Sandra‘s Closet

The power of water… Drinking plenty of water is a simple yet vital part of maintaining good health, especially as we get older. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can help with everything from healthy heart function and skin elasticity to making you happier and more productive. And good news is that you can drink water in style and also get dressed for it.

Evian is partnering with historic Paris fashion house Balmain. With a unique baroque motif designed by Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, this limited edition 75cl glass bottle reflects a shared commitment to embracing our heritage. Paying homage to the fashion house’s founder, Pierre Balmain, who grew up in the small mountain village of Saint Jean de Maurienne, not far from evian’s iconic source in the Alps, its design combines the universes of both houses, with delicate light blue lace features and aqua-like droplets inspired by evian’s pure natural mineral water, enhanced with Balmain’s signature embellished details and gold lettering.

The collaboration also includes the launch of a capsule collection of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Classic sportswear silhouettes with the shades of soft pastels that one immediately associates with Balmain runways, the evian universe and, above all, refreshing joys of summer.

Relying on a wide variety of eco-friendly practices, materials and innovations, the collection of laid-back styles and accessories places the collaboration’s focus squarely on the powerful possibilities of a future world of fashion sustainability, all grouped under the distinctive tagline of «Together, change is beautiful.»

The Balmain team undertook the task of integrating a diverse range of materials, such as GOTS-certified organic cottons, sustainable viscose, and various recycled materials, to craft an extensive range of clothing items, including swimsuits, tees, hoodies, bombers, trucker jackets, and jeans.

Through this collaboration, evian and Balmain demonstrated a shared dedication to eco friendly practices, even in the minutest details, such as the recycled polyester labels and composition stickers, paper packaging made from pulp derived from sustainably managed FSC-certified forests, and the use of recycled plastic hangers and bags.

As an extension to the collection, evian and Balmain collaborated with Solaris, a recycling innovation industry leader to highlight the new opportunities presented by recycling plastic waste not suitable for circular economy in the fashion industry. Together, they developed a surprising new spin on the popular Balmain B-It slider: a sleek and transparent B-It that is entirely crafted from plastic waste that is typically judged to be unsuitable for reuse within the circular product cycle. Solaris also assisted Rousteing’s accessory design team, helping create an unexpected take on the house’s luxury Blaze handbag, using a 45% plant-based resin mixture to 3D-print the body and cover of the Blaze. The bag’s handle and lock logo were also 3D-printed, relying on a 100% rPET material created from recycled evian bottle waste (evian rPET flakes) that doesn’t meet circularity standards.

The «Together, Change is Beautiful» campaign was shot by filmmaker and photographer Carlota Guerrero, an artist who aims to portray beauty in a natural and frank way.

Guerrero’s film features the highly acclaimed La Marche Bleue dance troupe performing an original dance piece choreographed by founder Leo Walk. «The sequence was choreographed so that the movements would be impossible to perform alone,» noted Walk. «Instead, the dancers achieved their goal together, supporting each other and making it clear, through dance, that together, change is beautiful.»

Stay hydrated, stay in touch.
TO SHOP THE BALMAIN x EVIAN SPORTSWEAR COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Balmain x evian, © Sandra Bauknecht #evianwater
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Earlier this year, Balmain‘s creative director Olivier Rousteing revamped Mattel‘s Barbie for the Maison’s Paris Fashion Week presentation in house pastel tones, donning peaked pagoda-shoulder suits – posing in front of the same jetliners that were used as props for Rousteing’s aviation-inspired  F/W 2021 collection.

Two Balmain barbies, and one Balmain Ken, all three dolls embrace Olivier’s vision on inclusivity. «I’m happy to see that these new-generations Barbies truly reflect the diversity of our Balmain Army,» he said.

The original sets for Théâtre de la Mode were destroyed, but new ones were created to display the figurines, which can be seen at Maryhill Museum of Art.

This collaboration between Mattel and the French house is a tribute to Pierre Balmain, who in 1945, after WWII, contributed along other designers such as Balenciaga, Carven and Lulien Lelong, to the «Theatre of Fashion» to present their latest creations. It was a traveling spectacle made of dolls, started by the School Of Chambre Syndicale De La Couture Parisienne. Pierre Balmain dressed over 200 dolls with outfits specifically created for the occasion.

Now, the first must-have piece of this collaboration has hit the shelves. Ski season styling is given a cute update with the After Ski Tundra boots from Balmain x Barbie®. They’re designed with the label’s monogram in pink and are accented with bows.

To shop the After Ski Tundra boots, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

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

I have just received the tragic news that another legend has left the planet. Fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, who opened his eponymous fashion house in 1952, died past Saturday aged 91 as his partner – former haute couture designer – Philippe Venet has announced today. The couple lived in a Renaissance chateau near Paris.

«Balloon Coat», Hubert de Givenchy, 1958

The aristocratic gentleman was known for his sophisticated and ladylike chic in the 1950s and 1960s and famous for having designed much of the personal and professional wardrobe of Audrey Hepburn, as well as clothing for clients such as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and Grace Kelly.

At the age of seventeen, he moved to Paris where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. Givenchy’s first designs were done for Jacques Fath in 1945. Later he did designs for Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong (1946) – working alongside the still-unknown Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior, followed by 5 years working for the avantgarde designer Elsa Schiaparelli before he opened his own design house at the Plaine Monceau in Paris in 1952.

Audrey Hepburn wearing Givenchy in 1954 film «Sabrina».

His style was marked by innovation, contrary to the more conservative designs by Dior. At 25, he was the youngest designer of the progressive Paris fashion scene. His first collections were characterized by the use of rather cheap fabrics for financial reasons, but they always piqued curiosity through their design. Audrey Hepburn, later the most prominent proponent of Givenchy’s fashion, and Givenchy met in 1953 during the shoot of «Sabrina». He went on to design the famous «little black dress» she wore in «Breakfast at Tiffany’s».

In 1961, when Audrey Hepburn got the roll of Holly Golightly, designer Hubert de Givenchy designed the famous black dress which became one of the most iconic clothing items of the 20th century.

He also developed his first perfume collection for her (L’Interdit and Le de Givenchy) and made Audrey Hepburn the face of it. For the very first time a star was the face of a fragrance’s advertising campaign and probably the last time that it was done for free, only by friendship.

At that time, Givenchy also met his idol, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Although a renowned designer, Givenchy not only sought inspiration from the lofty settings of haute couture but also in such avant-garde environments as Limbo, the store in Manhattan’s East Village. In 1954, Givenchy’s prêt-à-porter collection debuted.

1957 Babydoll Dress by Givenchy

The House of Givenchy was split in 1981, with the perfume line going to Veuve Clicquot, while the fashion branch was acquired by LVMH in 1989. As of today, LVMH owns Parfums Givenchy as well.

De Givenchy retired from fashion design in 1995. His successor to head the Givenchy label was John Galliano, followed by a five-year stay from Alexander McQueen and a term from 2001 to 2004 by Julien Macdonald. As we all know, Riccardo Tisci revived the Givenchy brand tremendously from 2005 until 2017. This season, Clare Waight Keller presented her first runway show for Givenchy.

Rest in peace, Hubert de Givenchy and thank you for all those wonderful fashionable moments.
You will never be forgotten!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Givenchy, Getty Images

While you are reading this, I am on my way to the Oktoberfest in Munich with HUBLOT for an exclusive «Wies’n Gaudi» at the one & only Käfer’s-Wies’n-Schänke. The dress code? Of course «Traditional Bavarian»!

Is any other traditional dress as feminine, elegant and downright sexy as a «Dirndl»?
Any man or woman alive who has visited the Munich Oktoberfest would have to answer with a resounding no! As many other Germans, I am always looking forward to the festival season rolling around, to wear my «Trachten» and «Lederhosen» to celebrate in style.

From left to right top: Breakfast at Tiffany’s –  Dirndl Time – Oh Deer!
From left to right bottom: Pucci Goes Wies’n – Tyrolean Love

From time to time, I like to play around with the outfits and don’t opt for the traditional «Dirndl» but look for designer pieces in my closet that are inspired from Tyrolean or Bavarian styles.

Finding the right Dirndl can be quite expensive and choices are versatile. You can certainly look for less expensive ones at regular department stores, but then you’re quite likely to run into other women wearing the same style around town. In case it bothers you spending so much money on this occasion, I would like to inspire you with these designer pieces that you can wear all year long.

DAYTIME TRACHT: Misha embroidered velvet-paneled gabardine jacket by Vilshenko, crochet-trimmed lace-up broderie anglaise cotton blouse by SEA, velvet shorts by Pierre Balmain, appliquéd leather Chelsea boots by Charlotte Olympia, embellished wool-blend socks, Lucia watersnake-trimmed embellished brocade shoulder bag, crystal-embellished round-frame gold-tone sunglasses and gold-tone crystal clip earrings, all by Dolce & Gabbana.

DIRNDL CHIC: Lace and velvet-paneled pleated crepe mini dress by Elie Saab, faux pearl-embellished velvet headband and velvet shoulder bag, both by Miu Miu, velvet and gold-tone multi-stone choker by Etro, Elliot floral-print matelassé over-the-knee boots by Altuzarra.

BAVARIAN QUEEN: Embroidered cotton-velvet tuxedo jacket by ALEXACHUNG, Adriana lace-up velvet-trimmed crepe dress by Altuzarra, Klara lace-up suede ankle boots by Tabitha Simmons, Padlock small appliquéd studded leather shoulder bag, metallic crochet-trimmed embroidered cotton-blend socks and frayed grosgrain, bead and faux pearl brooch, all by Gucci.

O’zapft is! Happy Wies’n Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

Have you always dreamed of having a fabulous Balmain piece in your closet but your budget has never allowed it? This wish might become soon reality. The French brand has announced the launch of a second line, Pierre Balmain, for S/S 2012 which will range around €120 for a tee, €250 for jeans and approximately €350 for a jacket.

Here are the first pics that honestly didn’t convince me so much. But with the economy not at its best, Decarnin gone, the customers that are willing to spend €10.000 on an embellished leather jacket might not be so easy to find.

The diffusion line will be produced with Italy’s Itierre SpA that also licenses Just Cavalli for example. Interesting to know is that instead of Balmain’s new main line designer Olivier Rousteing overseeing the collection, an completely independent creative team will be working on it. Honestly, I think the only thing those two lines might have in common, will be the name but I am sure that Pierre Balmain will sell like crazy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balmain