Sandra‘s Closet

Prada Timecapsule is an exclusive product drop of 50 items, occurring once a month, each first Thursday. Today, on July 2nd, 2020 the monthly Prada Timecapsule will be launched on prada.com – at 3pm CET – for 24 hours only. Forget the slow movement of our times, here you have to be fast. Stepping into the footsteps of Riccardo Tisci for Burberry, who used the so-called 24h «drop», a word mainly used in streetwear, for Burberry already, (for the previous post, click here please), Prada is finding new ways how to promote their products. However with Raf Simons at Prada, who is sharing with equal responsibilities for creative input and decision-making with Miuccia Prada, we will see a lot of interesting projects coming up.

Prada Timecapsule previous drops and the new July one

Enabled by the new Prada e-commerce platform, unveiled November 2019, this new section is now available solely in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom), Japan, South Korea and for the first time in China, USA and Canada, reaching other markets over the course of 2020 following the new prada.com layout-relaunching calendar.

This series of drops offer a classic boxy shirt, one of Prada’s wardrobe essentials, presented as unisex in an original printed version. The print’s motif is inspired by a theme related to the month of launch and includes a specific limited edition number 1/50, 2/50….

For this release, scheduled July 2nd, Prada presents a new cotton popeline shirt for both women and men, featuring an exclusive print inspired by the cycling world. Available in XS, S, M, L, XL for €790,00 here for only 24h.

Mark your calendar: the next drop will be on August 6th, 2020.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada

Today, I received the breaking news that Raf Simons will join Prada starting April 2, 2020. Rumors had been out since quite some time and now it is official. The Belgium designer will join the Italian fashion house as co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada with equal responsibilities for creative input and decision-making. Their first runway presentation together will be for S/S 2021 in September 2020. «It’s a new wind,» said Miuccia Prada and I have to admit that I agree with Tim Blanks who wrote: «I cannot think of anything like this in the history of fashion.»

In 1978, Miuccia Prada inherited the label that was known for luggage making and transformed it into a global fashion brand with her creative designs. Prada has been a true trendsetter for decades, sometimes too fast thinking for the fashion world, she is often a few steps ahead of the game. Her iconic black nylon backpack launched in 1985 caused a real fashion frenzy and has been popular since then. In 1989 she added ready-to-wear to the offerings. Simons, who will continue to design his namesake menswear label, is the first designer from outside the Prada family to join the house since its inception.

Trendsetting: Prada S/S 2012 ad campaign photographed by Steven Meisel

Today at the Prada press conference, Simons announced: “Prada is a brand that I have been interested in my whole life. I cannot wait to express to all of you the dialogue I will have with Mrs Prada and her team. To be really honest, Mr Bertelli approached me right after my exit from Calvin Klein. Miuccia and I had a conversation about creativity in today’s fashion system. And it brought me to open dialogue with many designers, not just Mrs Prada. We have to re-look at how creativity can evolve in today’s fashion system.»

Power couple: Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada

Simons, who had worked with Prada and her husband Patrizio Bertelli before, when he was hired as creative director of Jil Sander in 2005. Prada had bought the German label and was looking for someone to fill the shoes of the namesake designer at that time. Simons’ seven-year tenure at the brand was an absolute success, and the Prada Group sold it to a London private equity firm in 2006.
Simons later worked at Dior and his latest venture was at Calvin Klein, where he was chief creative officer, and abruptly excited in December 2018.

Presented in Milan last Thursday: Miuccia Prada’s last single show for F/W 2020

Miuccia Prada has still a very strong view on fashion. Yet, it seems hard for her at the moment to translate this into sales. Rumors had been that the family is planning to sell to one of the big conglomerates. With the appointment of Simons, it seems that the Prada family will keep it a family business that also owns Miu Miu and Church’s.

Good luck, Raf!

They will have all my support – I have been collecting Prada pieces since a very young age and have always been very fond of the brand. Good luck to Raf, I am really excited to see what the two creative masterminds will come up with…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada and © Sandra Bauknecht

I truly adore the Miu Miu S/S 2020 collection, one of my favorites this season. Therefore I couldn’t resist this beautiful shearling-lined appliquéd suede vest below.

The ad campaign captures the sophisticated and playful mood of the runway perfectly. Imagine an artists’ colony. The colony is all female. The claustrophobic dramas of this colony take place within a sprawling, labyrinthine property; part stage set, part installation, part gallery, part home. Here, the events are hinted at, intimated and obliquely observed in the S/S 2020 Miu Miu campaign.

The house of Xavier Corberó: Casa Corberó

The mythology of the artists’ colony and its place within the past, present and future, is conjured at the Casa Corberó. Built by the Catalan artist Xavier Corberó, situated in Esplugues, close to the outskirts of Barcelona, his ‘casa sublim’ is characterised by elaborate, playful forms that still adhere to a certain strictness, discipline and utility.

These notions are reflected in the S/S 2020 Miu Miu collection itself, where creative freedom and expression – at times spattered and hand-painted, with mismatched buttons, ‘collaged’ ruffles, done and yet undone – is contrasted with the discipline of form, silhouette and utility found in the examples of workwear and the uniform, motifs Miuccia Prada turns to once again. Here it is ‘woman’s work’ that is reflected, both domestic and artistic, in the shape of pinafores, aprons and overalls.

TO SHOP MIU MIU ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
I hope you like it as much as I do…

LoL, Sandra

CREDITS: Photos by Call This Number, Liz Collins, Lynette Garland
Creative Direction and Styling by Katie Grand
Models: Tomiwa Adeshina, Pia Ekman, Bo Gebruers, Bella Hadid, Tang He, Lea Julian, Jordan Leftwich, Lila Moss, Patrycja Piekarska, Alexis Sundman, Xiao Wen Ju, Kaila Wyatt
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Revised for the Resort 2020 collection, the Prada Bowling Bag is a 21st century classic.
An archive style originally presented as part of S/S 2000 «Sincere Chic» Collection, in turn, it is an echo of the mid-twentieth century Accessories: A memory of memories.

Prada S/S 2000 runway (isn’t the quality of the photos hilarious)

I remember buying it during my first year as an editor at Marie Claire magazine (I cannot believe this was almost 20 years ago) and of course it is still in my closet soon to be worn again.

Reminiscent of the aesthetics of modern design in its straightforward contours, automobile chassis in their reliefs contrast similar materials in vibrant colors to evoke the visual vocabulary of fashion and a broader design vocabulary. Miuccia Prada always combines architecture, art and fashion in perfection.

Prada Resort 2020

It was represented on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the debut of this then iconic and today archetypal model in New York on May 2, 2019 as part of the Prada Resort Runway Show.

The reinterpreted bowling bag is a symbolic Prada silhouette made of fine, soft calf leather offered in four hyperclassic color combinations: white with black, cinnamon with white, white with red and black with white (what a pity the pink and white one is not produced). The Prada Bowling Bag is available from on November in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Thank God, I still have it in my closet, like this I am ahead of the game… therefore you should always keep your pieces until their time has come again.

LoL, Sandra

My Prada bowling bag and lip print skirt, both from the S/S 2000 runway collection.
I love the perforated leather detail….

Photos: © Prada, © Sandra Bauknecht

Miuccia Prada, a true trendsetter, always goes interesting ways to introduce new product launches. For her  new beautiful MIU MIU Eyewear, she  presents «Head In The Clouds», a film that revolves around the female gaze, daydreaming and the Miu Miu Cloud – the latest addition to the brand’s iconic eyewear collection.

Set in the sun-dappled gardens of a country house outside of Paris, «Head In The Clouds» tells the story of a chance encounter between two girls. As Constance loses her glasses during an argument with her boyfriend, Laura stumbles upon these, discovering a new captivating interest – seeing the world through Constance’s eyes. The glasses in question make everything look rose-tinted, opening a portal to mystery, fantasy and the possibility of seeing a beautiful and elusive new friend again. The film celebrates the Miu Miu Cloud, this season’s playfully idiosyncratic cloud-shaped rimless sunglasses with lenses in multiple colors.

«Head In The Clouds» is written and directed by Agostina Gálvez and stars Marylin Lima and Calu Rivero. It is inspired by the director’s love of vintage film posters. Viewers will be able to see two or three moving images simultaneously combined in a manner that is at once poetic, cinematic and graphic. To watch the movie, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MIU MIU

PRADA REINVENTS ITS OWN CLASSICS FOR RESORT 2019
Established in 1913 at Milan’s prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Prada is one of the world’s most iconic luxury fashion houses. Contemporary art and society inspire its collections, which are designed by visionary Miuccia Prada, granddaughter of founder Mario. Miuccia is fashion’s undisputed trendsetter and mood maker.

In the mid-90s she made ugly chic. For Resort 2019, she went exactly through her rich archive to revisit her famous ’90s decade. In times when everybody is doing more, she takes us back to minimalism but in a modern and updated way – spiced up with geek chic athleticism and playful embellishments.

Many of the pieces felt like revamps of prior Prada classics: a quirky mix of chunky loafers, the famous «yes, they are bad, that is why they are so good» patterns, low waists, kick flares, and opulent brocades combined with leather polos, sequin-studded tights, plastic necklaces and trapper hats. Think of me, once again, it’s Prada’s inimitable way with texture… Miuccia has started a wave. More is more or let’s say more is less. Maximalism is not over, just different.

LOCATION
In May 2018, Miuccia Prada chose the seventh floor of the Herzog & de Meuron–designed Prada HQ in New York as the venue. The transformation of the former piano factory was the first project entrusted to the famous architects by Prada in 2000. It was a kind of a striptease of the existing building: all architectural elements were removed so only the naked concrete structure remained.

THE SHOW
The space was kept as open and empty as possible for the fashion show. Only one new element was added to the space: large floating panels reflecting the cityscape outside and thus transferring images of the real city deep inside the space of the presentation. In addition to the real image of the city, other images of virtual cityscapes were projected onto the boards for an intriguing mix of inside and outside, of analogical and virtual realities.

PERSONAL NOTE
I have been a fan of Miuccia Prada from the beginning. A Prada nylon backpack was my school bag and I always felt very strong in her designs. When I studied fashion design, I realized how advanced her thinking is. She is a true pioneer and with her Resort 2019 collection she got the ball rolling again. Is the world ready for a return to minimalism? Probably in a different way than what we are used to. Look at the manicure for the Resort 2019 show, it is minimalistic yet maximalist. It depends on the way of looking at things… as Miuccia says: «Fashion is instant language». Do you speak Prada?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada

For Resort 2019 Miuccia Prada helped to give us the 90’s rebirth we needed after all this ’80s dominance. And let’s be honest, it had to be her to celebrate this nineties nostalgia as she was the designer who had actually invented the «ugly chic» at that time. She looked through the archives, specifically her collections from the 1990s, for references this season.

The PRADA Resort 2019 show took place in New York City.

The outcome? Printed low-slung trousers with matching jackets, amazing leather coats and my favorite looks, belted miniskirts with ruffled detailing combined with cute polo tops. Moreover a new bag shape, that will probably sell out very fast.

Sidonie Bag Resort 2019

Meet the PRADA Sidonie that evokes elements of the archetypal bags presented in S/S 2000: a curvaceous, ergonomic shape, a modern classic rediscovered.

The inspiration behind the new PRADA Resort 2019 Sidonie Bag can be clearly seen in this ad campaign from S/S 2000.

Sidonie Bag Resort 2019

PRADA bags from S/S 2000 that I have in my closet.

A PRADA bag is always a great investment. I went through my closet to dust these S/S 2000 beauties. As I keep on recommending… don’t throw away your designer items, there will always be a time again for them. And those bags have just found their moment again.

Needless to say, I also would like to buy a new Sidonie bag for my own personal PRADA collection. I adore this blue and black version:

Sidonie Bag Resort 2019

The metal hardware details – plaques and buckles – draw on the brand heritage of superlative luggage-making, established by Mario Prada in 1913, juxtaposed with a modern shape, delicately curved and finely-balanced.

Sidonie Bag Resort 2019

The style is proposed in dual models, top-fastening or flap fronted with, respectively, a cross-body strap or haut, curved and shaped handle to be held on the shoulder for a new attitude. Both are offered in an entire wardrobe of fine calfskin and precious leathers.

PRADA Sidonie is a new character of the brand, a heroine, to be discovered. In stores this month.

’90s nostalgia with a modern twist! Bravo, Miuccia Prada!

LoL, Sandra

The PRADA Resort 2019 campaign: retro meets future.

Photos: Courtesy of Prada and © Sandra Bauknecht

For MIU MIU’s F/W 2018 ready-to-wear show staged in Paris in March, the elegant halls of the Perret building were hung with generic poster-size sheets of white paper, each bearing
a highly distinctive, large-scale, monochrome illustration of a female face or body interlaced with a letterform.

Ambiance at the MIU MIU F/W 2018 show

This MIU MIU «alphabet» – all 26 letters of the alphabet appeared – was created for the occasion by M/M Paris in collaboration with Miuccia Prada.

A «Miu Miu Types» capsule collection of white poplin shirts, cotton hoodies and track pants will be patched with one, two or three letters , all drawing on the ‘MIU’ of the MIU MIU name.
Classic white cotton T-shirts, meanwhile, will be emblazoned with ‘MIU MIU’ spelt out in full in this idiosyncratic and characteristically playful style.

Available for example in MIU MIU’s new boutique on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.

From the end of July 2018, in select MIU MIU stores, clients will be offered the opportunity to personalize a simple white shirt and T-shirt with a single letter of their choosing. In a series of exclusive three-day events visitors will be asked to pick their letter which, will be applied to a garment on the spot or will be sent out for customization and then shipped to their desired destination upon completion.

In this way a bold and beautiful new language for Miu Miu is brought to life.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! I hope that you will be spoilt and have to time to relax on this very special day. Personally speaking, family means a lot to me and therefore I was very happy to spend the last weekend in my hometown Frankfurt in Germany to celebrate my nephew’s baptism. I am very blessed as I have amazing parents and a super duper little sister!

Frankfurt is a city full of contrasts. In the center, it is filled with skyscrapers that gave it the nickname «Mainhattan». If you head to the suburbs, you will find the most beautiful landscapes, green and picturesque. I am sure that you can feel the diversity in my pictures.

In this post, you see me wearing pieces from Prada’s S/S 2018 collection which I absolutely adore. Miuccia Prada collaborated with eight female illustrators who depict women in their own «uniquely empowering way» as the fashion show notes read. From manga to punk to sci-fi by artists such as Brigid Elva, Jöelle Jones, Stellar Leuna, and Trina Robbins among others, let the artwork do the talking!

My look: Tiger-print Misty-patch coat, comic-print one-shoulder cotton dress, frame comic-print leather bag, and appliquéd leather sneakers, all by Prada. Square-frame glitter sunglasses by Gucci, Rose des Vents bracelet, 18k yellow gold, diamond and turquoise by Dior, Tonda 1950 set clarity watch by Parmigiani Fleurier, and diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For S/S 2018, Miuccia Prada collaborated with eight female illustrators who depict women in their own way for a collection inspired by comics that I absolutely adore!

Besides the must-have bags and clothes, the designer launches new must-have sneakers for women that will be available at selected Prada stores from end of February 2018. I LOVE!

TO SHOP PRADA ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada