Sandra‘s Closet

This week, Kering announced that Tomas Maier, who has been creative director of Bottega Veneta since 2001, is leaving the Italian brand.

Tomas Maier with Lauren Hutton

The reason? Kering has been dissatisfied for quite some time as Bottega Veneta’s sales have struggled and younger consumers are not interested enough in the brand that focuses extremely on craftsmanship. Compared to another label of the luxury conglomerate, Gucci, Bottega Veneta has been all about understated luxury and still lives up to its motto from the 1970s: «When Your Own Initials Are Enough.»

On the S/S 2017 runway: Gigi Hadid arm in arm with Lauren Hutton

Lately, Tomas Maier made headlines with the model casting for his S/S 2017 runway show. He sent out 73-year-old Lauren Hutton together with 21-year-old Gigi Hadid, confirming that beauty has no age. The same year, the brand reissued the iconic intrecciato clutch worn by Hutton in the 1980 film American Gigolo.

Lauren Hutton carries a Bottega Veneta clutch in American Gigolo.

Reissued: Lauren 1980 intrecciato leather clutch by Bottega Veneta

In a statement, Francois-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Kering, thanked Tomas for his work in the past 17 years: «It is largely due to Tomas’ high-level creative demands that Bottega Veneta became the house it is today. He put it back on the luxury scene and made it an undisputed reference. With his creative vision, he magnificently showcased the expertise of the house’s artisans. I am deeply grateful to him and I personally thank him for the work he accomplished, and for the exceptional success he helped to achieve.»

The new creative director has already been named. It is former Céline director of ready-to-wear, Daniel Lee. Until now, Lee has maintained a low profile at a number of historic design houses. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2011, worked at Maison Margiela and Balenciaga, before heading to Céline under Phoebe Philo.

I think that is an interesting choice. Kering has a track record of hiring lesser-known designers to top houses, which worked amazingly in the case of Alessandro Michele and Gucci.

TO SHOP BOTTEGA VENETA ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta, via Grazia Magazine

Since its launch last year, Bottega Veneta KNOT has become a huge success and once you smell it you will understand why. It is so airy and abounds in floral sparkling notes. After my first spritz, I have been hooked ever since.

The name is an homage to the Italian brand’s beloved KNOT clutch and the cap of the bottle echoes the bag’s iconic knot-shaped closure. Being one of the brand’s signature pieces, it has been a «collector’s item» since its launch in 2001.

Bottega Veneta KNOT is inspired by the amazing fresh air of the Italian Riviera, the scent of flowers, such as peonies from the garden and clementine trees from the hills nearby and clean laundry whose scent comes through the open windows.

As KNOT wears, you will explore the dry and crisp dimension of orange blossom that ends in a richer dimension thanks to tonka bean and musk.

BOTTEGA VENETA KNOT
Top notes: Clementine tree accord (based on mandarin, lime, neroli and orange blossom)
Middle notes: Peony, white rose and lavender
Base notes: Musk and tonka bean
Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 98.00), 50ml (CHF 145.00) and Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 72.00)

Great news is that there is a new flanker to be launched this month: Bottega Veneta KNOT EAU FLORALE that will be available now exclusively at Marionnaud.

The new floral scent conjures the next chapter of the Mediterranean interlude, this time set in the villa’s flower garden where fragrant roses and peonies transport their visitors into a private sanctuary that gives comfort and relaxation. “I wanted the fragrance to capture an awakening of the senses though an escape to the garden,” says Tomas Maier, Creative Director Bottega Veneta. “It is these quiet moments of respite that I believe are the ultimate luxury.”

BOTTEGA VENETA KNOT EAU FLORALE
Top notes: Mandarin orange, neroli and lavender
Middle notes: Rose and peony
Base notes: Tonka bean and cedar
Eau de Parfum 50ml (CHF 140.00) and 75ml (CHF 165.00).

Personally speaking, Bottega Veneta KNOT EAU FLORALE is the perfect way to take a little bit of summer into fall.

Steeped in the traditions of Italy’s master leather craftsmen and renowned for its extraordinary leather goods, Bottega Veneta stands for individuality and self-confidence, a philosophy expressed in its famous motto, “When your own initials are enough”, and of course in the highest quality materials.

TO SHOP THE LATEST KNOT CLUTCHES, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

This post is also available in German and French on the Marionnaud blog.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta and © Sandra Bauknecht