Sandra‘s Closet

On Thursday evening, the Houses of CHANEL, FENDI (LVMH) and KARL LAGERFELD all came together at the Grand Palais in Paris to pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at a celebration designed, directed and staged by Robert Carsen.

The many facets of this extraordinary man were evoked through a tapestry of videos filmed throughout his life, interspersed with testimonials from people who knew him, as well as the generous «live» contributions of highly talented actors, musicians, dancers who interpreted some of the music and literature Karl loved so much.

Charlotte Casiraghi, H.R.H. Princess of Hanover, Andrea Casiraghi and Madame Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.

Actresses Tilda Swinton, Fanny Ardant, Cara Delevingne and Helen Mirren, friends of Karl Lagerfeld, recited and read excerpts from works by his favourite authors, such as Virginia Woolf, Stéphane Mallarmé, Colette and Edith Sitwell.

Pianist Lang Lang at Karl Forever at the Grand Palais in Paris.

The extraordinary Jookin dancer Lil Buck, the brilliant violinist Charlie Siem (who played Paganini, one of the favourite composers of Karl Lagerfeld’s mother Elizabeth), Argentinian choreographer German Cornejo, accompanied by his troupe of 17 tango dancers and his 7-piece orchestra from Buenos Aires (Carlos Gardel was Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite singer and the tango was his favourite dance), the celebrated pianist Lang Lang (who played Chopin on the grand piano designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the 150th anniversary of Steinway), and American artist Pharrell Williams were also on stage to pay homage to the man who had deeply marked them and who was their friend.

The Steinway designed by Karl Lagerfeld on display.

These artists – as well as the 2,500 guests present at the Grand Palais to celebrate Karl Lagerfeld – were immersed in a spectacular exhibition of 56 giant enlargements of portraits taken throughout his life by some of the most famous photographers in a setting designed by Robert Carsen, inspired by Karl’s favourite colours: black and white enhanced with a touch of red.

In turn, the participants also paid tribute to the aesthete, this man of culture, photographer, creator… in an exceptional moment as grand as his talent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld, © Luc Castel and Julio Piatti

One week ago, David Bowie died at age 69, just two days after his birthday. As tributes flood the media, the fashion world mourns the star who had the power to express himself through versatile ways of dressing, hairstyles, makeup, and performance. His shape-shifting styles inspired generations of teenagers and adults, especially in the ’70s and ’80s. He was the one who first empowered gender-bending androgyny and was a huge inspiration for the world of music and fashion. In 2013, the V&A Museum opened the “David Bowie Is” exhibition with great success, which toured the world.

Enjoy this little tribute and see some looks inspired from his quirky and amazing style:

Aladdin Sane, 1973

US Vogue reports: «The Ziggy red mullet that launched a million imitators was inspired by a fashion shoot on the cover of Honey magazine of a model wearing Kansai Yamamoto. Bowie went around to his mother’s hairdresser, Suzy Fussey, who worked in a salon on Beckenham High Street, to do the cut and color. He was wearing it the day he walked into Brian Duffy’s studio to shoot the cover of the Aladdin Sane album in 1973. Celia Philo (Phoebe Philo’s mother), who was art directing, remembers the spontaneous moment when Bowie conspired with his favorite makeup artist, Pierre La Roche, to paint on the lightning flash.»

David Bowie dressed by Kansai Yamamoto, 1973

Bowie on tour in 1973, from The Rise of David Bowie 1972-1973.

And here is how the fashion world got inspired by the musical genius in many ways:

Kate Moss‘ covers for Vogue U.K. in 2003 (right) and Vogue Paris in 2011 (left).

Jean-Paul Gaultier S/S 2013

Hedi Slimane said once to AnOther magazine: «I was literally born with a David Bowie album in my hand.» Here some looks inspired by David Bowie from his men’s S/S 2014 collection.

To the right, you can see one of the geometrically striped black and white outfits from Givenchy‘s S/S 2010 collection. It looked like a rendition of the one Bowie wore in 1973 during his Aladdin Sane phase.

Candice Swanepoel on the Victoria’s Secret catwalk in 2009 in an asymmetrical jumpsuit reminiscent of the infamous Ziggy suits designed by Kansai Yamamoto for David Bowie who was one of the first ones to collaborate with fashion designers to create his costumes.

Miuccia Prada‘s F/W 2012 collection for Miu Miu was basically a remake of the 1971 music video “Life On Mars?”.

The same could be said for Gucci‘s S/S 2016 collection. I am convinced that the new Dionysus bag would have been loved by the legendary David Bowie.

Here is a funny one: there’s a website of cult fans that believe Tilda Swinton and Bowie are the same person. Check out Tilda Stardust, it is hilarious.

David Bowie print T-shirt by R13

Jeremy Deller God Bless David Bowie tote by House of Voltaire

His legend lives on in both industries, music and fashion, as David Bowie himself does today, in immortality. Rest in peace and thank you for all your inspirations!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Vogue Paris, Vogue UK, Mick Rock/Taschen, Brian Duffy / David Bowie Archive, Getty Images

Those who have been following me on instagram have got already an impression how fabulous my trip to Dubai was this week. Karl Lagerfeld had chosen the Emirates destination as the place to present the Chanel Cruise 2015 collection. You would imagine that past presentations in St. Tropez, Dallas and the Palais de Versailles among others would be hard to top. Think again. It’s Karl Lagerfeld. It was a feast for the eyes, an amazing experience, like the fairytale of One Thousand and One Nights.

The guests, among them celebrities such as Dakota Fanning, Vanessa Paradis, Freida Pinto and Tilda Swinton, were brought by junks to a manmade island off the coast of Dubai where an enormous golden hangar covered in an interlocking double C’s lattice awaited us. From far away it looked like traditional Islamic fretwork.

We were asked to wear flat shoes (even that flats are trending at the moment, this was a challenge for me) as we walked through the sand. With an outdoor temperature of around 36°C, it felt like a beautiful evening in the desert. We were greeted in the souk tents with refreshing lemonades and Arabic coffee while enjoying the Dubai skyline.

Inside comfy, cushioned seating around the catwalk, yummy hors d’oeuvres, champagne and gigantic fake palm trees awaited us.

In the middle of the location, the food was on display that we enjoyed after the show, from mini pita-shawarmas and falafel with date chutney to pistachio baklava.

The show was beautiful, Karl Lagerfeld dreamed up his “idea of a romantic, modern Orient, a new One Thousand and One Nights.” He mixed precious and costume jewelry and played with the sickle-moon motif. Those pearl crescent-moon hair pieces and Bedouin-inspired cuffs are divine. Aladdin’s slippers, harem pants, ghutra-pattern-inspired jackets, mosaiced skirts, necklines and embroidered leather camellias bring the Arabian culture into the Chanel style in a respectful and culturally sensitive way.

It wouldn’t be Karl Lagerfeld though if he didn’t add some humor to his collection. I adore the tunic tops hemmed in a sequined version of the Dubai skyline and the golden jerrycan bag will surely be on many shopping lists.

After the dinner, we enjoyed a private concert by Janelle Monáe.

Vanessa Paradis with me after the show

Sweet Dakota Fanning

Tilda Swinton giving an interview outdoors

When we walked back to the boats through the candle-lit sandy path, it felt like a million-and-one Arabian nights. Thank you, Chanel, for this beautiful night. In the September issue of L’Officiel Switzerland, you will find an exclusive report and some amazing pictures. Stay tuned!

While you are reading this, I am already on my way to the next adventure. For one evening, I fly to Shanghai with Omega for an exceptional dinner with George Clooney.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Chanel

Featuring vibrant rubies and sapphires, Pomellato‘s new standout capsule collection ROUGE PASSION would make the perfect Mother’s Day surprise. As those romantic pieces will hit the stores in the end of May, you might consider giving a gift voucher.

Featuring rings and earrings in an array of warm, sunny colors with deep red rubies, crimson pinks and orange sapphires, those rose gold beauties recall a sweet summer sunset.
Tilda Swinton is the face of the ad campaign shot by famous fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø and I think that she looks absolutely stunning.

Rings € 900.00 – Earrings € 1400.00

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Pomellato

During Paris Fashion Week, I went to some amazing events that I would like to share with you. Let’s get started with one that was truly outstanding, something that you don’t see every day.

I was invited to the elegant salons of the association France Ameriques in avenue Franklin Roosvelt, where a very special collaboration, PRINCESS GRACE, MORE THAN AN IMAGE, between Pringle of Scotland and Central Saint Martins was presented.

The collection designed by young talents of the renowned college of arts and design in London features pieces in the finest 100% made in Scotland knitwear, inspired by the wardrobe of H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco, who had loved the historical British brand very much and had been frequently seen in it.

H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover had come all the way from Monaco to attend this intimate event in honour of her late mother. She had also supported the students and had given them access to the palace archives.

In April 2012, the findings were revealed in an exhibition hosted by the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco featuring never before seen material, showcasing Princess Grace’s daily wardrobe in the most relaxed and familial situations, particularly knitwear and Pringle of Scotland archive styles.

The students took those aesthetic elements and translated them into this beautiful capsule collection…

… under the creative supervision of the famous Professor Louise Wilson O.B.E. (see photo below to the right). Being among the world’s most influential fashion educators, her former students include Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic among many others.

Personally speaking, I found one aspect very moving when H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover explained that this project has meant a lot to her: “There have been many exhibitions on my mum, but this is special, when she wore knitwear, it meant we were more informal, it meant happy times.“

And as Marie Claude Beaud, Director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, put it “Grace Kelly has been a princess, an actress…but above all a woman, a mother”.

With this in mind, the collection truly manages to highlight the most personal, discreet and daily aspects of the Princess without loosing its historical heritage, it looks modern and desirable.

Pringle of Scotland’s ambassadress Tilda Swinton was leading the conversation.

Interesting to know is that the title PRINCESS GRACE: MORE THAN AN IMAGE derives from a quote that the Princess gave to Time Magazine in 1955, whilst still the film actress Grace Kelly, “I don’t want to dress up a picture with just my face”. This sense of exploring the person behind the image is evident throughout the project. She will stay in everyone’s imagination forever.

And this fall, it is official, we will not only dream of an Hermès Kelly bag.Pringle of Scotland’s Kelly sweater will be on everyone’s shopping list and it will be definitely more accessible. The capsule collection will hit the shelves in Switzerland in September at Jelmoli.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on the movie “Grace” that will hit the cinemas in the end of the year and enjoy some more impressions of this beautiful event in Paris below.

LoL, Sandra

Gorgeous Tilda Swinton with me

Photos: Courtesy of Pringle of Scotland, © Sandra Bauknecht;
Photos of Princess Grace: © Jae Lee, © Alice Bastion

Sunday night, I had a blast in Paris at the Purple x Bulgari dinner at the famous Café de Flore, followed by the after party at Le Montana. The room was filled with the “Who’s Who in High Fashion” and of course many celebrities such as Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody.

Enjoy some of the impressions! It doesn’t get more “in” than here…

Caroline Gaimari (Purple) with me

Famous crowd: Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, Betony Vernon, Sandro Kopp, Waris Ahluwalia, and founder/owner of Purple Olivier Zahm

Arriving from the Givenchy F/W 2013 runway show with an extravagant hairdo: Models Magdalena Frackowiak and…

…Isabeli Fontana, here with Olivier Zahm

Patrick Liotard-Vogt (Chairman A Small World) and Olivier Zahm

Olivier Zahm and designer Haider Ackermann

Patrick Liotard-Vogt with me

Charlotte Stockdale, Derek Blasberg, Samantha Traina, and Gaia Repossi

One of my favourite designers: Olivier Theyskens with me

At the after party at Le Montana

Waris Ahluwalia

I truly had a blast and went to bed far too late. But when I got to my hotel room, I had a meltdown when spotting the fag burns in my beloved strapless lace and tulle dress by Dolce & Gabbana.

I truly hope that Dolce & Gabbana can save this amazing piece!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Purple © Stéphane Feugère, © Sandra Bauknecht

Karl Lagerfeld has chosen Tilda Swinton to be his heroine in the advertising campaign for the Pre-fall 2013 Métiers d’Art Paris-Edimbourg collection. Her unique personality, charisma and allure have charmed the House of CHANEL: “Tilda perfectly embodies the Paris-Edimbourg collection. She is of course Scottish, but more than that she is a modern woman, a timeless icon of elegance,” declared Karl Lagerfeld. Discover the campaign in May 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Olivier Saillant – Courtesy of Chanel

For the Cannes Film Festival 2012’s opening night, the who’s who of Hollywood came down to the Côte d’Azur. Here are the best dressed ladies of this amazing night. Enjoy!

Jury member Diane Kruger looked amazing in a mint green sheer couture gown by Giambattista Valli.

Eva Longoria wore a flowing, feathered train gown by Marchesa in which she had quite some problems walking on the red carpet.

American singer Lana Del Rey was wearing a classy black long dress by Alberta Ferretti that gave all the attention to the 18-carat white gold necklace set with a 31 carats yellow pear-shaped diamond by Chopard.

Eva Herzigova, the Czech model, was wearing a lace gown by Dolce Gabbana combined with the Marilyn Monroe Tribute set from the Red Carpet collection composed of a necklace in 18-carat white gold set with beads diamonds (151.64 cts), heart shaped diamonds (30.72 cts) and diamonds (18.53cts). Earrings en suite. All by Chopard.

Actress Tilda Swinton, who stars in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, wore a bronze gown by her fashion friend, designer Haider Ackermann.

Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto wore a strapless beaded bodice gown, with a peplum pink satin skirt by Michael Angel, accessorized by Chopard jewelry.

The legendary Jane Fonda, wearing Chopard jewelry, looked absolutely stunning at 74  in a form-fitting metallic gown from Stella McCartney‘s new evening collection I saw her during the day at the Chopard lounge and was overwhelmed by her charisma.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©VALERY HACHE/AFP/GettyImages, ©Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, ©Rex, ©Lia Toby / WENN

On Wednesday evening, the opening night of the 65th Cannes Film Festival (May 16  to May 27, 2012), I was invited by Chopard to this year’s first “Montée des Marches” at the Palais des Festivals. (Each night there is the legendary black tie “Montée des Marches”, the famous red-carpet, by invitation only, where the 22 films in competition are screened.)

It is an amazing feeling to climb up those famous steps, the stairway to heaven. There are hundreds of people waiting behind the barriers to spot their favourite celebrities. The minute I got out of the limousine, I was absolutely speechless and full of emotions.

My look: Gown by Roberto Cavalli, fur stole by Blumarine, Pyramide bag by Prada (In case you are wondering why I didn’t choose a little clutch, I wanted to take my big camera with me.), earrings by Chanel, ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

This year, the Cannes Film Festival kicked off with the screening of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, the movie centers around two young kids (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) who fall in love, and run away together into the wilderness, but the adult cast is pretty well-stacked in the acting department, featuring Hollywood stars like Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Jason Schwartzman.

Personally speaking, I am not the biggest Wes Anderson fan, but I have truly liked that movie. It is different and moving, featuring the best of Anderson’s iconic comedy whimsy. Moonrise Kingdom will be released later this month.

Bérénice Béjo, the Artist star, hosted the opening ceremony in a stunning gown by Louis Vuitton that blended in well with the red carpet. She introduced the audience to this year’s president Nanni Moretti and his A-list jury that includes Diane Kruger, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander Payne, Ewan McGregor, Raoul Peck, Hiam Abbas and Emmanuelle Devos.

During the 12-day movie marathon, they will choose from 22 competition titles to give out the coveted Palme d’Or prize on May 27.

Beth Ditto opened the festival with an amazing performance of ‘Candle In The Wind’.

Very funny, the famous singer was hurrying to get a photo with the jury:

Stay tuned for my best-dressed list of this night!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This year, Pomellato‘s Nudo Ring celebrates its 10th anniversary. For the ad campaign, the Italian jeweler is again teaming with Tilda Swinton.

I have been loving the sleek jewels from the beginning. You can wear only one or stack them up to two or three, playing with the colours.
For its anniversary, Pomellato presents a bigger, stronger version of its iconic piece, featuring gems in bold tones, including London blue topaz, Madera quartz, amethyst, lemon quartz, along with a limited edition in olivine and mandarin garnet.

Rings in rose gold and white gold with blue London topaz, Madeira quartz, amethyst, prasiolite and lemon quartz, £ 2.020

Nudo in amethyst.

Nudo in blue topaz. New Nudo in madeira quartz.

Nudo in madeira quartz, blue London topaz. New Nudo in amethyst.

New Nudo in lemon quartz, peridot. Nudo in lemon quartz.

Nudo in madeira quartz. New Nudo in tangerine garnet, madeira quartz.

Rings in rose gold and white gold with peridot and tangerine garnet, price on request

Good news for my Zurich based readers, we have our own Pomellato store since last week at Weinplatz 10.

Dear Santa, please bring me one or two or three… such a wonderful gift!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Pomellato