Today, I would like to share with you VALENTINO‘s very special New York capsule collection designed by Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. The collection shows the love and passion they have for the city that never sleeps.

It includes men’s and women’s ready to wear and accessories and is available only in NYC in the new 20,000 square feet store, situated at 693 Fifth Avenue.

Right in time for the holiday season, the collection will also include a Christmas ornament decorated with a red heart, which will also come in white camouflage.

Valentino’s Fifth Avenue store opened its doors in August 2014 and marks an important step in the development of the brand’s worldwide retail network expansion. The store concept combines old and new in order to generate a Palazzo atmosphere, steering away from the pure showroom and promoting a new architectural format in place of a more traditional retail boutique structure.

Tomorrow another unique event is happening in New York: a very special Haute Couture show that you can watch live here on Sandra’s Closet at 8pm EST. It is the first time an Haute Couture gets live streamed, so it is very exciting, and believe me, you will not be disappointed.

LoL, Sandra

Photos, Video: Courtesy of Valentino

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Here you see an outfit post combining different F/W 2014 trends. Feathers have been everywhere this winter season, they are the perfect way to give your dressing a voluminous effect. Maybe every season polka dots are considered a trend, but they are definitely one of the must-haves for the upcoming S/S 2015 season. So Valentino’s overly cute and stylish version is a great investment to be carried into the next summer. Wear it well!

My look: Striped tiered feather jacket by Givenchy, ribbed black turtleneck sweater by Gucci, patterned wool and silk-blend midi skirt, Carmen appliquéd leather pumps and Carmen appliquéd leather shoulder bag, all by Valentino, Limelight Gala watch by Piaget, earrings by Dior, diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

How hard is it to find your perfect black clutch? Depending on your own taste, it has to meet different criteria: from sophisticated, fashionable to functional or timeless. Such a little black bag is essential to complete your closet! Here is my selection of the best ones available right now.

1 PURE LUXURY Patent-crocodile clutch by Bottega Veneta
2 FASHIONISTA’S MUST-HAVE Monogramme leather clutchby Saint Laurent
3 ROCK CHIC Rockstud leather clutch by Valentino
4 INTO THE WILD Embellished suede fold-over clutch by Roberto Cavalli
5  ALREADY A CLASSIC Falabella faux brushed-leather clutch by Stella McCartney
6 LADYLIKE Chandra chain-embellished shimmer-suede clutch by Jimmy Choo
7 FOR EVERYDAY USE Antigona envelope clutch in black grained leather by Givenchy
8 GREAT WITH JEANS Broadway fringed suede clutch by Gucci

UNDERSTATED AND TIMELESS Marche leather and suede clutch by Nina Ricci
My personal favorite is accented with gold hardware and has three internal compartments – perfect for keeping your belongings organized. Carry it cross-body by day, swapping to the hand strap after dark.

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

As always, I would like to keep you ahead of the game and put together the most important S/S 2015 runway trends! Scroll through my forecast to see what will stay and which styles will be on everyone’s shopping list next season.

S/S 2015 TREND 1
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Tom Ford – Saint Laurent – Louis Vuitton

Sequins and metallics are here to stay and will surely make you feel sexy under the disco ball next summer.

S/S 2015 TREND 2
PRIMA BALLERINA
Valentino – Giorgio Armani – Vionnet

Soft and pastel, the long tutu tulle skirts and dresses seen gracing the runways were inspired by ballerinas. A must for your next red carpet moment.

S/S 2015 TREND 3
LUXURIOUS HIPPY 
Chloé – Emilio Pucci – Etro

70s inspired looks seemed like a common theme throughout the fashion weeks. Long, light and flowing dresses or lace materials are the way to work the luxury bohemian trend. My favorite!

S/S 2015 TREND 4
JUMPSUITS 
Christian Dior – Céline – Sonia Rykiel

Fashion-forward utilitarian looks, the jumpsuit might not be the most comfortable piece of clothing but next summer definitely the the most up-to-date one.

S/S 2015 TREND 6
KIMONO GIRLS 
Gucci – Marni – Alexander McQueen

Ethnical prints and long silhouettes tied at the waist, the kimono was a huge source of inspiration for a number of fashion houses this season.

S/S 2015 TREND 7
KHAKI – THE HUE TO STAY 
Chanel – Marc Jacobs – Ralph Lauren

Call it haute safari gear for the wilds of the shopping streets. Khaki has become a fashion classic and is here to stay. It is up to you if you opt for for a safari-style or military-inspired look.

