Sandra‘s Closet

The famous ASW Winter Weekend in Gstaad is approaching fast and Friday’s dress code «Je ne regrette rien» might leave some with questions. Therefore I put together a little guide with lots of inspiration for you to get ahead of the fashion game. For those not coming, take this post as an idea for your next holiday festivities. You might outshine even the Christmas tree…

As many designers are looking into their archives for inspiration, time-traveling on our part is absolutely trending. From sixties retro to nineties nostalgia, the only mission is to stand out of the crowd. And there is truth in the fact that French women seem to always get it right! It is the widely adored allure of «je ne sais quoi» attitude. Their ability to assemble an outfit in the most put together way without looking too made up.

When it comes to partying, the capital of France has enthralled party planners and party goers for centuries. This December, ASW will bring the opulent glamour and intrigue of Paris nights to their members. Think of red plush, sparkling lights, think of the time when Edith Piaf first sang her iconic song «Je ne regrette rien» in 1960 or seek inspiration from the late 1970s through the 1990s, when «Les Bains Douches» was the nightclub to go in Paris. Imagine Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, and Brigitte Bardot, dancing at «Chez Régine» or transform yourself into a burlesque dancer that could have popped out of the famous «Moulin Rouge» or «Crazy Horse» with feathers, sequins and showing off lots of skin. For the gentlemen the motto is to become the most handsome dandy or French lover. It is the allure that counts. Don’t forget a touch of sleaziness is always welcome during Parisian nights… here you can can…. here life is a cabaret.

Below are some outfit inspirations, to shop just click on the highlighted text:

LIFE IS A CABARET
Crystal-embellished feather and felt hat by Gucci, feather-trim velvet bustier dress and tasseled sequined chiffon pouch, both by Attico, Salsa feather-embellished suede sandals by Charlotte Olympia, long feather scarf by Yves Salomon and smoking silver-tone, enamel and crystal clip earrings by Saint Laurent.

BURLESQUE EXTRAVAGANZA
Cold-shoulder lace-up stretch-tulle midi dress by Dolce & Gabbana, sequined long dress by Temperley London, lace ribbon garter by Folies by Renard, Talitha feather-trimmed glossed-leather sandals by Saint Laurent, and ruffle-trimmed woven clutch by The Vampire’s Wife.

YES WE CAN CAN
Bow-detailed glittered stretch-velvet mini dress by Balmain, Pandor ruched printed silk-blend lamé mini dress by Isabel Marant, Vivienne glittered velvet clutch by Jimmy Choo, Marguerite 100 velvet and leather-trimmed mesh mules and Daisy 100 leather-trimmed velvet ankle boots, both by Malone Souliers by Roy Luwolt.

BELLE DE NUIT 
Fringed embellished tulle jacket and crystal-embellished tulle jumpsuit, both by Naeem Khan, leopard-print turban headband by Gucci, Cleo crystal-embellished satin platform sandals by René Caovilla, Disco Pandora embellished glittered perspex clutch by Charlotte Olympia and gold-tone earring by Balenciaga.

FRENCH LOVER
Gold-fit satin-striped wool-blend suit, metallic jacquard suit, and lace-up leather derby shoes, both by Dolce & Gabbana, embroidered collar shirt, feather print scarf and dancing skeleton loafers, all by Alexander McQueen, and sequin blazer by Saint Laurent.

FOREVER CRAZY
Taking the theme to the next level and wearing the motto on your skin… those temporary transfer tattoo stickers are available here.

Looking forward to a great party ahead! Stay tuned for more…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands – Collages: © Sandra Bauknecht

Lily-Rose Depp is officially the face of CHANEL’s newest fragrance CHANEL N°5 L’Eau, created by Olivier Polge. She’s following her mother’s footsteps.

Lily-Rose starring in CHANEL’s eyewear campaign 

 Directed by Johan Renck, this campaign is slated for Fall 2016. A young, up-and-coming actress, Lily-Rose Depp is already the face for the CHANEL Pearl eyewear collection launched in September 2015. She embodies her generation and its values of freedom and boldness to perfection, bringing to the iconic fragrance of the House her youthful freshness and beauty.

Lily-Rose Depp on Instagram

On Instagram, Lily posed with a giant version of a CHANEL N°5 L’Eau perfume bottle and expressed her excitement about the news. She captioned the photo: «I am so excited to announce that I am the face of the new Chanel Chanel No.5!»

Vanessa Paradis for CHANEL Coco 1991, © Chanel

Famous parents: Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp

Lily-Rose looks so much like her famous mom. Like mother like daughter…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel, © Getty Images, via Instagram

Lily-Rose Depp becomes the new CHANEL ambassador. For her first collaboration with the House, Karl Lagerfeld has chosen the 16 year-old to be the face of the Pearl eyewear collection where the young actress plays a baby-doll in a world imbued with sweetness and femininity.

The daughter of Johnny Depp and his former partner Vanessa Paradis perfectly embodies the youth, modernity and daring that characterise the House. “Lily-Rose is stunning, she’s a young girl from a new generation with all the qualities of a star,” announced Karl Lagerfeld.

Vanessa Paradis, Karl Lagerfeld and Lily-Rose Depp

Lily-Rose Depp is treading in the footsteps of her mother, herself a friend of Karl Lagerfeld, ambassador of the House since 1990, the year of her first campaign for the perfume COCO, and the face of the Girl CHANEL handbag. Both were part of the CHANEL F/W 2015 Haute Couture show that took place at the Grand Palais on July 7th, 2015.

Stay tuned for the Pearl eyewear collection advertising campaign photographed by Karl Lagerfeld in September 2015.

LoL, Sandra

Lily-Rose Depp hits the roulette table at Chanel’s Haute Couture show.
Photos: Courtesy of Chanel and © 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

Tomorrow, May 14, “Kaiser Karl” will reign over the world of fashion once more. Lagerfeld will show his Resort 2013 collection for Chanel at Versailles. Of course, it will be a big production, but all details are still under wraps. Past Chanel Resort shows have been presented at the Lido in Venice (Resort 2010), and one of my favourites, in St. Tropez (Resort 2011). Their locations usually bewray the inspiration for the collection.

Versailles was the famous place where the French royal family ruled in extravagance for 100 years before the French Revolution. What does come to your mind? As for me, I could only think of excess, rich fabrics, opulence.

 I am truly curious what Karl Lagerfeld has been thinking of.  If anyone is up to the task to pay tribute to Marie Antoinette or to revive those decadent moments in time, it is definitely him. I am sure that he will surprise us as the setting has to be different from his S/S 2011 Chanel show that was based on Versailles’s extensive gardens (see above).

If you look in fashion history, this won’t be the first time Versailles has been used for a show.

In 2007, John Galliano rented out the palace for a huge spectacle – Dior‘s 60th anniversary couture show.

In 1973, five upcoming US-designers, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass, and Oscar de la Renta faced off against French couturiers Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, and Emanuel Ungaro in a runway spectacle that became known as the Battle of Versailles.

The French designers were certain of victory, due to their long tradition and know-how. But the Americans had a secret weapon; a vibrant group of eight African-American models plus the wish to conquer the European world of fashion. And the celebrity-packed audience of 800, including a tiara-wearing Princess Grace cheered to their performance. It was that chilly night changed the face and colour of fashion forever.

There have also been numerous fashion editorials photographed at Versailles over the years.

Above:
1 Shalom Harlow by Steven Meisel for Vogue October 1994
2 Diane Krüger by Gilles Marie Zimmerman for Paris Match March 2012
3 Trish Goff by Steven Meisel for Vogue October 1994

Please enjoy this little summary of some of the most beautiful ones, along with other palace-set shoots by Karl Lagerfeld himself.

Jessica Stam and Snejana Onopka by Karl Lagerfeld for Harper’s Bazaar Romania November 2007

Gisele Bündchen by Karl Lagerfeld for Harper’s Bazaar June 2007

Vanessa Paradis by Karl Lagerfeld for Tatler Russia July 2012

Stay tuned for the photos of the Chanel Resort 2013 show.

LoL, Sandra

As Chanel`s Cruise 2011 will take a while to arrive in stores, I have some yummy news to brighten up your day: The new Chanel Cocoon handbag line. The padded bowling and shopping bags are perfect for daily use.

The advertising campaign stars Vanessa Paradis and is shot by the master himself, Karl Lagerfeld. Available from May 15th, 2010.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

For my Zurich based readers, Jelmoli has some nice ones left. Hurry up!

LoL, Sandra