My avid readers know how much I love fashion and that I keep all my things as everything has its time to be worn again. I truly take good care of every single piece, for example I am stuffing my bags and shoes at night, and I decide what to wear depending on the weather. Prolonging the life of your belongings is also key to reducing waste and our impact on the planet, but what do you do when your favourite shoes or investment handbag are past their best? Here is the solution. Founded by Vanessa Jacobs in 2015, the Restory’s London Atelier has become a leading innovator in luxury repairs and aftercare, giving your beloved items a new lease of life.
Starting with shoes, bags and leather goods, the team is dedicated to bringing the art of the craft and the convenience of technology right to your doorstep. By investing in the next generation of artisans who proactively seek out ways to find new techniques and solutions for those seemingly impossible problems, there is hope for almost every problem.
How does it work? Choose your preferred collection date and time through the online booking system, which is available for most of London and overnight anywhere else in the world. Whether sending your items in for cleaning, conditioning or re-heeling, they are carefully assessed first and an online quote is provided, with clients given the opportunity to then accept, query or decline the offer. Upon completion of the restoration, the items are returned beautifully packaged at a time and place convenient for you.
The Restory’s mission is to have you fall in love with your favourite pieces all over again while honoring our environment. Click here to see some amazing case studies. A circular fashion industry is one in which waste and pollution are designed out, products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. This is what I truly call sustainable. Bravo!
And personally speaking, it gives me peace to know that there is a place that can repair pieces that don’t look good anymore so that one day I can open my museum with everything collected over the past decades.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © The Restory
For Tara Ghazanfar dreams of quitting her day job became a reality in 2016 when the London-based, US-born designer launched her handbag line, Tara Zadeh – named, in part, for her mother’s maiden name. ‘Zadeh’ is a Persian suffix meaning ‘born of’ – a fitting label for the realisation of Tara’s long-imagined dream.
Her bags reflect her Iranian heritage – the geometric shapes and vibrant mosaics in the palaces and mosques of Tehran and Shiraz influence each collection. After her first designs were loved by friends and family, Ghazanfar began bringing her creations to life, using a factory in the small town of Ubrique, Spain to produce the handmade leather and brass accessories.
Before launching her brand, she graduated from Parsons the New School with a degree in graphic design, and worked as Art Director of The Gentleman’s Journal, a London based luxury magazine for men. She spent years sketching designs based on pieces gathered from souks and markets around the world.
Her signature piece, the Azar clutch, is easily recognisable thanks to its round silhouette and geometric brass fixtures and has certainly awakened our desire being featured all over Instagram.
TO SHOP TARA ZADEH ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Via Net-à-Porter, Browns, Tara Zadeh
@tarazadeh
For the past couple of seasons, niche bag brands have been on the rise. Hot new brand to know WANDLER is guaranteed to be a regular fixture on your Instagram feeds and in street style galleries. Amsterdam-based founder Elza Wandler wanted to create bags that are beautiful yet simple including her must-have trapeze-shaped ‘Hortensia’.
Pre-order now Wandler‘s Hortensia trapeze leather shoulder bag in cognac.
After launching in 2017, Wandler was picked up by many influential stockists including Net-à-Porter, MatchesFashion and Browns
. Towards BoF Elza Wandler said: «I think the brand has created a maturity around itself which has a certain luxury appeal attached to it that you don’t see with many contemporary bag brands. Personally, I’m not attracted to super clean, but equally I don’t gravitate towards a total Versace look. However, the mix of these two is what excites me and I don’t feel like you see that a lot in fashion today.»
Elza Wandler
Her fashion and branding studies at Amsterdam Fashion Institute provided Wandler with a solid foundation to balance design and commerce. «There I learned that the business doesn’t stop after you make a product. There is a lot that comes with it like branding, image-making and social media,» she continued. And I couldn’t agree more…
I am sure we will see a lot more of Wandler in the future…
LoL, Sandra
So beautiful: Pink Hortensia Mini Leather Shoulder Bag
Trending in pastel: Green Miles Leather Cross Body Bag
Photos: Courtesy of Wandler, © Leonardo Scotti
Attention lovers! Also in 2017, MIU MIU
introduces a capsule collection especially for Valentine’s Day. Pink and red, sparkling details, the offering draws on the playful juxtaposition of different elements. This quintessentially feminine collection will make the perfect gift!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu
To celebrate the launch of the KARL LAGERFELD global online women’s flagship store on karl.com, fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld and artnet are partnering for an exclusive auction of three one-of-a-kind handbags, each accompanied by its original sketch.
Designed by Karl Lagerfeld exclusively for the partnership, the unique bags have been expertly crafted by hand, while the rare sketches are coveted as pieces of art in and of themselves and are seldom made available for sale. These exclusive handbags and original sketches are currently live for bidding on artnet auctions through November 10, 2015.
Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly to the auction:
Karl Lagerfeld (German, b. 1933)
LE SPECTRE DE LA ROSE, 2015
Lot ID: 111355
Handbag and original sketch
Overall Size: 8.3 x 11 x 1.2 in. (21.08 x 27.94 x 3.05 cm.)
Framed Size: 17.1 x 21.1 x 1 in. (43.43 x 53.59 x 2.54 cm.)
Signed on the sketch along the bottom of the sheet
Karl Lagerfeld (German, b. 1933)
CITY BUTTERFLY, 2015
Lot ID: 111356
Handbag and original sketch
Overall Size: 9.8 x 13.8 x 4.3 in. (24.89 x 35.05 x 10.92 cm.)
Framed Size: 17.1 x 21.1 x 1 in. (43.43 x 53.59 x 2.54 cm.)
Signed on the sketch along the bottom of the sheet
Karl Lagerfeld (German, b. 1933)
CRESCENDO, 2015
Lot ID: 111357
Handbag and original sketch
Overall Size: 12.2 x 11.8 x 4.7 in. (30.99 x 29.97 x 11.94 cm.)
Framed Size: 17.1 x 21.1 x 1 in. (43.43 x 53.59 x 2.54 cm.)
Signed on the sketch along the bottom of the sheet
Karl Lagerfeld with Jacob Pabst, CEO of artnet.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld/Artnet
© Lisa Roze
Ladies, it is definitely time to get some new shoes and bags for the summer. This season, it will be hard to choose as the selection is huge.
As a little Valentine’s Day surprise in advance, I have an amazing offer for you, valid for two days (13-14 Feb 2014) only! You can earn a Gift Card up to $700 when you shop SHOES & HANDBAGS at Saks Fifth Avenue 
online. Use code SANDHB14 at checkout.
Spend $250 – $499 and get a $35 Gift Card
Spend $500 – $999 and get a $75 Gift Card
Spend $1,000 – $1,999 and get a $150 Gift Card
Spend $2,000 – $2,999 and get a $450 Gift Card
Spend $3,000+ and get a $700 Gift Card
Here are some of the most wanted S/S 2014 pieces available to shop or to pre-order:
1 Patent Leather Cat-Print Mary Jane Ballet Flats by Miu Miu
2 Shaggy Deer Pale Blue Camo Backpack by Stella McCartney
3 Embroidered Mesh Ankle Boots by Valentino
4 Makeup Face-Printed Saffiano Tote by Prada
5 Zig Zag Crystal Pumps by Nicholas Kirkwood
6 Louis Woman Studded Leather Wedge Sneakers by Christian Louboutin
7 Small Striped Sac De Jour Tote by Saint Laurent
8 Leather & Striped Snakeskin Ankle-Strap Sandals by Pierre Hardy
LoL, Sandra
MONNIER FRÈRES 
is your online shopping destination for the most beautiful bags and accessories. Dress up your looks with these amazing pieces on sale.
1 Plastron necklace by Valentino
2 Rossella bowling bag by Moschino
3 Eye shopper by Kenzo
4 Alice shoulder strap handbag by Chloé
5 Igo plexi bag by Shourouk
6 Union Jack clutch by Lulu Guinness
7 Rockstud cuff by Valentino
8 Vavavoom pony clutch by Valentino
Great news is that Sandra’s Closet readers get an EXTRA 10% off. Use one of these promo codes at checkout: SCMNFWW10 for worldwide, SCMNFFR10 for France, SCMNFDE10 for Germany and SCMNFIT10 for Italy.
LoL, Sandra