S/S 2015 TREND 8
DENIM – HEAD TO TOE 
Prada – Burberry Prorsum – Fendi

It is all about denim head to toe. Next season the beloved fabric is reinvented in in all sorts of blues and with eye-catching stitchings.

S/S 2015 TREND 9
POP ART
Peter Pilotto – Balmain – Junya Watanabe

Some of the world’s leading pop-artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein, Mondrian and Sonia Delaunay were the force behind a lot of collections. Circle motifs, bright colors and bold, intersecting stripes gave the runway an energetic vibe.

S/S 2015 TREND 10
POLKA DOTS
Marc by Marc Jacobs – Moschino – Dolce & Gabbana

A simple and extremely joyful print, the polka dot, hasn’t lost its impact over the last seasons.

S/S 2015 TREND 11
ANDROGYNOUS & ASYMMETRIC TAILORING
Anthony Vaccarello – Jean Paul Gaultier – Maison Martin Margiela

Conquering the male wardrobe, the designers used the codes of masculine suits, but added a touch of sexy. The trend reveals itself in the asymmetric cuts which are a must next summer.

S/S 2015 TREND 12
PATCHWORK BABYDOLLS
Rodarte – Stella McCartney – Mary Katrantzou

The babydoll makes its comeback in an array of fabrics and lace patterns. Patchwork is the key to success!

S/S 2015 TREND 13
BLACK MESH
Balenciaga – Akris – Proenza Schouler

Worn all-over or a as a single piece, mesh is next summer’s answer to sportswear. The sheer fabric works day and night and has been spotted all over the catwalks.

S/S 2015 TREND 13
BLACK AND WHITE
Narciso Rodriguez – Givenchy – Thakoon

Black and white – the probably most classic color combination. This season, designers set about experimenting with the codes of femininity through black and white suits and used this ultra-refined palette for maximum optical effects.

S/S 2015 TREND 14
MIX AND MATCH
Giambattista Valli – Fausto Puglisi – Prabal Gurung

Conceptual and experimental, the next season silhouettes take center stage with pieces in an array of different colors and all sorts of materials. The probably most modern trend of all.

S/S 2015 TREND 15
HEMLINES
Matthew Williamson – Versus Versace – Elie Saab

Business in the front, party in the back, the new hemlines play with length.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Style.com

During a dinner conversation last weekend, a friend of mine asked me for advice to find a great pair of winter shoes that is suitable for bad weather conditions.

Here is a selection of footwear designed with a gripped rubber sole for maximum traction, even in wet or icy conditions. Constructed with a sturdy block heel or a wedge, they are ideal for day-long wear or a winter’s night out. Now it’s the time to stock up on some sturdy and stylish footwear for the new season. Have fun!

1 Lace-up patent-leather pumps by Valentino
2 Two-tone leather platform pumps by Marc by Marc Jacobs
3 Safety pin-embellished leather pumps by Tod’s
4 Lizzie shearling-lined suede wedge boots by Michael Michael Kors
5 Shearling-lined textured-leather wedge ankle boots by Burberry
6 Barbara goat hair-lined suede boots by Pedro Garcia
7 Verna shell and faux fur boots by DKNY
8 Shearling-lined suede platform ankle boots by Alexander McQueen
9 Shearling-lined suede and leather knee boots by Emilio Pucci

My personal favorites are those three pairs below:

Those rubber sole wedges are ideal to walk during a cold winter night: 
Creeping Tessa embroidered velvet wedge pumps by Charlotte Olympia

Cute and edgy at the same time, those shoes look great with a mini dress:
Textured patent-leather ankle boots by Alexander McQueen

Wear them with a skirt or loosen the buckled tabs to tuck in your jeans:
Dart buckled leather biker boots by Jimmy Choo

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Sometimes it is time for a fresh perspective on the contents of our closets. The summer 2014 had lots of trends to choose from, like crop tops, cutouts, and transparent pieces among other highlights. If you’re anything like me, you may already be more than happy to kiss some of those looks goodbye, but there are plenty, too, that you might be excited to wear during the upcoming season.

