Sandra‘s Closet

For CHANEL’s Paris – 31 rue Cambon Métiers d’Art 2020 show, models wore iconic shoes with a black toe, an 8cm heel and revisited proportions.

Mademoiselle called them pumps. «They are the final touch of elegance», she used to say. To perfect the silhouette that Gabrielle Chanel introduced to the world, it was necessary to create a shoe that went with any outfit, one that was elegant, could be worn morning to night, and was suited to the new lifestyle of women.

The Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida surrounded by CHANEL House models wearing suits and two-tone shoes (1964, F/W Haute Couture).

In 1957, Mademoiselle Chanel created the two-tone slingback shoe in beige and black. It created a highly graphic effect: the beige lengthened the leg while the black shortened the foot. Whereas shoes had previously been made in a single color that matched the color of one’s clothing, Mademoiselle Chanel once again overturned the codes of fashion by pairing beige and black with all outfits. In her words, «You leave in the morning wearing beige and black, you have lunch in beige and black, and you attend a cocktail party wearing beige and black. You’re dressed for the entire day!» Chanel’s slingback shoe experienced instant success. It varied in style, offering versions with a straighter or thinner heel and a rounded, square or pointed toe.

The beautiful heels for CHANEL’s Paris – 31 rue Cambon Métiers d’Art 2020 show were produced at Massaro.

Mademoiselle Chanel improved its comfort with the help of Massaro (which has remained Chanel’s custom shoe brand to this day) by adding an elastic strap. Located «just steps away from Rue Cambon,» the Massaro workshop continues to create all of the footwear creations for Chanel’s Haute Couture and Métiers d’Art collections. Starting with his very first collection, Karl Lagerfeld had channeled his talent to modernize this model. The two-tone shoe thus lends itself to a myriad of metamorphoses. In just one season, it may be transformed into a ballerina slipper, boot or sandal without losing any of its original spirit. «It’s become the most modern of shoes and makes beautiful legs,» Karl Lagerfeld explained many years ago.

Virginie Viard at CHANEL’s Paris – 31 rue Cambon Métiers d’Art 2020 show finale.

This season, Virginie Viard continued the legacy and created in my eyes one of the It-shoes of the season, comfortable and stylish in one. I love mine and will show you how I wore them on all my recent travels around Europe. They are available now for CHF 900.

LoL, Sandra

CHANEL’s Paris – 31 rue Cambon Métiers d’Art 2020 ad campaign

Photos: © CHANEL, © Photo Philippe Garnier / Elle-Scoop
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. I just love those shoes.

Featuring vivid hues and magnified ultra-graphic prints which play with the LV Monogram Giant motif, the LV Crafty collection expertly blends fine craftsmanship and pop style.
Its creations draw inspiration from two artistic movements from the second half of the 20th century: graffiti art and neo-expressionism. During the 1980s these urban, underground trends ventured into new and established creative territories, including New York museums and galleries.

NéoNoé bucket LV Crafty cream & red, in Monogram coated canvas

Today, the LV Crafty collection is suffused with this graphic boldness which first adorned the Monogram canvas. The collection revisits a print chosen from the House’s archives and paired with the Monogram Giant motif in black. Available in two colour schemes, cream and red or the more autumnal cream and caramel, LV Crafty appears on the House’s most iconic pieces – Onthego, NéoNoé and Boite Chapeau Souple.

Boite Chapeau Souple bag LV Crafty cream & red, in Monogram coated canvas

The Monogram Empreinte leather has also embraced the LV Crafty print, adding subtle and elegant touches around the chapes, on the handles and to the accessories, which brighten up and energise the sleek black or white leather.

Twist MM LV Crafty in black grained Epi leather, braided handle and printed cowhide charm

The collection will make its debut in all Louis Vuitton stores at the end of July, highlighting the House’s wide range of expertise for a full selection of trainers, accessories, ready-to-wear, travel and more to start off the fall season in style.

LoL, Sandra

Onthego tote LV Crafty caramel & cream, in Monogram coated canvas

Onthego tote LV Crafty cream & red, in Monogram coated canvas

Onthego tote LV Crafty Monogram Empreinte black, in embossed supple grained cowhide leather

Metis bag LV Crafty Monogram Empreinte cream, in embossed supple grained cowhide leather

Photos: © Benoit Peverelli for Louis Vuitton

For the VALENTINO Bluegrace collection, blue motifs historically used in Dutch pottery decorate dresses in tulle, crêpe de chine and brocade for the Pre-Fall 2020 collection.

Pierpaolo Piccioli looks to the past to sculpt a new present, balancing the renowned Dutch pottery motifs and archive influences on soft silhouettes. Fabrics are enriched with feathers, pleats and lace embroideries, following the Maison’s timeless codes to shape a new day-to-night aesthetic.

Unexpected accessories and spontaneous combinations mix with solemn couture charm, meeting a dynamic idea of modernity. Last week, I had the chance to explore the collection first hand in the VALENTINO store in Zurich.

Exploring the new collection in a vibrant green look from Valentino S/S 2020.

The store was filled with some amazing pieces and decorated with floral arrangements in white and blue that were gifted to the customers.

Below you can see more official photos of the collection, that is now available in the Zurich stores. TO SHOP THE COLLECTION ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

With lovely Gianfranca Addis, Store Manager Valentino Zurich.

Photos: © Valentino and © Sandra Bauknecht
#ValentinoBluegrace #ValentinoFall2020
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Fashion is a novel. And the Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2020 collection embarks on a narrative journey where the garments tell their own tales.
These characters from our wardrobe set the scene for our days, our moods, our lives. This meeting of periods, stylistic movements and anachronistic combinations brings to life a rich cast of costumes.

In such a ‘wearable library’, each outfit writes its own chapter made up of romantic monologues. Peculiar dialogues between stylistic rebellion and fine crafts- manship. An account of sportswear’s encounter with tailoring. Taking the cultural references even further, Louis Vuitton has adorned one of the collection’s t-shirts with the original cover from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 cult science-fiction novel The Exorcist.

To illustrate this collection – a term that works just as well with fashion as it does with literature or on the big screen – the House’s muses proudly take to book covers or film posters as protagonists, fitting perfectly into Louis Vuitton’s history and brilliantly embracing the role of adventurer.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Worn five ways and in three go-with-everything shades, Rosie Assoulin‘s «Thousand-In-One-Ways» top is your new hero knit. Now that’s outfit repeating made fun.

As featured in the New York based designer’s Pre-Fall 2020 lookbook, this versatile cable-knit piece is designed to be styled a myriad of ways; Cut for a slim fit, with a cropped silhouette, a square neck, sleeveless, a removable bolero, and a ribbed trim.

You may have gasped at the price, but think about it – for $680/€760, you get, like, a trillion knits. Calculate the cost per twist, now that’s outfit repeating made fun.

TO PRE-ORDER THE THOUSAND-IN-ONE-WAYS TOP, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rosie Assoulin
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

The fashion world can be unpredictable – no one ever really knows if something will go viral or not. It has to be the right moment, the right look, and probably the right photo. Katie Holmes‘s Khaite cashmere cardigan and bra set went viral for a reason in 2019. It looked so cool bringing on shoulders and a lot of décolletage.

Scarlet Oversized Puff-Sleeve Cashmere Cardigan

Eda Cashmere Bralette

Since launching in 2016, New York label Khaite has established itself as a favorite with industry insiders looking for polished staples that transcend trends. Now, you can pre-order this Insta-famous set from the label’s Pre-fall 2020 collection. Just click on the highlighted text above to be transferred directly.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Khaite / Getty