Searching for a gorgeous gown to attend a black tie gala this summer? Consider fashion’s recent colour vibe, characterized by vibrant eye-popping shades, edgy neons and Crayola brights from head to toe.
Stripping away all darkness might be your ticket to brighten up your mood. Play with the hues and combine them, colour-blocking is a must. This is your chance to enlighten every party.
LoL, Sandra
For my second look of the LuisaViaRoma Total Styling Lab, I took inspiration from the punk-rock trend but added a little glamourous twist to it – meaning less rebellion and more sophistication! I hope that you will like it.
Leather jacket: MARC JACOBS – Sequined pants: BALMAIN – Bustier: MARIA LUCIA HOHAN – Scarf: MARUCELLI – Ring: GISELE GANNE – Muse Two Bag: YVES SAINT LAURENT – Patent Tribute Sandals: YVES SAINT LAURENT
If you want to start shopping, just click on the LuisaViaRoma banner!
LoL, Sandra
Last night, the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards were held at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.
This year the red carpet came alive with colour– emerald green (Angelina Jolie was among my favourites of the evening), feminine hues like rose, peach and sultry red captured the aisle (Best nude dress: Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé).
But also some gorgeous black gowns embellished with lace and rhinestones were breathtaking (Best: Olivia Wilde in her fairytale Marchesa dress). Armani, Versace, Calvin Klein and Lanvin among others delivered amazing gowns for deserving ladies.
An expectant Natalie Portman showed off her blossoming figure and her mommy glow in a peachy silk Viktor & Rolf gown and took her second Golden Globe award home.
Enjoy the impressions of the glamourous night.
LoL, Sandra
On the S/S 2011 runways, there was an Yves Saint Laurent mood in the air. Many designers got inspired by the late master of colour and the father of the trouser suit.
Yves Saint Laurent
The reason for this was probably the beautiful first posthumous retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent’s career with an exhibition of over 300 garments that took place last year at the Petit Palais museum in Paris. On display were his creations from his debut at Dior in 1958 up to the sumptuous evening dresses of 2002.
In 40 years of being a fashion designer, YSL revolutionized the female wardrobe by borrowing the tuxedo, the trouser suit and the safari jacket from men’s clothing in order to dress women, thereby transferring the symbols of power from one sex to another.
In 1961 Yves Saint Laurent decided to create his couture house. Just under 50 years ago, in January 1962, at the age of 26, he created a cultural shockwave by opening his first haute couture show with a caban jacket and trouser ensemble directly inspired by a fisherman’s pea coat.
The era in particular that was referenced for S/S 2011 was the 1970’s when Saint Laurent spent a tremendous amount of time at his second home in Marakkesh in his beautiful Majorelle botanical gardens. While being there he was greatly influenced by traditional Morrocan dressing and the gardens. His ashes were scattered there when he died in 2008.
I am in love with all those collections that are paying tribute to one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th century and took the runways by storm. Therefore I put some collages for you together. I included photos of the exhibition of his previous creations to demonstrate the versatile references.
Enjoy this feast for the eyes.
LoL, Sandra
If I wet your appetite with my article about the new S/S 2011 collections last week or you are leaving for a sunny and warm place after Christmas, you will love the new Resort 2011 collections that hit the stores daily.
This season is all about femininity, sweet details, a retro vibe and French chic. Enjoy my summary that I put together for you with the best looks available at the moment. Isn’t it always the most exciting time when the new pieces are arriving, I am just loving it….
What a bummer that I cannot wear my new gingham bikini in St. Moritz!
To a beautiful spring!
LoL, Sandra
Flaunt the season’s sexy 60s-look and embody the style of legendary Parisian chic in those stunning Louis Vuitton outfits. Preppy, classy and full of elegance, my favourites!
Imagine a bouquet of fresh cut flowers transforming into an appliqué dress. A feminine fusion of romance and seduction, foreunner of this trend: Stella McCartney.
