Sandra‘s Closet

A match made in heaven. My beloved illustrated character by artist and my dear friend Jasmin Khezri (rumors are that Irma seeked some inspiration from my humble self as she loves shopping as much as I do), and my favorite champagne have collaborated this picnic season and created a special box Irma x Ruinart for you to get at Feinkost Marks in Munich (you can also order them online).

Whether you prefer a salty snack or something sweet matching the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Rosé, you can select among several boxes catering to your respective taste. Here are some great tips:

Go by bike to Feinkost Marks and drive along the Isar to find an idyllic place to sip your chilled champagne. Irma suggests a fresh selection of cheeses to a Blanc de Blancs and some Muscat grapes.

You might be looking for a unique present for the garden party at your friend’s house. Choose the sweet desert variation box that matches lovely with the champagne and makes a great gift. On the go grab a delicious ice cream which combines heavenly with a dash of champagne.

If you travel further to the countryside, make a selection that keeps fresh and delicious. We chose fine crackers to accompany Marks homemade delicatessen.

Treat yourself and a friend with a glass of champagne to slowly start getting social again. A bench in the park is the ideal place to talk or daydream. A personalized picnic box makes such a great gift, don’t you think?

Each limited edition picnic box comes with a hand painted IRMA illustration, two bottles of medium size champagne Rosé and Blanc de Blancs, as well as two RUINART champagne glasses.

For some inspiration what to do in Munich, I would kindly invite you to check Jasmin’s insider tips for the Bavarian metropole here. I am loving it very much, makes me miss my old hometown so much…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Irma/Ruinart

Raised in Germany, England and France, Jasmin Khezri studied at the renowned Parsons School of Design in Paris and Los Angeles and went on to become one of the youngest award winning art directors in Europe. Besides a successful career in magazines and retail, she became famous for her unique illustration style and especially for IRMA, the famous character with big eyes and French-fries legs that you might know from mytheresa.com besides many other things. It took Jasmin more than 7 years to develop her look in a complete way. Today, she shares her insider scoop on Munich in Germany with us.

Your favourite city?
I enjoy living in MUNICH during the week and for the weekend I like to go to the countryside. That is the best part of the city…

Your favourite hotel?
I like the LOUIS HOTEL right at the Viktualien Markt and in the morning I either enjoy breakfast in their restaurant daydreaming while looking apon the merchants getting ready for the day or go around the food market which has all the delicacies you are dreaming off for breakfast.
Viktualienmarkt 6, 80331 Munich, Phone :+49 89 41119080

The MANDARIN ORIENTAL is great if you want to have dinner at their newly opened restaurant NOBU and drop right into bed afterwards.
Neuturmstrasse 1, 80331 Munich, Phone:+49 89 290980

Your favourite restaurant?
In Munich I dine at THERESA and like to go next door to THERESA BAR for an after dinner vodka. You will be surprised what you will find behind a very common house facade, a true jewel of  interior design.
Theresienstrasse 29, 80333 Munich, Phone: +49 89 28803301

On a rainy Saturday in winter I have lunch at LA OSTERIA ITALIANA and order a Bollito Misto, sitting in their Italian room.
Schellingstrasse 62, 80799 Munich, Phone :+49 89 2720717

Your favourite bar or nightclub?
For Techno/Deep House, ROTE SONNE and KONG, for Hip Hop Downtown Flash and for a chilled night with friends for drinks JAMES T. HUNT, KISMET, GOLDENE BAR (photo above) and BEVERLY KILLS.
Rote Sonne, Maximilianspl. 5, 80333 Munich, Phone:+49 89 55263330
Kong, Prielmayerstr. 6, 80335 Munich
James T. Hunt, Schellingstrasse 32, 80799 Munich, Phone:+49 89 27373038
Kismet, Löwengrube 10, 80333 Munich, Phone:+49 89 220352
Goldene Bar, Prinzregentenstrasse 1, 80538 Munich, Phone:+49 89 54804777
Beverly Kills, Müllerstrasse 43, 80469 Munich

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
HAUS DER KUNST (especially their guided tours made by IRMASWORLD.COM guest editor Marion von Schabrowsky) and ALTE PINAKOTHEK for the splendour and old masters.
Haus der Kunst, Prinzregentenstrasse 1, 80538 Munich, Phone: +49 89 21127113
Alte Pinakothek, Barer Str. 27, 80333 Munich, Phone: +49 89 23805216

KUNSTHALLE HYPO-VEREINSBANK for their very different exhibitions showing everything from Jean Paul Gaultier recently to JOAQUÍN SOROLLA now.
Fünf Höfe, Theatinerstrasse 8, 80333 Munich, Phone:+49 89 224412

Your favourite park?
The northern part of the ENGLISCHER GARTEN is almost deserted and you can almost go Military Horseback Riding without running into someone.

Your favourite shop?
In Munich I love to buy my food and beverages at DALLMAYR.
Dienerstrasse 14, 80331 Munich, Phone:+49 89 2135100

LODENFREY for special selected items, you can also buy small luxury presents designed by IRMA exclusively for Lodenfrey.
Maffeistrasse 7, 80333 Munich, Phone:+49 89 210390

I am very much into men’s shoes at the moment and I buy them at LUDWIG REITER.
Burgstrasse 8, 80331 Munich, Phone:+49 89 94301370

For coats and jackets (I have too many and still need more )I love the first floor of THERESA.
Maffeistrasse 3, 80333 Munich, Phone: +49 89 224845

Your must-have accessory?
My IRMA iPHONE COVER by Caseable, a very, very small handbag and an outstanding piece of ANTIQUE JEWELRY. You can wear everything separately but it can look very cool all mixed together.

The best soundtrack for this destination?
GIORGIO MORODER 1970 DISCO. Munich was one of the disco epicentres, just think of Donna Summer.

The best book to read while being on vacation there?
Annette Kolb, DIE SCHAUKEL. Probably the best description of the bohemian art crowd in early 1900, the competing Prussian and French influence and the famous “Liberalitas Bavariae”.

Thank you, Jasmin, for sharing your insider scoop on Munich with us.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Ute Zscharnt, © Jasmin Khezri and via the different locations

Some of my avid readers know IRMA already from a previous post. This cute illustrated character is created by my friend Jasmin Khezri. We met first at Marie Claire magazine where she was the art director and I worked as a fashion editor.

Jasmin and I at the Chanel show last Tuesday

Can you imagine that it took Jasmin more than 7 years to develop IRMA’s look and style in a complete way. In the beginning, IRMA had big eyes and French-fries legs (well, she still has them but it’s because she has to run everywhere non-stop).

IRMA is an independent girl who is travelling everywhere in the world and this October sees the launch of her first shoe design. The legendary Converse Chucks are now available with an exclusive IRMA design from up-and-coming innovative online company notlikeyou.com.

IRMA will continue her travels and bring you more beautiful things on your feet. Be amazed where she will take you….

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of IRMASWORLD and © Sandra Bauknecht

I couldn’t be any happier and more excited. I am in a book, a real book that will be launched during Berlin Fashion Week on July 9, 2014 at the high fashion concept store The Corner.

The new coffee-table 208-page tome “Fashion Germany” is published by Prestel in German and English editions and presents the country’s increasingly important role in the world of fashion by telling the inside story of the designers, creative directors, stylists, photographers and journalists, who have placed Germany on the style map. The author Martina Rink (see photo left), who has become famous for her first book in a similar format, “Isabella Blow,” told WWD that “the Germans are way too modest about what they do and there are loads of them out there playing in the top leagues of international fashion.”

Today a label reading “Made in Germany” connotes quality, durability and attention to detail. Although it wasn’t always this way, the past decades have seen an emergence of high fashion coming out of Germany. Designers such as Jil Sander, Markus Lupfer, Dorothee Schumacher and Karl Lagerfeld, photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Kristian Schuller and Armin Morbach; and models such as Johannes Huebl, Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum have become world-famous icons. I am sure that after reading those famous names, you can imagine my excitement to be featured in a book like this. Thank you, Martina!

To celebrate the launch in July, the book will also come with a special MCM cover in the brand’s iconic cognac logo print, embellished by an illustration of Irma, Jasmin Khezri’s famous character.

FASHION GERMANY by Martina Rink (without the MCM cover)
Prestel Verlag / ISBN 978-3-7913-4889-6
€39.59 – $55.00 – £35.00 – Can.$60.00
Europe Launch July 2014 / US Launch September 2014 / UK August 2014

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Martina Rink, MCM and Prestel