Unfortunately, society deems it unacceptable to roam the streets naked. Even that it looked different at this weekend’s Street Parade in Zurich. However, Alexia Hentsch has come up with the perfect solution, which effectively gives you the thrill of being naked with a sprinkle of modesty in the form of cleverly-placed appliques and embellishment. Repeat after me: bodysuits are best.
TO SHOP ALEXIA HENTSCH ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Browns and Alexia Hentsch
Today was a big day! The last day of Paris Fashion Week started with the Louis Vuitton S/S 2014 show. Rumors had been out quite a long time about Marc Jacobs leaving the French brand after 16 years, but the minute I arrived at the venue, I knew, it was true. It felt like a journey through time. From the governess girls at the entrance to the station clock, the carrousel, the elevators and the escalators, the fountain, last season’s hotel corridors, every little detail was reminiscent of something amazing Marc had created for a Louis Vuitton show.
In the press kit on my seat, Marc Jacobs wrote something so beautiful that I truly would like to invite you to read it:
“This collection is dedicated to the women who inspire me and to the showgirl in every one of them, Emmanuelle Alt, Jane Birkin, Betty Catroux, Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele, Coco Chanel, Cher, Grace Coddington, Sofia Coppola, Victoire de Castellane, Catherine Deneuve, Claude Lalanne, Julie de Libran, Lady Gaga, Judy Garland, Katie Grand, Juliette Gréco, Françoise Hardy, Zizi Jeanmarie, Rei Kawakubo, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Kate Moss, Louise Nevelson, Edith Piaf, Miuccia Prada, Lee Radziwill, Millicent Rogers, Sonia Rykiel, Carla Sozzani, Elsa Schiaparelli, Barbra Streisand, Diana Vreeland, Vivienne Westwood, Anna Wintour.
Whether extrovert or esoteric, they are figures that keep visual language vital. Their style, imagination, creativity, talent, vision and voice have changed our landscape.”
He continued: “When I look around Paris, it isn’t the depth of the city that takes my breath away. It’s the decoration and the applied ornamentation that dazzles. It is not about thinking, it is about feeling. There may be no deeper sensation than this when it hits. While designing this collection the same instinct gathered momentum. I take pleasure from things for exactly what they are, revealing in the pure adornment of beauty for beauty’s sake. Connecting with something on a superficial level is as honest as connecting with it on an intellectual level.
TO THE SHOWGIRL IN ALL OF US.“
Speaking of which, many of the forty-one extremely dark looks resembled showgirl clothes, all exquisitely embellished with jet beads, crystals, and glossy feathers. Each and every one of the models wore an amazing headpiece of ostrich plumes designed by Stephen Jones for the show. The first look was pretty evocative, nothing but a G-string and the Stephen Sprouse-designed LV logo showing all over the model’s body, along with handcuffs and chains.
The biker jackets and denim pants were amazing, something you are dying to have in your closet. I love the collection and Marc’s creativity, it might not be commercial, but it is definitely for the showgirl in us!
Never forget, it was Jacobs who brought Louis Vuitton’s foray into prêt-à-porter to a huge success, and whatever the behind-the-scenes speculations of the past few months, he appears to be leaving on good terms. I was backstage and started crying like everybody else after all those heartfelt hugs.
Marc said that he wants to focus on his own Marc Jacobs brand. And I think, the announcement will be coming out soon that Nicolas Ghesquière will replace him at Louis Vuitton. So watch out!
LoL, Sandra
Marc’s last finale…
… and heartbreaking moments backstage.
Having fun behind the scenes: Sofia Coppola and Dakota Fanning
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Swarovski once again adds sparkle to the big screen! Julia Roberts stars as the queen in Mirror Mirror, a fresh and funny retelling of the Snow White legend, wearing spectacular handmade costumes adorned with over 100,000 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.
Oscar®-winning costume designer Eiko Ishioka (Immortals) put her imagination to the test. “The Swarovski crystals were used in Eiko’s designs in creating three spectacular handmade costumes for the Queen, adorned with over 100,000 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS in nearly twenty colours, including the outrageous golden costume ball and blood-red party dress, as well as the elaborate wedding gown,” said assistant costume designer, Martine Gagnon.
In theatres now, Mirror Mirror features breakout star Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, a princess in exile, and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince (Armie Hammer) in this magical adventure comedy, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell).
A visually stunning movie for the whole family!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Jan Thijs. Copyright 2012 Relativity Media. All rights reserved.
Yesterday morning in Paris, I attended the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show which was the best I have ever seen (It even topped Chanel’s Paris – Bombay…).
When I arrived, I found myself inside a 1920’s inspired train station with a huge Louis Vuitton station clock hanging from the ceiling. And what looked like the runway in the middle, was actually something else…
The show started on time as usual and a gigantic gate opened, there was steam. All of a sudden, I saw rails…
…and an amazing old-fashioned train with a lot of steam rolled inside the hall. The crowd cheered and applauded. Believe me, it takes something to charm the fashionable audience.