Scallop details are this spring a glamour girl’s must-have. Take off in prim ensembles and jet-set-ready accessories and the French Riviera will be all yours.
Sip cocktails at a garden party in the most beautiful floral prints. Flower-bedecked accessories complement your sweet style perfectly.
Channel a sexy innocence in Chanel’s gingham prints, fit for a dip – or just sitting pretty, this is a must for every fashionista.
Pack for your trip to the Côte d’ Azur with nautical stripes and take a stroll along the beach in those classics. Cannes do!
Pinpoint spring chic with colorful polka dots and sweetly spotted seperates. Miu Miu shows you how to wear this look.
Start a delicious romance with lemons, cherries and apples. This season’s take on fruity prints, just gets started. Tutti Frutti is this summer’s leitmotif, yummy!
Challenge your luck and embrace spring in those Irish-inspiried beauties. It is time to live like a bee in clover.
It is Christmas time and the holy grail of fashion has finally arrived in my closet, my very own Louis Vuitton bag, especially made for me.
It comes in one of the most supple leathers I have ever touched.
Another cool thing is the interior leather patch that has my name stamped on it.
It looks very Marc Jacobs actually, a typical satchel with an exterior pocket.
There are zippered leather covers for the bag handels that can be unattached. The sides can be uncinched providing more space. My favourite part is that it has its own leather stuffing pillow.
It still seems too special for daily use. I think that I will just stare at this little treasure for a while and give it a holy display in my closet…. Love you, Marc!
LoL, Sandra
Today, I would like to give you a preview of my Top 20 runway shows for S/S 2011 that I consider the key collections for the next season.
The overall spirit was light-hearted and positive sweeping away the last bit of sobriety. The designers’ colouring box was bright and vibrant with lots of neon shades, vibrant stripes and bold tones. Many tributes to YSL as well as the 70s were spotted, along with biker and punk themes, floral prints and embroideries, Marrakesh and Shanghai references and pure clean white. Enjoy!
LOUIS VUITTON: Marc Jacobs’ S/S 2011 show for the French fashion house was a hell of a lot of fun, brazen in decadence. A colourful free-spirited collection for the camped-up China girl that loves high-voltage chic. Inspirations from 1930 Shanghai’s Art Deco style to a 70’s New York disco atmosphere were seen in the Cheongsam dresses and bold tiger stripes.
As for me one of my favourites this season.
PRADA: Miuccia Prada’s message was crystal-clear: „It’s time to be bold“. Her ecclectic humours take on her S/S 2011 collection was visionary. Fake baroque paintings (Who would have ever imagined that baroque can be minimal?!), fluorescent stripes, Josephine Baker banana designs and Mexican sombreros lead to that iconic Prada-twist that likes to surprise us.
I am loving it!!!!
JIL SANDER: An implicit change to the Jil Sander woman, that was this collection about. Minimalism inversed into a modern maximalism that led to couture. Raf Simons surprised the fashion crowd with this exceptional S/S 2011 show.
Simple white tees dominated long, full skirts joined with YSL’s rich associations of colours. The shapes were reminiscent of Cristobal Balenciaga’s proportions. The apostel for minimalism, Raf Simons, showed us another optimistic side of the Sander woman without betraying the spirit of the label. Wow! And by the way, the fuchsia lips are gorgeous…
CHRISTOPHER KANE: „Princess Margaret on acid“, this is how Tammy described her brother’s S/S 2011 collection. It was an interesting vision of the future, brilliant and different, like the designer and his place in English fashion. Fluoresent colours and print motifs inspired by yakuza tattoos lightened up the classic and kind of formal pieces.
Watch out for Christopher, this guy is provoking trends!
MARC JACOBS: There were many YSL references on the catwalks and Marc Jacobs was one of the first ones showing them in New York. By taking on the energy of the Studio 54 years and the ’70s, the brilliant American designer came up with one of his best collections, fresh, charming with a modern new spin, an ode to Missoni’s zigzag knits.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the peasant blouses and full skirts. My summer must-haves.
