touch people across many different cultures, for its joie de vivre, its energy, its rush of fantasy and celebratory visions.»

Nicola Formichetti

Nicola Formichetti is a cultural icon. Creative and fashion director and editor as well as creative consultant to Haus of Gaga, he’s been creating magic with Lady Gaga since 2009. He brought the characters of this campaign to life, through his avant-garde stylistic vision.

Richard «Richy» Richard needs no introduction. An acclaimed dancer, Lady Gaga appointed him in 2011 as her choreographer. His aim? To «change the game». For this collaboration, he sets Nick Knight’s film in motion through his ethereal choreography.

Sarah Tanno is Lady Gaga’s resident make-up artist and global artistry director for Haus Laboratories. She has worked with Lady Gaga for over ten years and always aims to «add to the moment» and enhance expressions and emotions.

Frédéric Aspiras is behind Lady Gaga’s spectacular, wondrous hair creations. In his words, everything he does with Lady Gaga is «a creative experiment». In this shared, exhilarating universe, he crafted Lady Gaga’s vibrant, timeless hairstyles – and a fantastic crown fit for a reigning Lady.

Miho Okwara is Lady Gaga’s nail artist who created her striking, talon-like nails for the shoot. Recreating the palette of Lady Gaga’s dress and accessories in chrome, she produced the «powerful; design that takes center stage in the campaign.

Designed by Lady Gaga for Dom Pérignon in collaboration with Nicola Formichetti, the enthralling
limited edition sculpture acts as a veil, enfolding a majestic jeroboam of Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2005. Produced in 110 exclusive pieces, the limited edition sculpture will be sold in private sales, and showcased in flagship Dom Pérignon locations. All Dom Pérignon’s profits from the uberpiece’s sale will be given to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

The Born This Way Foundation, launched in 2011 by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, supports the well-being of people and works with them to create a kinder and braver world through campaigns and programs such as Channel Kindness or #BeKind21 Events.

Over the next two years, Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga will announce further exciting outcomes of their collaboration. In the fall, Dom Pérignon will release a Limited Edition of Vintage 2010 and Rosé 2006 in exclusive and creative cases.
As their journey together continues, we can’t wait to see what other exciting expressions this radical collaboration will produce. This is how the story unfolds. But it is far from over.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dom Pérignon / Nick Knight
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Today, on April 1st, 2021, the fourth drop of the Prada Timecapsule new series, dedicated to knitwear, will be launched on prada.com – at 3pm CET – for 24 hours only. Prada Timecapsule is an exclusive product drop of 50 items, occurring once a month, each first Thursday.

For this new drop, Prada Timecapsule presents a modernist sweater, combining jacquard patterns from Prada archive with a sportswear-inspired maxi triangle inlay. The Prada logo is reinterpreted on the front of the item and the triangle with the drop date stands out on the back.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Jacquard pattern – Unisex fit with a vintage inspired silhouette – Ribbed collar – Regular shoulder – Ribbed cuffs and hem – Jacquard logo. Made In Italy. Price: € 1.200.

Next drop will be Thursday, May 6th, 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada

In the second collaboration between the Swiss watchmaking manufacture and the brilliant American artist Shepard Fairey, HUBLOT presents the Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey timepiece. A veritable titanium sculpture to be worn on the wrist, it symbolises the natural cycles of life and the unity between different cultures.

Hublot is staying true to its motto «Be the first, be unique, be different» by deepening its commitment to its «Hublot Loves Art» programme. After unveiling new collaborations with artists Takashi Murakami and Richard Orlinski, Hublot is today presenting its third watchmaking work of art of the year, the Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey.

As its name indicates, it has been designed by American artist Shepard Fairey. Painter, graphic designer, DJ, illustrator, street artist, skateboarder and founder of the OBEY Clothing company, Fairey – also known by his pseudonym Obey – is probably the most politically influential artist of his generation. His works include the famous «Obama Hope» poster, an iconic image from Barak Obama’s electoral campaign in 2008, as well as the piece entitled «Liberté, égalité, fraternité» which he created as a symbol of hope for France after the 2015 terrorist attacks.

His works are on show in the world’s most prestigious museums such as the Smithsonian in Washington, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the MoMa in New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, to name but a few. He has been a Hublot ambassador since 2018.

Hublot and Shepard Fairey chose a watch from the Classic Fusion collection as the basis for their second collaboration. On this piece, the American artist, greatly involved in the project, chose to bring to life a piece symbolising a mandala, an ornamental symbol whose origins can be traced back simultaneously to several cultures across the planet. The mandala represents harmony, the cycle of life and the elements, as well as the precious nature of time in the mind. Here, this pattern is brushed and engraved into the titanium, the material used to create the bezel and the 45-mm diameter case. This work continues on the dial, which has also been finely cut to reveal the self-winding chronograph movement, a calibre HUB1155 offering a power reserve of 42 hours. In the centre, the hands display Fairey’s signature «Star Gear» mark. Fitted on a lined black rubber strap, the black stainless steel deployant buckle is also brushed.

The Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey timepiece is available now as a limited edition in the Hublot e-shop and boutiques. Hublot and Shepard Fairey have agreed that this timepiece will help to raise funds for Amnesty International, an NGO formed of over 10 million people in 150 countries, which campaigns to put an end to human rights violations, in accordance with the theme of global harmony represented by the design engraved on the watch.

Price: € 21.700 – Limited Edition of 50 Pieces

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot

To celebrate the 100th year of the N°5 perfume’s fame, Patrice Leguéreau, Director of the CHANEL Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, has imagined the «Collection N°5», the first High Jewelry collection ever to be dedicated to a perfume.

A first in the history of High Jewelry, this collection showcases all the facets of a perfume, interpreting the eternal mystery of the N°5 perfume with virtuosity. From the bottle to the sillage, one hundred and twenty-three extraordinary pieces express the different facets of the perfume. With its hundred years of fame, only a perfume as mysterious and iconic as the N°5 perfume could inspire such a majestic High Jewelry collection.

In 1921, the first «perfume for women with the scent of a woman» composed by Ernest Beaux and Gabrielle Chanel made a commotion. With the absolute modernity of the fragrance, the purity of the bottle and the mystery of the name, the N°5 perfume was nothing short of a revolution. In 1932, Mademoiselle shattered the codes of French High Jewelry with her one and only collection in platinum and diamonds. These «Bijoux de Diamants» introduced new ways of wearing and took jewelry into another realm… that of allure. In 2021, Patrice Leguéreau decided to bring these two domains together with the «Collection N°5».

«Gabrielle Chanel approached these two universes with the same visionary values, focusing on audacity and the quest for excellence. I wanted to rediscover that creative gesture with this collection, which has been conceived like a journey through the meanderings of the N°5 perfume’s soul, from the architecture of the bottle to the olfactive explosion of the fragrance.»

The zenith of this precious collection is the extraordinary 55.55 necklace that expresses all the codes of the fragrance which radiate through an exceptional gemstone crafted in its honour, a 55.55-carat custom-cut diamond.

«This is an unprecedented approach» observes Patrice Leguéreau. «We started with a rough diamond that we had cut, not to make the biggest stone possible, but to obtain a perfect octagonal diamond weighing 55.55 carats.»

The harmonious shape, in an emerald cut, the symbolic weight of 55.55 carats, the D Flawless quality of this stone and the 18-carat white gold bezel set with 104 round diamonds and 42 baguette diamonds testify to CHANEL’s perfectionism and exceptional levels of creation and technical mastery. The profile of the stopper, the silhouette of the bottle, the fastener shaped like the lucky number, and the cascading of pear-shaped diamonds in different sizes, cut one by one, mould this piece into an ultimate tribute to the perfume.

Figurative as much as it is abstract, the 55.55 necklace goes further than an exercise in style. It symbolizes the embrace between the spirit of the N°5 perfume and the most exceptional jewelry making. With an incomparable suppleness, this fascinating and eternal item of jewelry adds its own stone to the story of CHANEL’s first perfume, which has become a myth.

But the tale does not stop here because CHANEL has chosen to keep the necklace 55.55 in its Patrimoine. Thus, this extraordinary piece will forever be a part of the history of CHANEL’s High Jewelry and the symbol of the unbreakable ties that unite place Vendôme with the N°5 perfume.

Stunning, beautiful – an iconic piece that has already made history.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL

I am N°5, an abstract perfume by Gabrielle Chanel, which she created in 1921 with Ernest Beaux, perfumer to the tsars.

This year, the best-known perfume in the world of the world CHANEL N°5 celebrates its 100th anniversary. Its name is universally renowned. Its wake, a revolution. Its bottle, an unmatched masterpiece.

I am the avant-garde, emerging at the same time as cubism, dadaism, and surrealism. I am their olfactory counterpart, and like them, I break the codes; like them, I write a new language and invent a collage of scents. I am the first abstract perfume.

Created in 1921, N°5 threw habits and conventions to the wind from the start. At the beginning of the 1920s, Gabrielle Chanel had already changed people’s views on fashion by suggesting a new allure. Her first perfume is consistent with her pioneering designs, simple yet well thought through.
Revolutionary in its composition, N°5 is also the first perfume imagined by a woman for women.

I am a manifesto, that of modernity, a dazzling bouquet. Mademoiselle boosted the jasmine, the ylang-ylang, and the rose, yet no single identifiable note is left in my wake. Thanks to the magical alchemy of the aldehydes, I throw people off the scent, not evoking any one flower, to become «a woman’s fragrance with the woman scent».

Whether it be Marilyn Monroe turning it into a myth by confessing she only wore a few drops in
bed, or Andy Warhol screen printing it as a pop art icon, over time N°5 has acquired the status
of a global cultural phenomenon.

I am a magic number, the 5, her favorite number which had brought her luck ever since childhood. Mademoiselle is said to have chosen N°5 because it was the scent in the fifth sample, the one she preferred.

First perfume to be advertised on TV, it has inspired some of the greatest image masters — Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Ridley Scott, Jean-Paul Goude or Baz Luhrmann to name a few — and become a visual symbol that has never lost touch with the contemporary creative scene.

I am the perfume of perfumes, embodied by the greatest celebrities.

Because the world’s most popular perfume of all time needs adequate representation, it has chosen muses who, throughout the world, embody elegance and seduction without undermining their own personality: Catherine Deneuve, Carole Bouquet, Nicole Kidman or currently Marion Cotillard are among the ambassadresses who, by their spirit and modernity, lift N°5 into the eternal feminine pantheon for posterity.

I am a symbol, which the G.I.s took back to America at the end of World War II as a souvenir of Paris and the taste of liberty, the badge of French chic, and the very essence of the CHANEL style.

Mythological status has never consigned N°5 to museum shelves, even though it has been part
of the permanent collections in the MoMA, New York, since 1954. Through its history, its image
and its very essence N°5 remains the backdrop to countless stories, even the most intimate. N°5
is made for those who, like Mademoiselle Chanel, choose who they want to be, and become it.
It is a perfume which, like a coat of invisible armor, gives the strength to face life. Backed with its
100 years of celebrity, N°5 will always be one step ahead.

I am a legend, timeless, continually reinventing myself, as in Verlaine’s «Familiar Dream»: I am «neither quite the same, nor altogether the other». From L’Extrait to L’Eau and from L’Eau to Parfum.

On the cusp of 2021, which is fully dedicated to N°5, the House of CHANEL presented me with this unparalleled coffret. Created in collaboration with the CHANEL Métiers d’Art and Baccarat, this restricted edition is reserved for friends of the Maison and contains five numbered objects. Four of CHANEL’s artisan partners have reinterpreted one of the emblematic aspects of N°5 in their own unique way. I am sure that you can imagine my excitement when I received this beautiful box.

1 The Medaillon Keychain by Desrues
Made of gold-plated brass, this medaillon keychain created by costume jeweler and accessory maker Desrues, is adorned with a black disc embossed with number 5. The inside of the number, the rim of the medaillon and the ring are all trimmed with a twisted braid.

2 The Paperweight by Baccarat
Designed and made in Baccarat‘s famous glass-making studio, this paperweight recalls the faceted edges of the N°5 bottle stopper, which was inspired by the Place Vendôme in Paris.

I am an emblem, a simple bottle in laboratory with sharp angles and crystalline transparency, and a stopper cut like a diamond evoking the Place Vendôme. The ultimate, universal reference in the history of scent bottles. The imprimatur of CHANEL’s triumph.

3 The 5 Patch by Lesage
The number 5 takes the form of a black and gold silk-spangled patch in this piece by the Maison Lesage. Woven in the same style as the iconic CHANEL tweeds and embroidered in sequins and lacquered bugle beads, it can be ironed on to clothing thanks to its heat-activated adhesive backing.

4 The Camellia by Lemarié
Inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel’s favorite flower, this camellia brooch was designed and crafted by the Maison Lemarié using the N°5 packaging. One by one, each petal is cut out using a special punch. The flower is then assembled by hand, a product of the feather and floral designer’s unique know-how.

I am an allegory of modernity, French elegance, and eternal femininity.

5 N°5 Eau de Parfum 100ml
While composing the Eau de Parfums in 1986, Jacques Polge declared that «N°5 challenges the ephemeral nature of things.» By adapting the characteristics of N°5 to the new concentrations used in modern perfumery, he successfully demonstrated the extent to which it is and always will be relevant. A work of style that never strayed from the aesthetics of the original Parfum, the Eau de Parfum became a worldwide success that was represented for nearly 10 years by the unforgettable Carole Bouquet.

The best is yet to come as an exceptional piece has found its way into Sandra’s Closet. A beautiful clutch bag reminiscent of the CHANEL N°5 packaging. A must-have that will always remind me of 100 years of the iconic fragrance. I cannot wait to finally sport it when everything is open again. Stay tuned for something very special coming up…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL and © Sandra Bauknecht
#N5 #CHANELFRAGRANCE #100YEARSOFCELEBRITY #CHANELOFFICIAL #INSIDECHANEL @chanelofficial

Today, I received the Pre-Watches & Wonders 2021 preview from Cartier that I wanted to share with you immediately. It is all about precious diamond watches, that are all standing out for their elegance, mastery of design, and fiery stones.

«Because Cartier is above all a jeweller, Cartier watches, whether they are for men or women, blur the lines between these two founding professions of the Maison, allowing for the best of both worlds. This is why our creations transcend all categories. They are not just instruments for telling the time, nor are they simply jewellery. They are a third type of object with their own uniqueness. Cartier watches only resemble themselves.
The complexity of Cartier watchmaking is due to its duality. It is being able to express creative freedom while working under technical constraints. This intellectual challenge is exciting. And the challenge is all the greater when aesthetics take precedence over the rest. It means that we must master the technical side, making it feel like second nature so that emotion is able to emerge. This intuitive intelligence has always been evident in our designs. The creative process is the result of a controlled tension between the head and heart, an alchemy from which meaning and identity emanate.» – MARIE-LAURE CEREDE – Director of Design for Watchmaking at Cartier

REPTILIS WATCH

Like a precious brocade, the diamond-paved chevrons weave into each other, edged with princess-cut diamonds. Like precious scales, these mobile elements snake around the wrist like a flexible, hinged ribbon. At the centre, a rectangular dial accentuated by four diamond hour markers. Light bursts forth, reflects and resonates all over.
12.8 mm, thickness: 6.6 mm
18K rhodium-finish white gold
Case and bracelet set with
232 brilliant-cut diamonds (3.75 cts)
and 70 princess-cut diamonds (6.06 cts)

ROSARY WATCH

Geometric elegance with the richness of random paving all the way to the heart of the dial. Everything is treated graphically; the refined design is pushed to the extreme between round and square. The tempo of its forms is born from the rhythmic succession of curved discs, paved and set with a small black square, evoking an Art Deco influence. At 12 o’clock lies a singular hour marker, also a black square.
17 mm, thickness: 8.26 mm
18K rhodium-finish white gold
Case, dial, and bracelet set with
1191 brilliant-cut diamonds (5.57 cts)

PANTHÈRE SONGEUSE WATCH
Making its emblematic animal the guardian of its precious hours is the approach that Cartier has taken this year, presenting a new interpretation of the feline through three exceptional timepieces. Designers, artisans… when it comes to this incarnation, jewellery and watchmaking speak the same language. Since 1914 when it first appeared on a wristwatch in the form of a spotted coat of diamonds and onyx, now, more than ever, the feline is THE Cartier signature.28.4 mm, thickness: 7.8 mm
18K rhodium-finish white gold
Case, dial and panther head set with
1116 brilliant-cut diamonds (4.57 cts)
Pear-cut emerald eyes (0.04 ct),
black onyx nose and sapphire spots (0.25 ct)
Bracelet set with
325 brilliant-cut diamonds (9.15 cts)28.4 mm, thickness: 7.8 mm
18K rhodium-finish white gold
Case, buckle, dial and panther head set with
734 brilliant-cut diamonds (2.95 cts).
Case and dial with enamel
Pear-cut emerald eyes (0.04 ct),
black onyx nose and sapphire spots (0.38 ct)
Blue alligator leather strap
Numbered limited edition of 30 pieces28.4 mm, thickness: 7.8 mm
18K rhodium-finish white gold
Case, dial, buckle and panther head set with
1039 brilliant-cut diamonds (4.67 cts)
Pear-cut emerald eyes (0.06 ct),
black onyx nose and black lacquer spots
Black alligator leather strap

All five watches have quartz movements.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier

Designer collaborations have had their time. Today, it is more trendy that two brands team up together, such as The North Face x Gucci, Jimmy Choo x Marine Serre and many more. However, H&M, the Swedish retailer, that made designer collaborations fashionable, is sticking to its concept, not as loud as before, but definitely something for the fashion-loving customer around the globe, as for the first time, the Simone Rocha universe is opened up and extended to everyone. Meet the London-based Irish designer and get a glimpse of what this year’s collaboration will bring.

