A formal statement has been released by net-à-porter.com: Karl Lagerfeld’s exclusive new collection will be revealed on January 25, 2011. To sign up for Karl’s Kult, please click here.
LoL, Sandra
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Recently, I was invited to an evening at the V&A museum in London with legendary French shoe designer Christian Louboutin, whom I had met earlier this year at La Soirée Monégasque in Monaco, and Net-à-porter founder Natalie Massenet. The event was linked to the launch of his first book and the 20th anniversary of the Louboutin empire.
On Nov 21st, 1991 Christian Louboutin opened his first store at the age of 27. Now 20 years later, he still lives his passion for shoes. Louboutin is a very interesting man and a true latitudinarian.
He was expelled from 3 schools, he ran away from home at the age of 12 and grew up in a household with many women, 4 sisters and his mom who gave him a lot of support and encouraged him to follow his dreams. At an early age, he had already developed an obsession for burlesque clubs and showgirls that has inspired him all his life.
Christian Louboutin with me…
…signing the book with a personal dedication for me.
Meet Christian Louboutin and enjoy this insight into his world and life.
On happiness
“I don’t know how to be unhappy in life. This is a natural element that I have. For me, it helps me with my work. This is the great thing about designing, it should bring happiness.”
On destiny
“I don’t believe in destiny. I have loved drawing shoes from an early age but never thought that this would become my job.”
On his childhood
„I learned a lot from my sisters and my mum. Women behave differently when they are by themselves and when there is no man around. I never thought that I had a special childhood but I had. My mum was very supportive and gave me complete freedom. She believed that it is important to be brought up in love. She was beautiful, even though her shoes weren’t. She was definitely not a shoe person!“
On shoes
“A shoe has so much more to offer than just to walk. Shoes are bringing posture to the whole body. They change the way you are walking, standing, behaving. They give you confidence. A customer once said while trying on a pair of my heels: ‘Look, I’m completely transformed and it’s cheaper than a facelift!’ “
On his first success
“It was a flat shoe, the Love shoe”. Like the love birds that cannot be separated, I designed them. Only if you put the two shoes together, they are complete. I only sold those shoes in the first season and they were a huge success.”
On his favourite heel height
“Ain’t no high heel high enough!” (started singing)
On his favourite shoe
“If there was only one shoe to be made, it would have to be a pump. It is like a beautiful face without make-up. If you have a good pump, the rest is make-up.”
On Princess Caroline of Monaco
“Caroline is the second fairy in my life. Caroline came in my store at a very early stage in December 1991. A journalist who did a story on new shops was by coincidence there and when she spotted Caroline, she wrote a huge article that brought me many buyers and sales went up.”
On Folies Bergère
“I love Burlesque dancers. At the Folies Bergère, I saw all the shows, knew all the girls. So I decided to design for them. At one stage, I was even an intern at the Folies Bergère.”
On the importance of the red sole
“It is my signature, it is clear how important it is. But now I don’t even think about it anymore. It is a funny story how it started. During my designing process for my third collection, I was thinking a lot of Andy Warhol, pop art, bright colours. The first prototype arrived and I was very happy with it, with the heel proportion, a Mary Jane with a big huge flower. Still, I was looking at the drawing and at the shoe, and something was missing. Looking at the sole, it was all black which was not on my drawing because you didn’t see the sole. Sarah, a model, was sitting on the floor and painted her nails in red. I grabbed the polish from her and started to paint the soles. The magic took place. The sole is like a message, the red a signal.”
On sex
“You really need to be a criminal or a pervert to shock me! It is sad but you can even be sexy in bad shoes. Sexy is coming from a certain attitude.”
On independence
“I am very happy to not be a part of a big luxury company and do not plan to change it, because I enjoy my freedom very much. Freedom means a lot to me.”
On toe cleavage
“It is one of the important aspects of my designs, mainly because it gives the impression of longer legs. While working with the show girls, I learnt a lot. They are very specific with their shoes. Good balance is indispensable and to be able to dance while having the longest legs possible. This inspired me to create more toe cleavage.”
On his favourite thing to do
“Working.”
On his favourite colour
“Red.”
On his favourite quality in a person
“Tolerance and enthusiasm.”
On his nick name
“Laporo, Loubi, Bottinos or Los Bottinos which I hate.”
If I whet your appetite for a little Sunday shopping, you will find a great wish list below (just click here to be transferred). Channel Christian’s joie de vivre and enjoy your new shoes!
LoL, Sandra
Today, net-à-porter has released a gown almost identical to Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress that she wore to her sister Kate’s royal wedding to Prince William on April 29 this year.
The cowl-neck dream designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is not exactly the same and comes with minor differences to the original gown. It has for example a covered zip at the back instead of fabric buttons and the sleeves and neck seams have been alternated. Pippa’s version was made of heavy ivory silk and a customized order.
In the mood for pulling a Pippa? I just couldn’t resist…
LoL, Sandra
Play the Stella pairs game on Net-à-Porter for a chance to win an incredible £10,000 Stella McCartney shopping spree plus a range of fabulous runner-up prizes; 3 Falabella bags, 10 knickers of the week sets and 15 Adidas by Stella McCartney yoga sets.
To play, just click on the cards above. The competition closes midday BST October 12.
Good luck!
LoL, Sandra
For my German based readers:
The new SI Style with my monthly fashion column is available from today.
This time, I am telling you more about my recent trip to London where I went to the Dolce & Gabbana Net-à-porter party and the “Tropical Night” event hosted by Matthew Williamson.
You will also find some travel tips for London.
Get your issue now!
LoL, Sandra
Newly launched for F/W2011, Claudia Schiffer’s luxurious cashmere line perfectly encapsulates the legendary supermodel’s insouciant style. Schiffer sourced the finest fabrics for this collection of model must-haves – you’ll find everything from cozy cardigans in rich earth tones to slinky color-pop tube dresses.
The range will be manufactured, produced and distributed in partnership with luxury German cashmere label Iris von Arnim.
Available from today at www.net-à-porter.com.
LoL, Sandra
Natalie Massenet, Stefano Gabbana, Queen Latifah, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce.
Here we go: Party N°2!
I didn’t even have time to change after Matthew’s tropical night as I was running off to the next amazing event on Thursday night in London:
Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter celebrated the arrival of Dolce & Gabbana with a very intimate party “at home”.
It was literally a night of the stars (photo to the left: Queen Latifah with me), an A-list event with so many celebrities joining the fun and fashionistas wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s star-sprinkled F/W 2011 pieces.
Enjoy all the pics and comments from that memorable night!
Dolce & Gabbana collections are now available on Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter.
LoL, Sandra
My favourite fashion duo Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce with me.
Remember designer Henry Holland from LuisaViaRoma’s Animalier Party?!
Very sweet Mary Katrantzou remembered me and my Serendipity dress.
The good thing about Twitter (it was livestreamed on a wall) is that you can find people easily…
…like Disneyrollrgirl.
Emerging solo artist Sunday Girl Jade performed live in a star print jumpsuit by Dolce & Gabbana.
Natalie Massenet and Tim Blanks pose for their photo on the vintage Vespa mopeds.
My own picture postcard – such a lovely idea!
Kelly Osbourne
Famous Dolce & Gabbana model David Gandy
Mr & Mrs Porter: Jeremy Langmead & Natalie Massenet
Pixie Geldof
Pixie Lott
Stefano Gabbana, Natalie Massenet, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce
Photos: © Net-à-Porter / Mr Porter, © Sandra Bauknecht
Yesterday in New York City, influencers from the worlds of fashion, art, philanthrophy, business and entertainement came together like last year at Christie’s Bid to Save the Earth. After a live auction, the Runway to Green fashion show took place that must have accelerated every fashionista’s heart. The pieces on the catwalk from over 25 designers including Prada, Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Thakoon and many more were from the upcoming F/W 2011 collections.
Now, those must-haves are available on net-à-porter, but only on the US site. No worries, my dear European and Asian readers, they also ship to us. A minimum of 10% of net-proceeds from the sale of each item will benefit Alliance of Climate Protection, Natural Resource Defense Council and United Nations Environmental Programme’s Billion Tree Campaign. Shopping for a good cause and your chance to be the first to wear a stunning piece from the next season. Do I need to say more..?!
Ready, set, go!
LoL, Sandra
This week, I flew to London to meet very talented designer Thakoon Panichgul. He was in town for a very intimate trunk show and presented his amazing F/W 2011 collection in the Net-à-porter offices to his very loyal long-standing English customers.
The Thai-born, Omaha-raised designer who is based today in New York has been an early forerunner of mismatched prints. For him, it is all about the silhouette, about a certain nonchalance, a modern and sporty way to interpret couture. He has a talent for intricate detail and loves to play with construction.
I had a really nice conversation with him. Thakoon is such a lovely guy. He told me that his passion for fashion started at a very early age because his mom and grandma were both seamstresses. He started his career first in production, then merchandising for J.Crew. Later on, he spent four years as a writer and editor for Harper’s Bazaar and took courses at Parsons School of Design. He also earned a business degree at Boston University. I would call this a very profound foundation to start a successful company which he did in September 2004. He has quickly become a shooting star to emerge from the New York fashion scene.
His fan base is huge. Hollywood celebrities like Jessica Biel or Drew Barrymore and fashion A-listers like Sienna Miller belong to it. His probably biggest supporter is Michelle Obama. America’s First Lady is often seen in Thakoon’s designs.
Thakoon thanked Natalie Massanet for giving him a voice. He explained: „First I did five pieces and thought it was a collection. Net-à-porter bought all of them and has been so supportive since then.“
Natalie Massanet answered: „We are all about great products!“
The founder of the well-known online platform Net-à-porter was like me crazy for the gorgeous sleeveless blazer in yellow and black.
Thakoon’s collection for F/W 2011 reminded me of Marie Antoinette as an African tribal warrior.
The designer kept the juxtapositions going in all ways. A long-in-back ball skirt worn with a checked puffy coat was among my favourite looks. See below some of the best looks. The pieces were a little big on me as they were the sample sizes.
I am so in love with Thakoon’s shoe collection for F/W 2011. All the pieces will be available at net-à-porter.com. If you don’t want to wait to own a piece, have a look at those gorgeous pieces from his S/S 2011 collection that are in stores now.
By the way, the party went on at Soho House Basement deep in the heart of Chinatown and London’s It-girls partied with Thakoon all night long.
Please click here to shop Thakoon’s beautiful collection.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Now available online at net-à-porter is J Brand’s new It-pants: The Gigi.
Cropped, flared and skinny, J brand’s hot shape takes style to a whole new level. Combine them with ankle boots or strappy sandals with a fur vest or a tank top. It is a simple way to update your wardrobe and easy to wear whatever the temperature. My favourites are the waxed ones, love this special fabric.
LoL, Sandra