GUCCI: Yves Saint Laurent’s Marrakech years were in the air and a breeze of the ’70s omnipresent at Frida Giannini’s collection for Gucci. Alternating between electric glamour, safari chic and ethnic touches, the Italian powerhouse continued to celebrate the female silhouette and its seductiveness. You cannot go wrong with this!
EMILIO PUCCI: A beautiful Greek Mediterranean vibe highlighted the collection that was seventies-inflected and mostly long. Peter Dundas knows his craft and the jetset girls will love his luxe hippie dresses worn with laced boots. Nonchalant, elegant, seductive details of which some were a little reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent will make Pucci a bestseller this summer.
YVES SAINT LAURENT: The seventies are everywhere this summer and so is YSL. Thanks to the retrospective that was held this year in Paris, many designers were influenced by the epic Saint Laurent. But none could stake a more legitimate claim to the Master’s inspirations than Stefano Pilati’s work.
He revisited the codes of the fashion house one by one, „le smoking“, the famous palette of orange and pink, French blue, black and beige, abundant bows and the sophisticated tailleurs. I am so on for a trip down memory lane, and you?
CHANEL: This time, Karl Lagerfeld took his inspiration from the early sixties movie Last Year at Marienbad and created a breathtakingly surreal setting. More than 80 models paraded through the ornamental garden with fountains, water features and gravel paths. The collection was so rich, full of couture details with dégradé chiffon florals, tweed patchwork, feathered edges and more. Just beautiful!
MARY KATRANTZOU: It was her first stand-alone show with which she won the Swiss Textiles Award 2010 in November. Mary Katrantzou is one of the hottest fashion newscomer with her groundbreaking creations. The designer of Greek origin worked in three dimensions and was inspired by the decors and backgrounds of the most beautiful of Guy Bourdin’s and Helmut Newton’s photos.
There was an almost hallucinatory depth to her digital printed clothes. The real revolution was how Mary modeled the shape to go with the graphics of interior designs. Are you up for wearing “room” this summer?
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Sarah Burton who had worked beside McQueen for 15 years, took over the cepter after the designer’s death last February. The S/S 2011 show, her first solo one, grabbed hold of his legacy and defined the same fantasia McQueen was so famous for. This time a hymn to nature, superb in its construction.
One of the biggest differences was that Burton softened the staging, a concept that was always so vital to a McQueen show. It was a pleasure to see that there is a more feminine vision for the house but with the same theatrical love for detail.
HERMES: Time to say good-bye for Jean-Paul Gaultier and he couldn’t have done it better. His last collection for the traditional French house boasted of master tailoring, sensuous glamour and leather at its finest. “Zorro in Andalusia” celebrates Hermès’ equestrian elegance heritage could have been the headline. Good luck to Lacoste defector Christophe Lemaire! Taking these luxurious reins seems to be quite difficult…
CELINE: The collection was once more strong in its remarkable simplicity even that Phoebe Philo laid her hands on artisanal effects like hand-woven silks, fringes and vibrant colours. Her motto „less is forever chic“ has determined the codes of her hugely influential designs.
CHLOE: Minimalism at its best. Classic, timeless pieces that women can make their own and customise at will. The tutu-like skirts, reminiscent of the world of ballet, were among my favourites. Congrats, Hannah MacGibbon, for this lovely collection!
ERDEM: Erdem Moralioglu, the upcoming designer of Turkish origin, took his audience to Russia for his S/S 2011 presentation in a London park. He had been involved this summer with Victoria & Albert Museum’s Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909-1920 exhibition.
The experience had been so inspiring that it shaped the substance of his collection where delicate dresses that clearly reflected the structure and flou of ballet costumes dominated the look. Once again floral motifs sprinkled the collection and were complemented by Nicholas Kirkwood’s gorgeous shoes tied up the calf like ballet slippers. I am sure that we will see much more of Erdem in the future.
