Sandra‘s Closet

For more than 160 years, creative exchange has taken place in tandem with the heritage and innovation of Louis Vuitton. These artistic collaborations have expanded the Maison’s universe, enlivening collections with imagination and surprising expression. With LV DREAM, Louis Vuitton celebrates these inspiring ideas and their creators as an expansive exhibition within the building of the former La Belle Jardinière department store, alongside a café and chocolate shop in collaboration with the Cheval Blanc Paris Chef-pâtissier, Maxime Frédéric.

Beginning December 12th, 2022, LV DREAM welcomes visitors to discover a rich exploration of Louis Vuitton’s collaborations through time and across a broad range of historic and contemporary pieces. Comprised of nine rooms with many interactive components, this immersive journey revisits the highly original interpretations in constant dialogue with the Maison. The exhibition plays out with endless dynamism spanning the earliest artistic undertakings such as window displays and perfume bottles; specially commissioned trunks; iconic Monogram reworkings by renowned artists; the diverse range of ready-to-wear collaborations; and the first three chapters of the Artycapucines collection of reimagined Capucine bags.

Inside, visitors will follow a circuit arranged according to themes such as «Louis Vuitton: As Seen»; «The World of Louis Vuitton According to Rei», and «Leather Goods in Fashion». Among the highlights: two portraits of Louis Vuitton by Alex Katz and Mister Cartoon that have never been exposed to the public. The World of Vuitton According to Rei, a room dedicated to Rei Kawakubo, artistic director of Comme des Garçons, who envisioned two capsules for Louis Vuitton: Party Bags in 2008 and Bags With Holes in 2014. Here, the scenography encourages visitors to experiment with the scale to feel as though they are actually inside the bags. Interactive scenography can also be found in Art Meets Fashion, the final space where a digital wall projects motion-sensitive animations adapted from collaborations with Daniel Buren, NigoÒ, Grace Coddington and Christopher Nemeth.

To extend the experience, LV DREAM introduces «Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton» – a café and chocolate shop (Chocolaterie), both overseen by the renowned Chef-Pâtissier of the Cheval Blanc Paris. Among the leading names in the artistry of patisserie and chocolate-making, Maxime Frédéric honed his craft at the palace-hotels of Paris, including Le Meurice and George V, before joining the Cheval Blanc Paris in 2020 and winning the 2022 Gault & Millau Guide prize for Pastry Chef of the Year. Surrounded by tropical plants, the Café offers a lush respite for visitors with a specially developed selection of fresh pastries that play on the Maison’s motifs. The Chocolaterie, meanwhile, showcases a delightful assortment of chocolates that once again draw inspiration from Louis Vuitton codes, packaged in emblematic boxes.

Finally, in the gift shop, visitors can browse items developed with an exclusive LV DREAM design, along with a selection of small leather goods, accessories, fragrances, and publishing.

Conceived for Parisians and tourists alike, LV DREAM builds upon previous exhibitions that have explored the Maison’s history of collaborations. Here, imagination and creative output become an experience for all to discover.

Opening date: 12th December 2022
Location: 2 rue du Pont Neuf – Paris 1er (former Belle Jardinière department store)
Opening hours : Monday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm
Free admission to exhibition upon reservation via Louisvuitton.com
Free entry without reservation to «Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton» and gift store

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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«It started with our love for animals, it’s where Nicolas and I really connect beyond fashion.» – Grace Coddington

At LOUIS VUITTON’s Cruise 2019 catwalk show amidst the Mirós and Giacomettis of Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s Fondation Maeght, Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of women’s collections, presented a too-die-for collaboration with Vogue contributing editor Grace Coddington.

Nicolas Ghesquière and Grace Coddington in a silk pyjama set from the collaboration at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2019 show last May. 

The line sees the famous redhead putting her spin on the brand’s iconic monogram pattern, embellishing it with illustrations of her two cats, Pumpkin and Blanket. Moreover her designer friend’s dog Léon finishes off the animalistic collection that also includes patent leather bags in the cartoony shapes. I love every single piece!

The full range of items, including handbags, leather goods, and ready-to-wear, will arrive in Louis Vuitton stores in October.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, via Martien Mulder for WSJ. Magazine

Last night, the Super Bowl took place in Houston, Texas. If you are not familiar with it, just a brief explanation. It is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the world. The day on which the Super Bowl is played, is now considered by some as an unofficial American national holiday, is called “Super Bowl Sunday“. Believe me, I lived in the States, it is truly a lot of fun! Can you imagine… it is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day and in addition, the Super Bowl has frequently been the most-watched American television broadcast of the year; the seven most-watched broadcasts in U.S. television history are Super Bowls.

Therefore brands are eager to collaborate and advertise on that day while this sports event fascinates the nation. This year, Tiffany & Co. and Atelier Versace took center stage with the help of Lady Gaga who dazzled with a stunning half-time show.

She opened the show in a futuristic custom made, Atelier Versace fully beaded iridescent jumpsuit with sculptural shoulder detail and matching fully embroidered boots, both with Swarovski crystal accents.

She later topped her look off with a custom-made, Atelier Versace cropped gold jacket fully embroidered with Swarovski accents and accentuated with armor-like shoulder pads topped with a cluster of dramatic gold spikes.

For her final set, the singer wore another custom-made, Atelier Versace look, this time rocking a pair of fully embroidered hot-pants and cropped sculptural white jacket made of a special silicon material with metallic hardware details and coordinating Swarovski crystal accents.

And that was not all… Lady Gaga was everywhere on Super Bowl Sunday, except not playing the game. The pop star is the face of Tiffany & Co.’s new fashion jewelry collection, Tiffany HardWear.

Pieces from the new Tiffany HardWear collection.

She stars in the new ad campaign that aired last night for the first time right before her half-time performance. It marks the first time Tiffany has advertised during the Super Bowl, but it has a long connection with the game. The company has crafted the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winning team, since the game’s inception.

Former US Vogue editor Grace Coddington served as creative director of the new campaign, which was photographed by David Sims. “In New York, you’re born knowing that Tiffany is the best, and that it is where the magic happens,” Gaga said in a statement. The shoot is part of Tiffany’s long-running Legendary Style campaign, which has previously featured Lupita Nyong’o and Elle Fanning.

See the one minute movie below:

It will be interesting to watch the famous jewelry brand’s future development as it goes through tumultuous time in its history. Earlier Sunday the House announced that CEO Frederic Cumenal stepped down. Former CEO Michael Kowalski is leading the company until a replacement is found. The resignation came amid a time of plummeting sales for the brand.

Let’s boost the economy and shop a beautiful piece from Tiffany & Co. which is also available now at NET-A-PORTER.

LOVE IT! Tom Brady holding his daughter Vivian and kissing his wife Gisele Bündchen.

Ah sorry, I completely forgot to tell you, who won… ok first of all, fashion again. Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen‘s husband, has now a record for the fifth Super Bowl win for a quarterback after the biggest comeback in the game’s 51-year history. In one of the most exciting games in recent Super Bowl history, the winner of the game is the New England Patriots. The Atlanta Falcons were off to an early lead in the game, but the Patriots were able to catch up and tied the game.

And everyone please never forget:

Thank you to the lovely Kelly Fisher Katz, for this fun quote. Gentlemen, her husband Martin Katz, offers just the right pieces… just saying!

Have a lovely evening!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Christopher Polk/Getty Images, © Tom Pennington/Getty Images and Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

My dear friend Karo from Geneva sent me this for my birthday and I thought it was so hilarious that I had to share it with you. Young Karl Lagerfeld and Grace Coddington… time flies!
Thanks to everyone who made my birthday so special!

A huge thank you to the Dior team with whom I spent an amazing day today. I am in Paris at the moment for the launch of the French house’s newest mascara and something I cannot talk about yet. Follow me on Twitter and look out for #dioriconicevent to stay up-to-date. A detailed post will be coming up soon. Now, I am off to dinner at the Plaza Athénée Ice rink “Les Bancs d’Hiver” by Chef Alain Ducasse.

LoL, Sandra

When I stumbled across the new US April Vogue and this amazing editorial featuring Kate Moss showcasing the most beautiful of January’s couture collections at the hotel Ritz in Paris, before closing its doors for renovation, I had to share this with you.

Lensed by one of my favourite photographers Tim Walker and styled by Grace Coddington, this is a feast for your eyes! Enjoy!

My Bleu Heaven
A cornflower-blue dress by Sarah Burton, reminiscent of 1950s couture, plays on proportion and contrast: nipped-in waist and voluminous skirt; flat jacquard against exploding lace. Alexander McQueen lace bustier jacquard dress.

At First Blush
Moss, in the bathroom of the Coco Chanel Suite, wears a petal-like cocktail dress and cape, inspired by a 1960 design, from a pink-and-silver cloque lamé created by Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Life Imitates Art I
Like the neoclassical crimson satin sofa, a dramatic tiered evening dress (Dior’s finale look) adds a jolt of brilliant color to the hushed palette of an Imperial Suite salon. Dior Haute Couture silk dress.

Life Imitates Art II
Bellhop Nicolas Deschamps balances a Roger Vivier silk-and-feather pump on his cap.

Sleeping Beauty
For three decades, Coco Chanel called the hotel her home. Here, the bedroom of the suite named for her. Armani Privé sequined embroidered flared bustier dress.

Boxed Out
Karl Lagerfeld took over the first-floor-spanning Imperial Suite, seen here, for his 1996 couture collection. Chanel Haute Couture embroidered organza flower coat and pumps.

Cocktail Hour
“I drink the French 76: vodka, sugar, lemon juice topped up with champagne; it’s the best drink ever, but it only tastes like that in the Hemingway Bar,” says Moss, here in L’Espadon. “Colin [Field, Ritz Paris head bartender] made it for my wedding. It doesn’t taste at all strong—and then, whoa, whoops-a-daisy!” Alexis Mabille Haute Couture burnished lamé dress and hat.

Light Show
“When I was with Johnny Depp, he always stayed there. I had an apartment in Paris at the time, but he said, ‘No, we’re staying at the Ritz,’ so he came by and swept me up to the Ritz—he didn’t want to slum it in my apartment!” Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.

Room Service
“Gianni’s [Versace] shows were amazing—and sooo convenient. Walk downstairs, go to work: Love that!” says Moss, with housekeepers Khadidja Fakri and Lollie Bacete (standing). Dior Haute Couture embroidered silk dress. Headpiece created by Julien d’Ys.

View From the Top
Giambattista Valli sent out a cinched draped-shoulder goddess dress in “a color so deep, so intense, you can almost smell it—like bougainvillea on the Mediterranean coast.” Giambattista Valli Haute Couture silk dress and necklace.

Special Delivery
In the Flower Room, a team of five florists overseen by floral designer Djordje Varda is charged with, among other things, selecting and arranging 10,000 blooms for the hotel each week.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Vogue, Tim Walker

What a lovely morning. The sky was blue and the sun was shining when I went to the to see the Stella McCartney F/W 2011 show in the Paris Opera house. The collection was like the weather, just amazing, probably one of her best presentations.

The first looks were sculptural pleated silhouettes in black and astro blue.

Stella defined a new silhouette with broader shoulders borrowed from the menswear. She is always strong when it comes to tailoring. For winter, it will be masculine and exggerated. Her knitwear pieces were all about texture. I loved the gold foil felted wool in bold volumes.

The show got better from piece to piece. Blue velvet was bonded with scuba stretch, introducing body contouring silhouettes. Those dresses are so sexy. 
Hand embroidered spots floated on transparent tulle. Separates were layered using different sizes of polka dots to graphic effect.

 

 

Accessories echoed the collection, from stiletto pumps with gold foiled soles to flat masculine loafers and clutches made of hand cut resin with rounded brass details for evening. So beautiful!

 

The Finale

 

Look whom and what I spotted after the show:

Stay tuned as I got some great streetstyle shots today in front of the opera!

LoL, Sandra

On the final day of Paris Fashion Week, Marc Jacobs rounded off the S/S 2011 collections in more ways than one. For me, it was one of best shows. The catwalk was beautifully decorated with tiger statues. Amazingly embellished dresses in gorgeous bright colour combinations made out of flowing materials paraded the runway. Tropical flowers along with Japanese details and tiger stripes gave this collection an outstanding feel. The cuts were absolutely sexy with slit legs showing a lot of skin.This summer will be an expensive one if you like Vuitton.

Thumbs up, Marc, I am loving it!

Enjoy my photos before, during and after the show! I also got some amazing shots of amazing people. Hope that you will like it!

LoL, Sandra