The Craziest Shoes of the Season

Here they are the craziest shoes of the season. An art gallery’s worth of the weird, wacky and wonderful walked onto the runway for S/S 2023. Moschino’s pumps resembled miniature blow-up flamingo pool floats, one of Loewe’s sandals was entirely made of a huge 3-D petal and JW Anderson joined forces with Wellipets for some whimsical frog aesthetic. Heels, in particular, had a surreal feel, most notably seen in Alaïa‘s cabaret version and Sophia Webster‘s flamingo heels.

LoL, Sandra

Frog round toe clogs by JW Anderson x Wellipets

White coin purse heels by Pushbutton

Cabaret sandals by Alaïa

Flamingo-heel sandals by Sophia Webster
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Flamingo-detail 100mm pumps by Moschino

Floral detail high-heel sandals by Dolce & Gabbana

Petal 90 leather sandals by Loewe


Froufrou Alta 150 satin sandals by Christian Louboutin

iconPhotos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Courtesy of the Brands
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It Takes Two to Tan-Go

It takes two to tango – and shoes should never come alone. VALENTINO‘s iconic Tan-Go shoe has been on every fashionista’s wishlist lately. First launched in 2012 as a more modest version, the new take as skyrocketing platforms are now available in many versatile options, not only super stylish, but also ultra comfortable to dance the nights away.

My collection has become pretty extensive … it takes two to tango, or probably three, four, five …

LoL, Sandra

The classic one: Tan-Go patent leather platform pumps

The lower heel: Tan-Go platform pumps

The pointy one: Tan-Go patent leather platform pump 165mm

The open toe: Tan-Go 155 patent-leather platform sandalsicon

The bootie: Tan-Go leather ankle boots

The embellished version: Tan-Go embellished leather platform pumps

All clear: Tan-Go transparent pumps

The ultra high one: Discobox 180mm platform pumps

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia KrawieckaDavid Biedert Photography
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Flamencaba

After the mystical CARACABA and last year’s ever-whimsical GREEKABA, get ready to say ¡Hola! to Christian Louboutin’s annual limited-edition cabas offering, the FLAMENCABA: a fiery celebration of all the creativity, charisma and exquisite craftsmanship that Andalusia has to offer, developed in collaboration with the inimitable Rossy de Palma, actress and long-time friend of Christian’s.

It was inspired by the region’s rich culture and flamenco tradition, and it features men’s and women’s shoes, fans, and bags. The key pieces include the FLAMENCABA small toteicon that highlights the savoir-faire of local craftsmen with ornate detailing inspired by Flamenco dresses. On the base of the handles, CARASPIKES become gold-toned SEVILLANA spikes, inspired by Seville’s architectural heritage and bringing an added touch of opulence to this everyday tote bag.

Another highlight is the FLAMENCABA mini bagicon, that was inspired by the iconic shawls worn by Andalusian bailaoras.

Christian Louboutin will donate part of the profits from the capsule collection to Centro Coreografico Maria Page, an organization that aims to promote dance and Spain’s cultural heritage as a model of social and civic commitment for the benefit of children, adolescents, genders and vulnerable groups.

Launching in May 2023, this year’s Flamencaba collection continues in the footsteps of the annual cabas series with a true ode to craftsmanship.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Christian Louboutin
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Alaïa’s Cabaret Sandals

Sometimes, a fabulous pair of heels deserve its own post. This kind of footwear has the power to elevate a simple outfit into something conversation-worthy. Inspired by Parisian cabaret dancers, Alaïa’s sandals are crafted from patent-leather in a barely-there design. The drama is revealed when you’re sitting cross-legged or walking up stairs – all eyes will be on the cheeky gold figurines that form the heel. I am completely obsessed.

TO SHOP THE ALAÏA CABARET SANDALS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Alaïa / Sandra Bauknecht
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AREA x Sergio Rossi

My avid readers know that I am huge AREA fan. Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk launched their brand in 2014 as design students at Parsons after bonding over a mutual love of ’80s glamour and feminine silhouettes. Named after the pioneering New York nightclub of the same name, the label’s irreverent designs and high-octane embellishments have garnered a diverse fanbase that includes Kendall Jenner and Michelle Obama.

Now, they introduce their hotly-anticipated footwear designs in collaboration with Sergio Rossi, which means Italian essence meets New York glamour. Being packed with Y2K tropes, the new AREA x Sergio Rossi capsule collection rewrites the rules and offers a unique take on femininity: more liberated, daring and inclusive than ever before.

The campaign was captured by fashion photographer Collier Schorr, with creative direction by Piotrek Panszczyk, set design by Robert Sumrell, production by High Snobiety and casting by Dan von der Graf and Andrea Prato.

My favorites are the ‘Shibari‘ sandals, a gladiator style that climb up the leg, set on spindly stiletto heels and dusted with sparkling crystals.

TO SHOP THE AREA x SERGIO ROSSI COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Area, Sergio Rossi, Net-à-Porter – The campaign was captured by fashion photographer Collier Schorr, with creative direction by Piotrek Panszczyk, set design by Robert Sumrell, production by High Snobiety and casting by Dan von der Graf and Andrea Prato.
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Merging Fashion and Culture

HENNESSY X.O UNVEILS MASTERPIECE COLLABORATION WITH KIM JONES

In a first for the Maison, the acclaimed fashion designer transcends couture and cognac in a special collection featuring a collectible sneaker, Masterpiece decanter, and Limited Edition bottle.

Hennessy is pleased to announce a collaboration with the world-renowned British Artistic Director Kim Jones. In an audacious meeting of two icons, the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones collection bridges street and luxury in a unique celebration of the legendary blend’s impact on culture. Interweaving the richness of Hennessy X.O’s 150-year heritage with Kim Jones’ creative vision, the collaboration features the Hennessy X.O Masterpiece designed by Kim Jones, the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition bottle by Kim Jones, and in a first for the brand, the HNY Low by Kim Jones. This also marks the first time Maison Hennessy has partnered with a fashion designer, and that Kim Jones collaborates with a spirits brand.

HNY Low by Kim Jones

«We are thrilled to embark on a new odyssey blending cognac-making and couture with Kim Jones, a creative master of our time,» said Laurent Boillot, Hennessy CEO. «Inspired by the emblematic personality of Hennessy X.O, Kim has developed a resolutely contemporary collection that is destined to make an impact on culture today and in the future.»

For Hennessy X.O, Kim Jones pays tribute to cognac-making and couture, two processes that touch on an understanding of science and the natural world as well as artisanal craftsmanship and savoir-faire. He follows in the footsteps of a formidable lineage of great masters who have helped cement Hennessy X.O’s cultural resonance over the years, including Frank Gehry, Cai Guo-Qiang and Ridley Scott.

«I’m fascinated by the rich heritage of Hennessy, a household name behind which artisans have spent hundreds of years creating this special cognac,» says Kim Jones. «Storytelling is very important for me regardless of what I’m designing or who I’m collaborating with – I want my designs to educate and inspire people through the stories they tell.»

WHERE COGNAC MEETS COUTURE: THE HENNESSY X.O MASTERPIECE AND HENNESSY X.O
LIMITED EDITION DESIGNED BY KIM JONES

Designed exclusively for Hennessy by Kim Jones, produced using 3D printing technology, and finished by hand, the sculptural Hennessy X.O Masterpiece has been produced in a limited edition of just 200 examples. The decanter demonstrates how humanity and technology can work together to create something unique, «like a piece of bespoke couture for a bottle,» the designer notes.

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece draws inspiration from the making of Hennessy X.O, an art perfected by eight generations of Master Blenders. A specially developed titanium casing entirely encapsulates the bottle like an architectural second skin. Its twisting folds evoke both the couture technique of draping and the way in which, at the turn of the 20th century, Hennessy bottles were carefully hand-enveloped in tissue paper as a way of protecting their fragile parchment paper labels. Its base, an undulating oak plateau, nods to the barrels used to age eaux-de-vie that would eventually be blended to create Hennessy X.O.

While the bottle is entirely obscured from view, the cognac can be extracted using the fusil designed by Kim Jones, an elegant and playful ritual to serve a glass of the Hennessy X.O blend. As a finishing touch, the decanter itself has been dipped in gradient colors, an effect inspired by the shades of the different eaux-de-vie selected by the Master Blender to compose Hennessy X.O.

Says Kim Jones: «When I saw how the vintage Hennessy bottles were wrapped, it spoke volumes to me about how precious each one is, and how they were handled. I was particularly touched by their history, and the sense of how generations have dedicated their time to making each step of the process better and better. That same process also holds true with fashion

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition

The third element of the collaboration is the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition ‘ready-to-wear’ version of the decanter specially imagined by Kim Jones. The Hennessy X.O bottle is encased in an aluminum second skin, its structure showcasing the signature shape of the bottle while evoking a couture silhouette. A true representation of the merger of fashion and culture with excellence and legacy, the limited edition bottle is the final piece of the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones partnership.

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition by Kim Jones is available exclusively at Globus for CHF 241.50 now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hennessy
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Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Jimmy Choo has unveiled a capsule collection in collaboration with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon in celebration of the Japanese anime series 30th anniversary. The first Sailor Moon episode aired in 1991, followed by the adaptation Sailor Moon Crystal in 2014. Created by Naoko Takeuchi, the show has become a pop cultural phenomenon, stanned for its feminine magic, humor, and fashionable characters.

Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, has worked with Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, on the collection that champions «bold individuality, zeitgeist-defining imagery and female empowerment». The Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon collection aims to translate the anime series femininity and female power with a capsule range of footwear and accessories themed around the ‘Sailor Guardians’ characters, including Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, their mentor cat Luna and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon herself.

The capsule collection includes for example knee-high boots, ankle boots, patent pumps, lace-up leather combat boots, and high-heeled platform pumps as homages to the shoes worn by the characters. Moreover, Sailor Moon’s most memorable moments are immortalized as manga drawings on bags and sneakers. Highlight of the collaboration is a pair of limited-edition boots encrusted with roughly 19,000 Swarovski crystals. The fuchsia-colored silhouette is complete with a moon motif at the top in addition to a 10-centimeter-tall heel, maintaining the original look of Jimmy Choo’s classic shoes.

Celebrating the team-up and the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon, Jimmy Choo is putting one pair of these boots on display exclusively at Tokyo‘s Mori Art Museum in Roppongi.

The Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon collection will be exclusively available in Europe at Selfridges from February 14. The launch will coincide with a dedicated pop-up in the department store’s ground-floor accessories hall, featuring «playful installations with the ultimate photo opportunity for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon superfans.»

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jimmy Choo
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These Shoes Are Made for Loving

Valentine’s Day is coming up and heart shoes are a February must have. This season’s heart-themed shoe trend is the best way to show your betrothed how loved-up you’re feeling, as well as earning you plenty of style points.

LoL, Sandra

Amora heart-print ballerinas by Sophia Webster

Heart plaque lace pumps by Dolce & Gabbana

Heart 95 crystal-embellished satin sandalsicon by Mach & Mach

Crystal-heart sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti

Heart-plaque slingback pumps by Love Moschino

Mules Cœur with crystals by Alaïa

Heart-print platform sandals by Saint Laurent

 Triple-heart satin pump by Mach & Mach

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Sandra Bauknecht
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Alanui x Moon Boot

Something you shouldn’t miss this season: Alanui x Moon Boot have joined forces to create three styles together. It is the first collaboration between the two Italian companies, and with their shared vision and love of nature.

Alanui, created by Nicolò Oddi in dialogue with his sister Carlotta, luxury Italian label Alanui translates to «large path» in Hawaiian – the pieces are designed to accompany you on your journey through life. The «Cardigan», part garment, part artwork, is considered a blank canvas that’s continuously reinterpreted through patterns, colors, materials and knitting techniques to translate the emotion of life experiences. This season, through their collaboration with Moon Boot, there are three styles to accompany your look.

The Icon High is made of waterproof virgin wool knits with jacquard suede patterns, knit laces, recycled plastic beads, and embroidery on the back. Available in four colorways, the aesthetic of the shoe is reminiscent of Alanui’s Icon patterned quilts and the historic design that made Moon Boot famous.

The Icon Low, on the other hand, is the lower version of the boot and features fringe detailing, laces adorned with recycled beads.

The third and latest model, the Full Moon Bandana, is a slip-on nylon shoe suitable for urban use, available in five colors: cobalt blue, military green, black, red and pink.

My favorite style from the collaboration.

The three styles echo Alanui’s signature tribal motifs and prove versatile, allowing them to be worn both in the mountains and in the city. The result of the collaboration is bold and features an aesthetic dedicated to the outdoors. It reflects the pristine images of nature, such as magical snow-covered landscapes, eternal ice and the search for authenticity. Don’t miss the cozy styles, which will only get better with every wear and memory made.

TO SHOP ALANUI x MOON BOOT, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
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LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Alanui
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Jimmy Choo x Timberland – Part Two

Jimmy Choo x Timberland have joined forces again for a collaboration that sees Timberland’s iconic Original Yellow Boot re-imagined through the luxurious lens of Jimmy Choo creative director Sandra Choi, alongside Harlem’s Fashion Row and designer Shanel Campbell. The result? A reinvented classic.


The fusion of outdoor heritage with Jimmy Choo’s signature glamour and «the gritty energy of New York» is inspired by the ’90s hip-hop scene. The most desirable piece of the collection? A limited edition design that is fully embellished in Swarovski crystals and set on a slim 115mm heel with a pointed toe. I LOVE!

LoL, Sandra


Wheat Timberland Nubuck Ankle Boots with Jimmy Choo Graffiti (also available for men)

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Black Timberland Nubuck Ankle Boots with Crystal Logoicon

Hot Pink Timberland Velvet Ankle Bootsicon (also available for men)

Black Timberland Patent Knee High Boots with Detachable Harness

Gold Timberland Shimmer Suede Ankle Boots with Swarovski Crystals

Photos: © Jimmy Choo
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