Sandra‘s Closet

During the recent fashion weeks, you couldn’t help but notice the common thread literally popping up for F/W 2012: Chunky knit sweaters paired with gorgeous statement necklaces. This combination has the right twist to jazz up the cozy winter staple. Click here to see me wearing it.
Enjoy shopping some of my favourite looks:

1 Chunky-knit wool-blend turtleneck sweater by Chloé and crystal ribbon necklace by Lanvin
2 Blue bobble knit sweater by Carven and crystal and bead necklace by J.Crew
3 Knitted wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Nina Ricci and chain and bead necklace by Assad Mounser
4 Zesty lime cable-knit wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Joseph and Riri painted Swarovski crystal necklace by Tom Binns
5 Multicoloured sweater by Closed and embellished bib necklace by Lanvin
6 Striped chunky-knit sweater by Missoni and chain and bead necklace by Assad Mounser

LoL, Sandra

GABRIELE FRANTZEN

The charming German fashion jeweler shares her time between Munich and New York City, a place that inspires her a lot for amazing creations that were seen at this year’s Oscars. Below you will find her tips for the Big Apple’s best places to visit.

Your favourite city? NEW YORK CITY

Your favourite restaurant? LA ESQUINA, 114 Kenmare Street New York, NY 10012, USA, +1 (646) 613-7100
Market fresh authentic Mexican food in 3 distinct spaces at one location.

Your favourite sightseeing spot? The EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, 350 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10118, USA, +1 (212) 736-3100
At 8am when the city wakes up.

Your favourite district? ELIZABETH STREET / NoLIta
New York City’s North of Little Italy, or NoLIta, is a must visit. Elizabeth Street is packed with upscale & trendy shops.

Your favourite place for breakfast? CAFÉ GITANES, 242 Mott Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 (212) 334-9552

Your favourite walk? Starting in SOHO at WEST BROADWAY over to BLEECKER STREET to PASTIS in the MEATPACKING DISTRICT.
Pastis, 9 Ninth Avenue,  New York, NY 10014, USA, +1 (212) 929-4844
I love the street musicians, the small cafés and all the extraordinary fashion stores.

Your favourite hotel? MERCER KITCHEN, 99 Prince Street,  New York, NY 10012, USA, +1 (212) 966-5454

Your favourite beach? SHELTER ISLAND

Your favourite season in NYC? WINTER
I love the blizzards, when the snow is blowing through the urban canyons. I love to walk through Central Park when all flags are hanging crosswise. The lights are phenomenal then and the windows have beautiful ice crystals.

Your favourite cultural spot? FIT MUSEUM, Seventh Avenue at 27 Street,  New York City, +1 (212) 217-4558
I love fashion and photography exhibitions.

Your favourite store? SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

They sell a large selection of my jewelry pieces.

Your favourite beauty spa? The SPA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL, 80 Columbus Circle New York, NY 10023, USA, +1 (212) 805-8880
Book an apointment with the „beauty fairy“ Fini. She is amazing.

Your favourite treatment? 80 minutes MANDARIN ORIENTAL SPECIAL FACIAL TREATMENT
They use the Somme Insitute products which I adore . The American NYC-based label is dedicated to the science of skin perfection and uses Molecular Dispersion Technology which is the most significant advancement in skin care, a non-prescription synthesis of five highly-engineered vitamin compounds, designed to treat specific areas within the skin.

Your travel in style tip? I love to wear STRETCH JEANS by Closed, ANKLE BOOTS that are easy to take off or New Balance shoes (Store: 150 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010, USA +1 (212) 727-2520), such as my custom-made sneakers that say I LOVE NY.
I never fly without a CASHMERE SCARF to keep me warm, LA MER EYE CONCENTRATE, an eye cover and ear plugs. Moreover, I always pack two of my NECKLACES to change my look.

Your favourite book to read on a flight? ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoi

Thank you, Gabriele, for sharing your insider scoop on New York City with us!

LoL, Sandra

Mila’s wearing “Starlet”, Connor “Luke” and Jessica “Pedal Star”. But who are the actual stars here at the legendary Chateau Marmont? The jeans or the celebrities?

On August 16, the third annual original Closed jeans event returned to Chateau Marmont. Many stylists and stars dropped in to check out the current styles. The “Denim from Germany” has achieved cult status inside the Hollywood community.

Connor Cruise with me last February in New York

Guests included Tom Cruise’s son Connor Cruise, who shopped with enthusiasm for his upcoming European tour as a DJ. His favourite pair of jeans: a “Luke” in vibrant orange.

Mila Kunis bucked the trend in favour of a “Starlet” in grey paired with a blue-black silk blouse.

Jennifer Missoni was enchanting – the entire Denim Bar fell under the spell of this sweet, gorgeous apparition. And she refused to take off her new “Marlow” jeans.

Star stylist Brooke Dulien avidly shopped for jeans for Kristin Bell, Joy Bryant and Dex Shepard, the star cast of “Hit and Run”.

And of course no event would be complete without Closed spokesperson, socialite and author Jessica Joffe. Her all-time favourite: The “Pedal Star”.

One thing is for sure, at Closed, the jeans are the stars of the show.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Closed and © Sandra Bauknecht

Five years ago, Sue Giers, PR Director of Closed, had a spontaneous idea while vacationing in L.A.: Why not introduce Closed to the US ?

Together with a friend, American socialite Stephanie Salay, she considered organizing a “denim bar” in Los Angeles. Giers and Salay soon implemented their idea, put up a clothesline in a suite of the infamous Chateau Marmont, hung-up the different Closed highlight styles, and invited L.A.’s fashion community. Stylists, stars and starlets dropped all to discover the new brand from Germany. Perhaps it was precisely the unusual and the lack of perfection that the Americans liked so much… Or maybe they were impressed by the now more than 30-year history of the brand. The first denim bar was not just a success in L.A., but it also produced a lasting effect. Photos of celebrities wearing Closed have been published continuously since then

Brad Pitt wearing the Clifton Chinos.

Sarah Jessica Parker at the set of Sex and the City in a custom-made pair of Pedal Pusher.

For the second time the simple indoor clothesline was swapped for a showroom at the famous Margaret Maldonado Agency in Melrose Place. There was even a blog with all the “real time” news for those who could not come personally.

This summer for the third time the temporary store will go back to its origins and reside at the famous Chateau Marmont for two days, August 14th and 15th.
The ‘must have’ F/W 2012 Closed pieces will be presented to the L.A. fashion society during those days. These styles were selected from well-known US retailers such as Ron Herman, American Rag, Traffic, Fred Segal Trend, Elyse Walker, and Stacey Todd.

Follow Closed on Twitter or Facebook during the Denim-lounge at Chateau Marmont. The host Sue Giers will keep you updated.

Here is my personal craving from the Closed F/W 2012 collection.
To shop, please click on the highlights product description below.

Denim jacket with leather sleeves

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Closed

Time flies. One year ago, I was one of the advertising faces for the Closed F/W 2011 ad campaign. So I was very curious to see what the Hamburg-based brand has come up with this season. Shot by Max Farago in Amsterdam, the team set out with no fixed agenda or timetable to follow. And the Dutch capital presented them with plenty of spontaneous opportunities. In the end, they said, it became hard to depart.

Closed looked to other aspects of the city than those so instantly recognisable such as the iconic canals and gabled housing and realised that the texture of the streets was providing an ideal backdrop for the seasonal collection. And, of course, the easy going laidback attitude that the city is most known for resonated perfectly with the clothes and the four chosen individuals that comprise theCLOSED F/W 2012 campaign.

Find out who this season’s Closed ambassadors are:

Clara Cullen

Born in Argentina and based in New York where she makes film, Clara describes her life: “I love cooking. I have a horse named “El Zurdo”. I write my dreams. I like taking pictures of old women and dogs. My mum is the example of a woman. And dad is my number one fan. Travelling is part of my life. The Metropolitan museum in New York and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris are my favourites. Icons are, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Rita Mitsouko, Delia Derbyshire. Buenos Aires, New York. I’m obsessed with miles. I had a hard time communicating when I was a kid. I didn’t like school. It’s important to break the rules.”

Karta Healy

Introducing himself as a conceptor is typically modest of Karta. Probably the only person to successfully persuade a bunch of stiff British politicans to loosen their ties and enjoy bike riding in London’s House of Commons, Healy has been referred to as a cycling scientist. Educated in political science and then trained in industrial design, he is evangelical about the freedom of two wheels over the pollution of four wheeled vehicles and consults with city councils globally on congestion. His Sikh upbringing and nomadic travelling has given him an open outlook on life. As he says, “I have always lived ‘off-the-grid’.” True enough, Karta currently resides on a converted boat in London, “to escape the city within the city.”
Freedom could well be his middle name.

Pernille Teisbæk

Copenhagen-based editor, blogger and TV host, Pernille describes herself: “I’m a fashion blogger and freelance stylist. I just turned 28 years and I feel better and stronger than ever before… because I’m doing what I love. It all started when I was 12 years old and got my grandmother’s old sewing machine. I started to think about making something new – creating clothes that only I could have. Then I started looking in the magazines to find inspiration. After modeling, I started as fashion director at WOMAN magazine. I’ve since gone freelance. I really like the process of creating a universe around a specific look. I guess that is why I feel at home in front of the camera and behind it.”

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Closed and © Sandra Bauknecht

My look yesterday was inspired by the current python trend. This yellow and green python coat by Prada was a special order for me a few years ago. Thank God that I am keeping all my things.

Python coat by Prada, dress and belt by Matthew Williamson, shoes by Yves Saint Laurent, earrings by Louis Vuitton and bag by Tom Ford.

What a surprise! I ran into Michele Venitucci on the streets in Milan. Remember him? The Italian actor is like me one of the advertising faces for the Closed F/W 2011 campaign.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

During New York Fashion Week, I ran into some very familiar faces. Here you see German fashion power. To the left is über-stylish Annette Weber, editor-in-chief of German InStyle magazine, and to the right is very hip Sue Giers, head byer for Hamburg based Linette shops.

Annette’s look: Dress and Boots by Prada, Bag by Chanel

Sue’s look: Blazer by H&M, Pants by Closed, Dress, Boston Bag and Shoes by Céline, Statement Necklace and Fur Scarf by Gabriele Frantzen.

I loved how Sue combined designer pieces with the fabulous H&M blazer. She rolled up her Céline dress and turned it into a silk shirt. Awesome idea!

If you like Sue’s necklace with the thin little fur scarf, you should have a look at Gabriele Frantzen‘s designs. Having worked in fashion for many years, she launched her eponymous statement jewelry line in 2009. Since then, her pieces have been spotted all over and even made it on the red carpet at the Oscars. Gabriele Frantzen commutes between New York City and Munich. For store locations, please click here.

Gabriele Frantzen during Fashion Week sporting one of her own designs.

Stay tuned for so much more to come. I just spent an amazing weekend in Venice… and now I am packing for Milan Fashion Week!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I would like to share a video about me that was produced by Closed for the F/W 2011 The X campaign. You will probably see a quite different Sandra.

The gorgeous striped cardigan, the lace top and red pants are all part of the upcoming winter collection by Closed, the ruched suede booties are by Gucci. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Here is the video of Closed‘s F/W 2011 The X campaign photographed by Lina Scheynius!
Enjoy this behind the scene coverage and see how much fun we had.

LoL, Sandra

Rena Lange knows how to design the perfect bow-tie blouse and Closed stands for the ultimate chino pants. The two fashion houses had an idea: Why not combining the two of them?

My favourite colour combination of the dream team: khaki and bright blue.

Well done! The look is cool, casual and elegant in one – with that certain twist. The limited edition dream team will be available in Rena Lange and Closed stores or can be ordered online, starting July 18, 2011.

Hurry, they will sell out fast!

LoL, Sandra