Sandra‘s Closet

Born in Japan in 1988, Tomo Koizumi‘s interest in fashion began from watching his fashion-loving mother in his childhood. His encounter with the book «John Galliano for Dior» in his early years was a very eye-opening event and made him decide to become a fashion designer. He has no formal fashion training and studied fine arts in his hometown Chiba, which is close to Tokyo, but has always had a passion for fashion, getting his hands on every fashion magazine he could.

It only felt natural, that he launched his own brand TOMO KOIZUMI successfully in 2011, after a boutique owner became interested and picked one of his dresses – which he created while he was a university student. He started as a stylist and costume artist assistant, before moving on to his next career step, becoming a costume designer. In February 2019, his very first runway show took place in New York with the support of the world-famous super-stylist Katie Grand, who discovered his works on Instagram, Marc Jacobs, and KCD Public Relations, Inc.

Koizumi came to show his rainbow fantasy gowns at her friend, and long-time collaborator, Marc Jacobs’ Madison Avenue store during New York Fashion Week for F/W 2019 and it became one of the most talked about shows of the seasons. Two of his pieces were also exhibited at the MET museum and the museum bought one of his works for its permanent collection. In April 2020, he was finalist and joint winner pf LVMH 2020 prize. Bright colors and bold silhouettes are the signature of his made-to-order collections and costumes, that international celebrities and artists love.

Thailand-based fashion editor and entrepreneur Nichapat Sop Hap wore one of Koizumi’s designs to the Met Gala in 2019.

Lady Gaga in Tomo Koizumi in 2016

You won’t find Tomo Koizumi’s voluminous pieces in stores. He is not interested in creating for retailers. Instead, he prefers to produce one of a kind creations. Star-studded clientele includes: Lady Gaga, who wore one of his designs on a visit to Tokyo in 2016, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. Therefore you will be very excited to read about his collaboration with Emilio Pucci in my next post that is available now!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tomo Koizumi and by WWD/Shutterstock

Close is a collection of visual studies on the theme of proximity, in which each photographer has created a series of visual statements on the unique and intimate relationship they share with their subject. It highlights the significant role that personal distance plays in an image-maker’s treatment and understanding of what and who they are photographing.

As one of those models in the show, Gigi Hadid enjoyed the greatest access and freedom of movement in the backstage environment that any photographer could possibly have. Her work documents the experience of preparing a Miu Miu collection for the catwalk in an unprecedentedly honest and thorough way.

Lila Moss is photographed at home by Nikolai von Bismarck, imbuing the images with an affinity only achievable within a familial context; the Polaroid format highlights the informal candour of the setting. Kate Moss offers a personal perspective on the Miu Miu collection, styling the looks with Katie Grand.

With a particular focus on accessories, Steve Mackey shot London model Kasper Kapica wearing the collection on both film and Polaroid on location in a local public park. The Polaroids have been given a hand-painted treatment by Patrick Waugh, the signature of his brushstrokes evident in the texture of the paint.

Backstage at the show where the collection was presented, Liz Collins captured the character of the models in her close-up portraits, taken in private moments as they prepared to set forth on the catwalk.

For digital media, Amber Pinkerton photographed young Londoners on the day they reemerged to engage with the physical social space after a period of withdrawal, while Douglas Irvine was given exclusive access to Miu Miu’s F/W 2020 set, where he shot individual models dressed in the looks they wore for the show.

Finally, Anthony Turner, Luella Bartley, Silvia Prada and Chantal Stracey express their personal interpretations of both the mood and detail of the collection through distinctive hand-drawn illustrations and animations.

The result is a collective effort from a broad range of creatives working across various media. Their work has been assembled in collages using physical techniques of cut and paste – the touch of human hand at play in their production, proposing an intimacy that is all the more precious in a time of increased separation and isolation.

Everyone participating in this project is already a part of Miu Miu’s extended family. The participants’ familiarity both with their subjects and with the broader world of Miu Miu
gives Close a profoundly personal and proximate quality at a moment in history that has required us to reevaluate our understanding of personal distance.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Miu Miu

Forty internationally renowned experts from the world of fashion (among them Jefferson Hack, Katie Grand, Natalie Massenet, Carine Roitfeld and Patrick Demarchelier to name a few) are to meet thirty applicants to the LVMH Prize during Paris Fashion Week.