My look: Denim vest and wide belt, both by Saint Laurent, leather and wool top by Gucci, Altea crepe and silk-organza skirt by Stella McCartney, embellished textured-leather sandals by Valentino, fringed tote by Lanvin, gold-plated multi-strand necklace by Etro, ladder gold-tone chain bracelet by Proenza Schouler, sunglasses by Céline, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis and diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today’s photos were taken at the East Side Gallery in Berlin, Germany. The probably largest and longest-lasting open air gallery in the world is actually an international memorial for freedom. With 1.3 km, it is the longest remaining part of the Berlin Wall, located near the city centre on Muehlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, next to the river Spree.

The East Side Gallery consists of 105 paintings by artists from all over the world, painted in 1990 on the east side of the Berlin Wall.

Inspired by yesterday’s post about Rihanna who’s sporting the military trend for our September 2014 cover of L’OFFICIEL Schweiz/Suisse, here is a gun salute to the revival of military chic fashion this fall. Therefore I went through my closet to look for my S/S 2010 Balmain pieces – the season when it had been up-to-date the last time.

My look: Military shirt and khaki tank top, both by Balmain (from the S/S 2010 collection, for the new F/W 2014 pieces, please click HERE), pants by Alexander McQueen (similar ones HERE), sneakers by Prada Sport, Hapi leather bracelet by Hermès, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring by Piaget, sunglasses by Valentino and Boy Bag with chains by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Hitchhiking with Chanel

One of the most impressive paintings at the East Side Gallery: Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker kissing by Dmitri Vrubel.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I had a lovely day surrounded by great friends to celebrate the baptism of little Ben. After the ceremony in the church, we went to the restaurant Seerose at the lake of Zurich for lunch and stayed until dinner. The big thunderstorm that was supposed to hit in the afternoon luckily waited to arrive in the evening.

My look: Cropped leather jacket by Prada, bonded laser-cut cotton-poplin bra top and matching bonded laser-cut cotton-poplin skirt, both by Alexander McQueen, Rockstud leopard-print calf hair trapeze bag by Valentino, Janis leather pumps by Saint Laurent, Mitza ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie, interlaced loop necklace by Dior, green calf hair cuff by Céline and Tank Américaine watch in yellow gold by Cartier.

McQueen’s Sarah Burton got heavily influenced by Mondrian‘s art this season. I am in love with her ability to mix different materials and turn them into one. This structured pleated skirt and top are both crafted from black cotton-poplin with a bonded laser-cut white overlay that gives them a three-dimensional effect that is unfortunately hard to see in the pictures.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Nothing creates more impact than flowers as they are timelessly filled with the spirit of spring and romance. I love wearing floral prints because they make me feel ultra feminine. Here you see me wearing such an outfit. It was the perfect choice to attend the Art in the Park event in Zurich’s Baur au Lac gardens two weeks ago.

My look: Floral jacket with embellished buttons,floral print dress, earrings and cuff, all by Dolce & Gabbana, ring by Etro, wedges by Valentino and oversized clutch by Miu Miu. Tank Américaine watch in yellow gold with diamonds by Cartier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In June 2014, Cash & Rocket will return for its third consecutive year, and this time the amazing Valentino‘s Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli want to make this journey even bigger and better and are once again participating in the charity event, which will take place from June 5th to 8th, 2014.

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli with me

Seventy women from the worlds of fashion, music, cinema and business will begin the car tour from the striking Piazza San Marco of Venice which ends in London, with stops along the way in Geneva and Paris. The donations collected will help support three important humanitarian organizations – Shine On Sierra Leone, OrphanAid Africa and Sumbandila – to support African children and their families with health assistance and educational programs in Sierra Leone, Ghana and South Africa.

For the occasion and to further support the project, Maison Valentino will donate 20% of proceeds from the sale of several products from the Rouge Absolute Signature capsule collection and six other special products especially created by Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

These special items will be available at www.valentino.com and www.net-à-porter.com and in Valentino boutiques in Paris and London.

Maria Grazia Chiuri, Co-Creative Director, came in first last year raising the most amount of money and she is determined to beat her own personal record. She will be personally involved in fundraising monies and will drive one of the thirty-five red sports cars that will travel 1600km, from Venice to London.

“As a woman and mother, I am very happy to be able to help other women and children. I am profoundly convinced that it is essential to give them an opportunity for development and education, which gives me a chance to give back what I have received” – Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The Valentino team can be followed along the different stages of the race through the dedicated donation website Just Giving. Let’s help Maria Grazia to win once again first place and to collect the most donations!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino and Cash & Rocket