Blossom: Prada’s New Store Windows

Prada presents images created by Thomas Demand for the new window displays for its stores across the world, a radically beautiful and colourful sequence of blossoming cherry trees that celebrates the arrival of spring.

Hanami – which means ‘flower viewing’ – is the centuries-old Japanese art of enjoying the beauty of flowers. The cherry blossom season, a highpoint in the year, marks the end of winter and represents the youth, zest for life and emotion embodied by spring, a truly universal image and a powerful symbol of energy.

Spread seamlessly across the shop’s windows, Demand’s floral images, entitled Blossom, give rise to a vibrant narrative which, inserted into the real world, creates a new dialogue with passers-by in cities around the world.

This work fits perfectly into the German artist’s oeuvre, which has the concept of photography as a global language at its heart. Demand is known for making photographs of three-dimensional models that look like real images of rooms and other spaces, often sites loaded with social and political meanings. He thus describes himself not as a photographer, but as a conceptual artist for whom photography is an intrinsic part of his creative process. Having studied sculpture under Fritz Schwegler at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alongside Katharina Fritsch and Thomas Schütte, Demand began his career as a sculptor. In 1993, he began to use photography to record his elaborate, life-sized paper-and-cardboard constructions of actually or formerly existing environments and interior spaces, and soon started to create constructions for the sole purpose of photographing them. The photograph he takes of this model with a large-format-camera is the final stage of his work, and it is only this image, most often executed in an edition of six, that is exhibited unframed behind Plexiglas, not the models. On the contrary, Demand destroys his «life-size environments» after he has photographed them.

In this series for Prada, Demand once again rebuilds existing images and replaces them with an artificial version of themselves. In his collaboration with Prada, his work encounters and enters into a fruitful exchange with the world of fashion.

The installations, with a curved or box-shaped illuminated backdrop, are rounded off by steel display stands with a matte pink Perspex surface, or illuminated cylinders with the same floral pattern as the scenery.

Te display can be admired at Prada’s stores in New York, Milan, Paris, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Los Angeles and other selected cities starting this month.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada – © Thomas Demand

The Perfume Book

Here is your anti-gloom remedy, a cheerful interpretation to be creative. Meet the fun universe of SOLINOTES and their eaux de parfum that were specifically developed to be worn alone, or layered to create a unique signature scent. With a collection of 15 unique fragrances, a multitude of scented combinations can be created to suit your personality, style and mood. A simple concept which, like a fashion accessory, gives each woman the freedom to flaunt her own identity and express her femininity!

My favorite combination for summer: Tiare and Vanilla

How does it work?

1. Pick up two fragrances you would like to mix
2. Spray on your skin to associate the fragrances together
3. Enjoy your unique perfume

The Essentials: Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Tiare, Cherry Blossom
Floral Scents: Frangipani Flower, Jasmin Blossom, Iris Blossom, Fig Tree Blossom
Novelties: Pink Grafruit, Yuzu, White Tea, Pomegranate
Timeless Perfumes: Musk, Rose, Blackberry

To get off to a faultless start, I recommend to spice up a floral bouquet with citrus, or to mix a fruit note with vanilla.

In Switzerland, the collection is exclusively available at Manor for CHF 15.90 (50ml) and CHF 9.90 (15ml) each. Create your own perfume book and write a new chapter each day depending on your mood!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Solinotes, © Sandra Bauknecht

My Look: Cherry Blossom

Here is my outfit that I wore to the Gruner + Jahr Spa Awards in Baden-Baden. The photos were taken in the beautiful park of Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa where the cherry blossom trees were stunningly blooming going hand in hand with the arrival of spring.

My look: Off-the-shoulder ruffled silk-georgette dressicon by Giambattista Valli, Cassandre small suede shoulder bagBianca leather sandals, and python embossed leather belt, all by Saint Laurent, pearl earrings by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dolce & Gabbana Takes Couture to Tokyo

Yesterday, Dolce & Gabbana showed their S/S 2017 haute couture «Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria» show at the Tokyo National Museum in Japan. It is cherry blossom, so-called sakura season at the moment and who has ever been during that time to Tokyo knows how beautiful it is to see this national icon of the Asian country. I have been there many years ago and love to indulge in those memories of pink petals plastering the streets.

Of course, there was an in-bloom cherry tree on the runway when the designer duo presented their almost 100 looks for both, men and women, to an audience of mostly local clients and other guests from all over the world.

Contrary to other shows that Dolce & Gabbana hosted, the models came mostly from Japan, a way of showing respect, which is the backbone of this Asian culture. After the show, the designers shook hands with their guests, another important gesture as for the Japanese, every person has a role to play towards the collective. It is always about «we», never about «me».

The collection was of course very much inspired by Japan, beautifully embellished and embroidered, something Dolce & Gabbana stands for. There were headpieces designed as branches of a cherry blossom tree or hand-painted floral motifs on lace. Just beautiful – have a look at the video below where you can get a great impression of this Italian artwork in Japan!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana, © Luke Leitch / Vogue