They will select a short-list of ten young designers who will go forward to present their work to the jury in May 2014. Entries have already been received from all over the world, including Asia, Africa and South America as well as the United States and Europe, with many more anticipated before the closing date of February 2nd, 2014.

The members of the jury for the first edition of the prize in 2014 are eight creative directors from LVMH Fashion Houses including: Nicolas Ghesquière (Louis Vuitton), Marc Jacobs (Marc Jacobs), Karl Lagerfeld (Fendi), Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (Kenzo), Phoebe Philo (Céline), Raf Simons (Dior) and Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy).

The designers will be joined by Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie (advisor to Bernard Arnault and head of corporate philanthropy for LVMH) and Pierre-Yves Roussel (Chairman and CEO of the LVMH Fashion Group).

YOU CAN APPLY HERE! Good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! I am sending you much LOVE and with this post you can take it literally.

LOVE magazine editor-in-chief and famous stylist, Katie Grand, has joined forces with Hogan for a capsule S/S 2013 collection, featuring a selection of footwear, leather purses and sunglasses. Practical and cool with a romantic twist, Katie Grand brought her quirky energy to the Italian house. Hurry, those heart-embellished pieces will sell out fast.

YOU CAN SHOP THE KATIE GRAND ♥ HOGAN COLLECTION HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hogan

Last week in Milan, there was quite a party stress going on.
Across from the Gucci party on Via Montenapoleone, Louis Vuitton celebrated the re-opening of their shop on the famous street, followed by a dinner and later a party with cocktails and music to toast the exhibition “The Art of Fashion” curated by Katie Grand which is on show at La Triennale di Milano until October 9th, 2011.

The interior of the Louis Vuitton Via Montenapoleone store.

Gorgeous decoration.

Party people

Lots of celebrities were there.

Beautiful Isabeli Fontana (right) in a sequined dress from the Louis Vuitton Pre-fall 2011 collection.

Anna dello Russo in a head-to-toe look from the Louis Vuitton F/W 2011 runway

Enjoy those photos from the exhibition:

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, © Sandra Bauknecht

LoL, Sandra

Alexander Wang teamed up with LOVE editor-in-chief Katie Grand to host a party at Liberty in honour of the magazine’s Androgyny issue last Monday. An abundance of famous faces celebrated with the American designer at the store’s first floor international designer room.

Beth Ditto

„Thank you, Liberty, for having me,” Beth Ditto called during her guest performance, “You’ll never have me back here again after this, but thanks to Katie Grand and Alexander Wang I’ve got all your free clothes, and I’m totally cool with that.”

Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldorf

Ditto sang an acappella rendition of Whitney Houston’s „I Will Always Love You“ that made guests cheer in awe of her extraordinary vocal talent. Party girls like Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldorf conquered the dance floor with Boy George and Erin O’Connor. Even the Beckhams breezed in to join the party.

Alexander Wang with me

My heart leaped with joy when Alexander Wang came up to me and said: „Hi Sandra, how are you? Great to have you here!“ Always nice to be remembered… (click here for my interview with him last year).

LoL, Sandra

Boy George with me

Erin O'Connor

Love the hair piece

Beth after her performance...

...talking to Katie Grand...

...and finally leaving the party...

...like the Beckhams!

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Vending machines selling luxury goods seem to be on the rise. Katie Grand, editor-in-chief of LOVE magazine has teamed up with Selfridges to create such a machine for the beginning of London Fashion Week until October 15th. The new retail concept can be found in the lobby of London’s It-hotel St Martin’s Lane where many editors, models and buyers are staying at the moment.

You can get a lot of fantastic items, some highly exclusive, let me name a few:

-Falabella bag by Stella McCartney

-leather and sequined dress by Alexander Wang

-draped dress by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

-a unique pair of trainers by Rick Owens customized by Chrome Hearts with solid silver hardware

-Amazona handbag by Loewe

-limited Dior nail polishes

-Mimosa candles by Diptyque exclusive to Selfridges in yellow

–Falke’s new „secret socks“ for men

-a vintage Rolex watch

-embossed leather wallets by Comme des Garçons

-clutch purses by Mulberry

A word to the wise, do not get drunk in the hotel bar, you might lose control and this could end on the way to your room passing the LOVE machine in a financial disaster.

LoL, Sandra