STELLA MCCARTNEY: Even that I have to admit that I prefered Stella’s cruise 2011 collection, I am always in love with her practical, easy chic. The mother of four knows what she is talking about. Her key pieces are ideal companions to feel good in, even her long skirts split up the thighs swing comfortably with class. First bananas at Prada, now grapefruits and lemons at Stella that put us in a good mood. Her suits in pastel colours were strong on the runway and denim made a boxy shape debut. Thumbs up!
HAIDER ACKERMANN: One thing is for sure, the days that Haider Ackermann was only a fashion insider’s favourite secret are definitely over. His S/S 2011 collection was outstanding in its beauty. Origami folds, kimono jackets and obi belts were among the Asian references. Dramatic effects and strong colours for a glamorous red carpet moment.
DIOR: Betty Page, the model from the 50s that invented the pin-up look, goes on vacation to Hawaii – this South Pacific-style fantasy dominated John Galliano’s collection for Dior. The colours and floral prints on exquisite chiffons, the ankles tied with satin, this island extravaganza put you immediately in the holiday mood. Very cute.
BALENCIAGA: This was probably the most futuristic, unexpected and innovating collection of all. Nicolas Ghesquière defied the fashion codes and came up with new ones. His teddy boy-meets-punk masculinity was the reaction to a certain kind of sexiness. For him it was all about individuality. The talented fashion troublemaker used plasticized textures and couture techniques that were modernized with laser machine precision cuts.
It might take a while to adapt to the look but once you get it, you will be all over it!
BALMAIN: Honestly, the time of Balmain might come to an end as there are always the same sharp-tailored rock allure pieces on the runway but I still love them so much.
This time, Christophe Decarnin shortened the shorts and minis as much as he could and looked for punk rebellion for inspiration. Studded and safety pinned biker jackets, bleached jeans and holey T-shirts were among his favourites. Let’s hope that the Balmainia is still strong enough to convince the fashionistas to pay so much for this DIY-look…
Stay tuned as I will go much more into detail during the next weeks about the trends and must-haves for S/S 2011.
If you are interested which collections were my Top 20 for F/W 2010, please click here.
To a very promising and cheerful looking summer!
LoL, Sandra
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.
Love this look: Skirt and scarf by LOUIS VUITTON, worn with a coat by CELINE, a belt by HERMES and boots by FENDI. Photo by Phil Poynter for German Vogue September 2010.
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
For all my male readers who have been asking for this frequently, here is my Menswear Trend Report for F/W 2010.
And Ladies, please stay tuned as you never know when this will come in handy. Your hubbies, daddies and boyfriends will love you even a little more for your fashion knowledge. Moreover the menswear trends are very similiar to the female ones. Have fun and get inspired! Even the classic pieces are definitely not boring this season…but see for yourself:
The end `50s and early `60s inspired many designers for their F/W 2010 collections. The well-tailored suit makes its return into the gentleman’s closet. Imagine Don Draper, the main character of Mad Men, shopping on Savile Row and there you go! Back to the basics, black, all shades of grey and camel welcome elegance as the new dress code.
Also back is the 3-piece suit. I like Costume National’s modern interpretation in grey worn with a turtleneck.
Anyway, turtlenecks were seen everywhere on the runways and seemed to have replaced the shirts. Those cozy pieces worn with a suit have this wonderful `70s vibe that is so up-to-date.
Camel is the new black! The camel coat has been a wardrobe staple of almost every fashionable era. This season, there are many different updated models in well-designed silhouettes, dynamic volumes and distinct cuts. A great investment for many years to come!
A vest or a jacket in velvet is a must this season. Beautiful shades make those It-pieces even more desirable.
Added to these revisited classics making them part of the modern times, were narrow tight leather or cropped pants.
The new hemline goes hand in hand with another rising trend for men. Pants were tucked into boots and it looked so hot! So guys, be brave and try it out!
If you like it more bright, you could add just a hint of colour, preferably in royal blue or a berry tone. A little sweater like the Prada one will be a perfect eyecatcher.
Or you could opt for the total look. Tone on tone, from head to toe, dressed in the same colour family or matching fabrics give this creative concept a new take on the masculine dress code.
If it gets really cold, men will have a lot of stylish options this season. Fur was seen along with must-have shearling jackets. I adore the Burberry Prorsum ones very much.
Rustic sweaters evoking a winter sports atmosphere let us dream of after ski and evenings in the chalet.
So Gentlemen, I never want to hear again that you are indifferent to fashion! Enjoy your new look and the world will be your oyster!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
As you already know, I spent the last two months in Los Angeles. I am in love with the Californian city and had like always a blast, met many interesting people, designers and celebrities. L.A. is huge and a great place to shop. But you have to know where to go.
Famous Rodeo Drive is an attraction point for tourists but L.A. people and stars do not shop there as you have no privacy.
With this, I would love to lead you away from the obvious areas and introduce you to the places where locals meet, eat and first and foremost shop!
All of the stores have webshops of which most ship internationally. So in case you do not make it in the near future to L.A., goodies from the sunshine state can make their way to you…
If you like American malls, Beverly Center is the place to go. You will find high-end designers along with Victoria’s Secret, Sephora and more. Paparazzis are not allowed in the mall, therefore it is very likely that you will spot some famous people.
My favourite children’s store is there: Premier Kids carries a large variety of cool kids clothing, footwear and accessories.
Very close is West 3rd street where many small and edgy boutiques are located. This is one of my favourite areas. If you are there, visit the Little Door restaurant in the evening. Gorgeous! When I was there, I had a nice chat with Jim Carey.
This popular area is also the home of Satine Boutique. A hot spot for insiders that carries high-end designers like Azzedine Alaïa and Balmain next to lesser known, independent labels.
Let`s drive to 451, N La Cienega Blvd where Opening Ceremony is located since April 2007 in the former dance studio space of Hollywood icon, Charlie Chaplin. The 10,000 square foot boutique features many seperate rooms that each show a different shopping experience from a post-war Schiesser Revival atmosphere to a sleek Alexander Wang studio.
Opening Ceremony – definitely one of my favourite places to go in L.A.!
The Fred Segal area is an L.A. institution, designed like a collection of ultra-hip boutiques of which each has its very own vibe. Ron Herman offers since many years for women and men a wonderful selection of different brands in a wide price range. Next to it you can find Fred Segal feet, one of the best shoe stores in the city and Apothia, the place to find rare perfumes, scented candles and beauty products.
Melrose Avenue is very long and home to many nice restaurants and interesting stores. One of them is Maxfield with major star-spotting potential and an outstanding clothing and furniture stock that you will rarely find elsewhere. A little inside scoop for you: Tommy Perse, the father of designer James Perse, owns the store that is said to have the largest vintage Hermès collection worldwide.
Maxfield specializes in unique and hard-to-find fashion for men and women and carries the best new season pieces of Chanel, Givenchy, Balmain, Stella McCartney among others, alongside an impressive collection of first-edition out-of-print art books. A must-go!
Another must when in L.A. is having lunch at the Ivy on Robertson, the place with celeb guarantee. After a signature bellini, you can indulge in a nice shopping spree. Intermix is just across the street. The boutique for trendsetters and glam fashionistas carries an exclusive mix of designers, styles and trends. Have a look at their webshop, absolutely gorgeous and they offer worldwide shipping!
On Robertson, I was photographed many times by trendhunters on the street. Here is one of the pictures they took for their L.A. style website.
I was wearing a white Gucci dress with a fringed suede vest by Roberto Cavalli and my Louis Vuitton Sunrise Denim (first picture to the left).
Enjoy some more of my very own impressions and start dreaming.
If you are in L.A., you will “just” need a car, a navigation system, sun block and a limitless credit card! To all California Gurls!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
