Sandra‘s Closet

Today is MARY KATRANTZOU‘s birthday and with this post I want to congratulate my dear friend who also happens to be one of my favorite designers. From her first presentation, I have been collecting her outstanding designs and I am proud of my extensive collection. It’s hard to believe that it’s a decade since her designs made their catwalk debut as part of the annual Central Saint Martins MA graduate show. Her digital trompe-l’oeil prints of oversized jewellery placed on colour-block dresses were an instant hit and her label is one of London’s most loved. Since then, she has constantly evolved. The so-called «Queen of Prints» surprises me each season how she masters print and plays with proportions.

Princess Beatrice of York, Mary Katrantzou, my humble self and Federica Fanari

On top of her talent, Mary is an amazing woman, so warm-hearted – it is always so much fun spending time with her. Therefore, I hopped on the plane in the beginning of October to attend her 10 Year Anniversary Party at MATCHESFASHION‘s newly opened retail space at 5 Carlos Place in London.

To celebrate the occasion, a limited edition collection was exclusively launched on MATCHESFASHION.COM. The capsule features 10 iconic looks from past collections, all reissued for this exclusive collaboration. And needless to say, I have most of the featured pieces in my closet. Here are a few examples:

Left: Caramolengo jewel-print silk dress (click here for the post from September 2011)
Right: Serendipity print crepe and chiffon mini dress (click here for the post from June 2011)

Left: Harp Hazzard printed silk-satin gown (click here for the previous post from May 2012)
Right: Powdy printed silk mini dress (click here for the previous post from December 2012)

Part of the exhibition: my beloved Jewel Tree dress from Mary’s F/W 2011 collection that I wore to her launch event with Longchamp at Collette in January 2012.

So divine: Mary Katrantzou S/S 2019

Also Mary’s S/S 2019 collection is celebrating 10 years of her eponymous label. It explores the urge to collect, catalogue and organise, infused with themes and motifs from Mary’s decade of designing. A collection of collections! Among the highlights is a dress inspired by her perfume-bottle dress from her first London fashion week collection.

Below you can enjoy some of my impressions from this amazing event. Amazing people gathered together from the world of art and fashion to celebrate our beloved Mary.

Favorite editor: Sarah Mower

With my lovely Federica Fanari

With another great designer Mira Mikati

Mary Katrantzou framed by Jasmine Hemsley and Candice Lake

With Mary Katranzou and jewellery designer Eugenie Niarchos (Venyx)

Girls in Mary: Magdalena Gabriel and me

Sandra Choi of Jimmy Choo

With Juliet Angus

The beautiful night ended at Annabel’s which is my favorite club in London… here with my gorgeous Brazilian friend Polyana Santos.

A little thank you note with lots of memories I made for Mary!

«The next decade,» Mary said, «is about taking the brand DNA and allowing men and women to buy into it in different ways, whether it’s homeware, jewellery or accessories.» No matter the medium, I am looking forward to having more Mary in my life!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MATCHESFASHION and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last night, she won the Emerging Talent Award (ready to wear) at the British Fashion Awards in London, last week she took me out to lunch. I am talking about Mary Katrantzou, one of the hottest names in London’s fashion scene. As for me, she is the most innovative designer at the moment and as you know, I am a huge fan of her.

Her creations are different and new. Mary’s unbelievable talent to use bold, overall prints has been a huge influence on today’s fashion. For S/S 2012, many designers have seeked inspiration from her iconic arty florals, expressive colours and patchwork prints.

If you are wondering how can floral prints can be new, have a look at Mary’s flower power for S/S 2012. They are strong, unexpected, surreal and make fashionistas drool over it. The show in September was truly divine with a catwalk divided by a tennis court long field of carnations.

My favourite look by Mary Katrantzou for S/S 2012: “Battle Royal”
I adore that every dress gets its own name!

Last Wednesday, Mary took me to lunch to the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair that I can only recommend. Great interior design and awesome food.

We were sitting for hours, talked about her upcoming projects and about daily life. Mary’s birthday is only two days before mine and we loved that we are both aquarius. The 28-year-old was born and raised in Greece but loves living in London. She is a true fashion visionary, a print-cess charming and a wonderful refreshingly unpretentious young woman.

Mary Katrantzou is already hugely influential even though her label is just three years old. She won last year’s Swiss Textiles Award, her designs can be found in the most distinguished shops around the world and celebrities show up on the red carpet in them. If you think that the hype has overwhelmed her, you are absolutely mistaken.

She was so happy to see me in her Serendipity dress that by the way made a huge appearance this week on Gossip Girl. In the last episode, Serena wore this stunner to Blair’s bridal shower. Cocktail or lunch, the dress is a must around the clock!

Photo: Courtesy of The CW, © Getty Images

More testaments to Katrantzou’s reach and importance are her upcoming collaborations next year:

In January, Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp will be launched. The theme for this amazing S/S 2012 bag collection is “East meets West”. A must-have for all print lovers and for those who have been eagerly waiting for a Mary Katrantzou handbag!

Extremely exciting is the news of a second Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection to be released in February next year. The first prototype was unveiled at the Topshop press day a few weeks ago, and even it was not supposed to go public, one photo has made its way around the globe. Doesn’t it look so promising?!

Please stay tuned, will keep you posted!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Style.com, Courtesy of Mary Katrantzou, Longchamp and Topshop