The Cabinet Of Curiosities of Thomas Erber

Le cabinet

I just spent 48 hours in London that were filled with many interesting events, parties and meetings. Let me get started with the launch party for the ‘Cabinet de Curiosites de Thomas Erber’ 2011.

After his successful collaboration with Parisian concept store Colette in 2010, fashion consultant and former journalist Thomas Erber has brought his cabinet to Browns in London. Showcasing a very interesting selection of pieces including everything from fashion and furniture design, to travel packages, art and photography, Erber has gathered many internationally renowned artists and designers to fill his cabinet with their most unique creations.

IMG_4647My key to “Le Cabinet de Curiosités de Thomas Erber”

IMG_4435Thomas Erber with me

„My quest, has always been to push the limits of creativity, to me it is the only thing that feeds the dream living in each of us. Browns, since the beginning, has been the coolest place in the city to me, it has always defended elegance and most importantly independent designers more than anything or anyone else in London.“

– Thomas Erber

Christopher KaneDesigner Christopher Kane with me (Love his designs! Click here for a previous post)

Here are my favourite curiosities:

FASHION

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Rodarte – The Piece

In 2011, the Rodarte sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, joined with two of the world’s most highly acclaimed photographers, Catherine Opie and Alec Soth, to create the first publication to explore and examine the world of Rodarte.

For Thomas Erber’s cabinet at Browns, Rodarte have collaborated with artist Rebekah Miles on a one of a kind book cover, hand painted with an image from the book.

£ 250


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Lulu Guinness – The Piece

Designed to befit the expression, “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”, this bespoke bag is characteristic of Lulu’s wit and charm. The cubic evening bag is covered in black satin with a wrist strap and is presented in another larger cube which is hand-embroidered with the designer’s iconic handwriting.

£ 1995

 

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Manolo Blahnik – The Piece

“Albero” – an exquisitely delicate shoe. Crafted in crocodile, silk satin leaves encase the ankle, while the foot rests on orange satin lining.

£ 3850 (size 37)

 

Melinda Gloss

Melinda Gloss – The Piece

Melinda Gloss is the in 2006 established label by childhood friends Rémi de Laquintane and Mathieu de Ménonville.

High quality meets high fashion, as a traditional tweed overcoat is given a modern dressing-down by a hooded inner-layer. Raw edging gives the reassuringly weighty material a sense of lightness without compromising its warmth.

The three coats are available in size 50 for £ 1750 each.


CURIOSITIES & ART

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I-Woodesign

A unique jewelry box and watch box in Tamo Ash, one of the rarest and most reasured woods in the world. Sleek and sophisticated by design, the rich finish of the wood results in a piece which is strikingly superior in every sense.

Jewelry Box £ 7200, Watch Box £ 6300

Kata Legrady

Hungarian-born artist Kata Legrady is a very interesting woman to talk to. She has attracted international fame for her iconic series “Guns & Candies”. A former child soldier, she draws inspiration from her childhood memories.

Kata

While we were talking, this bag by Christian Louboutin caught her eyes. It reminded her of a bomb, funny enough!

Katie

Kata Legrady – The Piece

‘A 47 Kalashnikov, multicolour original gun with applicated “Smarties” covered with Plexiglass’

The internationally celebrated series, “Guns and Candies” was started in 2008, and is a set of colourful and oversized pieces exploring Legrady’s double fascination with war arms and candies. The Smarties are simultaneously enigmatic, alluring and scary, and appear to leave a residual trace on the retina, like a persisitent dream or a meditative vision. Truly popular art in the very Warholian meaning of the word, these images and artifacts are universally accessible and immediately identifiable. They demand only a little empathy from the viewer’s part, therefore investing each beholder with a power to reveal both their symbolic and artistic qualities.

£ 25000


IMG_4461London based designer Paul Kelley

Paul Kelley

Paul Kelley – The Piece

A stainless steel polished desk/dressing table with a mirror and a blue acrylic lined interior. The handsome yet elegant work boasts solid brass-plated drawers and solid teak interiors.

£ 54000
All photos above: © Sandra Bauknecht

 

TRAVEL

Uruguay-Kuoni (Photo-Kechicheva)[1]

“Riders”, 40 x 60 cm, Silver gelatine print, fiber paper, B & W, argentic print, single copy. Especially made for the Cabinet Of Curiosities of Thomas Erber, 2011 edition at Browns by Elina Kechicheva, £ 1840.

LES VOYAGES DE THOMAS BY KUONI

The Road Trip

A mesmerizing and romantic road trip leads to Uruguay, to the edge of the end of the world, just between the “elder brothers” of Brazil and Argentina, and along the Uruguayan coast – which will slowly unveil its mysteries and wonders in a land that is yet to be fully discovered.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £2150 per person (without flights).

Namibia-Kuoni(Photo Kechicheva)Photographs by Elina Kechicheva also available, £ 1840

The Family Safari

A magical, adventurous family trip to the heart of rugged but soulful Namibia, the “king country”, a jewel located on the west coast of southern Africa. Travelers will venture away from the famous Skeleton Coast to the untouched Namib Desert, where safaris are still real and wild – and will be accompanied by dedicated and knowledgeable local people who will help them to experience the real Namibia.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £ 4285 per person (without flights).

 

The after party took place in London’s newly opened up hot spot: Le Baron.
Here are some photos of the night:

IMG_4524Mark van Huisseling with me

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DSC_6604Christian Louboutin and Henry Holland

DSC_6749Mickey got all excited seeing…

DSC_6826…a half naked beauty. 
Photos: © Jean Picou

A real cabinet of curiosties!

LoL, Sandra

Party-à-Porter

Dolce PartyNATALIE, DOMENICO, LATIFAH, NAOMI, STEFANONatalie Massenet, Stefano Gabbana, Queen Latifah, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce.

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Here we go: Party N°2!

I didn’t even have time to change after Matthew’s tropical night as I was running off to the next amazing event on Thursday night in London:
Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter celebrated the arrival of Dolce & Gabbana with a very intimate party “at home”.

It was literally a night of the stars (photo to the left: Queen Latifah with me), an A-list event with so many celebrities joining the fun and fashionistas wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s star-sprinkled F/W 2011 pieces.
Enjoy all the pics and comments from that memorable night!

Dolce & Gabbana collections are now available on Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter.

LoL, Sandra

P1010661My favourite fashion duo Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce with me.

P1010662Remember designer Henry Holland from LuisaViaRoma’s Animalier Party?!

Nap2Very sweet Mary Katrantzou remembered me and my Serendipity dress.

nap4The good thing about Twitter (it was livestreamed on a wall) is that you can find people easily…

nap5…like Disneyrollrgirl.

P1010664Emerging solo artist Sunday Girl Jade performed live in a star print jumpsuit by Dolce & Gabbana.

P1010658Natalie Massenet and Tim Blanks pose for their photo on the vintage Vespa mopeds.

IMG_6790My own picture postcard – such a lovely idea!

KELLY OSBOURNEKelly Osbourne

DAVID GANDYFamous Dolce & Gabbana model David Gandy

NATALIE MASSENET & JEREMY LANGMEADMr & Mrs Porter: Jeremy Langmead & Natalie Massenet

PIXIE GELDOFPixie Geldof

PIXIE LOTTPixie Lott

DOMENICO, NATALIE, NAOMI, STEFANOStefano Gabbana, Natalie Massenet, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce

Photos: © Net-à-Porter / Mr Porter, © Sandra Bauknecht

Animalier Party

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The closing dinner party of Firenze4Ever 3rd Edition took place in the beautiful gardens of La Specola museum. The theme of the party was „Animalier“.

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I dressed up as a mixture between a mouse and a cheetah, a „cheetouse“.

Leggings and Top by Givenchy Blouse and Cage Sandals by Alexander McQueen, Belt Yves Saint Laurent, Headband with Mouse Ears by Louis Vuitton and Mini Boston Bag by Céline Watch by Roger Dubuis.

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Me with Dan Hasby-Oliver from Laststylelofdefense.com

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Sebastiano and La Carmina were showing us the Japanese animalier trend: Pokemons, rabbit bags and plush dogs on the head.

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It wouldn’t be LuisaViaRoma if they didn’t have some surprises for us that night. A beautiful ballet performance waited for us in the gardens. The dancers were dressed up as animal creatures. Kind of spooky but really beautiful.

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The DJs of the night were pretty famous: Daniele Cavalli (Roberto’s son), whom I had met already at the last Firenze4Ever event in January, and Henry Holland, the designer of House of Holland were rocking the crowd.

IMG_5729Daniele

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IMG_5728Henry

The last days were just so amazing, filled with many exciting moments. I have so much more to show you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht