Sandra‘s Closet

This fall, Louis Vuitton and Editions Gallimard publish an unprecedented novel about Louis Vuitton, marking the bicentennial of his birth.

At just 14 years old, in clogs and without a penny to his name, he left the family mill to get away from his stepmother. Armed only with determination – and a surname that means «stubborn» in the local Jura dialect – he began an initiatory trek that would lead him to Paris two years later. There, he found work at Maréchal, Faubourg Saint-Honoré’s most prestigious trunkmaker and packer. From then on Lady Luck would keep smiling on him. In her lively and entertaining style, Caroline Bongrand traces the ascent of this intrepid young man in a Paris transformed by Baron Haussmann. A virtuoso craftsman and a visionary, Vuitton was the favourite packer and long-standing friend of Eugénie de Montijo, who kept him by her side as she became Empress of France. In 1854 Vuitton set up his eponymous business, never ceasing to innovate. Buoyed by the splendours of the Second Empire, he designed trunks to protect the most extravagant outfits and survive the farthest-flung travels, turning his own life into the stuff of fiction.

Novelist Caroline Bongrand has written numerous books, including Ce que nous sommes, published by Denoël in 2020, and an essay about issues facing women. She also wrote the screenplay of the 2021 film Eiffel.

The novel is published by Éditions Gallimard in the Hors-série Littérature collection, in French and English. A beautiful gift idea for a fellow fashionista.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton launches a capsule collection of nine belts in the select colours of nine global cities.

This season Virgil Abloh reinvents the LV Pyramide belt first seen on the F/W 2021 runway. The belt with its bevel-edged buckle returns in a capsule collection of nine exclusive versions, spotlighting nine cities that hold a special place in the heart of Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director.

Featuring Monogram canvas on one face and soft calfskin on the other, the belt still displays the iconic LV buckle. Virgil Abloh put it through a special treatment recalling his urban inspirations and influences drawn from crushing cars. The metal has been artfully eroded to reveal a new colour pairing that coordinates with the leather of the belt. Each is crafted by the deft hands of Louis Vuitton artisans, making every item unique.

The new design is available in nine colourways, each associated with one world city – green and purple for Bangkok, red and black for Hong Kong, yellow and blue for London, and pink and blue for Paris. The city name is displayed in a popping colour combination of its own on each face of the belt, both the Monogram canvas and the leather side. All belts are reversible, so you can mix it up depending on your mood or your outfit, and each can be found exclusively in a limited edition at the flagship store of its namesake city, starting November 25th, 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

My house is still a big construction site, therefore I moved a few days to Baur au Lac to enjoy some dust-free time. However, it is coming along and I cannot wait to see the final result.

My look: Single-breasted jacket with floral pin by Louis Vuitton, zebra-print chiffon wrap mini dress, matching Alma zebra-print satin clutch, and black sandals, all by The Attico, heart shaped earrings, and crystal-embellished snake necklace, both by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

For the first time, Louis Vuitton launches a capsule collection entirely devoted to skiing.

This collection features a complete wardrobe, suitable for the slopes or chalet, from morning to evening: limited edition ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes and skis.

Whether on the piste or on a walk, style encounters performance. Sporting a brand new LV snowflakeshaped Flocon logo, specially created for the occasion, all the ready-to-wear pieces were designed with comfort in mind, without ever compromising on technical details or style. Puffer feather-lined jackets display printed alpine landscapes at sunset and come with matching nylon leggings and pullovers. Reversible parkas in wool and silk are ideal for enjoying a breath of fresh air, while the pieces dedicated to skiing — jackets, salopettes and trousers — are cut in a stretch material and are completely waterresistant.

With hoods lined to provide warmth and softness, some parkas also boast rope belts and snap hooks inspired by rock climbers. Protective inner cuffs, multiple pockets, zipped trouser bottoms… A wide range of technical details to enable wearers to take full advantage of the snow at top speed.

Glimpses of Monogram appear here and there:
on the fleece fabric of a gilet, on the lining of a leather jacket, or even on the hood of a puffer jacket in ECONYL®. ECONYL® is a unique recyclable material made of 100% recycled nylon fibres, fully in line with Louis Vuitton’s circular creativity approach.

Ideal for a winter at altitude, sweatshirts – with and without zips – mini dresses, textured knitwear, chrome jerseys and soft furs complete the collection. Technical jersey ski trousers, as well as shiny satin jogging trousers, adapt to all winter occasions, day or night.

As for accessories, fox fur mittens and gloves are combined with woollen Monogram caps, brushed
silk and cashmere scarves, as well as hats in a variety of colours. An oversized scarf with a large
Monogram can be wrapped several times around the neck, like a cocoon.

The collection also showcases a variety of shoe models to be worn for après-ski. Inspired by rubber boots and available in two different heights, the TERRITORY boot features a notched sole, a metallic clasp, a Vuitton rubber label and beautiful Gommato leather. As for the POLAR ankle boots, they come in water-proof lined nylon or in Gommato leather, and are set on a wedge heel that’s perfect for a walk in Gstaad or Courchevel.

Last but not least, the collection unveils an innovative ski design. Available as numbered 200-piece limited editions, this pair of skis is made of a wooden core covered with an aluminium alloy sporting the iconic Monogram. As suitable on the slopes as they are off-piste, the skis are inspired by a trip to Courchevel. The alpine summit prints — which are also featured on certain ready-to-wear pieces — cover the base of the ski, topped by the new LV Flocon design.

To complete this exquisite technical set, a pair of high-tech ski boots have been designed, with the expertise and craftsmanship of Tecnica, for high performance results. Available in two shades and adorned with a gradation Monogram embossing and a Monogram canvas strap, the boots are equipped with a thermal heating system, supplied by a rechargeable lithium battery; Bluetooth control, and a soft and comfortable Merino wool lining.

Available in Louis Vuitton stores from the 26th November 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

The fall and its breathtaking colors are always the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot.
For this outfit, I loved to experiment with colors and shapes. The result has become one of my fall favorites and I hope you will like it too.

My look: Long sleeve checked blouse, sleeveless knit top with sequins, ruffled skirt with built-in shorts, and floral brooch, all by Louis Vuitton, Billy vinyl-trimmed houndstooth tweed beret by Maison Michel, Rockstud leopard-print calf hair trapeze bag (2014) by Valentino, and green platform suede boots by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Part of my series of self-shot outfit posts with a timer, please find today the uninhibited good girl gone bad who finds herself in a luscious floral whirlwind in the garden of good and evil. Joking aside, this is what I love about fashion, you can dress up or down and invent yourself every day new. You might wear a floral gown but in the right combination you are half-innocent and half-seductive. The choice is all yours…

My look: Winnifred belted tiered floral-print cotton-blend dress by Ulla Johnson, ruffled embroidered wool cardigan by Miu Miu, Mini Dauphine bag by Louis Vuitton, Birkin 30 in gold Epsom leather by Hermès, lace-up booties with logo buckle by CHANEL (F/W 2021), and Royal Oak 37mm 18-karat frosted rose gold watch by Audemars Piguet.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Here’s my first dose of Louis Vuitton‘s Vuittamins, photographed in Paris during Fashion Week. For Pre-fall 2021, Nicolas Ghesquière created an upbeat and optimistic collection in my favorite color-saturated hues of pink and purple that I couldn’t resist. More to come…

My Look: Vuittamins two-colored sweater, Vuittamins pencil skirt in jacquard Monogram, and Vuittamins utility crossbody bag, all by Louis Vuitton (Pre-fall 2021), lace-up booties with logo buckle, and choker, both by CHANEL (F/W 2021).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Louis Vuitton invites six new artists to join its Artycapucines collection.

The 2021 Artycapucines Collection sees six more leading contemporary artists bring their unique visions to Louis Vuitton’s timeless and feminine classic: the Capucines bag. The third chapter of Louis Vuitton’s limited-edition, artist-designed Artycapucines Collection is further proof of the bag’s ability to inspire unbridled creativity.

For this latest collection, six internationally acclaimed artists – Gregor Hildebrandt, Donna Huanca, Huang Yuxing, Vik Muniz, Paola Pivi, and Zeng Fanzhi – have transformed the blank canvas of the iconic bag named after Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Parisian street on which Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854.

After the first two Artycapucines chapters, the six new bags attest to the collection’s ability to blend the beauty and creativity of the artists’ talent with the ingenuity and absolute craftmanship of the House’s skilled artisans: Gregor Hildebrandt’s stunning black-and-white design with its screen-printed leather and LV signature inlaid with vinyl records; Donna Huanca’s precise, powerful and tactile bag with its hand-painted embroidery and piercing rings; the beautifully embroidered and brilliantly coloured fantasy landscape of Huang Yuxing’s Capucines; Vik Muniz’s characteristically joyful design with its effervescent trompe l’oeil effects and playful aesthetic; the complex leather marquetry and rich gold-leaf gilding of Paola Pivi’s creation; and Zeng Fanzhi’s reinterpretation of a Van Gogh self-portrait brought to life with over 700,000 remarkably worked embroidery stitches.

The Artycapucines Collection, which now contains 18 distinctive designs from celebrated artists including Henry Taylor, Beatriz Milhazes, Urs Fischer, Zhao Zhao, Jean-Michel Othoniel, and Tschabalala Self, once again reveals the House’s long-running desire to use its innovative spirit and artisanal expertise to help creative minds bring their ideas to life.

Each bag embodies the House’s unending commitment to savoir-faire and craft, while affirming the Capucines as the ultimate expression of Louis Vuitton’s timeless elegance.

Each bag in the the Artycapucines collection will be available for CHF 7900 in a limited edition of 200 and released in stores worldwide at the end of October 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: This post is NOT sponsored. I am absolutely in love with this collaboration.

The delicate figurine named Vivienne arrived at Louis Vuitton as if by magic in 2018. Initially a decorative object, she has proven capable of adapting to any environment, occasion or style to become the Maison’s beloved contemporary mascot.

Her family has expanded to include 11 unprecedented jewellery creations. Vivienne pendants pay homage to the cultures that are dear to Louis Vuitton, and these precious globetrotters know no borders.

Here the romantic Vivienne Plum is adorned with poetic pink gold plum blossoms, diamonds and red lacquer, and features a delicate bow on her back. There, transformed into a furry black and white animal who loves fresh bamboo, the adorable Vivienne Panda in white and yellow gold, diamonds, onyx and lacquer symbolises luck, peace and friendship. Korea’s ancestral embroidered garment, known as Hanbok, is enhanced by the carved and polished pink and white gold, diamonds and blazing lacquer of Vivienne Hanbok. As powerful, protective and brave as a Japanese samurai, Vivienne Samurai, dressed in yellow and white gold, diamonds and red and black lacquer, skilfully wields a Katana, the emblematic sword of those venerable warriors.

Now meet Vivienne Surfer, the most athletic of all, sporting blue lacquer and a long board adorned with the LV Monogram signature. And look who’s back: Vivienne Casino, reinvented in white and yellow gold, platinum, diamonds and lacquer. Bedecked in hearts, spades, diamond shapes and LV initials, an engraved deck of playing cards in hand, she is a champion of blackjack, poker and roulette. The magnificent Vivienne Rainbow radiates joy, emotion and hope thanks to an exquisite pavé gradation of 154 multicoloured gems. The astonishing Vivienne Royal, wearing a crown of yellow gold and diamonds and dressed in a blue lacquer robe punctuated with fleur-de-lys, pays homage to Paris’s Place Vendôme – the worldwide epicentre of jewellery and home to one of the most majestic Louis Vuitton stores.

The vivacious Vivienne Petite Malle featuring yellow and pink gold, diamonds and lacquer is never without her miniature handbag, whose shape recalls the Maison’s original trunks. Framing the face of Vivienne Monogram, petals of mother-of-pearl engraved with Monogram canvas motifs beautifully complement her eye of sculpted wood and her body shimmering with pink gold and diamonds. This piece elegantly evokes the Maison’s century-old trunk-making heritage. Lastly, Vivienne Celebration, in white and yellow gold set with 36 coloured stones and 124 diamonds, conveys a festive atmosphere. Specially created to celebrate Mr Louis Vuitton’s bicentennial birthday, she masterfully combines a mix of materials with traditional jewellery-making expertise.

Forever mischievous, each of these fetish figures pushes the boundaries of her mysterious aura by hiding a secret: the pendant can be converted into a brooch.

A trunk, exclusively designed for these precious mascots, opens like a treasure chest to reveal an array of miniature stages, drawers, trays and mirrors. Nodding to the origins of the Maison, this unique jewellery box offers a home for each limited edition Vivienne, thus perpetuating the excellence of Louis Vuitton, which makes the Art of Travel a true art of living.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton / © Piotr Stoklosa
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. I am loving it!

Looking back, the ’90s feels like a golden era—the Game Boy! The Spice Girls! The last cell phone-less generation! but most of all when it comes to the fashion. Do you remember the impossible-to-forget popcorn shirts – aka magic bubble shirts, or scrunchie shirts, as they can also be called – from the late ’90s/early 2000s? They are back! A shirt that’s initially tiny enough to fit a doll, but expands large enough to fit your boyfriend, and that everyone had put on the «never again» fashion list, is making a comeback. I unpinned mine with a matching bra top.

My look: Cropped satin-cloqué cardigan, satin-cloqué sports bra, and Bite layered distressed denim and cotton-piqué shorts, all by Alexander Wang, mirrored-platform metallic-leather sandals by Miu Miu, green flap pocket bag with colorful strap (Look 5 Pre-collection Summer 2021), horn layered necklace by Isabel Marant, Louise long necklace by Louis Vuitton, and Loulou heart-shaped acetate sunglasses by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Anouk / Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.