Sandra‘s Closet

Today, the House of Chloé has already announced its new designer after Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s exit was announced last week. It is no other than Uruguay-born, New York–based designer Gabriela Hearst, whose eponymous extremely successful label turned five this year.

Gabriela Hearst’s famous It-bags have been successful from the beginning.

While Ramsay-Levi’s designs were much appreciated by industry insiders, the brand’s heat with consumers, especially in terms of It-bags, cooled under her reign. That might be one of the reasons why Gabriela Hearst has been chosen. She is bringing a track record of success with handbags. Her iconic «Nina» style has been a huge hit from the beginning, followed by models such as «Patsy», «Diana» and «Demi». These bags are all highly sought after and trying to get them is almost impossible with extremely high waiting lists.

A true rancher by heart: Gabriela Hearst  

Gabriela Hearst grew up on her family’s 17,000-acre ranch, Santa Isabel in Paysandu, Uruguay, surrounded by horses, cattle and sheep, where the notion of luxury meant things were beautifully crafted and made to last. Her approach to «slow and conscious luxury», which is defined in her craft-forward aesthetic and focus on sustainability might be the other reason for being Chloé’s lead candidate.

Chloé’s new CEO Riccardo Bellini

CEO Riccardo Bellini, who joined from Martin Margiela in late 2019, who welcomed Hearst in a statement this morning. had already indicated in an interview with WWD last month, that Chloé was seeking B Corporation certification for its social and environmental performance and was creating an advisory board to hold the company accountable.

Hearst’s first runway show for F/W 2017 was produced to have as low as an environmental impact as possible, and from there her commitment to the issue has only grown. Now, she opts for eco-friendly fabrics and chooses to use recycled yarns whenever she can.

Power couple: Gabriela and Austin Hearst

Hearst’s lead investor is her husband, publishing heir Austin Hearst, whom she married in 2013. She opened her first store in New York in 2018, followed by another in London the following year, and made her Paris Fashion Week debut in September. In 2019, LVMH Luxury Ventures, an investment arm of LVMH, took a minority stake in Gabriela Hearst, making it the only American brand other than Marc Jacobs in which the global luxury conglomerate is invested.

My two favorite looks from the Gabriela Hearst F/W 2020 runway.

I am loving her cashmere knitted pieces. Incredibly soft and each piece has a tag where you can explore its garment journey. Stay tuned for many outfit posts coming up! Honestly speaking, I am truly looking forward to seeing her at the helmet although I liked Natacha’s designs a lot.

TO SHOP GABRIELA HEARST ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Gabriela’s first collection for Chloé will be presented next March. All the best, I am sure it will be different and fabulous!

LoL Sandra

Wearing Gabriela Hearst dress and Nina bag

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Gabriela Hearst
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On December 2nd, I was invited by Net-à-Porter to join a live event hosted by Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER and Natacha Ramsay-Levi, Creative Director of Chloé to discuss the S/S 2021 collection. I was so keen on it and hoped to make it on time as the moving company was still unloading my boxes. However, all of a sudden I received a message in the morning of the 2nd that due to Natacha Ramsay-Levi being unwell, Net-à-Porter was regrettably cancelling the event with Chloé. Today, I found out why Natacha was not feeling well.

She is stepping down from her role at the Parisian luxury leather goods and apparel brand owned by Richemont after only 4 years. A new creative director was not named yet.

«Over the last months of health, social and economic turmoil, I have thought about the changes I want to see in our industry and how to better align them with my own creative, intellectual and emotional values,» Ms. Ramsay-Levi said in her statement. «It is this reflection that makes me consider my future differently and desire to pursue new opportunities.»

Me wearing some of Natacha’s key looks for Chloé

Personally speaking, I truly liked Natacha’s vision, who worked as a key deputy of Nicolas Ghesquière during his time at Balenciaga and during his early seasons at Louis Vuitton, as it was a less commercial take on the house’s bohemian and very feminine codes. However, what had been driving the most sales at Chloé previously, were all the It-bags under previous designers like Clare Waight Keller and Hannah MacGibbon, that have been lacking recently. Even that the collections were broadly well received by fashion lovers, they were ultimately lacking in strong-selling items unfortunately. Sometimes, it drives me nuts that people don’t understand the greatness of some pieces and that they opt for mainstream.

TO SHOP THE CHLOÉ F/W 2020 COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Chloé F/W 2020 finale

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

I love this beautiful sunny weather that truly feels like spring. The perfect time to wear some equestrian-inspired charm at its best. Chloé’s Creative Director Natacha Ramsay-Levi wrangled a rearing horse from the Maison’s archives to create an embroidery motif that appears playful and polished.

My look: Embroidered cotton-blend velvet blazer, matching embroidered cotton-blend velvet straight-leg pants, snake-print satin-jersey top, Roy mini embroidered leather bucket bag and snake print booties, all by Chloé, Happy Hearts 18-karat white gold diamond ring by Chopard, diamond rose necklace by Piaget, sautoir necklace and round sunglasses with a triple chain by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I am really in love with Natacha Ramsay-Levi‘s designs for Chloé. For her S/S 2018 debut collection for the French Maison, she collaborated with an artist to develop prints and patterns that symbolizes nature, rebirth, the human body and new beginnings.
In general, Chloé used to be too big on me. Since Natacha took over the helmet, everything fits me perfectly and flatters the body. To a beautiful Chloé summer…

My look: Ruffled printed silk mini dress, Pixie small suede and textured-leather shoulder bag and Rylee pointy toe boots, all by Chloé, faux-pearl tassel earrings by Oscar de la Renta, cuff by Céline and Mitza ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Natacha Ramsay-Levi is the first French woman to take the helm at Chloé since 1998. Incorporating the signature edge we saw from her at Balenciaga while maintaining Clare Waight Keller‘s sense of lightness, her debut S/S 2018 collection includes feminine dresses for which she has reworked iconic house codes, the new Rylee motorcycle boots and a new much-anticipated fragrance: Chloé Nomade. I am completely in love and you will see me wearing a lot of the French house in the next months!

My look: Appliquéd shearling-trimmed denim jacket by Gucci, paneled lace, stretch and jacquard-knit mini dress, and Rylee cutout woven leather knee boots, both by Chloé
, Bayswater shoulder bag by Mulberry, leopard sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, rose diamond ring and necklace, both by Piaget.

Where would you call home? Encounter the world with Chloé’s new floral chypre scent Nomade that includes notes of oak moss, Mirabelle plum and freesia. It’s about discovering your daring and adventurous side. It is all about crossing the next frontier, always pushing the boundaries of who you are. Start with the fragrance and work your way up to the collection – you will surely love it!

Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 97.00), 50ml (CHF 128.00) and 75ml (CHF 150.00).
Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 52.00) and Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 57.00)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Industry speculations aren’t always so wrong as we can see now. Yesterday, Givenchy announced Clare Waight Keller, former creative director at Chloé, as the house’s new artistic director. Rumors have been out for months that she will be the first woman leading the French Maison. Waight Keller will oversee women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as haute couture with the appointment becoming effective May 2, 2017. Her first collection for S/S 2018 will be shown in Paris in October.

Clare Waight Keller with me

The British-born replaces Riccardo Tisci, who left the LVMH-owned brand in January, reportedly for Versace, though that appointment has not been made official. With 12 years at the house, Tisci, who is Italian, enjoyed the longest tenure after founder Hubert de Givenchy himself.

“HUBERT DE GIVENCHY’S CONFIDENT STYLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INSPIRATION AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS LEGENDARY HOUSE’S HISTORY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE TEAMS AND WRITING A NEW CHAPTER IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY. “ CLARE WAIGHT KELLER

Natacha Ramsay-Levi

But who is following Wright Keller at Chloé? For the world of fashion a popular name, for others probably not: Natacha Ramsay-Levi who has been working along with Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga whom she followed 2013 to Louis Vuitton. The French-born was in a relationship with fashion «enfant terrible» and «Purple»-founder Olivier Zahm, with whom she has a son.

New year, new designer moves… let’s keep the fashion world busy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Givenchy, Chloé