This took me by surprise. Moncler announced that the house will discontinue its GAMME BLEU and GAMME ROUGE runway collections after the S/S 2018 season, announcing a new strategy in the coming weeks. Because of this development, they also part ways with Thom Browne and Giambattista Valli, who designed the fashionable sub-labels of the outerwear brand that has more than a $1 billion revenue per year. Browne was in charge for GAMME BLEU
, the line for men, since 2009. Valli partnered first with Moncler in 2008 for GAMME ROUGE, the womenswear collection.
TO SHOP MONCLER GAMME BLEU FOR MEN, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
TO SHOP MONCLER GAMME ROUGE FOR WOMEN, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
Moncler is highly successful at the moment with high growth rates. This, of course, brings competitors in the game, trying to get on the gravy train as well. So, Moncler might prepare itself for a new consumer behavior, faster and more volatile.
While I was in Milan a few weeks ago, the Italian outerwear brand opened its new 800-square-metre flagship on Via Montenapoleone with a fantastic party. They even transformed the famous shopping mile into a winter wonderland and fake snow was falling from above the windows. Inside, products from their different lines, still including the Gamme collections, are presented next to each other and not divided into different departments.
I am curious to hear more about the brand’s new strategy. The wheels in fashion are turning, and obviously faster and faster…
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Moncler, © Sandra Bauknecht
Update your outerwear edit with one of those amazing army-green bomber jackets. No outerwear trend has caught on quite as rapidly as bomber jackets have over the past year. It is quite obvious why… First, practicality. They’re ideal for in between seasons and vary in weight and fabrication, meaning you’ll be able to find one that’s light enough for summer and also one that’s warm enough for winter. Essentially, they’re a year-round staple.
1 Rockstud satin bomber jacket by Valentino
2 Oversized pleated shell bomber jacket by MM6 Maison Margiela
3 Bomber jacket by Saint Laurent
4 Bomber jacket by Miu Miu
5 Ribbed jersey-trimmed shell bomber jacket by Sacai
My absolute favorite: Balenciaga‘s bomber jacket has everything you would look for, even the iconic orange lining. The satin-like technical fabrication is water repellent, allowing for a cool look rain or shine. I love!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Getty Images
Here is your green card for the next season. Military coats have been trending since quite a while but this winter they are making a full comeback. This time with the ultimate feminine touch.
1 Double-breasted appliquéd wool coat by Gucci
2 Wool-trimmed waxed-cotton coat by Miu Miu
3 Oversized shearling-trimmed cotton parka by Burberry
Opt for a jacket with a tailored waist, a belt or a ruffled peplum. Wear it with cropped pants and high heels to join fashion’s battalion.
Get the look: Wool-felt jacket by Alexander McQueen, one-shoulder cropped stretch-jersey top by Helmut Lang, cropped nubuck-paneled leather tapered pants by Chloé, suede pumps by Tom Ford and Ames leather-paneled suede shoulder bag by 3.1 Phillip Lim.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
This is the ultimate showstopper. My object of desire. The everything. The heart shaped cape that Hedi Slimane presented as a tribute to the late designer at his last show (F/W 2016) for the brand. Yves Saint Laurent had reinvented endlessly the symbol of the heart and created endless love stories with it.
TO SHOP THE HEART SHAPED FUR CAPE, VISIT LUISAVIAROMA OR MYTHERESA.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Saint Laurent and Vogue.com
Burberry Prorsum were key in setting the blanket poncho trend for F/W 2014 and have left us spoilt for choice. I think these are a great alternative to a full-on coat. Wear yours thrown over the shoulder, as a coat or belted at the waist. These super-luxurious pieces are effortlessly chic and just perfect for when you need an impromptu cover-up should the weather suddenly become chilly in the evenings. The body-wrap rugs are designed with modern art references and are crafted in Scotland from lambswool and cashmere.
TO SHOP THE MUST-HAVE BURBERRY PRORSUM CAPES, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Cara Delevingne wore this checked wool and cashmere-blend cape as the closing look of Burberry Prorsum’s F/W 2014 runway – it cemented the global-luxe mood of the show. (The personalized version that has been spotted on many celebrities was only available right after the show until the beginning of March 2014 from the Burberry website.)
Don’t miss one of the hottest must-haves of the season!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Burberry Prorsum and Alex Huckle/FilmMagic
There is something about Mary that we all love! She is not only extremely charming but also one of the most talented designers of our time. Besides her amazing eponymous line, she has collaborated with the likes of Longchamp, Topshop and Repetto. This season, Mary Katrantzou has created a capsule collection in collaboration with Moncler, mixing the Italian house’s signature style with her iconic feminine cuts and bold graphic prints.
The exclusive collection MONCLER M will be available in Moncler boutiques worldwide from August 2013. As those pieces will surely be flying off the shelves, I recommend the following:
PRE-ORDER THE MONCLER M COLLECTION HERE 
and be the first to wear it.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Moncler
As with any royal occasion, I am always curious about the outfits. Today, Dutch King Willem-Alexander took the oath next to his wife Queen Máxima during a religious ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam, marking the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son. He became the first king of the Netherlands since 1890.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands wore for the inauguration of her husband, a custom royal-blue gown by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau. Her floor-sweeping lace embellished dress was combined with a matching floor-sweeping cape, which reminded me a lot of Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2012 Tom Ford Oscar gown appearance.
But I couldn’t take my eyes of Willem-Alexander’s royal mantle, decorated with silver lions and ermine fur, it is a piece of art. The original dates to 1815, but it has been repaired and altered over the past century, and had been also worn for the investitures of his mother and grandmother.
I would love to have such an outerwear and thought immediately of Valentino‘s beautiful F/W 2013 collection where I spotted something similar on the runway, like a modernized version of the royal coat, made of red mink with an ermine collar.
I am sure that I would feel like a real princess in it. More of Valentino will be coming up soon, so please stay tuned. It has been one of my favourite collections for the next season and I took some great pictures in the showroom in Paris as you can see in this little preview below.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: REUTERS/Lex Van Lieshout/Pool, Valentino and © Sandra Bauknecht
If summer fashion was flavoured with the saccharine sweet – pastels, lace and frills aplenty – prepare to turn to the dark side this winter. Gone for a few weeks are pretty soft shades and in their place come the bold primaries. Cue bright red – the colour of the season and a classic show-stopper – looks best on coats and lips. Invest in vibrant outerwear that will transform every outfit from now to wow!
From left to right: Rac wool-blend coat by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania and wool-felt coat by Alexander McQueen.
The painfully beautiful Jasmin Rouge Collection by Tom Ford.
One of my favourite scents, Jasmin Rouge, is now available in a new 100ml size for CHF 380.-.
And for the holiday season, Tom Ford launches 4 new lipsticks in different shades of red: “Narcotic Rouge”, “Reckless”, “Diabolique” and “Slander” (CHF 62.- each).
Please Santa, pack them all!
To all my US readers, Happy Thanksgiving!
LoL, Sandra
Great news for my Swiss readers, Notting Hill-based label Happycoat will come to Switzerland for an exclusive VIP sale at Kids and the City from September 12-14, 2012.
(For details, please see invitation below).
This is your chance to meet the designer, Tilla Lindig, and to explore her collection of timeless outerwear, from sophisticated capes to chic coats and fitted jackets such as the “Kate” which is named after the Duchess of Cambridge, of course.
Tilla, who was born and raised in Germany, lives today with her husband and three kids in London. She knows exactly what women want: Looking stylish while being comfortable. Her pieces work for all occasions, bringing the kids to school or having lunch in the city. She even has started to do bespoke pieces.
Her fan base is huge. Many celebrities have been spotted in Happycoats, among them Claudia Schiffer, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Kate Moss. Last month, Lindig was voted Best German Brand Abroad 2012 by German Bunte, Elle and Instyle magazines. Congrats, Tilla, well done!
If you would like to have more information and see some of the styles, please click here for a previous post.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Tilla Lindig, Happycoat and © Birgit Klemt
As you already know if there is one piece fashion is gushing over this F/W 2010, it is the camel coat. Being a true classic and always in style, this season seems to be the perfect time to get one. Many designers showed their own unique take on it. Whether it is made from genuine camel hair or not, it is an investment always worth it.
In case you have not decided yet, please find above a summary of the best pieces in stores at the moment. There is something for every taste and budget.
I decided to go for the long caramel camel-wool wrap coat by Chloé. It is a very versatile piece. Cinched at the waist with the skinny tan belt or thrown over loose, the overall impact is pure sophistication.
I love to wear it tone on tone with my chunky wool cardigan dress by Stella McCartney and my suede Gucci overknee boots for an instant sensual upgrade. The Céline box bag adds the perfect minimalistic chic.
The probably most authentic choice is the iconic and much-copied Max Mara cashmere blend overcoat that launched in 1981. It has been the company’s bestseller since nearly thirty years. What the trench is to Burberry, the classic camel coat is to Max Mara, specifically the model with the so-called style number “101801”.
Therefore, it is no wonder that the Italian brand has recently used the wool and cashmere icon to launch its e-commerce business. The double-breasted outerwear piece has an 42 inch length and kimono sleeves that can be rolled up. Its proportions make it an ideal fit for all women. It can be personalized with a special lining and a name or monogram on the inside label.
Available for purchase exclusively at maxmara.com.
LoL, Sandra