Fashion Designer Simone Rocha

History and heritage. Details and fabrications. Family and community. The many facets of womanhood. For fashion designer Simone Rocha, born in Dublin in 1986, her work and collections are a tribute to what she holds dear. She began her career as part of the talent hub Fashion East, where her take on modern beauty won praise as she reclaimed ‘girlish’ elements — florals, embellishments, collars, pearls — in a nuanced manner. Since debuting at London Fashion Week in 2010, she has become internationally renowned for her intricate and meticulously-researched collections, always with a nod to her own heritage: Ireland and Hong Kong.

In creating the collection for H&M, Rocha spent time reflecting on and revisiting her brand’s archive, combing her past collections and carefully reworking beloved pieces into unexpected new designs that feel right for now.

«To be honest, it was really emotional going through all the pieces — it was a wonderful chance to reflect on seasons I was especially proud of, and to revisit collections that felt like milestones, and little gems of ideas that we maybe didn’t push as far as we wanted to the first-time round. The archive is so important to the way I work as a designer anyway. We are not a brand that abandons ideas each season — we often look back on past propositions or continue to evolve a silhouette, or shape,» says Rocha.

The Simone Rocha x H&M collection includes her signature womenswear alongside menswear and kidswear, marking the first time she has offered a wardrobe for the whole family. All the garments are designed to be in conversation with each other. So, what to expect from this year’s awaited collaboration? Delicate tulle dresses, tartan tailoring, beaded shirting, cable knits, outerwear such as trench coats and signature accessories like sparkling jewellery and pearl-embellished shoes. The entire range comes in Simone Rocha’s identifiable and poetic colour palette that mixes cream, pink, red and black. The majority of the Simone Rocha x HM women’s collection goes up to size EUR L=44/46 and UK L=16/18 and US XL=48/50.

«My approach at every stage of the design process was to remember that for some this would be an introduction to Simone Rocha, a chance to enjoy the brand for the first time, while for others this will be a chance to recall the history of a brand that they have followed for a while. Maybe they will be able to buy a version of a piece that they missed the first time, or a piece they always wanted but didn’t get. Through H&M, they will be able to access a new, timeless, special piece to mix in with their existing items from past runway collections. I really hope there is something for everyone — every woman, every guy, the whole family,» says Rocha.

Family is of utmost importance to Rocha, as well as her community of friends and collaborators. Therefore, the Simone Rocha x H&M story is brought to life by the people who surround and inspire her. To name a few: stylist, collaborator and close friend Robbie Spencer, model and friend Tess McMillan, sisters Adwoa and Kesewa Aboah, activist and artist — and acclaimed actress Daisy Edgar-Jones.

«Any time that I’m on set with Simone, or behind the scenes at a show, you just feel this certain warmth — there’s never any stress, and you can tell that she fills her work space with people who really inspire her in her everyday life, and that’s what brings this certain sense of community, and certain sense of ease. I always just feel so comfortable, because you are surrounded by people who are just really fun to be around. I have worked with her for four seasons now, and every time I’m just so excited to see everyone — to see the designers, the stylist, all the people who help me get dressed, it’s the same faces. It’s a really, really amazing community, truly. And I always look forward to laughing and catching up,» says McMillan.

The Simone Rocha x H&M collection launches 11 March.
I love the campaign… reminds me so much of a Jo Malone ad. To see me wearing Simone Rocha, have a look here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © H&M

On March 4th, 2021, the third drop of the Prada Timecapsule new series, dedicated to knitwear, will be launched on prada.com – at 3pm CET – for 24 hours only. Prada Timecapsule is an exclusive product drop of 50 items, occurring once a month, each first Thursday.

This wool sweater is characterized by a «vintage» shape and an original graphic and modernist motif that combines two contrasting patterns from the Prada archive. The Prada logo is reinterpreted on the front of the item and the triangle with the drop date stands out on the back.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Double pattern – Unisex fit with a vintage inspired silhouette – Ribbed collar – Regular shoulder – Ribbed cuffs and hem – Jacquard logo. Made In Italy. Price: € 1.100.

Next drop will be Thursday, April 1st, 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada