Here they are: the most important trends for the F/W 2017 season. Americana vibes, a powerful way to wear red, and vintage-inspired everything. Enjoy this comprehensive look at the pieces you’ll be wearing shortly. Deconstructed clothing is here to stay as well as florals and leisure suits. If you are looking at the new skirts, mid-length is the way to go.

I cannot wait for this beautiful season to arrive in stores.

LoL, Sandra

F/W 2017 TREND 1: POWER RED
Givenchy – Fendi – Max Mara

F/W 2017 TREND 2: FUTURISTIC SILVER
Saint Laurent – Chanel – Comme des Garçons

F/W 2017 TREND 3: NEW TRANSPARENCY
Calvin Klein – Miu Miu – Emilio Pucci

F/W 2017 TREND 4: WILD WEST
House of Holland – Balmain – Alexander Wang

F/W 2017 TREND 5: FOLKLORE
Gucci – Etro – Maison Margiela

F/W 2017 TREND 6: EVENING VELVET
Jason Wu – Alberta Ferretti – Erdem

F/W 2017 TREND 7: RETRO FUR
Louis Vuitton – Michael Kors – Loewe

F/W 2017 TREND 8: ’70s PLAID
Tory Burch – Marni – Hermès

F/W 2017 TREND 9: FEATHERS
Prada – Mary Katrantzou – Elie Saab

F/W 2017 TREND 10: LEISURE SUITS
Chloé – Marc Jacobs – Ashish

F/W 2017 TREND 11: BROAD SHOULDERS
Dries Van Noten – Jacquemus – Isabel Marant

F/W 2017 TREND 12: RECYCLING
Dolce & Gabbana – Moschino – Junya Watanabe

F/W 2017 TREND 13: LACE OVERLAY
Stella McCartney – Burberry – Alessandra Rich

F/W 2017 TREND 14: WALLPAPER FLORALS
Mulberry – Emilia Wickstead – Balenciaga

F/W 2017 TREND 15: DENIM SUITS
Sacai – Christian Dior – Esteban Cortazar

Photos: Via Vogue.com

After the fabulous and already iconic Knife boots and sequin-embellished satin pumps, Demna Gvasalia looks to Balenciaga‘s archives for inspiration for Pre-fall 2017, sifting through 30 years’ worth of founder Cristóbal‘s imagery. Exploring the link between couture and fetishism and set on a slanted kitten heel, these sharply pointed mules have been crafted in Italy from smooth satin and topped with a bow. The plunging vamp creates the illusion of longer, leaner legs. I prefer them in vivid jewel-tone colors.

Be fast as they are selling out like crazy and opt for one of the season’s most iconic silhouettes:

Emerald green satin mules (the ones I could NOT resist!)

Sky blue satin mules
Hot pink satin mules
Black satin mules

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Gosh, I am so in love with these Balenciaga heels that I first presented you a few weeks ago, I could literally run around in them the whole day (when it is not raining… the satin fabric doesn’t like water at all). They are not only beautiful, but also really comfortable.

My look: Fuchsia wool coat and embellished satin pumps in pink, both by Balenciaga, Rexana ruffled cotton-blend top and Sidney trousers in black, both by Erdem, clutch by Prada, earrings by Chanel, ring and diamond bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Power pairings… Dress, meet pants! Red have fun with pink! Exciting twists that will make heads turn. The downside? It’s dangerously easy to get it wrong. Here are some tips how to pull it off. First, make sure that the fabrics look good together, second don’t underestimate the proportions of your outfit. A belt might help to accentuate your shape.

A dress over pants has emerged as my latest obsession thanks to Balenciaga that showed that it can be undeniably chic when done right. The partial split (it is sewn together at the seam) at the front of my pink dress, where I put my leg through, and the one in the back, both give a new life to my “old” red leather pants.

My look: Split-side silk-georgette midi dress and scarf leather belt, both by Balenciaga, red skinny stretch-leather pants and red ankle boots, both by Saint Laurent, De Manta brocade clutch by Alexander McQueen, diamond rose ring by Piaget and sunglasses by Céline.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

They are back! First spotted on the F/W 2016 runway, Balenciaga’s sequin-embellished satin pumps are truly a piece of art. For me, it was love at first sight.

Embellished satin pumps in blue

Everything about these shoes is perfection, the satin, the heel shape and height and of course the exquisite sequin embroidery. The only drop of bitterness is the price tag of CHF 2400!

But still another one to add to the wish list for you! Isn’t it interesting that Demna Gvasalia relaunches some of his bestsellers this season again?! It reminds me a lot of what Hedi Slimane did when he was at Saint Laurent. On one side, it is absolutely great because those expensive must-haves such those heels cannot be added to a specific season which I adore, on the other side he will have to be careful that it doesn’t get boring over time.

