Sandra‘s Closet

When it comes to accessories, there are those born of necessity and those born of coquetting. This season, there are both, from practical shopping bags to small pouchettes worn as belts or necklaces. As for the pleasure of fashion, there’s a new emphasis on statement earrings, chunky sneakers, and ever-impractical gloves that render a touchscreen phone essentially useless. So you better carry them only in your hands. Below are the 10 accessory trends worth trying next fall.

LoL, Sandra

The season’s animal-print shoes ensure that everyone will be looking at your feet when you make an entrance.

Designers were thinking about the potential of the classic silk scarf accessories, using them as bag straps; purse accessories; nontraditional ankle straps or wrapped around the head.

Sneakers, sneakers, sneakers – the hype is to over yet! The large, thick-soled models offer new extremes while being orthopedically posh.

Personally speaking, I adore this season’s necklace pouchettes and belt bags as they are so practical. Large enough to fit just the essentials inside, it’s a hands-free way to go.

The oversized statement earrings are here to stay – the bigger the better.

Shopping bags and plastic totes are the new luxe accessories. This is what high-low fashion is all about.

Matching your boots to your outfit will give you this winter’s most sophisticated look for an eye-catching effect.

This season’s totes and carryalls are, in all seriousness, quite supersized, pack your weekenders in style.

This season’s best gloves extend to the elbow and come in all the colors of the rainbow.

The cowboy boot is the must-have boot for fall. This Western silhouette is having a moment from New York to Paris and beyond.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Yesterday morning in Paris, I attended the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show which was the best I have ever seen (It even topped Chanel’s Paris – Bombay…).

When I arrived, I found myself inside a 1920’s inspired train station with a huge Louis Vuitton station clock hanging from the ceiling. And what looked like the runway in the middle, was actually something else…

The show started on time as usual and a gigantic gate opened, there was steam. All of a sudden, I saw rails…

…and an amazing old-fashioned train with a lot of steam rolled inside the hall. The crowd cheered and applauded. Believe me, it takes something to charm the fashionable audience.

Inside the wagon, the models were seated. You could already see the gigantic hats. The ambiance reminded me immediately of the Titanic era. The ladies looked like belonging to the upper class de-boarding the “Vuitton Express”.

THE BAGS

Each lady had a her own porter helping her to carry the oversized bags which were absolutely divine. Hat boxes, vanity cases, weekend bags and petites valises all make an appearance for everyday use. The traditional canvas Monogram finds itself trimmed in real crocodile or embroidered in sequins on a blanket wool, trimmed with box calf. The Speedy has an intense reworking this season, based on and featuring a round signature buckle.

Mink makes its way into Vuitton baggage, utilising vibrant colours to accompany its rich, sumptuous texture.

THE LOOKS

Marc Jacobs played with proportions and this collection seems to be for the tall ones among you. It is all about elongation. The clothing is layered in rich, sumptuous fabrics; long skirts over cigarette pants, long coats over all, each look topped by a tall hat. There is a certain, simple geometry to this elongation, an extended A-line to engulf the entire body.

The normal sized porters seemed tiny in comparison to the tall models. Marc Jacobs did it on purpose to reinforce the point of his towering female silhouette; the men are merely added accessories.

The materials are rich, from kangaroo leather that is patch-worked and bejewelled with plastics to heavy metal yarns replicating Afghan blanket fabrics and brocades and jacquards.

I loved Marc’s thinking about the company’s nineteenth-century origins and travel heritage. Can you believe that he started Louis Vuitton’s Prêt-à-porter collection fifteen years ago… time flies!

Marc after the show in the train

The “Vuitton Express” from inside

Me in front of the train

Bryan Boy with me, isn’t his Jil Sander hat too cute?!

Anna dello Russo

Famous guest: Sarah Jessica Parker

Another reason for my enthusiasm for this amazing, outstanding Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show might be that it reminded me so much of a collection inspired by the Titanic era that I created during my fashion design studies.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht