Sandra‘s Closet

Today, it was a more relaxing day, recovering from last night. I went on a little shopping tour around the city in my galaxy-print dress by Christopher Kane combined with my fur vest by Miu Miu, grey gauntlets by Stella McCartney and studded biker boots by Miu Miu. Scarf by Gucci, bag by Balmain. Below you will find just a few impressions from my walk…

Now I am at the hotel getting some rest for the big party tonight.
Will keep you posted on that.

LoL, Sandra

Last night, we all went to dinner at Roberto Cavalli’s club after having drinks at Luisaviaroma before.  I wore my sequined dress by Balmain (the one from New Year’s Eve) with a marabou cape and clutch by Balmain. The suede punk YSL pumps finished off my look.

Enjoy the photos and see who was there!!!! It was a wonderful evening…

LoL, Sandra

Me with David (Highsnobiety), Zarko(DesignScene) and Nathalie(LesMads) starting the night at Luisaviaroma

Arriving at the Cavalli Club (Piazza del Carmine)

Inside the club

Lots of leopard prints...

Drinks were chilled...

Cavalli wine was served during dinner.

Eva Cavalli with me

Famous shoe designer Guiseppe Zanotti with me

Designer Neil Barrett with me

Fausto Puglisi with me (His designs, that are loved by Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, are available at Dolce & Gabbana's new Spiga 2 store)

Eva having a conversation with Neil

Fashion power: Fausto Puglisi, Guiseppe Zanotti, Andrea Panconesi (Owner of Luisaviaroma), Eva Cavalli and Neil Barrett

Guiseppe Zanotti, Eva Cavalli and Neil Barrett

I arrived in my beautiful embellished silk blouse and the little camel coloured mini skirt, both by Chloé F/W 2010, combined with a shearling waistcoat by Ralph Lauren Black Label and a fur jacket by Prada, both from previous seasons. During the flight, I had perfered staying comfy in my flat suede Louis Vuitton boots from the Cruise 2011 collection. To protect my hair (it is raining in Florence), I put on one of my favourite hats by Balenciaga. Carine Roitfeld loves this one, too as you can see below (Photos: The Sartorialist).

In the evening, I just changed from my honey-coloured „Twenties“ micro-fishnet tights into my new „Rebecca“ tulle-look net tights with small dots, both by Wolford, and finished off my look with my green punk platform pumps by Yves Saint Laurent and my killer clutch by Balmain. Jewelry by Chanel.

Here in Florence, I am staying in a wonderful Junior Suite at the J.K.Place hotel which has a very spacious closet. You see it is quite filled…

I packed 30kg for the weekend. For fashionable days like that, you better be prepared!

LoL, Sandra

Happy New Year to you, my dear readers, may all your dreams and resolutions come true.

I started 2011 in St. Moritz, the glamorous place in the Alps that calls itself „the Top of the World“. The Swiss mountain village has been home to the jet set since many years, attracting celebrities, princesses and socialites from everywhere. When it comes to fashion, luxury is the keyword.

Last night, I went to the traditional New Year’s Eve cocktail reception hosted by well-known publisher Jürg Marquard and his wife Raquel.
The party always takes place in their amazing apartment located in the tower of the famous Badrutt’s Palace hotel overlooking the lake of St. Moritz. Previous tenant until the early ninties was gentleman-playboy Gunter Sachs.
My German based readers might recognize some of the faces below… Enjoy all those photos of beautiful people in beautiful outfits!
That is St. Moritz!

To a wonderful 2011!

LoL, Sandra

Hostess Raquel Marquard in a gorgeous gown by Dolce & Gabbana with her daughter, model Bianca Gubser to the left

Sophie Hermann wore one of the nicest dresses of the evening by Atelier Versace

Rebecca Schmid Robinson with me, both in sequined dresses

Dorothea Mühlemann in Alaia

Fabienne Bratschi in Dolce & Gabbana and Radio 24-host Elena Bernasconi, "The Redhead"

Nina Riegel and Alexandra Knapp Voith in Roberto Cavalli

Inga Jacobi in Valentino

From left to right: Hotelier couple Gigi and Andrea Kracht, me and Inga Jacobi

Andreas Knapp Voith with turquoise nail polish matching Raquel Marquard's dress

Gentleman with style: Andreas Knapp Voith wore the most extraordinary pair of shoes by Prada

Badrutt's Palace New Year's Eve decoration

Today, I would like to give you a preview of my Top 20 runway shows for S/S 2011 that I consider the key collections for the next season.

The overall spirit was light-hearted and positive sweeping away the last bit of sobriety. The designers’ colouring box was bright and vibrant with lots of neon shades, vibrant stripes and bold tones.  Many tributes to YSL as well as the 70s were spotted, along with biker and punk themes, floral prints and embroideries, Marrakesh and Shanghai references and pure clean white. Enjoy!

LOUIS VUITTON: Marc Jacobs’ S/S 2011 show for the French fashion house was a hell of a lot of fun, brazen in decadence. A colourful free-spirited collection for the camped-up China girl that loves high-voltage chic. Inspirations from 1930 Shanghai’s Art Deco style to a 70’s New York disco atmosphere were seen in the Cheongsam dresses and bold tiger stripes.
As for me one of my favourites this season.

PRADA: Miuccia Prada’s message was crystal-clear: „It’s time to be bold“. Her ecclectic humours take on her S/S 2011 collection was visionary. Fake baroque paintings (Who would have ever imagined that baroque can be minimal?!), fluorescent stripes, Josephine Baker banana designs and Mexican sombreros lead to that iconic Prada-twist that likes to surprise us.
I am loving it!!!!

JIL SANDER: An implicit change to the Jil Sander woman, that was this collection about. Minimalism inversed into a modern maximalism that led to couture. Raf Simons surprised the fashion crowd with this exceptional S/S 2011 show.
Simple white tees dominated long, full skirts joined with YSL’s rich associations of colours. The shapes were reminiscent of Cristobal Balenciaga’s proportions. The apostel for minimalism, Raf Simons, showed us another optimistic side of the Sander woman without betraying the spirit of the label. Wow! And by the way, the fuchsia lips are gorgeous…

CHRISTOPHER KANE: „Princess Margaret on acid“, this is how Tammy described her brother’s S/S 2011 collection. It was an interesting vision of the future, brilliant and different, like the designer and his place in English fashion. Fluoresent colours and print motifs inspired by yakuza tattoos lightened up the classic and kind of formal pieces.
Watch out for Christopher, this guy is provoking trends!

MARC JACOBS: There were many YSL references on the catwalks and Marc Jacobs was one of the first ones showing them in New York. By taking on the energy of the Studio 54 years and the ’70s, the brilliant American designer came up with one of his best collections, fresh, charming with a modern new spin, an ode to Missoni’s zigzag knits.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the peasant blouses and full skirts. My summer must-haves.

GUCCI: Yves Saint Laurent’s Marrakech years were in the air and a breeze of the ’70s omnipresent at Frida Giannini’s collection  for Gucci. Alternating between electric glamour, safari chic and ethnic touches, the Italian powerhouse continued to celebrate the female silhouette and its seductiveness. You cannot go wrong with this!

EMILIO PUCCI: A beautiful Greek Mediterranean vibe highlighted the collection that was seventies-inflected and mostly long. Peter Dundas knows his craft and the jetset girls will love his luxe hippie dresses worn with laced boots. Nonchalant, elegant, seductive details of which some were a little reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent will make Pucci a bestseller this summer.

YVES SAINT LAURENT: The seventies are everywhere this summer and so is YSL. Thanks to the retrospective that was held this year in Paris, many designers were influenced by the epic Saint Laurent. But none could stake a more legitimate claim to the Master’s inspirations than Stefano Pilati’s work.
He revisited the codes of the fashion house one by one, „le smoking“, the famous palette of orange and pink, French blue, black and beige, abundant bows and the sophisticated tailleurs. I am so on for a trip down memory lane, and you?

CHANEL: This time, Karl Lagerfeld took his inspiration from the early sixties movie Last Year at Marienbad and created a breathtakingly surreal setting. More than 80 models paraded through the ornamental garden with fountains, water features and gravel paths. The collection was so rich, full of couture details with dégradé chiffon florals, tweed patchwork, feathered edges and more. Just beautiful!

MARY KATRANTZOU: It was her first stand-alone show with which she won the Swiss Textiles Award 2010 in November. Mary Katrantzou is one of the hottest fashion newscomer with her groundbreaking creations. The designer of Greek origin worked in three dimensions and was inspired by the decors and backgrounds of the most beautiful of Guy Bourdin’s and Helmut Newton’s photos.
There was an almost hallucinatory depth to her digital printed clothes. The real revolution was how Mary modeled the shape to go with the graphics of interior designs. Are you up for wearing “room” this summer?

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Sarah Burton who had worked beside McQueen for 15 years, took over the cepter after the designer’s death last February. The S/S 2011 show, her first solo one, grabbed hold of his legacy and defined the same fantasia McQueen was so famous for. This time a hymn to nature, superb in its construction.
One of the biggest differences was that Burton softened the staging, a concept that was always so  vital to a McQueen show. It was a pleasure to see that there is a more feminine vision for the house but with the same theatrical love for detail.

HERMES: Time to say good-bye for Jean-Paul Gaultier and he couldn’t have done it better. His last collection for the traditional French house boasted of master tailoring, sensuous glamour and leather at its finest. “Zorro in Andalusia” celebrates Hermès’ equestrian elegance heritage could have been the headline. Good luck to Lacoste defector Christophe Lemaire! Taking these luxurious reins seems to be quite difficult…

CELINE: The collection was once more strong in its remarkable simplicity even that Phoebe Philo laid her hands on artisanal effects like hand-woven silks, fringes and vibrant colours. Her motto „less is forever chic“ has determined the codes of her hugely influential designs.

CHLOE: Minimalism at its best. Classic, timeless pieces that women can make their own and customise at will. The tutu-like skirts, reminiscent of the world of ballet, were among my favourites. Congrats, Hannah MacGibbon, for this lovely collection!

ERDEM: Erdem Moralioglu, the upcoming designer of Turkish origin, took his audience to Russia for his S/S 2011 presentation in a London park. He had been involved this summer with Victoria & Albert Museum’s Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909-1920 exhibition.
The experience had been so inspiring that it shaped the substance of his collection where delicate dresses that clearly reflected the structure and flou of ballet costumes dominated the look. Once again floral motifs sprinkled the collection and were complemented by Nicholas Kirkwood’s gorgeous shoes tied up the calf like ballet slippers. I am sure that we will see much more of Erdem in the future.

STELLA MCCARTNEY: Even that I have to admit that I prefered Stella’s cruise 2011 collection, I am always in love with her practical, easy chic. The mother of four knows what she is talking about. Her key pieces are ideal companions to feel good in, even her long skirts split up the thighs swing comfortably with class. First bananas at Prada, now grapefruits and lemons at Stella that put us in a good mood. Her suits in pastel colours were strong on the runway and denim made a boxy shape debut. Thumbs up!

HAIDER ACKERMANN: One thing is for sure, the days that Haider Ackermann was only a fashion insider’s favourite secret are definitely over. His S/S 2011 collection was outstanding in its beauty. Origami folds, kimono jackets and obi belts were among the Asian references. Dramatic effects and strong colours for a glamorous red carpet moment.

DIOR: Betty Page, the model from the 50s that invented the pin-up look, goes on vacation to Hawaii – this South Pacific-style fantasy dominated John Galliano’s collection for Dior. The colours and floral prints on exquisite chiffons, the ankles tied with satin, this island extravaganza put you immediately in the holiday mood. Very cute.

BALENCIAGA: This was probably the most futuristic, unexpected and innovating collection of all. Nicolas Ghesquière defied the fashion codes and came up with new ones. His teddy boy-meets-punk masculinity was the reaction to a certain kind of sexiness. For him it was all about individuality. The talented fashion troublemaker used plasticized textures and couture techniques that were modernized with laser machine precision cuts.
It might take a while to adapt to the look but once you get it, you will be all over it!

BALMAIN: Honestly, the time of Balmain might come to an end as there are always the same sharp-tailored rock allure pieces on the runway but I still love them so much.
This time, Christophe Decarnin shortened the shorts and minis as much as he could and looked for punk rebellion for inspiration. Studded and safety pinned biker jackets, bleached jeans and holey T-shirts were among his favourites. Let’s hope that the Balmainia is still strong enough to convince the fashionistas to pay so much for this DIY-look…

Stay tuned as I will go much more into detail during the next weeks about the trends and must-haves for S/S 2011.
If you are interested which collections were my Top 20 for F/W 2010, please click here.

To a very promising and cheerful looking summer!

LoL, Sandra

If yesterday’s post about Chanel’s pre-fall 2011 show put you in the opulent mood and you feel like indulging yourself in some luxurious fabrics, there is no need to wait until next fall.
This F/W 2010 has been already about brocade, gold or red fabrics, embellishments and embroideries.

Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta, the forerunners of the festive trend, offer beautiful looks that work perfectly for your X-Mas or New Year’s Eve party.
A jacquard coat or blazer is an investment piece that can elevate your look to a complete new level of style.

I love my Alexander McQueen red goddess gown with beautiful golden embellishments that I wore recently to a gala in London together with a belt by Matthew Williamson, some sandals by YSL and a vintage Chanel clutch.
Happy Holidays!

LoL, Sandra

Have you ever dreamt of owning a luxurious piece from Balmain? Now you might have a chance without your budget going overboard. Today you can shop Balmain at up to 80% off at the outnet.com. Get your hands on a divine military must-have or a sharp LBD. I love my Balmain jackets and wear them a lot (see below).
Happy shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Kate Moss in Balmain for Vogue UK 09-2010

Yesterday, I hit myself with the corner of a shopping bag into the eye and had to go to the hospital. At least I did it in style.
Today, I look like a cyborg and declare red as the colour of the day.

As a little treat, I think that I will spoil myself with a red leather piece. This hot F/W 2010 trend is going to stay for S/S 2011 with Balmain leading the way. For summer, there will be embellishments and extra studs. But those objects of desire have their price.

Two super pieces, available at the moment, and not totally overexpensive are Joseph’s red leather biker jacket and Isabel Marant’s cropped pants.

Will keep you posted about the dangers while shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Feathers are a trend that seems to be always there. For F/W 2010 designers showed that fine feathers make fine birds. From beautiful marabou plumes to ostrich feathers, the creations were versatile. Being dressed in full feathers stands for a certain glamourous allure.
So Ladies, start looking for your feathers of prey:

A marabou jacket or cape is a piece for eternity. It adds the right amount of sophistication to every evening outfit or ball gown. I especially adore the ones from Balmain this season and would opt for a colourful piece.

The Gucci dress from the F/W 2010 runway collection is a smart choice as it comes with a removable feather-trimmed bolero.

In case you do not like to ruffle your feathers, I recommend a feather print or just a little detail like the ostrich-trimmed satin bag by Lanvin.

For F/W 2010, the possibilities are numerous. If you turn up your glam factor, you will surely not be shedding feathers.

And good news is, the feather trend is going to stay for S/S 2011. So those pieces are definitely great investments.

Ladies, it is time to adorn yourselves with borrowed plumes!

LoL, Sandra

Yesterday, at the 62nd Emmy Awards 2010 in Los Angeles, celebrities went on a berry hunt. The most beautiful dresses were the ones in the must-have berry shades of the season.
Those tones will remain for Resort 2011. Enjoy the sneak preview as most of the gowns have already been from the upcoming collections.

The US-series Mad Men won again in the category top drama. I would give the award fashionwise in the category “top drama gown” to their supporting actress Christina Hendricks in her lilac Zac Posen Resort 2011 dress that flaunted her curves perfectly and looked so stunning in combination with her flame-red hair.

On the F/W 2010 runways, berry tones were seen everywhere as if the designers have had all mixed berries for desert while creating their collections. The bright shades were combined in all ways.

I put some outfits together to show you how those hues combined together can make a strong statement and instantly update your wardrobe.

Red with violet, fuchsia with ruby, vermillion with plum- everything is possible, just let your imagination run free.

This winter, the LBD (Little Black Dress) is taken hostage by the LRD (Little Red Dress). So chances are very high that you might get scarlet fever soon. The bright vibrant tone is very contagious especially when worn tone on tone. Accessorize it with matching pumps and a bag in the same colour family for head-to-toe chic.

I am totally in love with Bottega Veneta‘s tone on tone looks. How about you?
Have I whet your appetite for mixed berries?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands