Sandra‘s Closet

Last week, before leaving to Johannesburg in the evening, I attended The Championships at Wimbledon for the first time as guest of Ralph Lauren x Net-à-Porter.

At Centre Court, British heritage takes a global stage – from the freshly cut grass, strawberries and cream, and morning garden parties to the polished spectator style. As the Official Outfitter of The Championships at Wimbledon since 2006, Ralph Lauren has proudly celebrated the tournament’s rich traditions in sportsmanship and elegance.  The American fashion house is providing uniforms for on-court officials as well as stylish, yet functional, pieces that embody the prestigious and sophisticated atmosphere of the tournament.

I was invited to the Ralph Lauren suite that is elegantly furnished and beautifully decorated. Here I enjoyed lunch and drinks before heading to the game.

Here’s a glimpse into the unique fashion culture of Wimbledon:

Traditional Dress Code
Players: Wimbledon is known for its strict all-white dress code for players, which dates back to the 1800s. At the time in Victorian England, sweat stains were seen as improper and unacceptable, and white would mask the stains the best out of every colored clothing. Once the rule was drawn up, Wimbledon has decided to keep the all-white dress code a tradition throughout the years, meaning that any visible clothing, including undergarments, must be white or almost white.
Spectators: While there’s no official dress code for spectators, the event often attracts a chic, garden-party look with summer dresses, blazers, and hats being common choices.

Celebrities and Royalty
Celebrity Sightings: The event attracts celebrities from various fields, including actors, musicians, and other sports stars, often dressed in stylish, sophisticated outfits.
Royalty: Members of the British royal family, especially Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was frequently seen at Wimbledon before her illness. Kate is known for her impeccable fashion sense, often opting for elegant dresses that respect the tournament’s refined atmosphere. My seat was next to the royal box where I spotted her parents front row.

Experience and Atmosphere
Strawberries and Cream: A quintessential Wimbledon experience includes enjoying strawberries and cream, served in the grounds, adding to the genteel, summery feel of the event.
Pimm’s and Champagne: These are popular beverages at Wimbledon, contributing to the festive and high-society atmosphere.
The Grounds: The carefully manicured lawns and flower arrangements provide a beautiful backdrop, enhancing the overall experience and making it a picturesque setting for both tennis and fashion enthusiasts.

Iconic Fashion Moments
Roger Federer and Serena Williams: Known for their stylish takes on the all-white rule, Federer’s sleek Nike outfits and Williams’ elegant and sometimes bold tennis dresses have left a mark on Wimbledon’s fashion history.
Anna Wintour: The US Vogue editor-in-chief is a regular at Wimbledon, often seen in the stands wearing stylish summer attire that combines elegance with comfort.

Wimbledon seamlessly blends the worlds of sport and fashion, making it a unique and stylish experience for both players and spectators. The tournament is taking place from July 1-14, 2024.

A big thank you to Iona Miller and her team at Net-à-Porter for this amazing day in Wimbledon!

The Ralph Lauren style tradition pays tribute to the timeless sophistication of tennis.
YOU CAN SHOP THE POLO RALPH LAUREN WIMBLEDON COLLECTION HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Getty
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Yesterday, Anna Wintour, who helms the chairmanship at the Costume Institute since the ‘90s, announced via Vogue that the Met Gala 2020 will officially be postponed in light of the coronavirus outbreak. News of the postponement comes after the Met’s decision to close its doors until April 4.

Understandably, as everywhere in the world life is slowing down, taking a step back to fight together against this terrible virus. I am living in Switzerland that closed more businesses yesterday to slow the spread of the coronavirus but stopped short of ordering the country’s 8.6 million citizens to stay home. Under the new rules, restaurants, museums, cinemas, hair salons, and all nonessential commerce had to shut down at midnight until at least April 19. Borders with France, Austria, and Germany are tightened. The move comes just days after the Federal Council reintroduced border controls with Italy, closed schools, and banned gatherings of more than 100 people. As of Monday, Switzerland had 1,680 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 14 of them fatal. The country is only testing those severely stricken by the disease.

Yesterday at CHANEL – empty shelves in preparation for the lockdown.

Yesterday evening, I was the «last customer standing» at CHANEL. I had to pick up something before the store officially closed for many weeks. It was quite scary, seeing the shelves emptied and saying good-bye to everyone not knowing when we well be seeing each other again.

