Sandra‘s Closet

Yesterday, I attended a dinner party hosted by Navyboot and Andres Andrekson aka Stress to celebrate the launch of their first collaboration, so-called SBNB – STRESS by NAVYBOOT collection at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich which turned into an absolute hot spot last night.  Among the small gathering of 60 guests, were Baschi, Bligg, Mousse T. and Jubaira Bachmann.

The sneakers for men’s only (Adrian, we want them, too, especially the croc version!) are inspired by the historic battle at Sempach in 1386 – a theme that has been reinterpreted for modern times and has been recreated as a picture on some of the models’ soles. The advertising campaign shot by Stefan Heinrichs has been staged as a modern version of the battle with Stress in the role of Arnold von Winkelried (see above).

Just in time for the Christmas season starting in early December, they will be available at NAVYBOOT stores in Switzerland and Germany. Prices will range from about 129 CHF for the flip flops to about 498 CHF for the high top sneaker.

Lovely scenery at the entrance.

Inside the Swiss National Museum in Zurich

The yummy dinner was served on a rustic wooden table.

Momo, Stress,  Creative Director NAVYBOOT Adrian J. Margelist and DJ Mousse T with me.

This foot below belongs to Navyboot’s Creative Director Adrian J. Margelist. He and Stress are the only two having the croc-python version of the iconic sneakers.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, the Blick magazine wrote an article about last night and named me one of the most important fashion bloggers! I am honoured, thank you, Flavia!

LoL, Sandra

Something for my Swiss based readers, the 2012 edition of the WW magazine is available from today. I was asked to be in the committee to nominate the 200 most renowned personalities in Zurich.
If you are interested, you can buy your issue at the news stand or order it here.

Zazou Mall, the best Swiss singer of the German music star DSDS contest with me last night at the release party.
My outfit: Overall by Stella McCartney and Elsie bag by Chloé.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For all ladies who love to shop: Zurich has a new G-spot,“the Grieder spot”, so-called G.point, an innovative store concept, full of young brands, such as Rebecca Minkoff, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Butler & Wilson and Sam Edelman. The idea behind it is to offer something between high end and high street to cater to the budget challenged and to appeal to a younger audience that might shop one day the parent house’s designer fashion.

If you look around, you might find some unusual items that the buyers discovered during their trips around the world. The store is located next to the Grieder department store (In Gassen 20, 8001 Zurich/Switzerland) with its own entrance but is also connected to the main house. Soon to be opened in Geneva, too.

LoL, Sandra

G.irl Recha with me last night at the opening party

My outfit: Denim dress by Louis Vuitton, animal print sandals by Miu Miu and watch by Roger Dubuis.

A fun give-away for the press: A designer doll! I took Karl home…

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Zurich has got a new shopping oasis in the Seefeld quarter: Modestrom #110. Bibiana Stoecklin-Bruderer and Gabrielle Mazurczak have opened this weekend their second store that is filled with beautiful pieces from Nina Ricci (love!, the handbags and the prints are among my season’s favourites), By Malene Birger, Inès and Maréchal and Issa London among others.

Modestrom #110, Seefeldstr. 11o, CH – 8008 Zurich, phone +41 43 499 93 93 (new!)
Modestrom #53, Feldeggstr. 53, CH – 8008 Zurich, phone +41 43 499 91 91

Dream team: Bibiana Stoecklin-Bruderer and Gabrielle Mazurczak

The two lovely ladies have a good eye for exceptional beauty and carry some extraordinary things in their store which you might not find somewhere else such as Edition Poshette by Simone Bendix, an accessories collection inspired by vintage book covers, that also brings poetry into your life.

Magic fairies: Simone Bendix (to the left) with her sister.

Simone Bendix came for the shop opening to Zurich and presented her designs in an extraordinary way by telling us a fairytale-like story about how she came up with the idea:
“My fingers were always typing, pressing buttons and working, but they were actually longing for more, for fresh air, for feeling the paper of a good book and for the sensation of a soft fabric. One day, a butterfly came by and showed me the way…”

The beautiful brunette captured the audience immediately. No wonder as she used to be a well-known Danish actress. Today, she lives with Kasper Winding, who was previously married to Brigitte Nielsen, and their two kids in Paris.

Being a phenomenal artist, Simone creates original prints inspired by old book covers and transfers them onto accessories such as clutch bags, wallets and more.  Her romantic, vintage-inspired designs come with a very unique shape and style. To add to their sense of literary universe, Simone numbers her creations and gives them evocative poetic names such as “Mes Cartes À Jouer – May Good Fortune Find You”.

I found a lovely poem about her collection on her website. Please check it out, you can flip through the products similiar to pages in a book.

IDEA

Like all things of beauty,
this object that you now hold in your hands
began life as an idea.

The i.de.a. – from the Greek word for form or pattern –
begins in the mind.
Rubbing against our experiences, gaining in patina,
our ideas push upwards to find the light of day.

This Edition Poshette, a distillation of my ideas,
tastes and memories, is now yours…
Yours to cherish as a thing of beauty
on which to leave the marks
of your own prcious experience
and with which to live your own ideas
to the full.

Modestrom #110 carries a large selection of Edition Poshette along with many other fabulous pieces. And if the good fortune finds you, there will be nothing to keep you from shopping…
See you there!

LoL, Sandra

Beautiful display of Edition Poshette at Modestrom #110

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For all mums and kids around Zurich, good news:
There are two new shops in town waiting for you to be explored.

In Zurich-Seefeld, Gaby Knobel, owner of the well-known children’s shoe shop Lolipop, has expanded her range with a new shop just across the street. Now, in addition to the large shoe selection, she also offers beautiful clothes from Lilly Gaufrette, Diesel and Hackett among others for boys and girls aged 0-12 years old.

Lolipop Kids Fashion, Seefeldstr. 55, CH – 8008 Zurich, +41 43 211 95 85

_________________________________________________

Karin Grossenbacher knows her business well. After her huge success with Kids Design Lakeside in Thalwil, it was perfectly natural to open a store on the other side of the lake.
Now, she sells furniture and fashion (a large selection of D&G, Miss Grant and Moncler among others) also in Erlenbach. Don’t miss the generous basement to explore the latest trends for your child’s room while your little one enjoys sliding down the stairs. Karin and her team are waiting for you.

Lakeside Erlenbach, Seestr. 71, 8703 CH – Erlenbach, +41 44 722 1810.

A lot of tips and recommendations for families with kids offers the new Swiss online family magazine Familianistas. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I came for one night to Zurich to attend the opening of the new Navyboot flagship store on Bahnhofstrasse. The brand’s ambassador Top Formula 1 racing driver Michael Schumacher attended the party as well.

My outfit: Backless waistcoat and culottes by Stella McCartney, lace top by Prada, hand-painted cage sandals by Alexander McQueen, earrings and clutch by Chanel, ring by Dior and watch by Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

The new store on Bahnhofstrasse

Michael Schumacher with me

Impression of the after party at Kaufleuten

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Photopress

For the third year in a row, the world’s biggest after-hours shopping extravaganza will transform New York City and many other big cities into a shopper’s paradise. Last year, I went to London to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out, this year I will be in NYC. If you are there like me, I recommend getting the Fashion’s Night Out official app for iPhone and Android.

Whether you are headed uptown or down, Brooklyn or Queens, the new app will help you map out exactly where to go to find the hottest fashions, while mingling with your favourite designers, celebrities and industry insiders. You can shop the FNO collection on the go, and share your list of favourite events with your friends. Don’t miss out on being a part of the best fashion party ever and don’t forget to get your hands on the Chanel nail polishes.

Unfortunately, Zurich hasn’t participated in the fun yet, but this year Laurence Antiglio came up with an idea. Her shop Vestibule will celebrate its own Fashion’s Night Out with late shopping until 10.30pm, 10% discount that night and many more exciting things, like drinks and surprises by Aesop. A great way of exploring the new fall collections of designers like Thakoon, Tsumori Chisato, Rochas, Dolfie, Venessa Arizaga and Olympia Le Tan.

Cannot wait…

LoL, Sandra

My last week in Istanbul was truly magical. I was impressed by the kindness and friendliness of the Turkish people and how wonderful and vibrant the city is. Shopping was a hell of a lot of fun. If you are based in Zurich and would like to experience some Istanbul fashion wonders, I recommend the newly opened shop Myracle – The Boutique (Freyastr. 21, 8004 Zürich).
Meryem Yalcinöz, who is Swiss with Turkish roots, carries yound Turkish designers as well as established brands like Machka and Ipekyol. Some of the shoes and jewelry pieces are even exclusively made for Myracle.

In case that I have whetted your appetite for a trip to Istanbul, Meryem also offers customized concierge services, from hotel recommendations to insider tips concerning dining and nightlife.
With her help, you can experience the city like a local.

LoL, Sandra

Bex Manners with me

Yesterday, I was so happy to meet Bex Manners, the designer behind BEX ROX, the It-jewelry brand from London. She came to launch her beautiful collection with Lovers Lane who will exclusively carry the little treasures in Zurich.

If you are looking for a killer statement necklace, for deco inspired jewelry or for animal shaped rings, you will instantly fall in love with her creations. The entire range is bold and very unique, combining chain mail techniques with ancient Chinese knotting.

Since the launch of BEX ROX in 2006, the rise has been unbelievable. BEX ROX has not only done acclaimed collaborations with MADE Africa, and with Browns Focus, it has also been celebrated with the Coutts New Jewellers award 2009.

Please enjoy my interview with Bex Manners below. All the photos I took show the pieces that are available now at Lovers Lane.

Donkey Ring

You were raised in Menorca. What is your nationality? Your cultural background?

I am English but born and raised in Menorca- my mother is Austrian and my father is British but my soul is definitely Spanish!

How much has the lifestyle of the Balearic Island inspired your work?

I would say a great deal.  My collections are about a feeling, being a free spirit, youthful and colourful with a sexy undertone which for me sums up the Balearics…

Since when do you live in London? How do you like the city?

I’ve been living in London since 2007 –  I love it – it’s edgy, diverse and full of constant inspiration – people aren’t afraid to show off their style.

What is your favourite place on earth?

Right now my bed!!

Elephant Collar

How did you come with the idea of creating jewelry? What did you do before?

I was fashion stylist in NYC  and used to constantly make pieces for photo shoots and then would wear them afterwards- people in the streets kept stopping me to ask me where I’d got “that necklace” or “that bracelet” and I would literally sell them off my neck- et voila I started BEX ROX.

What is your most iconic piece? Your signature?

My Eivissa Cuff and the Natalie Ring are my most iconic pieces but then again I believe in my identity and make sure that every season screams BEX ROX.

Eivissa Cuff

Natalie Ring

Gold Tribe Pendant

I like your idea of a necklace that you can take apart with your magnetic clasp to get a bracelet and to be able to mix and match with other pieces so that the customer himself can become creative. Will this always be part of the collection?

Always.

What is your style advice? How would your perfect outfit with Bex Rox jewelry look like?

Walk out the door feeling all woman and believe in yourself, this way you’ll make anything work.

Do you only wear your own jewelry? If not, what else do you wear?

I also wear lots of vintage jewellery and pieces from other designers that are friends of mine.

Do you have a muse? Or an icon?

Most of my best friends are my muses!

Bex Manners in 3 words.

Individual, freckly and pretty temperamental ( but I suppose that comes with being a redhead! )

Where do you see yourself in the future? Will we see more BEX ROX, probably handbags or even clothes?

I have already started collaborating and creating but for now that would be telling.

Thank you, Bex!

And now ladies, run to Lovers Lane and get your Rox on!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

KUNSTHALLE ZÜRICH IM MUSEUM BÄRENGASSE
BRUCE CONNER
2. APRIL – 29. MAI 2011

Bruce Conner (1933 – 2008) was an American artist renowned for his work in assemblage, film, drawing, sculpture, painting, collage, and photography, among other disciplines.

Conner first attracted widespread attention with his moody, nylon-shrouded assemblages, complex amalgams of found objects such as women’s stockings, bicycle wheels, broken dolls, fur, fringe, costume jewelry, and candles, often combined with collaged or painted surfaces.

Bruce Conner and Dennis Hopper at the exhibition “The Dennis Hopper one man Show”

James Willis Gallery, San Francisco, 1973
© The Conner Family Trust, San Francisco, VBK, Wien, 2010

He also began making short movies in the late 1950s. Conner’s first and possibly most famous film was entitled A MOVIE (1958). He is said to be the pioneer for today’s MTV’s music clips.

Museum Bärengasse, Bärengasse 20-22,
 CH 8001 Zürich

Bruce Conner for Supervisior campaign poster, 1967. © The Conner Family Trust, San Francisco

One lady blended in perfectly.
I’ m wondering if Dolce & Gabbana seeked inspiration from Conner’s works Untitled (1976) and Untitled (1973) for their leo cardigan…

Two chameleons: Dorothea Mühlemann with me in front of an oeuvre by Bruce Conner.

Yesterday, I went to a ladies art luncheon to the the exhibition above. It was truly remarkable to see all those beautiful handbags the guests were carrying. You might have figured this out already, but I am a handbag addict and obviously I am not alone.

Hermès and Chanel models were spotted most, followed by Fendi’s Peekaboos. Enjoy the photos I took and stay tuned for tomorrow’s post that has a lot do with a woman’s obsession for handbags.

LoL, Sandra

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Chanel

Chanel

Chanel

Chanel

Fendi

Gucci

Chloé

Balenciaga

Miu Miu

Louis Vuitton

A sparkling gift from a good friend…

…and a vibrant catch from St. Tropez.
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht