Sandra‘s Closet

Among the world’s most desirable seaside destinations, Saint-Tropez conjures cinematic village scenes and internationally renowned hospitality. For the second consecutive year, Louis Vuitton proposes a new iteration of the restaurant, Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton, at the White 1921 Hotel, located near its historical store. Opening on May 25th and conceived as an elegant oasis under the culinary vision of star chef Arnaud Donckele and chef pâtissier Maxime Frédéric, this multi-sensory concept puts forth inspiration and discovery, from the neo-gastronomy menu to the chic and breezy ambiance where guests can experience the summer art de vivre of Louis Vuitton.

First collaborating at the Cheval Blanc in Paris, Arnaud and Maxime reunite here, renewing a combined vision that plays out like a gustative journey amidst a legendary backdrop. Situated on the famed Place des Lices, the restaurant showcases a new menu along with a colourful twist to the iconic Louis Vuitton Monogram – from the table service to the décor. Both hailing from Normandy, the chefs have created a four-hand menu that reflects a shared passion for reimagining the Maison’s long-standing savoir-faire as a dining experience that begins even before the composition of each dish. Whether a rustic yet finessed tomato tart; wild prawn with a verveine-scented sorbet; roasted chicken with oregano served with herb-infused garden vegetables and a potato mousseline, Arnaud Donckele transforms premium, locally sourced ingredients into a sensorial voyage through the Provencal and Mediterranean region.

Maxime Frédéric, meanwhile, creatively interprets classic French desserts such as a raspberry pavlova and vacherin ice cream cake that can be enjoyed from day through evening. Embracing a philosophy towards food that extends from the freshest ingredients to meticulous execution, their approach brings a lively touch to every dish and is in perfect harmony with the artisanal values inherent to Louis Vuitton.

Naturally, Saint-Tropez provides a chic yet relaxed atmosphere for the restaurant, where rattan furniture is trimmed with natural elements of macramé, and upholstery throughout features the painterly Monogram motifs in an elegant orange colour scheme from the LV By the Pool Resort collection. Indeed, the colours also hark back to the Côte d’Azur of the 70s and 80s, a return to the Golden Age of the French Riviera. Back then, orange, yellow and ochre were very much in evidence on house facades, beaches, clothing and interior design. The terrace is surrounded by greenery enlivened with signature Louis Vuitton flower accents.

With the return of the restaurant comes a new Louis Vuitton Art de la Table collection suited to the relaxed chic of Saint-Tropez. The collection will be available from May 31st. Crafted in fine, extra-white Limoges porcelain, this seasonal range of dinnerware evokes a tropical paradise awash with flowers, coral and starfish. From the principal plates to the multi-use bowls, teacups and saucers, the motif enhances the summer table setting with an enchanting flourish. To accompany the Art de la Table collection, tablemats are also proposed and sold in limited edition in Louis Vuitton stores.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, these raffia tablemats are handwoven. Their classic round shape is accentuated by an orange border, echoed by a delicately embroidered Monogram Flower in the center – a perfect match with the LV Resort orange tableware collection.

The Saint-Tropez Women store is also where visitors can discover the latest Resort Collection, LV By the Pool. Near the restaurant, the offer reveals in vibrant designs enhanced with natural materials such as hand-crocheted raffia and vivid tones of coral and turquoise, across ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, textiles, accessories and more. A tiled watercolour effect defines several bag styles while key silhouettes exude a laid-back allure. To carry through the holiday and beyond, the Saint-Tropez ONTHEGO MM Raffia comes in a limited edition for Saint-Tropez. Meticulously hand-crocheted by expert artisans over three days, the bag endures as a cherished souvenir item for years to come. Tucked behind the store, a serene garden environment welcomes clients who wish to enjoy a hot or cool refreshment. Amidst lush vegetation, the seating features the tiled Monogram of the LV By the Pool collection.

Throughout the season, visitors can explore Saint-Tropez thanks to not only the Louis Vuitton Summer Resorts City Guide set, but also a customised Mini Moke vehicle. Available on request, it can shuttle guests between the Cheval Blanc Hotel, the store and other dedicated spots to seize on all the unforgettable summer moments.

Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton
Hotel White 1921
Place des Lices – 83990 Saint-Tropez – France

Opening Hours:
From May 25th to June 1st –12:30pm – 10:30pm (lunch & dinner upon reservation on www.louisvuitton.com)
From June 1st to October 8th – 3:00pm – 10:30pm (dinner upon reservation on www.louisvuitton.com)

Louis Vuitton Women Store
Louis Vuitton Saint-Tropez
48, rue François Sibilli – 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Opening Hours: From Monday to Sunday, 10:00am – 8:00pm

Louis Vuitton Men store
Louis Vuitton Saint-Tropez
53, rue François Sibilli – 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Opening Hours: From Monday to Sunday, 10:00am – 8:00pm

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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As part of its partnership with UNICEF*, Louis Vuitton presents its new 2024 Silver Lockit collection, created in collaboration with House Ambassador, Millie Bobby Brown, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She models the designs from this year’s collection, which once again illustrates Louis Vuitton’s tireless commitment to this global humanitarian organisation in its efforts to help the world’s most vulnerable children.

As with earlier editions, this collection features the emblematic miniature Lockit engraved with the word ‘LEARN’. This term is particularly meaningful to Millie as it shines a light on her actions to raise awareness of children’s rights and well-being, always advocating for a better world where children can grow, learn, be protected and thrive. For the first time, a full collection is proposed, consisting of an individual earring, a bracelet, and a pendant. The bracelet comes in four colours this year: red, blue, pink and black, and the pendant is redesigned with a longer chain. All products of this 2024 collection are engraved with the word ‘LEARN.’ The Silver Lockit, silver bracelet and necklace, from the permanent collection are still available.

«I am very proud to be a part of this project and to contribute through the design of this new Silver Lockit collection, which also supports an organization that’s incredibly dear to my heart. It’s my wish to ensure all children are provided access to an education.»

– Millie Bobby Brown

Louis Vuitton has raised more than $22 million for UNICEF since 2016 through sales of the Silver Lockit collection, which features new editions every year. For every Silver Lockit bracelet purchased, $100 is donated to UNICEF, and $200 are donated to UNICEF for every Silver Lockit earring and new pendant purchased.

The new edition will be available in stores worldwide as of 30th May 2024. The campaign for this new Silver Lockit collection will be revealed on the Louis Vuitton social channels starting 31st May 2024.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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*UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.

The Louis Vuitton Pre-fall 2024 collection is being presented on April 18, 2024 at the Long Museum in Shanghai, which was founded by husband-and-wife collectors Mr. Liu Yiqian and Ms. Wang Wei, and is named for its elongated funnel shape. The largest private museum in China, it holds the country’s richest collection, including traditional, modern and contemporary Chinese art, Chinese revolutionary art, and contemporary works from Asia, Europe and the United States.

On the occasion of the first Voyager Show, the House reveals a vibrant collaboration with artist Sun Yitian. Known for her photorealistic paintings of toys and other mass-produced objects, she has collaborated on an exclusive series that colourfully animates the Pre-fall 2024 collection, spanning ready-to-wear, leather goods, trunks, accessories and fragrances.

Born in 1991 in Zhejiang, China, Sun Yitian lives and works in Beijing. She has been presented in solo exhibitions at galleries in Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Throughout her work, she explores the tension between «Made in China» mass production and artistic value, bringing items that may initially seem unremarkable or of little value into the context of galleries and museums. For her first collaboration with a luxury Maison, her work is further transposed to wearable pieces, introducing the element of savoir faire. Sun Yitian imagined toy-like animals including a pink rabbit, yellow duck, spotted dog, leopard, zebra, penguin and swan. They interact playfully with iconic and everyday pieces as the latest collectible series in which contemporary artists bring their distinct world to the universe of Louis Vuitton.

«The connection between paintings on a canvas and the viewer is somewhat static and silent, a form of observation with a certain distance. However, when my artworks are translated into clothing, bags, or perfumes, they become much closer to people, and this interaction is lively and unpredictable. It creates an equal relationship of use,» says Sun Yitian.

The process involved discussions between Sun Yitian and the Louis Vuitton where creativity across different materials and techniques manifested into design. Extra-large and subtly whimsical, her artwork makes a bold statement as prints or embroidery on ready-to-wear that complements Pre-fall 2024 silhouettes by Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton Artistic Director of Women’s Collections. Whether a cheerful leopard grinning on a petal pink coat or skirt; the duck in profile on a sky-blue hooded windbreaker; or an inflatable rabbit with Monogram flower eyes filling the front of an A-line dress or T-shirt, the looks signal bright, youthful energy.