Personally speaking, I am really scared of the economic impact this health crisis will have. This is a particularly challenging time for many of the business, especially the small ones, regardless of their location, as the economic fallout from this situation will likely impact their business in some way. My industry is absolutely affected, the stock market experienced sharp declines, demonstrating the impact of the virus on consumer industries. While the impact on fields including travel, entertainment and technology are widely known, lifestyle industries – including fashion and beauty – have been affected as well. Most companies, especially the huge beauty conglomerates, depend on the Asian market with a strong focus on China as well as travel retail, two strong pillars that have just disappeared. Event cancelations and affected sales due to the closure of many stores also impact the industry tremendously.

Looking to a resolution for the global health crisis, Giorgio Armani has donated 1.25 million euros to hospitals and institutions in Italy. Versace made a contribution of about 144 thousand dollars to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation. LVMH announced on Sunday that it will use its perfume production lines to start making hand sanitizer that will be delivered free of charge to health authorities to protect people against the coronavirus outbreak.

Good news is that online sales are booming and as long as DHL and all the other shipping companies are allowed to deliver to our doorstep, we can still keep up with the fashion trends.

What is going to happen at Sandra’s Closet during the next weeks? I have to admit I am happy as a bug, for the first time I can enjoy being at home, working 24/7 on things and stories I haven’t had the time to write about due to my busy schedule. No travel plans, no FOMO (fear of missing out) as everybody is doing the same. I am not missing anything. Furthermore, I will relax, read a book, exercise and spend time with my daughter with whom I have finally the time to shoot a lot of outfit posts with no rush in between appointments.

Stay tuned, I will entertain you daily and hopefully make you dream of what we will be wearing when we get out of our exile. My dear fashion enthusiasts, enjoy your daily glimpse of fashion and beauty on Sandra’s Closet while staying home and healthy. And please laugh daily… that is the best remedy of all.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – © Sandra Bauknecht

Last night, my all-time favorite red carpet event took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: the Met Gala 2019. Personally speaking, this year’s exhibition theme: «Camp: Notes on Fashion», based on an essay from 1964 by the late Susan Sonntag, delivered a bout of wild, over-the-top fashion moments. It was like a playground to dress up for all fashion aficionados.

Even the hostess went gaga: Anna Wintour in an embroidered Chanel gown with feathery cape.

If you seem confused… in this case, camp is not to be mistaken as in sleeping bags and tents, but camp as in exaggerated fashion. Sonntag’s essay, that provides the framework for the exhibition, defines camp as «love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration» and examines how the elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration are expressed in fashion. The exhibition will be open to the public from May 9 – September 8, 2019.

This was her theme! Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell changed her outfit four times!

Co-hosted by two fashion-loving celebrities: Lady Gaga and Harry Styles and sponsored by Gucci. What do you want more?

The exhibition itself is featuring both men’s and womenswear, over 200 pieces of fashion, along with sculptures, paintings, and drawings from the 17th century through today. The works of versatile designers from Alexander McQueen to John Galliano, Rei Kawakubo to Mugler, Mary Katrantzou to Jeremy Scott, and more are featured. What I have seen so far, among the exhibited items are many pieces that also hang in my closet. I couldn’t be more proud of my collection…

Before the Hollywood royalty and fashionistas presented themselves on the red carpet in front of the Metropolitan Museum, they met in the nearby «The Mark». The hotel is the venue for Anna Wintour‘s «pre-party» of the glamorous event every year. Definitely the place to stay!

Below are my favorite looks of the night… enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

My favorite outfit! My favorite reveal! Thierry Mugler himself is back, now called Manfred, and envisioned Kim Kardashian as a California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping. This latex dress took 8 months to make and is for me a true innovation on the runway!

Reminiscent of the Gucci runway: Jared Leto with his beheaded doppelganger

OMG! To die for! Cardi B in Thom Browne

Looking sensational: Saoirse Ronan in Gucci

She looked like a young Linda Evangelista in the ’90s: Bella Hadid in Moschino.

Harry Styles in Gucci

In keeping with the evening’s theme of camp, Ezra Miller turned up with the most outstanding optical illusion. His attire? Custom Burberry by Riccardo Tisci.

All about hats: Janelle Monáe in Christian Siriano.

I love pink, I love Barbie and I love this: Multi Grammy Award-winner Kacey Musgraves channeled a true fashion icon, Barbie, in Moschino.

Colorful: Lupita Nyong’o in custom Versace and Bulgari jewelry.

Stunning Gemma Chan in and with Tom Ford. Best accessory: having the designer at your side.

Katy Perry in a chandelier dress by Moschino.

Céline Dion in Oscar de la Renta

What an entrance! Billy Porter wore a custom-made sun god outfit by New York City-based designer duo The Blonds.

Blue hair, don’t care: Lucy Boynton in Prada.

I loved this. What a Cinderella moment for Zendaya. Sporting a glowing, Disney-esque gown designed by Tommy Hilfiger, and accompanied by her stylist Law Roach who transformed with the wave of a wand Zendaya’s dress into a glowing ensemble. She even left a glass slipper.

Lily Collins opted for an ivory ruffled gown which featured a flowing train by Salvatore Ferragamo. Very ’60s – very sweetheart.

Fresh off the Couture Week runways, Hailee Steinfeld sparked in Viktor & Rolf slogan couture gown. It was a perfect match as Anna Wintour had forbidden cameras, iPhones inside the event…

This was by far my favorite Met Gala of all and I cannot wait to see the exhibition!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Vogue, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty Images

Last night, fashion’s most anticipated yearly event (yes, hotter than the Oscar’s), the MET GALA, offered a breathtaking red carpet that I will tell you all about today. It always takes place on the first Monday in May. But if you’re not an industry expert, you might be wondering why on earth there should be so much hype about it. First of all, Anna Wintour is hosting the night along some well-known co-hosts, which are all much-worshiped by the paparazzi: Amal Clooney, Rihanna, and Donatella Versace. But there is more… many stars, models and fashion designers attend the night in showstopping outfits worthy of unforgettable photos.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, right, designer Donatella Versace, left, and Vogue US Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour  in Rome last February.

It is a huge night for fashion fundraising as it is dedicated to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute – formally named The Anna Wintour Costume Center, in homage to the American Vogue’s editor-in-chief, who has been a chair member of the museum’s gala since 1995. It also celebrates the opening of the newest exhibition of which its theme sets the tone for the event and invitees have to dress accordingly. Personally speaking, I find this year’s motto extremely interesting, instead of being dedicated to the work of one designer, it is inspired by the dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art: «Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination».

In Anna’s recent «Letter of the Editor» in the May 2018 edition of US Vogue, she writes: «The exhibition itself has been years in the making, and it will be not only the largest Costume Institue show to date but the biggest show ever at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s hard to not sound hyperbolic about it, but it is going to be an absolutely magnificent experience – spanning some 26 galleries and including work from the likes of Valentino, Gaultier, and Dolce & Gabbana along with more than 40 extraordinarily opulent liturgical garments and accessories on loan from the Vatican.

For curator Andrew Bolton, it required endless hours of patience dealing with the Vatican, given the labyrinthine way that it operates.»

Central to the conversation will be the papal garb on loan from the Sistine Chapel sacristy, many of which have never been seen outside the Vatican, even in the 1983 Met blockbuster, «The Vatican Collections: The Papacy and Art».

An enduring influence of religion on fashion: for F/W 2010, church elements played a huge role on the catwalks. Have a look at this previous post: The Nun’s Story.

The display of these extraordinary ecclesiastical pieces will highlight the enduring influence of religion and liturgical vestments on fashion. Among the 150 or so ensembles that will be on display are pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, who was educated by nuns, and John Galliano, whose transgressive F/W 2000 Couture collection for Christian Dior opened with a mitred, incense-swinging pope-like figure who proceeded down the runway to a voice intoning: «Understand the concept of love.»

First look of Christian Dior Couture F/W 2000

Fashion is a way to express yourself and by placing clothes within the context of religion, you realize how much power the looks of Christianity have and that fashion has supported the way we feel the Catholic imagination.

Part of the exhibition
Left: Fragment of a floor mosaic with a personification of Ktisis, Byzantine, 500–550, with modern restoration, marble, and glass; right: Ensemble, Dolce & Gabbana, F/W 2013

Me in a Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2013 look: A Byzantine Moment

«Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination» is on view May 10–October 8, 2018. A catalog with photographs by Katerina Jebb will accompany the exhibition.

Below you can enjoy some of my favorite looks of last night.

My personal winner: Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
She needed to arrive in a party bus to have enough space for her amazing gown!

Love this look as well: Jennifer Lopez in Balmain, Jimmy Choo shoes and clutch.

Rare moment: The host of the night, Anna Wintour, caught smiling in Chanel.

Angel of the night: Katy Perry in Versace.

Madonna in Jean Paul Gaultier

Co-host perfection: Rihanna in custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano, Christian Louboutin shoes, Maria Tash jewelry, Cartier jewelry, and a custom Judith Leiber Couture clutch.

Always an eye-catcher: Sarah Jessica Parker in Dolce & Gabbana and Jennifer Fisher.

Heavenly: Anne Hathaway in a stunning red Valentino gown.

Icon: Lily Collins in Givenchy

Cara Delevingne in Dior Haute Couture

Simple and elegant, matching the theme:
Andreea Diaconu in Michael Kors Collection and Chopard jewelry

Beautiful print: Ariana Grande in Vera Wang.

Lana Del Rey and Jared Leto, both in Gucci

Curvy and beautiful: Kate Upton in Zac Posen

Rita Ora in Prada

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in custom Ralph Lauren Collection

So cute: Cardi B shows off her baby bump in Moschino next to designer Jeremy Scott.

Kate Bosworth recreated her bridal look in Oscar de la Renta and Tacori jewelry.

Beautiful in velvet: Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren.

Definitely not the most sexy look, but matching the theme well: Greta Gerwig in The Row.

Stella Maxwell in Moschino and David Yurman

Sexy interpretation: Taylor Hill in Diane von Furstenberg

Best dressed man of the night: Chadwick Boseman in Versace.

I personally didn’t like this look at all, not matching the theme (as a co-host you would expect better) and the cut is not pleasing her beautiful shape: Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Vogue.com, © Sandra Bauknecht, © Melanie Galea, (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Photos: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane DickFund and Fletcher Fund, 1998; Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Dodge Fund, and Rogers Fund, 1999 (1998.69; 1999.99) / © Metropolitan Museum of Art; Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana / Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Digital Composite Scan by Katerina Jebb, Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s Costume Institute in New York City and marks the grand opening of its annual fashion exhibit. Celebrating this year’s theme “China, Through The Looking Glass”, it seems to be one of the most challenging yet. See below who honored China’s heritage and its present culture on the red carpet best.

This year’s award to best dressed of the night goes to:

Rihanna wearing Chinese designer Guo Pei

The butt girls:

Jay Z and Beyoncé in Givenchy

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West in Roberto Cavalli

Donatella Versace and Jennifer Lopez, both in Atelier Versace.

Best Chinese inspirations:

Zendaya Coleman in Fausto Puglisi

Karolina Kurkova in Tommy Hilfiger

I am always looking forward to seeing Sarah Jessica Parker‘s outfit because she has never let us down in pulling off the best looks. And let’s just say the headpiece combined with her H&M dress is divine.

Georgia May Jagger in Gucci and Alessandro Michele

Chloë Sevigny in J.W. Anderson

Very sophisticated: Tom Ford and Rita Ora in his design.

Alexa Chung in Erdem

George Clooney and Amal Clooney in Maison Margiela

Not so inspired by the Chinese theme… but great to watch:

Jeremy Scott kissing Kate Perry‘s hand who is wearing Moschino.

Also Madonna wore Moschino.

Stella McCartney framed by Cara Delevingne, Sofia Richie, and Zhu Zhu, all dressed in her designs.

Alexander Wang kissed by Lady Gaga in Balenciaga

Miley Cyrus and Zoë Kravitz dressed in Alexander Wang.

Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection

Robert Pattinson and FKA twigs in Christopher Kane (definitely not my favorite gown of the night).

Supermodel Joan Smalls arrived at the Met Gala in a black tulle and purple silk one-sleeved Roberto Cavalli gown with cutouts and sheer paneling. Her date was the newly appointed designer of the Italian fashion house Peter Dundas. Isn’t this gown to die for?!

Anna Wintour in Chanel

LoL, Sandra

Photos via: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com, Moschino, Vogue and Style.com

Last week, I flew back to Los Angeles for a week filled with amazing experiences, events and more. Friday night before the Oscars, there was no hotter ticket in town than the Tom Ford show and I was completely excited to attend. There was so much “show” around the actual show as Hollywood’s A-list came to join the designer for his first fashion runway presentation ever held on the West Coast. The catwalk was drenched in real white rose petals that also fell from the ceiling during the show.

“I’m showing to a room full of entertainers,” Ford said postshow. “I’d better give them some showmanship. I thought, It never snows in Los Angeles. Let’s make it snow rose petals.“

The clothes were different from his previous collections. More subtle and less obviously sexy, a very interesting vibe. I truly adored the looks reminiscent of the ’70s. Bohemian patchwork, denim, gorgeous fringes, gowns and lots of fur.

Enjoy all my photos of this amazing night, see who was there and which celeb wore the same dress like me.

LoL, Sandra

My fabulous London girlfriends from Net-à-Porter.

Scarlett Johansson wore the same python dress like me. Funny coincidence.

Nicole Ritchie

Amber Valetta and Nicole Ritchie

Gorgeous couple: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham

Reese Witherspoon

Gwyneth Paltrow

Miley Cyrus

Jennifer Lopez

Rita Ora with me

Naomi Campbell

Brian Atwood

Amy Adams

Rachel Zoe with me

Julianne Moore

Robbie Williams

Jay Z with Beyoncé

Elton John with me

Anna Wintour with me

What a front row!

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for Tom Ford, Michael Buckner, Getty Images for Tom Ford

Sunday afternoon, Thakoon Panichgul showed his S/S 2014 collection, which was soft, delicate and very feminine. A lot of all in white looks, something that I have spotted quite often during the last days at New York Fashion Week.

I have especially adored the long pearl chains on Thakoon’s bags, created in collaboration with the Japanese jewelry company Tasaki, with whom Panichgul has a long-running partnership. Before the show started, I was able to explore the collection backstage. Funnily enough, I arrived with Anna Wintour at the same time.

It was great to see Thakoon again whom I had met for the first time in London at the Net-à-porter headquarters two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Lead Artist Diane Kendal for NARS Cosmetics created a look that was ”all about a beautiful fresh look for spring.” A little bit of spot concealing, she worked mainly with the new three matte multiples that will be newly launched for Spring 2014. So beauty addicts, it is time to get excited!

FACE: Sheer Glow Foundation
NEW Anguilla Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)
NEW Cappadoce Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

EYES: Larger Than Life® Lengthening Mascara

BROWS: Bali Eyeshadow

LIPS: NEW Laos Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

Stay tuned for more from New York Fashion Week coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Style.com

Before leaving for Venice to interview Blake Lively, I spent two days in the mountains for the fifth edition of the St. Moritz Art Masters. So-called SAM has become an integral part of the annual art calendar, attracting many contemporary artists from all over the globe.

Steve McCurry
The Pirelli Calendar 2013
Original making of image printed on Canvas

I was invited to the “Tribute to Photographers” event where I met some of the most distinctive photographers of the world, such as Albert Watson, Amedeo Turello, Steve McCurry, Matteo Basilé and many more. Each artist gave an introductory speech in the afternoon at the Posthaus before being honoured themselves during the “Tribute to Photography” evening at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains. This was very exciting for me because I had the honour to present Yossi Loloi with the award. More about the night to be posted soon.

At the Posthaus: Albert Watson and Steve McCurry

The next day, the two-day photo workshop “The Expression of Identity” started in which renowned photographers such as Jock Sturges, Steve McCurry and Amedeo Turello gave their insights on portraiture, figurative and fashion photography. It was such an amazing experience and I will be showing you so many photos during the next days.

The most exciting part: Famous photographers, Steve McCurry and Amedeo Turello, did each a photo shoot with me which felt like a dream. Experiencing their individuality and visual expression of identity and style was photography in its most exquisite form of art.

Monty Shadow, founder of the St. Moritz Art Masters, is a true visionary. We had tea at Badrutt’s Palace hotel together and I was deeply impressed when he showed me some of his work. He used to be a very successful photographer himself, shot a lot for the Playboy magazine and Anna Wintour started her career as his assistant.

As Leica being one of the main sponsors, there was a photo booth inside the lobby of the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains where you could have your photo taken.

My look: Structured tuxedo jacket by Balmain, wool and silk-blend sweater and printed modal and silk-blend scarf, both by Stella McCartney, stretch-leather leggings by Gucci and Tribtoo textured leather pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Steve McCurry

Honouring the 120th anniversary of Vogue, Anna Wintour took a trip down memory lane and shared her Vogue story. While working on this September’s cover (which will be the biggest one ever, be prepared to weight-lift) of a Marc Jacobs–clad Lady Gaga made her think about her first one as the editor of Vogue in November 1988 which starred the Israeli model Michaela Bercu, photographed by Peter Lindbergh and styled by Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele.

As the model couldn’t fit in the skirt, she had to wear jeans which made their first ever appearance on the cover of Vogue, and thus fashion history was made.

“Michaela was wearing a Christian Lacroix jacket with a beaded cross and stonewashed Guess jeans. The jacket was part of a suit, but the skirt didn’t fit Michaela; she had been back home and had gained a little weight. Not that that mattered. In fact, it only reinforced the idea: Take couture’s haughty grandeur, playfully throw it headlong into real life, and see what happens. What none of us expected was to run that picture on the cover, least of all the magazine’s printers, who asked if there’d been some mistake. It was so unlike the elegant close-ups typical of Vogue’s covers back then. This one broke all the rules. It looked easy, casual, like a moment snapped on the street, which was the whole point. Afterwards, people applied all sorts of interpretations: It was about mixing high and low, Michaela was pregnant, it was a religious statement. None of that was true. I had just looked at that picture and sensed the winds of change. And you can’t ask for more from a cover image than that.” – Anna Wintour

She also shared some of her favourite images from Vogue:

Vogue, July 15, 1928 – Photographed by Edward Steichen

Vogue, July 1, 1930 Swimmers – Photographed by George Hoyningen-Huene

Vogue, September 15, 1939 Manboochers corset – Photographed by Horst P. Horst

Vogue, May 1, 1947 One of Irving Penn’s most famous tableaux, often referred to as “The Twelve Beauties.” At this sitting Penn first fell in love with wife-to-be Lisa Fonssagrives, sixth from left. – Photographed by Irving Penn

Vogue, June 1, 1948 Cecil Beaton’s iconic image of Charles James ball gowns, photographed in the salon of French & Co., New York.- Photographed by Cecil Beaton

Vogue, December 1989 Naomi Campbell, Mike Tyson and Don King were all part of a feature on Tyson called “Fight Knight” – Photographed by Bruce Weber

Vogue, August 1990 Cleopatra’s Eye – Photographed by Irving Penn

Karl Lagerfeld’s “city ballerinas” shot in Paris. – Photographed by Ellen von Unwerth, Vogue, October 1991

I hope that you have enjoyed this little retrospective as much as I did. Such beautiful images!
For the complete slideshow, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Vogue

At the moment, I am in Paris for many exciting events and I have so much to show you. Let me get you started with this:

Welcome to Prada’s “24 h Museum“, designed by Francesco Vezzoli with AMO, Rem Koolhaas‘ think tank. It has been open in Paris for 24 hours only, from yesterday till today in the historic Palais d’Iéna, the building designed by Auguste Perret between 1936 and 1946, today home of CESE (Conseil Economique, Social et Environnemental), the French ‘third Chamber’.

Miuccia Prada & Francesco Vezzoli

AMO’s installation for the “24 h Museum“ is divided in three sections, each inspired by a particular type of museum space: historic, contemporary and forgotten. The three sections are instrument to the sequence of events that take place during 24 hours in different areas of the ground floor of the Palais d’Iéna. The central space is a large metal cage made from grills and neon lights that encloses the work by Francesco Vezzoli.

In the three sections – historic, contemporary and forgotten – Vezzoli is creating a “non-existent museum“ where he shows his personal tribute to the eternal allure of femininity through interpretations of classical sculptures that make reference to contemporary divas.

At the top of the stairway, epicentre of the building, Vezzoli is placing a majestic sculpture of a female, reinterpreted with the features of a mysterious goddess. Vezzoli’s vision is of a museum that exists for just 24 hours and which is also a celebration of a collective rite that mixes visitors, red-carpet, Oedipus’ complex and night visions.

Yesterday night, the museum turned into a disco-club where I spotted Kate Moss who was djing and Dita von Teese who was rushing through the exhibition. Different events will be following the next few hours.

LoL, Sandra

Kate Moss

Don’t we just love Caroline Issa’s Prada earrings?!

A very special moment: A happy Anna Wintour with Jonathan Newhouse and Franca Sozzani.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of Prada