Sandra‘s Closet

Paris Fashion Week is always fun, but of course also very tiring and as you might have realized I get barely time to blog. During the day, you attend many runway shows, visit showrooms, have meetings and run from one place to the other. But don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining, I absolutely adore my job.

At night, the fashion crowd doesn’t stop. Events, launches and after show celebrations take place, such as the Valentino Tribe Party on Tuesday at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild in Paris.

The beautiful location was decorated with all sorts of tribal elements and Monsieur Valentino himself along with Alber Elbaz, Creative Director Lanvin, showed up during the night.

With Mister Valentino Garavani himself...

… and with lovely Alber Elbaz of Lanvin.

Later, I went to Raspoutine where L’Officiel Russia celebrated their new social editor, Kisa. It was great to see many familiar faces such as Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Greg Chait of The Elder Statesman, Jean-Thierry Besins of Bulliony, Natasha Zinko, Lorenzo Giove of Repossi and of course, Benjamin Eymère of L’Officiel Paris… and more!

Enjoy some of the impressions below!

LoL, Sandra

Lisa Feldmann of L’Officiel Germany, my humble self, Alexander Fedotov and Xenia Sobtchak

Lorenzo Giove framed by Fiammetta Cicogna to the right and me to the left.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Natasha Zinko and Kisa

The Met Gala is the party of the year, like the Oscars in fashion. It is also the opening night of the annual fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. After last year’s posthumous Alexander McQueen retrospective “Savage Beauty”, the “Schiaparelli & Prada – Impossible Conversations“ is now on show.

With the met gala being one of the biggest red carpet events, it is quite a task narrowing down the many fabulous gowns to choose my absolute favourites. The ones in the collage above are on my best-dressed list, with the following three being at the top:

Dreamlike: Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada…

…with beautiful jewels by Anna Hu

A piece of art: Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou F/W 2012

Soulmate: Lizzy Tisch in Mary Katranzou‘s stunning Harp Hazzard dress from S/S 2012

But it wouldn’t be fun if I didn’t point out the more questionable fashion moments or let’s say to show you the most daring appearances. Enjoy!

Bird of Paradise: Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen

Too much bronzer: Leighton Meester in Marchesa

Scene-stealer: Marc Jacobs in Comme des Garçons with Lorenzo Martone

Booty Call: Beyoncé in Givenchy Haute Couture

Unlikely couple: Karolina Kourkova with tiny Rachel Zoe, the designer of her space-like gown

The new Anna? Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana with Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld

The Jolie-leg effect: Anja Rubik in a scary hip-slit gown by Anthony Vaccarello

Daughter of Daphne Guiness? Mary-Kate Olsen in The Row

Which one is your favourite or which one don’t you like at all? You can comment on Sandra’s Closet’s facebook page here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Getty Images and © Rex Features

Last Friday, I went to the opening of Marco Perego’s first solo exhibition in Switzerland entitled “Secrets” curated by Isabelle Bscher at Galerie Gmurzynska. The exhibition features works from 2011 including 
3 sculptures, 40 drawings and 10 paintings and will be open until October 25, 2011.

The artist Marco Perego with me last Friday at the opening

Perego, born 1979 in Verona, Italy, is a very good-looking former soccer star who is now based in Los Angeles. He has presented solo shows worldwide, including a solo exhibition at the Museo Archeolgico Nazionale in Florence in 2008. In the same year, he unveiled one of his most controversial pieces, “The only good rockstar is a dead rock star”, a sculpture of a dead Amy Winehouse lying in a pool of blood, long before the soulful R’n’B songstress met an untimely end past July. In 2008 his painted works formed the background of Dolce & Gabbana’s advertising campaign. His animated film “Burn to Shine” will premiere next year at Sundance Film Festival.

Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 2008 ad campaign with Marco Perego’s paintings in the back

Marco Perego with Isabelle Bscher*

Perego’s Portrait of Isabelle Bscher, Mixed media on paper, 2011

In 2007 Marco describes himself in an interview with the New York Observer like this: “I just believe in my dreams, the sun in the face, wind in the back, the rest take care from the destiny to dance with the stars.” He spent a year with Shamans in Argentina, after which he started his series „Secrets“. Perego who has taken inspiration from Freuds dream analysis, told Bscher: „These are drawings of the unconsious, of the inner demon within.“

The artist is known for his controversial paintings, often a fantasy that perverts images that we take for granted as innocent. For example, when the Evil Queen drops all pretensions of prude as well as her knickers in front of the Seven Dwarves.

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld with me

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld’s son, art dealer and curator himself, counts the artist amongst his closest friends. So no wonder, he came with an entourage of famous and close friends to the opening, among them Fiat scion Lapo Elkann and Starvos Niarchos.

From left to right: Mathias Rastorfer, Andrea Kracht, Marco Perego and Lapo Elkann*

Famous friends: Niclas Pol, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Starvos Niarchos, Andy Valmorbida with Marco Perego.*

About his life in the city and his friends he said once to the New York Observer: “It’s the same, because I never forget where I’m from. I am the same kid. I love to sit down and be like a voyeur. I love to watch people, and feel like a pirate. My friends are the best pirates in the world. I promise.”

Marco Perego, La terre et la lune, 2011, Gypsum, 158 x 140 x 140cm

I especially love the sculpture “La terre et la lune“.
You can count me definitely among Perego’s fans.

LoL, Sandra

My outfit last Friday: 
Baseball jacket, striped pants and top by Balmain, patent shoes by Stella McCartney and bag by Gucci.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Photos with* are courtesy of Galerie Gmurzynska