Sandra‘s Closet

Let me show you my favourite collection for the new season: VALENTINO. Watching this runway show in Paris along with celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Nicole Richie, my heart was beating faster and I was thinking: those pieces have to find a way into my closet!

Inspired by the paintings of Flemish Old Masters (Vermeer in particular), Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli‘s latest collection is absolutely exquisite.

Of course, punk is the trend of the season, but my heart beats for those little white collars and the amazing feminine dresses. The outstanding embellishments are blended with materials: carpet textures, embroidery inspired by Delft ceramics, and chiné and jacquard motifs that reproduce them on knitwear.

And to live my grunge moment, I will invest in the famed rockstud accessories to match.

Valentino’s ad campaign for F/W 2013 was shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and shows how fashion meets art in perfection: striking portraits set against ornate still life images of flowers, food and accessories.

Framed by the lovely designer duo, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

I was so happy to visit the Valentino showroom the next day after the show to explore this amazing collection up close. The moment I saw and felt the details, the outstanding craftsmanship and beautiful designs, I have been even more in love with the collection, if that is anyway possible… Great news is that most of the pieces are hitting the stores now.

To shop, just click on the highlighted text below! Have fun!

LoL, Sandra

Leather-trimmed wool-blend dress

Tapestry-lace mini dress

Beaded tulle-detailed wool and cashmere-blend sweater

Intarsia stretch-knit dress

Embroidered plastron bonded nappa leather dress

Scalloped wool and silk-blend coat

Beaded tulle and wool-blend crepe mini dress

Patent-leather and velvet T-bar pumps

Patent-leather and velvet T-bar pumps

Rockstud mink and leather clutch

The Rockstud leather trapeze bag

Rockstud Rouge pumps

Runway and ad campaign photos: Courtesy of Valentino, all other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Most of you know that I am a Louis Vuitton aficionado. Therefore I am always looking forward to the LV show that with its beautiful stunning decor surprises each season. Yesterday, it was a gigantic carrousel with models riding on it in pastel-coloured clothes, leaving quite another impression after Marc’s fetish-like creations for F/W 2011.

The S/S 2012 collection is sweet, full of rich details and materials, from matte crocodile jackets, coats and skirts to laser-cut tops and 3-D floral embellishments and plastic paillettes. I am completely taken by the tweed fabrics that are adorned with marabou feathers. The craftmanship that went into this collection is truly outstanding.

The last look was presented by Kate Moss, same as last season. But instead having her smoke on the runway in hot pants, she appeared in a light white floral dress like an innocent bride. I was wondering if she might be pregnant. Rumours are going around those days, same as the fashion crowd is wondering if Marc Jacobs will leave for Dior. The Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 collection looked like a slight approach. Let’s see in which direction fashion’s merry-go-round will be turning…

Below you can see some photos of the front row action!

LoL, Sandra

Caroline Sieber, Claire Courtin Clarins, Antoine Arnault, Virginie Courtin Clarins

Dasha Zhukova, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld, Marie-Amélie Sauvé, Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Peter Marino

Natalia Vodianova, Uma Thurman

Best friends: Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss

Alexa Chung in a Louis Vuitton dress from the F/W 2011 collection.

Simone Harouche, L.A.-born stylist and globetrotter, is the mastermind behind Hollywood`s new must-have accessory label: Simone Camille. The colourful unique patchwork bags are handmade and comprised of vintage textiles that come from all over the world. She acquired a one-of-a-kind material collection during her years of travelling as a wardrobe stylist that inspired her to make a bohemian carryall for herself.

The hype started in 2009 after Nicole Richie was so taken by Simone`s creation and wanted one for herself. The rest is handbag history.

The amazing hippie bags with beautiful embroideries and embellishments like mirrors, beads and light-catching coins have been spotted on many celeb shoulders. Available from today at www.net-a-porter.com retailing between $1155.- – $1885.-. Quite expensive for something that you might find on the markets in Ibiza, but believe me the details and craftsmanship are worth every penny.

Add a touch of exotic to your wardrobe and make a gypset statement!

LoL, Sandra

Yesterday I showed you the first sketches of the Gucci Kids collection that will make the hearts of the tiniest trendsetters leap with joy. I am at the moment in L.A. and this might have inspired me to today`s post. Celebrity offspring following in their parents` stylish footsteps is seen here everywhere. Photographed by trendhunters, the kids have an already well-established look like their style-icon mums and dads.

With Suri Cruise leading the way at the ripe old age of 4, who would have thought the little girl that newly born already graced the cover of Vanity Fair magazine would become such a fashion superstar?! There are blogs devoted to her style, designers send her presents (remember Ferragamo`s Sofia tote) and it might be only a matter of time before Hermès creates the “Suri” bag. You can argue about the „high heels“ she is wearing but the mini fashionista definitely rocks the Burberry check and ballet tutus. Malicious gossip has it that she is pushed by her parents. Regardless of the veracity or otherwise of that account, I can assure you that my love for fashion started very very young, too. I drove my mum crazy with my strong attitude towards my own style.

The little fashion icons also play a pivotal role in the advertising concepts of their actress-designer-mums that mostly have their own fashion lines. Doesn`t Suri looks adorable in her mum`s Holmes & Yang dresses?

Or let`s look at No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani who designs the stylish L.A.M.B. collection and dresses her son in the subsequent line for little L.A.M.B.s.

Ex Beverly Hills 90210 star Tori Spelling has turned her style into a clothing line for kids age 0 up to 4 years named Little Maven. The mother of two also wrote a book about fashionable motherhood.

Another book author is Nicole Richie whose second novel “Priceless“ will be in stores this fall. She is probably the most experienced and successful designer of all these fashionable mums. Her two lines are named after her daughter`s three names: The accessories and shoe collection is called House of Harlow 1960 and the clothing line Winter Kate. Nicole has a great vintage inspired boho-chic style with a modern edge. She also got a lot of credit for her maternity line that she created in collaboration with A Pea in the Pod.

That the tiny trendsetters can become grown-up “Material Girls” shows the example of Madonna`s thirteen-year-old daughter Lourdes Leon who is co-designing with her mum a juniors clothing line named after Madonna`s 1984 hit song for Fall 2010.  It is a mix of fierce and cute elements with a lot of references to the singers former look like a tutu dress paired with studded combat boots. The Material Girl collection will be sold exclusively at Macy`s for back-to-school-season starting August 3rd.

LoL, Sandra