Sandra‘s Closet

On Thursday evening, the Houses of CHANEL, FENDI (LVMH) and KARL LAGERFELD all came together at the Grand Palais in Paris to pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at a celebration designed, directed and staged by Robert Carsen.

The many facets of this extraordinary man were evoked through a tapestry of videos filmed throughout his life, interspersed with testimonials from people who knew him, as well as the generous «live» contributions of highly talented actors, musicians, dancers who interpreted some of the music and literature Karl loved so much.

Charlotte Casiraghi, H.R.H. Princess of Hanover, Andrea Casiraghi and Madame Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.

Actresses Tilda Swinton, Fanny Ardant, Cara Delevingne and Helen Mirren, friends of Karl Lagerfeld, recited and read excerpts from works by his favourite authors, such as Virginia Woolf, Stéphane Mallarmé, Colette and Edith Sitwell.

Pianist Lang Lang at Karl Forever at the Grand Palais in Paris.

The extraordinary Jookin dancer Lil Buck, the brilliant violinist Charlie Siem (who played Paganini, one of the favourite composers of Karl Lagerfeld’s mother Elizabeth), Argentinian choreographer German Cornejo, accompanied by his troupe of 17 tango dancers and his 7-piece orchestra from Buenos Aires (Carlos Gardel was Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite singer and the tango was his favourite dance), the celebrated pianist Lang Lang (who played Chopin on the grand piano designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the 150th anniversary of Steinway), and American artist Pharrell Williams were also on stage to pay homage to the man who had deeply marked them and who was their friend.

The Steinway designed by Karl Lagerfeld on display.

These artists – as well as the 2,500 guests present at the Grand Palais to celebrate Karl Lagerfeld – were immersed in a spectacular exhibition of 56 giant enlargements of portraits taken throughout his life by some of the most famous photographers in a setting designed by Robert Carsen, inspired by Karl’s favourite colours: black and white enhanced with a touch of red.

In turn, the participants also paid tribute to the aesthete, this man of culture, photographer, creator… in an exceptional moment as grand as his talent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld, © Luc Castel and Julio Piatti

First seen on the runway of the F/W 2019 ready-to-wear collection created by Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, CHANEL presents a new bag: the CHANEL 19. An important number for the House, an echo of famous creations, but also a birth year.

CHANEL 19 for 2019, a baptismal name that pays tribute to its elder, the 2.55 bag, created in February 1955 by Mademoiselle Chanel.

The CHANEL 19 bag bears the essence of the House and all of its codes. Available in three sizes, this rectangular flap bag is swathed with large diamond quilting on leather or on tweed. A metal chain interlaced with leather comes in a trio of finishes, its links passing successively from silver to aged gold to ruthenium. A signature of the CHANEL bags, it also features another code of recognition: the double C fastener, in an XL format on all the designs.

With an ultra-supple structure, the CHANEL 19 adopts a resolutely modern attitude: the length of its chain means it can be worn in two ways, straight or cross body. There’s also a large curb chain in gold metal to be held in the hand. A belt bag version allows the CHANEL 19 to be worn around the waist. A practicality in the pure spirit of CHANEL: natural, elegant and functional, appropriated according to one’s movements.

For its first season, the CHANEL 19 takes on the dominant colours of the F/W 2019 ready-to-wear: added to the leather in its timeless colours of black, beige and white are turquoise blue, green, deep red and dark pink, while the tweed comes in eight variations to match the silhouettes of the collection.

The CHANEL 19 bag weaves a veritable link between the past, the present and the future. Immediately identifiable but without ostentation, rich in detail with masculine/feminine accents, multiple ways of being worn, it is instantly seductive thanks to an allure that is both sophisticated and relaxed. The obvious way to carry it, combined with its elegant, practical and comfortable line make it a day-to-day companion. An ally to be taken everywhere, one that liberates movement, tout simplement.

Below you can enjoy a preview of the CHANEL 19 bags for Cruise 2020… so many beautiful options!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL – #handbagCHANEL19

In the mood for immediate boarding with CHANEL? For those who wish to discover LES EAUX DE CHANEL or travel with them by land, air or sea, the French Maison proposes an elegant set of the three eaux de toilettes PARIS-DEAUVILLE, PARIS BIARRITZ and PARIS-VENISE available in limited edition. Presented in 50ml bottles, they come with a jersey pouch bag and three postcards to send from one of your getaways.

PARIS-DEAUVILLE: essences of orange and basil, vivacious, elegant and
full of character.
PARIS-BIARRITZ: an invigorating scent like a splash of sea spray, bursting with top notes of grapefruit and mandarin, accompanied by a lily-of-thevalley accord.
PARIS-VENISE: a gentle vapor that brings the subtle promise of the Orient on the skin, through the presence of neroli softened by an ambery accord.

