Sandra‘s Closet

Each year, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the Met Gala, the fashion event of the season and the party of the year, to celebrate the newest the exhibition. This spring, it will be about PUNK: Chaos to Couture, on view from May 9 through August 14, 2013, will examine punk’s impact on high fashion from the movement’s birth in the 1970s through its continuing influence today. “Since its origins, punk has had an incendiary influence on fashion,” said Andrew Bolton, Curator in The Costume Institute. “Although punk’s democracy stands in opposition to fashion’s autocracy, designers continue to appropriate punk’s aesthetic vocabulary to capture its youthful rebelliousness and aggressive forcefulness.”

If you want to find out more about the exhibition, please click here.

Enjoy the best looks from the red carpet of the Costume Institute Benefit last Monday. On top, you can see Sarah Jessica Parker who took the night’s punk theme to heart, and went for this stunning Giles Deacon dress, combined with a Philip Treacy punk hat and plaid Christian Louboutin boots. Madonna understood the invitation well and showed up in Givenchy.

Anne Hathaway had the most surprising look with her bleached blond hair which I loved. Of course, the vintage Valentino gown was the perfect match.

And here is an amazing opportunity, you can PRE-ORDER those extremely sexy couture red carpet looks (all F/W 2013) below directly now for seven days. How cool is that?! Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.

Emma Watson in a matte black crepe crossover tie strap gown with high slit by Prabal Gurung.

Kate Bosworth in a short body-conscious dress with 3/4-length sleeves and diamond embroideries on pink lurex jacquard by Balmain Atelier.

Anja Rubik in a lambskin and macrame dress by Anthony Vaccarello.

Gisèle Bündchen in a bonded crepe and macrame one sleeve halter dress by Anthony Vaccarello.

Taylor Swift in a black silk crepe gown with black lace inserts, black chiffon sunburst pleated back and silver-gold embroidered crystal neckline by J.Mendel.

Kate Mara in a short dress with woolen crepe base, heart-shaped neckline and architectural modules by Delpozo.

Christina Ricci in a turquoise silk taffeta McAndrew tartan corset gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture.

And don’t miss Moda Operandi’s amazing punk pop-up store where you can find all those  must-have pieces. Mmh, Hedi Slimane was obviously not so wrong with his F/W 2103 collection…

LoL, Sandra

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Valentine’s Day is coming up soon and you might be looking for the perfect outfit to wear on a romantic date. Amanda Seyfried looked pretty amazing at the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala in Los Angeles sporting a scarlet red bodice dress from Prabal Gurung’s Resort 2013 collection combined with trendy metallic accessories. A look that would prove your style prowess and that is in stores now.

Mesh-trimmed silk and cotton-blend satin dress by Prabal Gurung, Pearce metal and Perspex octagonal clutch by Kotur and Biel leather wedge pumps by Jimmy Choo.

Happy Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

While we are getting our wardrobe ready for the upcoming winter, designers are already showing their S/S 2013 collections. Here is a summary of the most important collections and trends seen at New York Fashion Week. Stay tuned as a detailed report from London, Milan and Paris will follow soon.

In New York, stripes were having a moment this S/S 2013 season. From Marc Jacobs, to Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, the American majors are getting in line to consider a fashionable life behind bars. Floral patterns and digital prints stay for the next summer, the best ones were seen at Altuzarra and Thakoon. Layering is all about getting this slouchy chic style. My favourite: Prabal Gurung. A must for summer is a pair of strappy, knee-high summer boots, such as spotted at Proenza Schouler.

Enjoy my little runway reviews!

LoL, Sandra

Joseph Altuzarra came up with a clever way to transform a jacket into a more airy piece by using vents for your arms like a cape, so that the jacket stays in place on your shoulders, even so it comes with sleeves. “It’s how editors wear their coats,” he said of the genesis of the idea to the US Vogue. The draped dresses, the interesting prints and the knee-high Gianvito Rossi for Altuzarra sandals make it my favourite NYFW runway collection.

I love this Oscar de la Renta collection. Punk hair, combined with a ’50s silhouette and pop colors. So much fun and sophistication!

After four years in business, Victoria Beckham’s designs have evolved. The iconic sheath dresses have got company, separates and suits are now part of her collection as well.

Stylists, editors and bloggers have been buzzing about Rodarte continuously. The eccentric designs of the Mulleavy sisters are truly outstanding. For the next season, the précis described Kate’s and Laura’s inspiration as “medieval and fantasy role-playing games”. Please reserve one of those fashionable armors for me!

Alexander Wang’s runway show for S/S 2013 was ultra-strong with cut-out dresses and footwear to die for. The audience was kindly asked to remain from flash photography which was wishful thinking because when the lights were dimmed down to reveal white looks glowing in an ecclectic shade of yellow, people took their cameras to share this magic moment.

Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez have a young and visionary approach to fashion. This season, they have experimented with leather and print. Very interesting, you have to study the outfit to see all the innovative details.

Viva Espagña! For Ralph Lauren, the next season is all about Matador suits, serapes, ruffles and fringes. Especially, his gowns will be loved by celebrities all around the globe. Olé, fashionistas!

Very preppy, lots of stripes and the four basic colours, this was Michael Kors‘ recipe for his S/S 2013 collection. A subtle ’60s vibe and clean tailoring finished the sophisticated looks. Not new, but very wearable and very American.

Another true prep is, of course, Tommy Hilfiger, who celebrated stripes with a collegiate beat in the all-American shades of red, blue and white. A must for those who are spending their summers in the Hamptons.

The bold spirit that Marc Jacobs had been pushing for fall, has transformed into a more calm and artistic vibe. Lots of black and white stripes and wearable cuts, a wind of change is blowing at the American designer, at least for this season.

Thakoon Panichgul has been inspired obviously by an architectural Japanese feeling. Beautiful blooming floral designs and bird prints dominated this feminine collection. So pretty!

This season, Prabal Gurung channeled Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor. Layering was a key element, such as dresses worn over pants. The Kapoor inspiration was also evident in the extraordinary prints and delicate sheer fabrics.

It was Sophia Kokosalaki’s last collection for Diesel Black Gold, and probably her best. I truly like this 90’s aesthetic, cool, contemporary with an interesting twist. Her successor, Andreas Melbostad, the former Phi designer, is now in charge to bring the label to the next level.

David Neville and Marcus Wainwright, the designer duo behind Rag & Bone, showed their refreshing collection at New York’s dramatical and beautiful old US Post Office building, a gorgeous backdrop. The inspiration: A desert traveler.

Reed Krakoff is the new king of intellectual minimalism with a very sexy twist. Strong and sportif, he used a colour palette of nudes, browns and blacks. Those see-through deconstructed dresses will be seen on many editors, for sure.

Edun, the beloved fashion label, run by Irish rocker Bono and his wife Ali Hewson, is based on the commitment to encourage trade in Africa. For S/S 2013 the collection is about the contrasting worlds of the Edun girl – intimate and extroverted, utilitarian and outerworldly.

Personally speaking, the most stunning evening and bridal wear for S/S 2013 is designed by Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig. Last week, they announced that they had designed Blake Lively’s wedding gown and her bridesmaids’ dresses. For summer, they take their fans on a stunning journey through India by way of maharani’s wardrobe with the bridal motif certainly at the forefront.

Zac Posen focused on gowns and a ’40s silhouette. The biggest surprise happened on the runway, supermodels Naomi Campbell, Angela Lindvall and Karolina Kurkova walked in his show.

The S/S 2012 collections deliver us explosions of prints and ladies, get ready to throw any sort of caution to the wind. Your summer pants should be all about wild prints in bold colours, in cuts from slim to palazzo. 
Here are the best ones to shop at the moment, directly from the runway:

1 Printed stretch-silk straight-leg pants by Roberto Cavalli
2 Paisley-print silk pants by Stella McCartney
3 Printed wool and silk-blend straight-leg pants by Prabal Gurung

In the the ’80′s wearing floral print trousers was absolutely trendy. This summer, the floral fashion legacy is leading the runways and the streets. Designers plunged into a garden of Eden and have started to infiltrate our wardrobes with the most beautiful flowers.

1 Floral print cropped pants by H&M
2 Printed silk crepe de chine tapered pants by Gucci
3 Printed silk straight-leg pants by Tucker
4 Floral cotton pants by Céline

During fashion weeks, silk print pants have already been seen on the most stylish fashionistas all around the globe. Punchy prints rendezvous with standout shades this season.

1 Printed satin-jersey harem pants by Balmain
2 Sequin-print silk tapered pants by Lanvin
3 Pressage floral-print twill tapered pants by Sandro
4 Printed stretch silk crepe de chine pants by DKNY

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tommy Ton, net-à-porter and style.com

Good news for S/S 2012, everything’s coming up roses (and orchids, and daffodils, and daisies). Head to toe floral prints are one of the season’s biggest trends and were seen all over the runways.

My all-time favourite Mary Katrantzou who is known for her bold prints and vivid colors, showed this trend in perfection, flowers and print – the perfect combination of her strengths. Her runway was divided by a field of carnations. Please click here for the previous post.

Take a peek at the most fun garden party of the season! Floral prints, extreme edition!

The colours range from fabulous bright colours reminiscent of a tropical vacation to soft neutrals and stunning pastels. Lilac and light green are among summer’s favourites.

As if the floral prints weren’t enough, the designers went and attached 3-D flowers and embellishments to the fabrics. A season’s must! Best collection: Louis Vuitton!

I’m betting it won’t be long before a style icon like Alexa Chung is spotted in this cool Chloé or Prada outfit!

If you didn’t think you could wear a head to toe look printed with multi-coloured florals and still look cool, Erdem just proved you totally wrong.

From the necklace, to the shoes, to the bags, to the earrings, this S/S 2012 trend is a complete floral explosion!
Stay tuned for more to complement this look…

LoL, Sandra

Fashionistas lining up in front of the Chanel store to get…

…a free manicure…

…with the three gorgeous shades of Les Jeans de Chanel.

I took the three bottles home, yippie!

Estée Lauder’s face since 2007: Stunning Hilary Rhoda.

A little warm-up for me for my upcoming interview with Estée Lauder’s Global Creative Director Tom Pecheux on Sunday.

Two Estée Lauder spokeswomen: Liu Wen talking to Constance Jablonski.

Gorgeous presentation of Jo Malone’s new scent: Wild Bluebell.

Hair guru Frédéric Fekkai

Lydia Hearst

Supermodel Doutzen Kroes…

…doing graffiti with designer Christian Cota.

Open your eyes, it is him…

…me with designer Prabal Gurung.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The catwalks were a riot of dazzling brights this season, worn in boldly clashing combinations. Colour blocking is ultrahip! It means combining two, three or more bold colours together to create a graphic look through the different shades.

The trend has started already a few seasons ago but has definetely reached its peak this summer. Raf Simons is among the forerunners with his beautiful S/S 2011 collection for Jil Sander.

Loud and proud colour combinations make for a dynamic, confident look. Start infusing your wardrobe with a colourful vibrancy for the ultimate warm weather feeling.

Some rules that might help you:

1. Three is the magic number. More colours together could make you look like a Rubic cube.

2. Don’t be afraid to combine colours you usually wouldn’t wear together like red and pink for example.

3. Opt for the bold bright colours, this trend works best with the most vivid shades.

4. Keep the rest simple. Never attempt to introduce prints or patterns.

Get your colour splash!

LoL, Sandra

On the S/S 2011 runways, there was an Yves Saint Laurent mood in the air. Many designers got inspired by the late master of colour and the father of the trouser suit.

Yves Saint Laurent

The reason for this was probably the beautiful first posthumous retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent’s career with an exhibition of over 300 garments that took place last year at the Petit Palais museum in Paris. On display were his creations from his debut at Dior in 1958 up to the sumptuous evening dresses of 2002.

In 40 years of being a fashion designer, YSL revolutionized the female wardrobe by borrowing the tuxedo, the trouser suit and the safari jacket from men’s clothing in order to dress women, thereby transferring the symbols of power from one sex to another.

In 1961 Yves Saint Laurent decided to create his couture house. Just under 50 years ago, in January 1962, at the age of 26, he created a cultural shockwave by opening his first haute couture show with a caban jacket and trouser ensemble directly inspired by a fisherman’s pea coat.

The era in particular that was referenced for S/S 2011 was the 1970’s when Saint Laurent spent a tremendous amount of time at his second home in Marakkesh in his beautiful Majorelle botanical gardens. While being there he was greatly influenced by traditional Morrocan dressing and the gardens. His ashes were scattered there when he died in 2008.

I am in love with all those collections that are paying tribute to one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th century and took the runways by storm. Therefore I put some collages for you together. I included photos of the exhibition of his previous creations to demonstrate the versatile references.

Enjoy this feast for the eyes.

LoL, Sandra