With the addition of Sun Yitian’s animals, signature bags are reinterpreted in ‘Animogram’ canvas. From a zebra on the Alma in Epi calfskin to the duck and its shadow atop the On The Go tote in reverse varnished calfskin, each animal is paired with a key shape. Another version involves highly crafted animal coin purses associated with a specific bag and colour base such as the rabbit coin purse paired with a Noé in glossy white Monogram leather. New to the Pre-fall collection is the Mini Square Trunk, a handheld, hard-sided design that features either the dog in smooth calfskin or the leopard in grained leather, both with colourful quilted interiors. Bag charms, meanwhile, are dimensional and exude cuteness, from the leopard key holder that matches the Pop Flower collection to the XL inflatable rabbit happily clinging to each bag.

Sun Yitian’s Animogram creation extend to shoes with the menagerie popping up on several styles: printed on Monogram nylon mules; as leather patches on the Lous open back sneakers, or as playful lace accessories and in corresponding colour ways for the LV Archlight sneakers. The entire menagerie comes together as a detailed family portrait on the Carré 90 scarf and appear individually as well, accented with a graphic Louis Vuitton border.

Finally, Sun Yitian’s collaboration has inspired three limited editions of its iconic perfumes Spell on You, Imagination and Heures d’Absence, enriching the fragrance stories with playful decors. For the first time, these Louis Vuitton perfumes are adorned with precious charms – an animal and the LV signature pendant – attached to a fine golden chain. The pink rabbit joins Spell on You, its color resonating with the pink juice of iris pallida blended with sophisticated rose evoking romance with a touch of mischief. The orange leopard is paired with Heures d’Absence with its free-spirited and contemporary bouquet of mimosa, jasmine and May rose. The yellow duck returns to animate Imagination, a daring fragrance bursting with an amber accord with citrus and Chinese black tea. Each perfume, composed by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, comes in colorful packaging specially decorated by Sun Yitian featuring glossy LV Monograms. Specially for the occasion, Imagination has its own travel case in Reverse Monogram adorned with the duck.

In all their forms, Sun Yitian’s animals will be memorably linked to the Louis Vuitton Pre-fall 2024 collection as an artistic expression rendered with fun and fantasy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Louis Vuitton debuts Low Key, a new collection of bags that stand out for their streamlined, sophisticated design. Launching with two styles, Low Key embraces a certain minimalist approach while signaling timeless Louis Vuitton style.

The Low Key Hobo is a generous, shape with a supple construction. Proposed in black, cognac and limestone, the grained leather is at once smooth and exceptionally tactile. A signature padlock is anchored to the strap, which is adjustable for a hand, shoulder or cross-body carry. Inside, a detachable Monogram pouch provides easy storage.

Low Key Hobo: CHF 3’450.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Louis Vuitton is revealing the expansion of its Tableware collection – now available in a new beige colourway – celebrating the Monogram flower’s artistic spirit with a contemporary touch that subtly intertwines classic and modern style.

Epitomising purity and timeless elegance, the Monogram Flower tableware set, made with Limoges porcelain, is available in an essential palette of blue and beige. Its motifs highlight the defining Monogram flowers’ graphic design with subtle watercolour effects on a stark white base. The collection boasts a variety of formats ranging from elegant plates to wide bowls and teapots, giving every mealtime a dreamlike ambience.

The tableware collection is accompanied by Twist Glasses and Flower Carafes, all available in Cristal Clear, Sapphire, Amber, Emerald, or Venetian Ruby, in a reflection of the Maison’s spirit. Twist Glasses and Flower Carafes are crafted in Murano glass and hand-blown in Simone Cenedese’s atelier, demonstrating their exceptional artisanry and imbuing each piece with unique character.

The new Louis Vuitton Tableware collection is available on louisvuitton.com and in a selection of Louis Vuitton stores. I am totally in love!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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As part of Milan Design Week, Louis Vuitton unveils a unique reinterpretation of its iconic Bed-Trunk at its Garage Traversi store in Milan. This exceptional piece draws inspiration from the very first Bed-Trunk, designed in 1865 by Louis Vuitton himself and now updated to blend tradition with modernity.

Created for the design connoisseur and the elegant traveller, this new variation celebrates the Maison’s heritage – innovating while respecting traditions and savoir-faire since 1854. The exterior of the trunk is covered in Louis Vuitton’s classic Monogram Canvas, while its interior displays the bed’s sophisticated structure – an innovative combination of aluminium and beechwood that allows the Bed-Trunk to quickly and easily transform into a stable bedframe.

The mattress is split into four sections specially crafted to support and accommodate its owner in total comfort. A memory-foam mattress topper covers every section, which rest on the same woven cotton straps that have been used to keep clients’ belongings safe during travel since the very earliest Louis Vuitton trunks. The mattress is covered in waterproofed cotton precisely embroidered with the classic Monogram pattern. For even more comfort, the head of the bed – with an included pillow – can be raised to the perfect angle and a small beechwood side table attached to the edge of the trunk.

In the mid-1880s, Louis Vuitton came up with a new Bed-Trunk specially designed for explorers from around the world – an invention patented by his son Georges in 1885. The Bed-Trunk was then showcased in several universal and international exhibitions, spurring its immense success among travellers, explorers and other nomads – just as the Camp Bed-Trunk became indispensable for officers in training or on active duty.

The Louis Vuitton Bed-Trunk will be available for pre-order from 16 April.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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First spotted on the S/S 2024 runway, the new LV Split Cat-Eye frames put a distinctive spin on an iconic sunglass style.

The mask features an original twist to classic sunglasses, with its lenses’ side edges floating out of the frame to reveal a sliver of space. Disguised behind the lens and at the center front of the face a subtle Monogram flower provides femininity, while a gold LV Circle signature adds a final touch to the temples.

Offered in classic black, chic cream, and a vivid orange that nods back to the runway scenography, the LV Split Cat-Eyes signal their sleek allure from afar. Up close, these new daring and sophisticated sunglasses make an instant impression.

In stores for CHF 475.-.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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The ever-present inspiration of travel across the universe of Louis Vuitton leads to a new Nautical Capsule. Elegant in design and effortless in attitude, the collection spans women’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and fashion jewelry. From relaxed tailoring and casual-chic seaside ensembles to marine-themed bags and breezy silk scarves, classic sailor elements are re-transcribed with a youthful allure.

As spring approaches, this transitional range signals a sophisticated spin on feminine sportswear. Naturally, the looks are anchored by white and navy, while stripes appear throughout – whether across T-shirt dresses, crisp shirting or plush knits. A double-breasted blazer worn with shorts or a bustier paired with trousers convey a certain polish suited to both city and coastal dressing.

How cute is this lighthouse? I am so in love with it!!!

In store starting March 22nd.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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At the crossroads of artistic crafts and high watchmaking, Louis Vuitton is bringing plique-à-jour enamel into the 21st century. The Voyager watch’s dial turns into a modern stained-glass window, revealing the perfection of a flying tourbillon movement developed at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and bearing the prestigious Poinçon de Genève seal. A journey into the blue.

Mastering and reviving traditional expertise could well be Louis Vuitton’s byword. The Maison has placed craftsmanship at the core of its cardinal virtues since its earliest days. By choosing plique-à-jour enamel – a French word first recorded in 14th-century annals – Louis Vuitton intends to restore the prestige of this rare, complex technique, still used by exceedingly few artisans in Europe. Though this enamelling process is lengthy and very painstaking, the transparency, lustre, and colourful nuances it provides are second to none. Many months of research were needed to obtain this blue gradient. To achieve this, the Maison worked with several master enamellers within its atelier at La Fabrique des Arts. The dial of the Voyager Flying Tourbillon «Poinçon de Genève» Plique-à-jour was crafted entirely within La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton workshop.

A technical and artistic feat
The highly precise plique-à-jour technique, pioneered by Byzantine artisans in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, consists of depositing enamel into cells without the support of any backing. Louis Vuitton chose the ancient, Western «percé» – and most challenging – technique from among the different types of existing plique-à-jour methods. To breathe life into this miniature stained-glass artwork, the enameller applied colour to each section using a paintbrush, in keeping with the most traditional technique: capillary action fill. Given that the material is not deposited directly onto the dial’s back, but rather into open cells, the enameller’s movements must be quick and light to ensure that the enamel spreads evenly and without air pockets.

The result on such a surface is a real technical feat, providing the Voyager watch with unprecedented clarity and light. The visually striking white gold dial, featuring repeated interlocking Vs for Vuitton, showcases a vivid, luminous, and modern reinterpretation of plique-à-jour enamel. This effect is only heightened by the timepiece’s exquisite colourway and the dimensions of the enamelled surfaces – as demonstrated by the central dial at 12 o’clock, whose sumptuous gradient of three shades of blue varies in saturation and opalescence between ultramarine, azure and blue grey.

Beyond the difficulties in obtaining plique-à-jour enamel on a larger surface, the hand pipe’s placement speaks to Louis Vuitton’s technical mastery. To ensure a perfect set of hands, the pipe must be precisely centred and adjusted by hand down to the millimetre. The component seems to float serenely in the centre of this blue dial, permanently affixed thanks to a meticulous application of enamel. This achievement is further proof of our in-house enamellers’ ingenuity and experience. In total, five to six layers of translucent enamel – and the same number of kiln firings – are needed to obtain this impressive level of transparency, with around 100 hours of work going into every dial.

This mesmerising work of art is allowed to shine in the Voyager’s avant-garde case, defined by a circle within a square, whose architecture provides the watch with even more radiance. By letting light pass through the dial, this type of enamel sets the stage for a chiaroscuro effect, casting infinite nuances onto the watch mechanism. This virtuoso design is paired with a unique skeleton movement: the Poinçon de Genève hand-wound LV104 calibre, which is hand-finished down to the smallest cog. By bringing together the exceptional know-how of plique-à-jour enamel and the mastery of a flying tourbillon movement, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton perfectly captures the essence of high watchmaking.

A top-flight mechanism
Developed and designed exclusively within La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, this flying tourbillon is the hallmark of the brand’s virtuosity in the field of contemporary high watchmaking. Louis Vuitton chose to feature an ethereal and innovative version of the most iconic watchmaking complication. Over 120 hours of work went into assembling all 168 parts of this calibre, which boasts an 80-hour power reserve. The carriage of the iconic governor has been shaped into a capital V, which spins on itself in a minute. The V’s dynamic, coupled with the movement’s vertical positioning and the dial’s plique-à-jour motifs, bestows a truly unique personality to this tourbillon.

What is even more remarkable is that the Voyager Flying Tourbillon «Poinçon de Genève» Plique-à-jour bears the illustrious Poinçon de Genève seal. Established in 1886, The Geneva Seal attests to the utmost level of manufacturing and finishing of all the components that go into making a watch. Appearing at 9 o’clock, the seal shines clearly from beneath the enamelled dial. Through the union of skilled artistry taken to its pinnacle, an exceptional mechanical calibre and a Poinçon de Genève seal, the Voyager Flying Tourbillon «Poinçon de Genève» Plique-à-jour is a true watchmaking masterpiece, infused with the visionary spirit that has fuelled Louis Vuitton since its founding in 1854.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton Still life visuals: Ulysse Frechelin Savoir-faire visuals: Studio Fédéral (photographer Régis Golay) and Piotr Stoklosa
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My avid readers know how much I enjoy being up in the air and exploring new places. I absolutely adore flying. The sky is my happy place. Most of the time, I try to fly with hand luggage. However it is not always possible. The past summer, my suitcase got lost five times. I always found it again thanks to some little features I added to my luggage.

I got myself Rimowa’s Petal collection.

First of all, I recommend personalizing your suitcase. Choose a fun color that stands out of all the grey and black luggage that most people use. You can already spot it easily when it is loaded on the plane and you can spot it from far on the carrousel. It is also great for the ground staff when they have to identify a missing piece.

If you would like to take it up a notch and make your piece absolutely unique, I recommend stickers. They are not only absolutely fun but also great to personalize your suitcase. Here are some of the most fun and stylish ones available at the moment.

Sticker Set by Gucci

Sticker Sets by Rimowa

Hotel Postcards Labels Set by Louis Vuitton

In order to be able to track your suitcase yourself, put an AirTag in it. It saved me so many times … Last summer, when many suitcases got stranded, I went in the hall at the airport and played the sound. Like this, I easily spotted it under piles of other suitcases.

If you are not in the mood of doing the artwork yourself, have a look at Louis Vuitton‘s S/S 2024 runway «Side Trunk MM Elysee Palace Hotel MNG» bag that is inspired by the Maison’s first hotel that will open its doors in 2026 on the famous Avenue des Champs Élysées in Paris.

I cannot wait for my next trip … stay tuned!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht
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