LES EAUX DE CHANEL Travel Set Limited Edition CHF 297.-
PARIS-DEAUVILLE Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-
PARIS-BIARRITZ Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-
PARIS-VENISE Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-

Available from the beginning of June 2019.

Yesterday, CHANEL‘s Cruise 2020 show took place in Paris and travel was very much on the Maison’s new artistic director Virginie Viard who wrote the next chapter in the history of the House that had been synonymous with Karl Lagerfeld for 36 years. Train tracks, but no train, the audience seated on wooden benches waiting to board the CHANEL Express. The ambiance, the invite, everything was more minimalistic than what we were used from Emperor Karl. Very cool though was the Belle Epoque café that carried the name «Le Riviera», reminiscent of CHANEL’s newest limited edition fragrance PARIS-RIVIERA, that resembled Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris.

Inside, guests were served a three-course lavish champagne lunch. CHANEL knows how to wet your appetite… enjoy the best looks below. A collection that I would call extremely beautiful yet not super exciting.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL, via Instagram @chanel 

A long-time friend of the House of CHANEL and of the late Karl Lagerfeld, Pharrell Williams has signed a CHANEL ready-to-wear and accessories capsule collection for the S/S 2019 season.

With a rainbow palette, Pharrell Williams has imagined a line in the colours of optimism. In the spirit of street art, the musician appends his signature and his writing in the form of CC, N°5 and Coco embroideries and graffitis on a hooded sweatshirt, an oversize shopper and white sneakers with mismatched laces.

The collection was launched first in Seoul’s newly opened CHANEL store on March 28, 2019.

Pharrell Williams performing at the opening party in Seoul.

The artist combines his name with that of the House of CHANEL – CHANEL-Pharrell – on block colour t-shirts, short and long robes, rhinestoned costume jewelry, leather belts, terry towelling bucket hats, hip packs in suede, loafers that also come as mules, as well as rectangular-shaped, shield and round glasses with a pop attitude.

The singer and songwriter also has fun sharing a memory, that of a bet he made with a friend about a future collaboration with CHANEL: we find this story printed on the back of a long-sleeve t-shirt that comes in eight different colours.

CHANEL-Pharrell, obvious assonances, a creative affinity: discover this collaboration exclusively now in certain CHANEL boutiques around the world.

Personally speaking I like it a lot. Nevertheless it seems not very «CHANEL» to me and reminds me somehow a little bit too much of Gucci … but every brand has to find a new way to navigate through the possible bumpy times ahead and to secure new customer groups. Especially that the emperor had to leave his kingdom… the wheel of fashion is turning fast and you have to be creative to survive. And let’s be honest, Coco Chanel was a trendsetter. It’s in the DNA of the Maison!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of © CHANEL
#CHANELPharrell

Happy 6oth Birthday, Barbie! Time flies…  Today, every passing minute sees more than 100 dolls sold worldwide, with 58 million sold every year. The iconic plastic doll has been a surgeon, a pilot, a singer and a president. She has been in a wheelchair and has a prosthetic leg. She’s been the Duchess of Cambridge, several characters in «Mad Men» and every member of Destiny’s Child.
But on her debut at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959, she was just a doll in a swimsuit and ponytail, with white sunglasses in her hand.

First Barbie in 1959

Barbie’s success has remained as she continues to reflect culture and the world girls see around them.
Her evolution has been crucial, but never was easy. Created by Ruth Handler, who owned the toy company Mattel with her husband Elliot. She was inspired by the paper dolls her daughter Barbara played with, as well as a German doll named Bild Lilli.

Did you know that the inspiration for Barbie came from German BILD Zeitung? A doll called Lilli that was created in 1955.

Immediately, Barbie had a lot of success. She was an «adult», different to the baby dolls of the time. By 1960, Barbie was gainfully employed, as either a nurse, fashion editor, or flight attendant. The next year, she had a boyfriend, Ken, and the year after that, her first car and a pink dream house.

Lately, new additions to the «Barbie Fashionistas» line included a doll using a wheelchair and another with a prosthetic leg. For International Women’s Day 2018, Mattel released a new batch of dolls based «real-life role models» (for the previous post, click here please), among them aviator Amelia Earhart and artist Frida Kahlo.

This year, more than 20 new «Sheroes» will be immortalized as Barbies: among them, supermodel and activist Adwoa Aboah, and gymnast Dipa Karmakar, the first female Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.

Me dressed in the Moschino x Barbie collection (for the post, click here).

Barbie did many designer collaborations such as an amazing shoe collection with Charlotte Olympia, was dressed by the likes of Moschino, Lagerfeld, or Christian Louboutin among others.

Margot Robbie will portray Barbie in upcoming movie about the child’s toy.

At 60 years old, Barbie stars in a Netflix series, «Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures,» and has almost 40 animated films to her name. In January, it was announced that Margot Robbie will play Barbie in a live-action movie. With 2 million followers on her instagram @barbiestyle, she’s one of of the big social media influencers and shares her outfits, and street-style shots.

I have been a Barbie fan since my early childhood and am proud of my pretty impressive collection. In my daughter’s old playroom, we still kept the Barbie corner. Happy Birthday, Barbie! Thanks to you, I feel sometimes like a little girl again…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Barbie and © Sandra Bauknecht 

For the first time ever, I did an interview together with my daughter for Swiss annabelle magazine. Over all these years, I tried to keep her out of the press and never showed her on my blog. Although she has been the one behind the camera, since I started my blog in 2009. Whenever it was possible, I took her with me on my business travels, to fashion shows or we interviewed designers such as Hilfiger or Lagerfeld.

Anouk with me at work: Meeting the Olsen Twins, Karl Lagerfeld and Tommy Hilfiger.

You would imagine she would love to follow in my footsteps, but you are completely mistaken. My girl is absolutely not impressed by the world of fashion as she has seen behind the curtains and knows it is in general not as glamorous as it seems. She dreams of studying psychology and acting in the US. I am very proud of her as she is one of the most grounded people I know. Being extremely responsible with her social media, she uses it only privately.

This diversity between us interested annabelle magazine. When Jacqueline Krause-Blouin, deputy editor-in-chief, approached us, it was important for me that Anouk took the decision herself. Now, being almost 17 years old, she saw it as an interesting project and we had a great conversation during the interview. The photos were taking by Pierluigi Macor and his assistant which ended up being a very fun afternoon.

TO READ THE INTERVIEW (IN GERMAN), CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Pierluigi Macor for annabelle, © Sandra Bauknecht

It feels like spring at the moment, happy moments with lots of sunshine that are only shadowed by the passing of my beloved Karl Lagerfeld. These photos were taken yesterday before I heard the news which is quite bizarre as he must have died while we took them. Wearing vintage pieces and his last Cruise 2019 collection with the name «La Pausa», that derives from Gabrielle Chanel‘s villa at the Côte d’Azur in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, I say once more farewell to one of the greatest designers in the world. Being German, I am proud to emphasize that a dear landsman went to Paris to leave such a mark on the world of fashion.

My look: «La Pausa» cashmere sweater, high waisted denim skirt (S/S 2016), cotton tweed white and black beret, metal and strass life buoy brooch, vintage striped logo 2way bag, all by CHANEL, and red leather Rockstud boots by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today is a very sad day for the world of fashion and also for myself. Karl Lagerfeld died in Paris at the age of 85. When I heard the news a few hours ago, I literally cried my eyes out.

«Trendy is the last stage before tacky.» – Karl Lagerfeld

For me Lagerfeld was a genius, without him the world of fashion would not be the same. He created collections simultaneously for CHANEL and FENDI (since 1965!), in addition to his signature label, at a pace without rival in the luxury industry. When I started looking at fashion magazines in the middle of the ’80s, he had just begun designing for CHANEL. Before that he had worked at BALMAIN, JEAN PATOU and CHLOÉ where he became successful with his feminine flowing party dresses, the latter he returned to once more in the ’90s before handing the reigns to Stella McCartney.

With Karl Lagerfeld in December 2014 in Salzburg.

When I turned 18, I wished for nothing else than a CHANEL costume. Whenever I met him or interviewed him, he impressed me by his intelligence, wittiness (I attached some of my favorite quotes in this post) and his way of working, which actually was very German. Just get the job done!

I asked him once how he seeks inspiration, he looked at me and said: «Forget inspiration, you sit down every day at your desk and work, half of the outcome is for the trash bin but the other half will work.» Another time, I wanted to know when he goes on holidays and he answered: «Holidays are only for employees.»

«If you are cheap. Nothing helps.» – Karl Lagerfeld

A shoot we did during my time at Marie Claire magazine with Barbara and Boris Becker photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, March 1999.

But my favorite story happened almost 20 years ago when I started my first job at Marie Claire magazine in Germany. My fashion director Florentine Pabst at that time was very close to Karl (and by the way also Jim Morrison‘s last girlfriend) It was probably my first week at the office and she explained to me that during her meeting her phone calls would be transferred to my phone. And most importantly if Karl called, I should let him know, that she will get back to him. I said: «Karl, who? The Karl?!» She smiled and replied: «Of course.»

«Sweatpants are a sign of defeat.» – Karl Lagerfeld

I didn’t leave my desk waiting eagerly for him to call. When he did, I gave him the message. The conversation was probably not longer than 30 seconds but I sat down at my desk with the biggest smile. My boss came back and asked me what happened. I grinned and said: «I am the happiest girl in the world. I just spoke to Karl Lagerfeld.» She laughed.

After half an hour, my phone rang again. It was my fashion director telling me somebody wanted to talk to me. It was no other than Karl Lagerfeld telling me: «I heard you enjoyed talking to me so much, so I thought I give you another call.» And this is how my love story started…

Another epic moment with Karl Lagerfeld in St Moritz in February 2013 at the opening of Fire Etchings at Galerie Gmurzynska.

«I think tattoos are horrible – it’s like living in a Pucci dress full-time.» – Karl Lagerfeld

 There is so much you could talk when you think of Karl Lagerfeld. He discovered Claudia Schiffer, was such a talented photographer himself and his ultimate success with CHANEL made the house one of the most important and prolific today. Thanks to Lagerfeld, the company also acquired many specialized French craft ateliers, like Lesage for embroidery, Lemarié for feathers and artificial flowers, Maison Michel for millinery, and Causse for glove making. This craftsmanship  was celebrated with lavish Métiers d’Art fashion shows as Paris – Bombay or Paris – Salzburg for example. The famous cruise collections took place in far destinations such as Dubai or Havana, Cuba, showing Lagerfeld’s way to making CHANEL even more prominent and desirable around the world.

Eric Pfrunder, Virginie Viard and Karl Lagerfeld

This January, Lagerfeld didn’t come to his Haute Couture presentation in Paris which was already a sign that the designer was not feeling well. Instead of him, Virginie Viard, the creative studio director, took the applause. It is more than likely that she will succeed Lagerfeld as CHANEL’s designer, supported by Eric Pfrunder, the house’s director of image.

«I am very much down to earth, just not this earth.» – Karl Lagerfeld

I could go on and on and will surely share with you more about my most magical moments I had with him. Rest in Peace Karl Lagerfeld –  your legend will live on, and not only in my closet!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld and © Sandra Bauknecht

On the bridge of the La Pausa liner last May, Karl Lagerfeld imagined a collection inspired by cruise ships. The silhouette is happy, thought out for travelling comfortably and with style, just as Gabrielle Chanel did. Onboard the Flying Cloud, the yacht belonging to the Duke of Westminster, the designer liked to wear simple outfits, fine knitwear, pleated skirts and low-heeled shoes fastened with a strap. In block colour or two-tone, Mademoiselle would also wear them ashore, most often with light knits and mid-length skirts.

Gabrielle Coco Chanel

These shoes feature regularly in Karl Lagerfeld’s Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture collections, each time in new previously unseen forms: precious or understated, with a single or double strap, flat or with a heel, according to the designer’s imagination.

For the Resort 2019 collection, Karl Lagerfeld reinvents them as «children’s party shoes» to punctuate the looks of the collection. Imagined in silver goatskin, in white calfskin or embellished with sequins, and perched on a little heel, this new version brings elegance and femininity to a shoe long associated with children’s wear.

With their rounded toe, they follow in the line of the ballerina, the emblematic CHANEL shoe. The designer has also created a casual-chic sportswear version with a rubber sneaker sole.

The Resort 2019 CHANEL collection will be in boutiques from November 2018.
Do you like these shoes? Personally speaking I am not so sure… .

LoL, Sandra

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Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL
#CHANELCruise

Today’s world offers so many chances for everyone. What seemed unbridgeable before, such as sportswear and evening attire, high and low fashion or even good or bad taste, has fully merged. People have the chance to show and spread their talents via social media.

Hey Reilly’s illustrations of Lagerfeld and Venturini Fendi are on display in Fendi’s store windows.

Here is a lucky punch that just took place in the world of fashion. One of the most hyped collaborations started with a direct message on Instagram when Silvia Venturini Fendi, the house’s creative director of accessories, menswear, and kids, first spotted @hey_reilly’s Fendi + Fila logo on the Instagram artist’s feed in February last year.

The Scottish creative is known for his tongue-in-cheek monikers. Together with Karl Lagerfeld, who designs Fendi’s womenswear line, Silvia took logomania to this new and exciting form this season. The mashup of Fendi and Fila’s iconic typefaces, a truly viral design, was teased at the F/W 2018 runway show and is now at the core of the Resort 2019 capsule collection.

From left to right: Kan I appliquéd leather shoulder bag and Kan I mini appliquéd leather shoulder bag.

Embroidered cotton-jersey hoodie

From left to right: Logo-embossed leather knee boots and the same version in black/yellow.

You can shop the limited edition pieces at NET-À-PORTER, MATCHESFASHION, and MYTHERESA. A little hint from my side, at Net-à-Porter the prices are for some pieces much cheaper than at the other stores.

I am crazy for these pieces and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fendi and via Instagram @hey_reilly