Sandra‘s Closet

I still owe you my report of the third and fourth night of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich. Friday was dedicated to the Swiss Designers which might be interesting especially for my foreign readers to see what the small country I am living in has to offer!

Personally speaking, we have some young designers that are making some fabulous fashion. The only thing during the presentation that I didn’t like was the slowness of the models. Due to that, the energy was missing. But luckily you cannot see that in the photos, enjoy:

Young students at the Fashion Institute at Donghua University in Shanghai have joined forces with one of the main sponsors, Oerlikon, to design an innovative collection using unusual fabrics produced with the help of the traditional Swiss company’s machines. They named their label Wensibo. Avant-garde fashion mixed with a little Alexander McQueen and spiced up with futuristic elements.

Javier Reyes, who grew up in Mexico, was inspired by the desert as well as daily urban life for his very feminine S/S 2013 collection. Very wearable and contemporary.

Sabine Portenier and Evelyne Roth founded their eponymous label, Portenier Roth, in 2007. Once a year, they are presenting a collection that includes elements of all seasons.

Kazu Huggler is one of my favourite Swiss designers. During the MBFDZ, she presented her 10th anniversary couture collection that was inspired by the beauty of nature and its metamorphosis. Her designs are influenced by her Asian origin which adds a certain unseen uniqueness.

The last show was presented by Little Black Dress and absolutely the most beautiful collection of the event of the third night. Joanna Skoczylas and Eliane Diethelm‘s LBD White label is dedicated to bridal wear and just beautiful. Congrats!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

From the 7th to the 10th of November 2012, Switzerland celebrates for the third time the ZURICH FASHION DAYS, this year for the first year under the helmet of a famous sponsor: Mercedes-Benz and at the trendy location “Schiffbau” in Zurich West.

With numerous side events and runway shows of national and international acclaimed designers, it will surely be a lot of fun. Follow me on Sandra’s Closet to always stay up to date with the program. The Zurich Fashion Days offer a unique opportunity for fashion lovers: Tickets to the fashion shows are available for sale. To get yours, please click here.

Here is a brief summary of what is coming up:

Wednesday, 7th of November 2012

Mercedes-Benz Opening Night
“An Homage to Design and Desire”

Runway Shows: MSGM di Massimo Giorgetti, Marco de Vincenzo, Mila Schön, Angelos Bratis
Music: Pegasus

Thursday, 8th of November 2012

annabelle award 2012 presented by Paul Mitchell
“An Homage to the Youth”

Runway shows: Claudia Zuber, Laend Phuengkit, van Bery
Runway Show: Barbara Bui/ Paris

Barbara Bui is coming to Zurich! The Parisian designer will be choosing the 9th winner of the annabelle award and show her collection on the runway of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich.

Friday, 9th of November 2012

Swiss Designers Show presented by Oerlikon
“An Homage to Diversity”

Special: Fibers & Yarns Award
Runway Show: Portenier Roth, Marc Stone, LBD White, Javier Reyes, KAZU

Official After Show Party: Radio 24 FridayNite, Kaufleuten

Four official languages and numerous different cultural regions are characteristic for Switzerland. This will also be visible on Friday evening when “an homage to diversity” is the motto. There will be various designers from different Swiss regions, who partially also manufacture their collection locally – something that has become relatively rare nowadays. Fashion from Switzerland for the whole world.

The collections will also be showcased the next day at the Swiss Designer Showroom. For more information, please click here.

Saturday, 10th of November 2012

International Closing Night
“An Homage to Glamour and Nightlife”

Runway Shows: Dawid Tomaszweski, Arzu Kaprol, Dimitri
Music: Kyla La Grange
Runway Show: Charlotte Ronson

Official After Show Party: Club Circuit Festival, Jade/Amber/Prive/Station

The closing night of the most important fashion event in Switzerland will end with the big closing party of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2012.

For all shopaholics, I have some great news. The Mercedes Benz Fashion Days will already kick off with on Tuesday evening with the Late Fashion Shopping Zurich event in cooperation with annabelle magazine and cool shopping maps. Around 40 shops will open their doors until 11pm and host special events, among them trend store Vestibule where you can create your own annabelle cover with the help of the egoshooting machine. The best one will win a CHF 1000.- shopping spree. All guests receive a 10% shopping discount during the event!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich, annabelle, Vestibule and © Sandra Bauknecht

“For the first time in my life I chose a man”, said Italian designer Roberto Cavalli when he proudly presented the winner of the 8th annabelle award last night in Zurich: 25-year-old Maxime Rappaz from Geneva. The young designer stood out with his innovative designs, the biggest eyecatcher: A bag that has its handels inside.

Each of the five young designers was asked to show two of their designs. Below you can see the creations of the other competitors who were all female. Maxime, the winner, has received a one-year internship with Roberto Cavalli in Florence.

Roberto Cavalli, who came directly from Japan, was completely jetlagged. I felt the same having just arrived from New York in the morning.
During the second night of the Fashion Days Zurich, he also presented his S/S 2012 Just Cavalli collection which I had seen already in Milan when I did the interview with him. The looks are powerful and if you like the style, you will be in love with these pieces. My favourite is the “Pocahontas” style dress with feathers worn by Leona Sigrist last night.

The evening was also dedicated to our national fashion designers. During the Swiss Fashion night, the well established labels Little Black Dress, Aziza Zina, Javier Reyes and Van Bery presented their collections. Please enjoy my photo coverage below. For more information on the designers, just click on the highlighted name.

Designers Joanna Skoczylas and Eliane Diethelm created a very colourful look for next summer even that the name of their label Little Black Dress suggests something else. But the classy and feminine approach paid a wonderful tribute to the iconic LBD.

Morena Gonzales and Moritz Stoll of AZIZA zina paid homage to the Roaring Twenties (as also seen on the Gucci S/S 2012 catwalk). Some of the looks were reminiscent of Giorgio Armani‘s beautiful forays into women’s suiting. Swiss model Anouk Manser convinced the audience in a pretty cool turquoise dress.

Javier Reyes presented a well-crafted, beautiful collection, very wearable and feminine. Absolute eyecatchers were the fabrics that the Mexican-born designer chose for his S/S 2012 designs.

Van Bery is the label created by Berivan Meyer in association with Marie Tournant. Their joyful looks for S/S 2012 were colourful and sweet but not as strong as the other collections presented last night.

Below you can see some more impressions! Have fun! I am on my way to the Mercedes Benz Fashion Show…

LoL, Sandra

Lisa Feldmann, editor-in-chief of annabelle magazine, in Just Cavalli and killer heels…

…by Barbara Bui.

Me front row…truly loving the attention…

My look: Dress by Antonio Berardi, boots by Givenchy, bag by Céline and earrings by Chanel.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht