Sandra‘s Closet

Sorry for bringing you bad news twice today, first we have heard that Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau’s passed away at 81 yesterday and it has been announced that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died this morning peacefully following a stroke. She was 87 years old.

The Iron Lady was not only an outstanding politician, but also a fashion icon. On both sides of the Atlantic, Maggie Thatcher is being considered as the originator of the power look for women. She opted for tailored skirt suits and pussycat bows. One of her clever tricks to show power was funnily enough that she never wore pants. Her signature pearls, shoulder pads (to stand literally “shoulder to shoulder” with men), handbags, and royal blue hues were a sign of control. Throughout her career, she turned her looks into POWER DRESSING!

Let’s honour her with this look inspired by her: Iris wool-twill blazer and matching Alyssa pencil skirt, both by Stella McCartney, polka-dot silk-twill pussy-bow blouse by Saint Laurent, Amelia patent-leather pumps by Jimmy Choo, croc-effect and textured-leather bag by Lanvin and multi-strand pearl necklace by Kenneth Jay Lane.

R.I.P. Maggie Thatcher!

LoL, Sandra

Congrats to my beloved British fashion designer Stella McCartney! She has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by HM the Queen at Buckingham Palace yesterday for her services to the fashion industry. Besides her eponymous label that she had founded in 2001, she has been collaborating with Adidas on a sportswear line for many seasons. In 2012, she created the Olympic 2012 kit for Team Great Britain.

Wearing a bespoke, navy blue cinched skirt suit from her own collection and a vintage platinum hairpiece by Cartier, Stella looked gorgeous as she attended the ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Stella McCartney joins fellow designers Dame Vivienne Westwood and Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, as well as Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon in being awarded the Order of the British Empire. Well deserved!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Reuters, © PA

I have a sweet love for this Olivia embellished leather waist belt by Moschino.
It started in Rome a long time ago … and has obviously never ended. It had just been hidden in my closet for a while …

My look: Black jacket by Gucci, pink neoprene dress by Tibi (also available in white), logo belt by Moschino, neon necklace, faux python leather bag and matching shoes, all three by Stella McCartney. Twenties stay-up thigh-highs by Wolford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The Brown’s hotel belongs to my favourites in London and their English Tea Room is famous. My preferred choice is their ‘TEA-TOX’, a healthy version of their award-winning Traditional Afternoon Tea. Served on tea-stands, you can indulge in healthy treats without feeling too naughty. For more information, please click here. And with such good conscience, you can hop over to Bruton Street where some of my beloved stores are located such as Stella McCartney and Matthew Williamson to look for the new season’s must-haves.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Brown’s Hotel

To celebrate 60 years of design, Chloé is releasing a capsule collection of its most popular styles. Founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion and Jacques Lenoir, the label has seen many famous designers creating some of the iconic fashion styles, such as Karl Lagerfeld‘s Galaxie dress, Violon dress and Eventail clutch, Phoebe Philo‘s Camera bag, python boots, Silverado bag, paisley-print silk scarf, and wedge sandals, Stella McCartney‘s Ananas pineapple T-shirt and Hannah MacGibbon‘s shorts and cape.

Available online exclusively at net-à-porter, the anniversary heritage collection is also sold in a pop-up shop in the atrium of Paris department store Printemps.

Below you can explore the complete limited re-edition collection. If you like something, just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.
Personally speaking, I can only say how happy I am that I have kept all my fabulous Chloé pieces over the years… no need for me to go shopping!

Silk-crepe blouse by Gaby Aghion – Chloé F/W 1960

The Galaxie dress by Karl Lagerfeld – Chloé S/S 1978

The Éventail clutch by Karl Lagerfeld – Chloé F/W 1979 – a limited re-issue of 60.

The Violon dress by Karl Lagerfeld – Chloé S/S 1983 – a limited re-issue of 60.

The Pineapple top by Stella McCartney – Chloé S/S 2001.

The Camera bag by Phoebe Philo – Chloé S/S 2004.

Python boots, Silverado bag and paisley-print silk scarf by Phoebe Philo – Chloé F/W 2004.

Broderie anglaise blouse and wedge sandals by Phoebe Philo – Chloé S/S 2006.

Cape and leather shorts by Hannah MacGibbon – Chloé F/W 2009.

In honour of Chloé’s 60th anniversary, net-à-porter is giving you the chance to share your favorite Chloé moments (e.g. street style shots, favorite products, campaign imagery etc.) to be in with a chance to win a camera bag by Phoebe Philo. All you have to do is share your moments using the #ilovechloe hashtag on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Net-à-porter then shares an edit of their favourite entries on their #ILOVECHLOE pinboard.

Have fun and good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of net-à-porter, Printemps and Chloé

Yesterday, I was invited by Montblanc to attend a lovely, very intimate lunch with caviar and champagne at their Arts & Artisanery lounge at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. The rooms of the suite are decorated so beautifully with artwork from the German house’s Cutting Edge Art Collection. Along with many celebrities, among them Emily Rossum, Billy Zane and Pat & Michael York, I had the honour to explore some of the amazing pieces from their high jewelry line, that will surely be seen tomorrow on the red carpet of the Oscars 2013.

My look: Neon stretch-crepe blazer by Antonio Berardi, printed cotton shirt by Carven, pleated wool-crepe mini skirt by Christopher Kane, 4810 hoop earrings by Montblanc, holographic faux leather pumps and matching faux leather clutch, both by Stella McCartney. (For more information on the holographic trend, please click here).

During lunch, I sat next to Pat and Michael York, who is famous for his roles in Cabaret, The Three Musketeers and Austin Powers, among many others. His wife Pat, a former editor of Vogue and Glamour magazine, and a passionate photographer, is a very captivating lady. With exhibitions all over the world, including one at Galerie Gmurzynska in Switzerland, her preferred  subjects are dissected cadavers. “I love the human body,” she explained to me. “It is so fascinating. Once you’ve looked under the skin, we all look the same. You feel how meaningless is all racial and religious prejudice.”

This unique piece from Montblanc’s Bouquet Collection is absolutely breathtaking. It features three blooming diamond studded roses and a gigantic star-shaped “Montblanc Diamond” and drapes comfortably around the neck.

Billy Zane with me. The actor is probably best known for his role as the arrogant Caledon Hockley, Rose’s fiancé in Titanic.

The bracelet and necklace from the Riviera Collection feature a cascade of briolette diamonds and a beautiful embellished closure.

Montblanc’s iconic Princesse Grace de Monaco Collection is a tribute to elegance. For the Pétales Entrelacés motif, the rose petals, in warm pink gold with or without diamonds pavé, are crafted in an intertwined way for rings, earrings, necklaces and braclets.

The last two days have already been so wonderful and I couldn’t be any happier to join Montblanc for the ultimate Oscar experience. I am off this morning to attend the Montblanc Signature for Good Charity Brunch at the Bel-Air hotel where many celebrities are expected and a gorgeous charity project will be presented. You can follow me on the official Montblanc Twitter account @montblanc_world and on Instagram @sandrascloset.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

It is always great to find an amazing bag on sale, especially as many models are reinvented every season just in a different material or color. I put together some of the best ones available at the moment. Shopping with good conscience, have fun:

My absolute favourite: Lily bouclé tweed shoulder bag by Mulberry (30% off)

A great shopper: T leather tote by Chloé (40% off)

Already a classic: Falabella big tote by Stella McCartney (30% off)

A super chic evening choice: Opera satin clutch by Yves Saint Laurent (30% off)

For many seasons to come: Tri-colour Union Jack clutch by Alexander McQueen (40% off)

LoL, Sandra

My trip to Qatar surpassed all expectations. Doha has reminded me a lot of Dubai 10 years ago, even better, modern and of course, full of luxury. Located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, all eyes are on Middle East’s new hot spot as the Qatari will host a large number of the venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. According to the British Telegraph, Qatar has the second highest income per capita in the world and you can see it everywhere.

On the first day of the year, I went shopping at Doha’s Villagio Mall, which was overly impressive. Reminiscent of the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace and the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian in Las Vegas, the mall has got a changing sky that gives shoppers the feeling of being outside and a canal that runs through the center of the mall with gondola rides for guests. Every designer brand you can think of is represented, such as Bottega Veneta, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Montblanc among others. There is even an amusement park in the mall.

See for yourselves:

My look: Mathilda tuxedo jacket by Stella McCartney, green tee by Ralph Lauren Blue Label, top by Missoni, skinny mid-rise jeans by Rag & Bone Jean, sandals by Gucci, Alice two-tone bag by Chloé, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis, necklace by Roberto Cavalli and 4810 hoop earrings by Montblanc.

Stay tuned for one last post from Doha about The Pearl.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The restaurant Parisa, one of my favourites that I visited in Doha, belongs to the Sharq Village and Spa. Traditional Persian dishes are served with a contemporary, modern twist. The perfect ambiance to suit the mood of my outfit.

My look: Printed silk-blend crepe top, matching wide-leg pants with side splits from thigh to ankle, leather pumps with ankle straps, all by Gucci (50% off), holographic faux leather clutch by Stella McCartney (new season, please click here for more information on this rising trend), cocktail ring by Roberto Cavalli and crochet-knit turban by Missoni (50% off).

I kept my make-up very easy, a little bronzer on the cheeks (24 Karat Shimmer Brick by Bobbi Brown – Limited Edition), mascara (Lash Queen Sexy Blacks by Helena Rubinstein) and red lips (Diorific 040 Marilyn by Christian Dior – Christmas look 2012).
On my nails: Coral Blame by Tom Ford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Futuristic fabrics are high on this new season’s designer agenda and holographic looks are having a major fashion moment for S/S 2013. It is all about “Dress to Shine”!

FASHION MEETS SPACE AGE

Christopher Kane showed his collection for S/S 2013 on a holographic catwalk and Alexander Wang turned off the lights to enlighten the special fabrics of his clothes.

Holographic sequins played a major role at Antonio Berardi…

… and Talbot Runhof.

The trendsetter this season is definitely Jonathan Saunders. His holographic pieces will be on every fashionista’s wish list.

Christopher Bailey makes us drool over his metallic shiny fabrics for Burberry Prorsum that shimmer in all shades of the rainbow.

If you cannot wait to sport the trend first, have a look at those accessories below that have just hit the shelves:

Stella McCartney and Proenza Schouler‘s sleek accessories are my favorite way to tap the trend, perfect for New Year’s Eve!

1 Holographic faux leather clutch by Stella McCartney

2 Holographic faux leather pumps by Stella McCartney
3 Holographic faux leather iPhone 4 sleeve by Stella McCartney
4 Holographic leather card holder by Proenza Schouler
5 PS11 mirrored leather wristlet clutch by Proenza Schouler

Holographic faux leather python print Falabella clutch by Stella McCartney

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Sandra Bauknecht and via Style.com