Sandra‘s Closet

«You use the way you dress to give a message to someone else. So I don’t understand why sometimes it becomes so controversial.» – Franca Sozzani

She was much-loved, Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani passed away in Milan on Thursday after a year-long illness. She was only 66 years old.

Franca Sozzani in her home office in Milan.

Having led the magazine for 28 years, she has transformed Vogue Italia into a platform for honoring the power of the image and of photography. For me, she has always been an idol with her great style, the long wavy blond hair and her warm-hearted and elf-like appearance. She was very open, never shied away from pop culture, gifting Kim Kardashian her first Vogue appearance and defending fashion bloggers well before they were an established part of the industry.

Always smiling, never pretentious, Franca front row.

A modern woman, who combined motherhood and business. She was extremely close to her only son, Francesco Carrozzini, who in the final year of her life directed a well-respected documentary about her, which commentators described as a love letter between a mother and a child. He was at her side when she died.

With her beloved son Francesco Carrozzini.

The fashion world has lost an icon. RIP Franca – you will be missed!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Peter Lindbergh, © Angelo Pennetta for WSJ Magazine, © The Satorialist, © Bruce Weber for Vogue October 2016, © Vogue Italia

Famous for her provocations and rebellious flare, just like Roberto Cavalli, Nicki Minaj has a nonconformist spirit which she uses to inspire and amaze her audience. It is no coincidence that one of the most successful singles of the singer is titled «Anaconda», and the snake is one of the iconic symbols of Cavalli.

Snake necklace by Roberto Cavalli

“I chose Nicki Minaj because she embodies the exuberant and modern femininity of the Cavalli woman. In recent years we have become accustomed to women castigated in clothes that hide their body shapes. With this campaign, I wanted to send a strong countertrend message. I wanted a sensual woman who is aware of her body, who is not afraid to show her curves, rather she make them as a strength“, states Roberto Cavalli.

The campaign was shot in Los Angeles by photographer Francesco Carrozzini. Personally speaking, this is what I would call a perfect match.

TO SHOP ROBERTO CAVALLI, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roberto Cavalli
Photographer: Francesco Carrozzini, Hair Stylist: Brent Lawler @ Streeters, Make-up Artist: Mylah Morales @ Tracey Mattingly, Location: Siren Orange Studio – Los Angeles

The reason why I am in the Hamptons is the global press launch of Baume et Mercier’s newest addition to their watch family: The Hampton. Sandra’s Closet is one of the first ones to unveil this beautiful new creation.

Let me take you on a little trip to make you understand more about the idea behind the collection.

Baume et Mercier took inspiration from the Golden Twenties. It was the era of jazz, the emancipation of women like Marlene Dietrich and Louis Brooks and the spirit of the Great Gatsby. Most importantly, it was the beginning of leisure time. Recharging your batteries and the relaxed style of the Hamptons has transformed into a watch.

Alexandre Peraldi, Baume et Mercier’s Creative Director, had a myriad of models from the `20s, `30s and `40s to get inspired from.  The first Hampton collection had been launched in 1994 and today, it is celebrating its rebirth.

The new Hampton watch has a satine domed volume at 12 and 6 o`clock, an enhanced curve sapphire crystal and a curve case side at 3 and 9 o’ clock.

In different workshops, we learnt more about the design process which was very interesting. Below you can see some wax templates and first sketches.

Alexandre Peraldi got inspired by the Art Déco architecture that is emblematic for this period along with the amazing art community in the Hamptons. Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock were all part of this movement.
Below you can see the studio of the Pollock-Krasner house where one of the workshops took place.

Today, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the brand’s ambassador, Stella McCartney, Cindy Sherman enjoy their vacation homes in Long Island’s happening East End.

For the straps, Baume et Mercier invented a new technology to achieve different levels of softness. The alligator cannot grow too big in order to have the perfect size of the skin’s pattern. The animals mostly come from Louisana and Florida.

The production of the sapphire glass takes 10-25 minutes per step.

The Hampton’s range for women comes with a quartz movement, the gentlemen’s watches with a mechanical one.

The prices are affordable, a key aspect for Baume et Mercier. The core collection for men for example is around CHF 3000, the emblematic pieces retail between CHF 7700 -13000.

For lunch we experienced a truly beautiful scenery. We went to the Kennedy house located directly at the beach where the advertising campaign was shot.

Even our pictures were taken and transformed into little pieces of art.

Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini to the left with the beautiful Baldwin family that modeled for the campaign.

What a lovely day! Stay tuned for more to come and to see the final result of the new Hampton watch by Baume et Mercier.

LoL, Sandra

The recent edition of German Vogue is dedicated to womanhood. A good reason to show topmodel Claudia Schiffer during her last days of her third pregnancy. The beautiful blonde was photographed by Karl Lagerfeld and nine other famous photographers.

Moreover she is talking about her style favourites and beauty secrets. That she is a real “profashional” prove the paparazzi photos of her in London during her pregnancy. Always trendy and never without her Balenciaga patchwork bag.
Claudia- a complete artwork made in Germany.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Vogue