Inside the wagon, the models were seated. You could already see the gigantic hats. The ambiance reminded me immediately of the Titanic era. The ladies looked like belonging to the upper class de-boarding the “Vuitton Express”.
THE BAGS
Each lady had a her own porter helping her to carry the oversized bags which were absolutely divine. Hat boxes, vanity cases, weekend bags and petites valises all make an appearance for everyday use. The traditional canvas Monogram finds itself trimmed in real crocodile or embroidered in sequins on a blanket wool, trimmed with box calf. The Speedy has an intense reworking this season, based on and featuring a round signature buckle.
Mink makes its way into Vuitton baggage, utilising vibrant colours to accompany its rich, sumptuous texture.
THE LOOKS
Marc Jacobs played with proportions and this collection seems to be for the tall ones among you. It is all about elongation. The clothing is layered in rich, sumptuous fabrics; long skirts over cigarette pants, long coats over all, each look topped by a tall hat. There is a certain, simple geometry to this elongation, an extended A-line to engulf the entire body.
The normal sized porters seemed tiny in comparison to the tall models. Marc Jacobs did it on purpose to reinforce the point of his towering female silhouette; the men are merely added accessories.
The materials are rich, from kangaroo leather that is patch-worked and bejewelled with plastics to heavy metal yarns replicating Afghan blanket fabrics and brocades and jacquards.
I loved Marc’s thinking about the company’s nineteenth-century origins and travel heritage. Can you believe that he started Louis Vuitton’s Prêt-à-porter collection fifteen years ago… time flies!
Marc after the show in the train
The “Vuitton Express” from inside
Me in front of the train
Bryan Boy with me, isn’t his Jil Sander hat too cute?!
Anna dello Russo
Famous guest: Sarah Jessica Parker
Another reason for my enthusiasm for this amazing, outstanding Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show might be that it reminded me so much of a collection inspired by the Titanic era that I created during my fashion design studies.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Today is a special day for me. It is my birthday and therefore I would like to treat you with this eye candy from the Haute Couture week in Paris.
Last Tuesday, it was raining like crazy when I went up to the Place du Trocadéro in the afternoon to see Stéphane Rolland‘s S/S 2012 couture show which was absolutely divine.
Stéphane Rolland to the right with his muse for his S/S 2012 show, Yasmin Le Bon to the left and me in the middle.
Meet Stéphane Rolland, the designer behind the eponymous couture label launched in 2007. His vision is modern and original. Considering that he is one of couture’s newest names, it is amazing to see that he is among those that help to keep couture alive. He creates dresses that even young girls aspire to own.
What does make him different and special?
Have a look at his architectural cuts and outstanding embellishments that are more exciting than the usual sequin and crystal work seen at other couture houses. His approach is truly contemporary without forgetting his couture skills that he learnt from scratch. At the age of 20, Rolland joined Balenciaga and became Creative Director of menswear. Four years later, he started his own prêt-à-porter line which he ran until Jean-Louis Scherrer asked him 6 years later to be at the helm of the French house’s Haute Couture line. A position he occupied for the next ten years until 2007, when he launched he started his own couture label at 10 avenue George V.
Rolland is a full member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and therefore his brand can officially bear the “haute couture” label.
Now, I would like to invite you to enjoy the photos I took of the front row, the runway show and backstage where I went after the show.
LoL, Sandra
Front row
Me with a dear friend in Armani Privé
French singer Mireille Mathieu still wearing her iconic hair cut
Let the show begin:
The tri-colour gown is my favourite.
Yasmin Le Bon, Stéphane’s muse for this collection, presented the last look: The red bride in an absolute amazing gown with so much fabric that she needed two helpers to turn around.
I loved it!
Backstage after the show. I loved the sparkling dark eye make-up.
I hope that you have enjoyed this feast for your eyes. A couture show is something truly special.
LoL, Sandra
All photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
New Year’s Eve calls for a fabulous outfit and you still have some days left to shop!
The sparkling shade of gold has party splendour. It is a flattering hue for every skin tone. Add embellishments, big-cat prints, vivid bold colours and statement accessories – and let glamour be your talisman!
Here are some shopping suggestions:
This look works best for a fun beach party or a night at a fancy club!
Metallic gold ruched bandeau beach dress by Lanvin, Dolly metallic leather slingback pumps by Charlotte Olympia, leopard-print calf hair clutch by Valentino and lace 18-karat gold-vermeil earrings by Monica Vinader.
Looking stylish for a New Year’s Eve dinner party at a friend’s house or a fancy restaurant!
Darya hammered-silk wrap-effect dress by Tory Burch, Harper suede platform pumps by Rupert Sanderson, Marano glitter clutch by Anya Hindmarch, oversized beaded clip earrings and Swarovski crystal cocktail ring, both by Kenneth Jay Lane.
And last but not least, the perfect outfit for a romantic New Year’s Eve celebration!
Asymmetric lace dress by Stella McCartney,
Vamp glitter platform sandals and Cayla glitter-finish clutch, both
by Jimmy Choo. Gold-plated and leather cuff by Gucci.
LoL, Sandra