Embellished satin pumps in pink

Embellished satin pumps in green

Embellished satin pumps in black

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Yesterday was “Sechseläuten” (in Swiss German: Sächsilüüte), a traditional holiday in the city of Zurich. Since the early 20th century, it is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of April of every year.

I watched the parade of the “Zünfte” (guilds) with my girlfriends wearing an embroidered top with lace sleeves, matching skirt and choker by Dolce & Gabbana, Dirty ’50s stretch-denim jacket by Saint Laurent, boots by Prada, bag by Chanel and sunglasses by Balenciaga.

Now, that I have been living in Switzerland for over twelve years, Sechseläuten is so much fun because you know many of the people who are walking the parade. You present the participants with flowers and you are gifted with the specialties of the guilds in return. This can be a glass of wine, a bread roll or even a radish.

The culmination of this popular tradition though is the burning of winter in effigy, in the form of the “Böögg” (cognate to bogey), a figure of a snowman prepared with explosives (see collage above).
It is said that the time between the lighting of the pyre and the explosion of the Böögg’s head is indicative of the coming summer: a quick explosion promises a warm, sunny one, a drawn-out burning a cold and rainy one. This year, its head was falling off very fast, after 9 minutes und 56 seconds which predicts a great summer.

Cheers to that!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Demna Gvasalia knows how to turn imitations in the opposite direction – think of his DHL T-Shirt for Vetements or the Bazar shopper for Balenciaga. His newest take on transforming a completely unsophisticated non-luxurious item into a must-have piece for fashion victims around the globe is his latest accessory for Balenciaga Men and targets originally the male customer. Playing with consumerism, he sent down the runway the so-called ‘Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag‘ which looks like a copy of the iconic IKEA‘s ‘Frakta Tote‘ in shape, size, and color.

To the left the Balenciaga for $2145.00, to the right IKEA for $0.99.

The only difference? The absence of the IKEA logo on the handles which makes sense, of course, the material (the IKEA version is made from 100% recyclable polypropylene whereas the Balenciaga tote is made of leather), and not surprisingly the price.

I would really like to get into Demna’s head, creative genius or making fun of the fashion world? I somehow tend to believe the latter. What do you think?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and IKEA

There is no better time to seize the moment and officially welcome the spring wardrobe than Easter Sunday. But with the promise of good food, plenty of time to relax, and a speedy egg hunt, you’ll want to be comfortable as much as you like to stay stylish. This year, I went for leggings, feathers and this beautiful waterlily ’70s style print. This is what I call impeccably dressed for spring under the magnolia tree!

My look: Feather-trimmed denim jacket by Burberry, Nenúfar print top, Nenúfar print pants and Knife floral-print jersey sock boots, all by Balenciaga, Sac de Jour in green by Saint Laurent, Possession 18-karat rose gold diamond ring and Possession 18-karat rose gold ring, both by Piaget, 18-karat white gold limited edition «Or Amour Et Trinity» band ring and yellow gold diamond ring, both by Cartier.

Happy Easter!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

At the top of everyone’s must-have list: ultra-wearable leg-lengthening boots. Spotted on Balenciaga’s S/S 2017 runway were incredible boots in fabric that everyone liked but thought those are impossible to pull off. Inspired by 80’s sportswear and fetishism, this spandex footwear, that is shiny and stretchable with a thin heel and no zip at all, is available in three versions: as a hybrid of pants and boots (so-called Cosmetic Pantashoes available on the Balenciaga homepage, but extremely difficult to wear), as over-the-knee boots and as overly cute ankle booties.

Balenciaga S/S 2017

Fact is that during Paris Fashion Week, street style stars were obssesing over Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga Knife over-the-knee boots. Have a look at all the must-have models that are available now (just click on the highlighted link below to be transferred directly to the shop).

Knife over-the-knee boots in purple

Knife point-toe floral-print ankle boots

Knife over-the-knee boots in beige

Knife point-toe over-the-knee boots in pink

And great news is that those boots are here to stay as they were seen on Balenciaga’s F/W 2017 runway again!

Balenciaga F/W 2017

I am in love with them… stay tuned how I style them and first of all, which color I got for myself!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: via Harper’s Bazaar, @WhoWhatWearAU, @lailamagazine, @weworewhat/instagram, @moeeztali/instagram, @Popphotos

Think pink, the S/S 2017 catwalks defiantly dictated fuchsia hues. The look? Nothing for sweet sugar princesses, pink has grown up and looks super cool on cape/dress hybrids, tight at the neck to elegant effect, as seen at Valentino or at Balenciaga where it was paired with purple spandex shoe-pants. I like those dresses together with Miu Miu‘s runway heels. Do you dare?
To shop click on the links below.

From left to right:
Split-side silk-georgette midi dress by Balenciaga
Cape-effect silk-cady midi dress by Valentino
Metallic leather-trimmed satin platform sandals by Miu Miu

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands