Sandra‘s Closet

This look makes me feel like a princess. It is amazing how Mary Katrantzou expertly placed the vivid prints on her Harp Hazzard dress from the S/S 2012 runway. You can wear the floor-sweeping floral-print train with bare legs and elegant sandals, or detach it to transform this patterned piece into a thigh-grazing mini.
Louis Vuitton‘s tiara from the S/S 2012 fashion show complements the outfit perfectly. You can wear it over the hair to give it more volume (as seen on me) or under.

My look: Harp Hazzard printed silk-twill dress with detachable train by Mary Katrantzou (also available without train), Tribute chain-detailed suede sandals by Yves Saint Laurent and tiara by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Just recovered from the Versace for H&M mania, no time to relax, there is more to come.
To get started, here is a sneak preview of the next designer collaboration with the Swedish fashion house: MARNI FOR H&M.

Famed for its original prints and inventive spirit, Marni is one of fashion’s most-loved labels, and its Founder and Creative Director Consuelo Castiglioni has created for H&M a spring collection for both women and men which capture its essence perfectly.

Available from March 8, 2012 in around 260 stores worldwide and online, the collection features both clothing and accessories all at H&M’s prices, meaning everyone will have the chance to enter Marni’s world.

Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director Marni and Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor H&M

“I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints. As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colours, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic adding sporty utilitarian elements”.

– Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director

“We all love the collection here at H&M and we believe that our customers will do the same. Marni has such a modern touch with everything they do, mixing prints and accessories in a playful but chic way. It’s fantastic to see how Consuelo Castiglioni coordinates her designs, matching new combinations of print and colour, with such incredible craftsmanship behind every piece. The collection will arrive in stores at just the perfect time, as a lovely statement for spring“.

– Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor H&M

Marni is a label that sticks to its own path, setting its own trends for print, cut and silhouette that are always playful and elegant. Marni has remained a family owned-business as it has grown to become an international luxury brand with stores around the world.

Marni’s collection for H&M has all the freedom and experimentation for which the label is renowned, with all-over prints in strong colours all intended to be worn together in layers that both match and clash.
For women, the colours are vivid and the prints are bold, be they African inspired or simpler colour blocks. The silhouettes are all Marni staples, with full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knit, and fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. To finish the complete look the collection also includes jewellery, shoes, bags and scarves.

For men, the colours and fabrics are softened for a relaxed take on menswear staples that is truly Marni. The use of print is subtle, often as a lining or as a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics.

Photos: Courtesy of H&M, © Magnus Magnusson

Bored of queuing? Here is your fashionable surprise!

There will be also a Versace for H&M S/S 2012 collection, exclusively available in countries with H&M online sales from January 19, 2012. The colourful capsule line will feature fruit prints and lots of Versace glamour. Unfortunately, bad news for Switzerland and the United States. Where are our European friends when we need them?!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Mirror UK

Last night, she won the Emerging Talent Award (ready to wear) at the British Fashion Awards in London, last week she took me out to lunch. I am talking about Mary Katrantzou, one of the hottest names in London’s fashion scene. As for me, she is the most innovative designer at the moment and as you know, I am a huge fan of her.

Her creations are different and new. Mary’s unbelievable talent to use bold, overall prints has been a huge influence on today’s fashion. For S/S 2012, many designers have seeked inspiration from her iconic arty florals, expressive colours and patchwork prints.

If you are wondering how can floral prints can be new, have a look at Mary’s flower power for S/S 2012. They are strong, unexpected, surreal and make fashionistas drool over it. The show in September was truly divine with a catwalk divided by a tennis court long field of carnations.

My favourite look by Mary Katrantzou for S/S 2012: “Battle Royal”
I adore that every dress gets its own name!

Last Wednesday, Mary took me to lunch to the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair that I can only recommend. Great interior design and awesome food.

We were sitting for hours, talked about her upcoming projects and about daily life. Mary’s birthday is only two days before mine and we loved that we are both aquarius. The 28-year-old was born and raised in Greece but loves living in London. She is a true fashion visionary, a print-cess charming and a wonderful refreshingly unpretentious young woman.

Mary Katrantzou is already hugely influential even though her label is just three years old. She won last year’s Swiss Textiles Award, her designs can be found in the most distinguished shops around the world and celebrities show up on the red carpet in them. If you think that the hype has overwhelmed her, you are absolutely mistaken.

She was so happy to see me in her Serendipity dress that by the way made a huge appearance this week on Gossip Girl. In the last episode, Serena wore this stunner to Blair’s bridal shower. Cocktail or lunch, the dress is a must around the clock!

Photo: Courtesy of The CW, © Getty Images

More testaments to Katrantzou’s reach and importance are her upcoming collaborations next year:

In January, Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp will be launched. The theme for this amazing S/S 2012 bag collection is “East meets West”. A must-have for all print lovers and for those who have been eagerly waiting for a Mary Katrantzou handbag!

Extremely exciting is the news of a second Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection to be released in February next year. The first prototype was unveiled at the Topshop press day a few weeks ago, and even it was not supposed to go public, one photo has made its way around the globe. Doesn’t it look so promising?!

Please stay tuned, will keep you posted!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Style.com, Courtesy of Mary Katrantzou, Longchamp and Topshop