Sandra‘s Closet

Being still in the throes of a global pandemic, and following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was a bizarre fashion week. It felt awkward on one side, on the other you saw that designers felt that urge to live again, while setting a statement.

The revival of the 2000s «Y2K» which is the shorthand for «the year 2000» is still going strong along with vibrant colors and strong shoulders on which you can carry the weight of the world. Literally.

Enjoy those beautiful collections and as I wished already six months ago, let’s hope again that we will find peace this season and finally learn from our history.

LoL, Sandra

The must-have of the season is actually a very summery item. The white tank top gives an elevated take on wardrobe essentials this season.

Never out of style, the flight jacket aka bomber jacket is a wardrobe hero that can be worn for all occasions. From morning walk to weekend lunch to evening gala, it has had various luxe updates for fall.

Silhouettes built for speed give motorcross its fashion credentials.

More and more designers skip animal fur and work on creating the perfect faux fur. This winter mainly in neutral colors and oversized shapes.

This winter, leather is a second skin and creates eye-catching looks.

Knitwear combinations in form of dresses with cardigans or sweater with matching skirts are all the rage this winter.

Attention catwomen! Luxe leopard is really feeling fresh again.

Strong shoulders have been seen frequently at Balenciaga. Thanks to Demna Gvasalia who shaped the fashion industry in myriad ways, this detail has inspired many runway shows this winter. In form of oversized blazers styled in different ways, they are the key pieces to look for.

Corporate tailoring is heading out-of-office for autumn. Oversized tailoring, crazy prints and vibrant colors promise a fabulous sabbatical.

Mood-boosting hues in rainbow colors – designers used those shades often head-to-toe or in color block options.

Transparency takes it up a notch also for winter in skin-tight silhouettes and fearless cut-outs. The difference now? Body-con isn’t just for twiglets. Models of all sizes sported the looks down the runways.

The Y2K trend is here to stay. Also this F/W 2022 season, low-rise waists, micro minis, visible underwear and all-over denim live their revival to the fullest. The 2000s are back!

Another revival that has been spotted on several runways is the punk-fuelled trend. Tartan patchworks, edgy lines and multiple buckles add to the vibe.

Back to school! The coolest uniforms break out of the classroom and onto the runway.

This season, fashion is extreme. Either you wear miniskirts or opt for great lengths that fell to the floor this fall.

Red alert! The modern woman dresses head to toe in tight pants and sexy tops in the most feminine color of all.

Corsets and a focus on the waist are huge this winter season. The best way? Corsetry introduces structured lines to flowing gowns for a contemporary feminine silhouette.

Fashion can be art, it is a form of expression. With all uncertainties in the world, designers are creating looks to dress up. Layered, colorful, voluminous, and wild to unleash your inner child.

The perfect looks for happily ever after stories with tulle fabrications so light they are reminiscent of cloud nine, painted in a delicate palette of pastel shades.

The Roaring Twenties: Art Deco accents, boas and shimmering details ask for a Great Gatsby revival at its best.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Charlotte Ronson, has become one of the most sought after American womenswear designers and her New York Fashion Week runway shows are a must see. Born in London into an artistic family – her older brother is Mark Ronson, the face for Fan di Fendi pour Homme – and raised in New York, Charlotte followed the tradition by developing her own unique style at an early age.

In 2000, Ronson launched her first collection, C. Ronson, which gained instant recognition and the attention of renowned publications. In May 2002, Ronson opened her flagship boutique in New York’s hip Nolita neighborhood.

In 2005, Aaron Nir joined C.Ronson as president and the collection was re-named “Charlotte Ronson” – a natural evolution of the brand and an accurate reflection of who Charlotte is and what she and her customer want to wear. In late 2009, Charlotte and Aaron became partners and established Charlotte Ronson International headquartered in New York City. With Charlotte Ronson’s sense of style and Aaron Nir’s savvy business sense this dynamic team has created a powerful brand with widespread recognition and huge potential.

Known for her impeccable style and trendsetting designs, Ronson’s clothing and accessories have quickly become a favourite among such fashion forward celebrities, models and influencers including Blake Lively, Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Richie, Rihanna, Diane Kruger, Leighton Meester, and Nicky Hilton, whom I spotted at the show.

Below are some photos I took at the F/W 2012 fashion show in NYC. Her musts for the next season are bohemian prints, an iconic staple. Alongside the Alpine-inspired knits and proper pencil skirts, they look absolutely sophisticated. A modern wardrobe for a real girl. The collection is available at LUISAVIAROMA.COM.

A little goody spotted front row at the Charlotte Ronson F/W 2012 show:
A fluo pink Céline Boston tote.

LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Charlotte Ronson and © Sandra Bauknecht

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

So long, miniskirts! Say hello to longer hemlines as they swing their way back into our closets this fall.

Interesting to know is the hemline theory which says that when hemlines go up, it is a sign that stock prices rise. When the knees are seen, it is a bull market. When the skirts get longer, it is a bear market, and prices will fall. Is the longer hemline an indicator for a global recession? Can fashion explain today’s erratic swings in the stock market? Will see…
Probably the reason is that during bad economy, ladies do not want to spend their money on cellulite cream and hair removal. The longer hemline works then to their advantage and so the theory would be correct.

During F/W 2010 fashion weeks last spring, editors were almost tripping on their skirts, taking boho to the max and they were absolutey right.

Inside on the runways, the long skirts made their comeback to daily life, from floor-sweeping to still showing a bit of leg, but most importantly keeping it well below the knee.

Above, you will see my pre-selection of gorgeous long skirts that are all available at the moment.

If you go for the trend, I will recommend pairing it with a cropped jacket, tucked in blouse or a belted-top for a nice silhouette. Especially if you are small-framed, you have to make sure that you are not swallowed by the floor grazing skirt. If you like you can also opt for the “Olsen Twins look” with a long knitted cardigan on top, but still try to get the proportions right.

 

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing the economy through the eyes of a fashionista!

LoL, Sandra