Breaking News: Raf Simons Joins Prada

Today, I received the breaking news that Raf Simons will join Prada starting April 2, 2020. Rumors had been out since quite some time and now it is official. The Belgium designer will join the Italian fashion house as co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada with equal responsibilities for creative input and decision-making. Their first runway presentation together will be for S/S 2021 in September 2020. «It’s a new wind,» said Miuccia Prada and I have to admit that I agree with Tim Blanks who wrote: «I cannot think of anything like this in the history of fashion

In 1978, Miuccia Prada inherited the label that was known for luggage making and transformed it into a global fashion brand with her creative designs. Prada has been a true trendsetter for decades, sometimes too fast thinking for the fashion world, she is often a few steps ahead of the game. Her iconic black nylon backpack launched in 1985 caused a real fashion frenzy and has been popular since then. In 1989 she added ready-to-wear to the offerings. Simons, who will continue to design his namesake menswear label, is the first designer from outside the Prada family to join the house since its inception.

Trendsetting: Prada S/S 2012 ad campaign photographed by Steven Meisel

Today at the Prada press conference, Simons announced: “Prada is a brand that I have been interested in my whole life. I cannot wait to express to all of you the dialogue I will have with Mrs Prada and her team. To be really honest, Mr Bertelli approached me right after my exit from Calvin Klein. Miuccia and I had a conversation about creativity in today’s fashion system. And it brought me to open dialogue with many designers, not just Mrs Prada. We have to re-look at how creativity can evolve in today’s fashion system.»

Power couple: Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada

Simons, who had worked with Prada and her husband Patrizio Bertelli before, when he was hired as creative director of Jil Sander in 2005. Prada had bought the German label and was looking for someone to fill the shoes of the namesake designer at that time. Simons’ seven-year tenure at the brand was an absolute success, and the Prada Group sold it to a London private equity firm in 2006.
Simons later worked at Dior and his latest venture was at Calvin Klein, where he was chief creative officer, and abruptly excited in December 2018.

Presented in Milan last Thursday: Miuccia Prada’s last single show for F/W 2020

Miuccia Prada has still a very strong view on fashion. Yet, it seems hard for her at the moment to translate this into sales. Rumors had been that the family is planning to sell to one of the big conglomerates. With the appointment of Simons, it seems that the Prada family will keep it a family business that also owns Miu Miu and Church’s.

Good luck, Raf!

They will have all my support – I have been collecting Prada pieces since a very young age and have always been very fond of the brand. Good luck to Raf, I am really excited to see what the two creative masterminds will come up with…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada and © Sandra Bauknecht

At Roberto Cavalli’s Gentlemen’s Club

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According to Tim Blanks, the ninth-floor penthouse, where Roberto Cavalli presented his F/W 2013 men’s collection Sunday night in Milan, once belonged to the Gucci who was gunned down by his wife. Overlooking the rooftops of Milan, the spectacular views were the perfect backdrop for the outstanding presentation. Daniele Cavalli, who has been at the helmet of the menswear arm since two years, had a vision and transformed the amazing flat into a gentlemen’s club in impressive colours of purple and burgundy.

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Instead of a fashion show, the collection was presented on mannequins, next to the photos and videos created by well-known photographer Rankin. I totally liked that approach as you could truly look at all the details of the looks and believe me, there were many.

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Precious fabrics, from crocodile-printed pony skin to all-over sequined embroideries, of course the uniqueness of a print, and Daniele’s strongest talent, the combination of all those eye-catching details (see all the photos below please).

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Daniele told me a little about his inspiration, that he used a teleidoscope, a kind of kaleidoscope, to create his very special prints, in form of kaleidoscopic patterns.

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So then, no fashion shows this season. The reason?
The runway and the long walk before the public and photographers enhances and highlights the spectacular nature of feminine seduction. The same does not apply to the male essence. On the contrary, this might be the motive behind the skepticism of many men towards fashion. This collection aims at celebrating male reality.

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Many famous journalists attended the event, among them Suzy Menkes

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… and Tim Blanks, who were both listening to Daniele’s vision.

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Eva Cavalli chatting with Tim Blanks

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Guests of the event were spoilt to all sorts of Cavalli Vodka drinks and enjoyed a musical performance of The Cyborgs. A fashion show that was more a fashion party in the world’s most stylish gentlemen’s club ever. Thumbs up!

Have fun looking at all the photos from the amazing night!

LoL, Sandra

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Photographer Rankin with Alex Postiglione

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Me at work in the kaleidoscopic room where the accessories were presented.

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Olivier Zahm (Purple magazine) with me
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

A Little Chat with Donatella Versace

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Tomorrow, the Versace for H&M collection will officially hit 300 stores worldwide (in the US on November 19th), so ladies and gentlemen be prepared to line up in the morning.

Last week in NYC, I got the pleasure to meet Donatella Versace and H&M’s creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch who sat down for a chat with Tim Blanks, Style.com’s editor-at-large, at the top floor of the Dream Downtown hotel.

Find out a little bit more about the collection and which one is Donatella’s favourite look. Believe it or not…Donatella even revealed that she likes shopping at H&M.

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What does this collaboration mean to you?

D.V.: It was very emotional for me to go through the archives to explore all the looks that Gianni created. It is an amazing way to reach the younger crowd. I am working closely with Lady Gaga or Nicki Menaj. It is great to collaborate with such dedicated artists who have so many followers. Gianni would be so proud to see his clothes worn by younger kids. This is an homage to Gianni.
I was scared to take over the reins from him when he died. I had to gain the credibility from the rest of the world.

 

Looking at your own shows, you are reenergized creatively. You are working with the Fringe London, Lady Gaga? Calling this a Versace moment, why do you think this was all coming together now?

D.V.: For me it is a fantasic moment. I talk and follow young designers. I am very interested in them and they are very interested in me. A house like Versace has a lot of history they can profit from but I am learning a lot, too. I am open to different opinions. Fashion is every day an exam. After all those years of minimalism, Versace and its luxury are back!

 

Margareta, did you feel a Versace moment as well?

M.v.d.B.: Yes, definitely. This is a different collaboration from what we did before with all those colours and prints, leather and studs. The essence of the house Versace was truly there.

 

Donatella, were you surprised when you went through your archives even that you know them well?

D.V.: I was amazed to see how Gianni did everything – I am sorry to say – before everybody else. I see a lot of homage to Versace today as for example young designer Riccardo Tisci did for the Givenchy F/W 2011 collection (looking at me as I was wearing a dress from this collection). But this is enough now. It is my turn, this is my homage to Versace!

 

Didn’t you have to make a concession?

D.V.: This was the best thing to work with H&M, there was no concession. There are fantastic people in this company. They said yes to everything, I never got a no. It has been a fantastic liberating moment. Just the amount of sketches surprised the team. 
31 looks were asked and I created 43 looks for the runway, from the chokers and the bracelets with the Medusa, flowers from Miami, printed jeans and skirts, leather, the high heels, nothing is missing.

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Margareta, what are the criteria for a collaboration? Isn’t H&M and Versace at two comletely different ends? And how do you get started?

M.v.d.B.: It is very much a feeling that we discuss in-house. If we agree, we go for it. We had the first meeting and talked about the collection. We decided something little. When the second meeting took place with the teams around the products, like buyers, people for the packaging and many others, I expected some sketches but Donatella had everything ready. It was fantastic as we always have a lack of time.

 

Margareta, you said the time was right for Versace, what do you mean with that?

M.v.d.B.: Fashion should be something that makes you happy. This collaboration is about a dream, to give people the spirit of luxury. We try to make it as close to the brand as possible. Maximalism, colours, prints, everything is back. It is an optimistic upbeat collection even that you see all the bad news in Europe.

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And how about you, Donatella? What do you think?

D.V.: It is a dream of luxury, for example when you touch the studded leather coat from the Versace for H&M collaboration or the original from the archives, you don’t know which one is the real one.

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What is this collaboration about? Which impact will the collection have on H&M or Versace? Will it change your own work?

D.V.: I had that clear idea what to do, of the look that young people want. Fashion is freedom today. Technology plays a fantastic role and H&M uses it in an amazing way. It is interesting to see how young people put things together and that everything goes.

M.v.d.B.: Fashion is about expressing your individuality. This collaboration is about giving the customers something new and showing that you don’t need a huge budget to look good. We are very professional and have all the knowledge. We included for the first time homewear because it is part of the Versace look, as well as jewelry. I mean there is no Versace collection without jewelry. We have two different cushions, a blanket and many different jewelry pieces.

 

Which one is your favourite piece in the collection?

D.V.: I have 43 favourite babies.

M.v.d.B.: The studded leather dress and the rings.

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If I were you, I would definitely get a piece with the tropical print as this is a huge trend among the upcoming Cruise 2012 collections from the likes of Stella McCartney, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Givenchy.

And don’t forget to enter the contest to win the amazing purple one-of-a-kind Versace for H&M dress! Deadline is tonight! Good luck!

And rumours are out that the next collaboration might be with Tom Ford, OMG!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Party-à-Porter

Dolce PartyNATALIE, DOMENICO, LATIFAH, NAOMI, STEFANONatalie Massenet, Stefano Gabbana, Queen Latifah, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce.

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Here we go: Party N°2!

I didn’t even have time to change after Matthew’s tropical night as I was running off to the next amazing event on Thursday night in London:
Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter celebrated the arrival of Dolce & Gabbana with a very intimate party “at home”.

It was literally a night of the stars (photo to the left: Queen Latifah with me), an A-list event with so many celebrities joining the fun and fashionistas wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s star-sprinkled F/W 2011 pieces.
Enjoy all the pics and comments from that memorable night!

Dolce & Gabbana collections are now available on Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter.

LoL, Sandra

P1010661My favourite fashion duo Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce with me.

P1010662Remember designer Henry Holland from LuisaViaRoma’s Animalier Party?!

Nap2Very sweet Mary Katrantzou remembered me and my Serendipity dress.

nap4The good thing about Twitter (it was livestreamed on a wall) is that you can find people easily…

nap5…like Disneyrollrgirl.

P1010664Emerging solo artist Sunday Girl Jade performed live in a star print jumpsuit by Dolce & Gabbana.

P1010658Natalie Massenet and Tim Blanks pose for their photo on the vintage Vespa mopeds.

IMG_6790My own picture postcard – such a lovely idea!

KELLY OSBOURNEKelly Osbourne

DAVID GANDYFamous Dolce & Gabbana model David Gandy

NATALIE MASSENET & JEREMY LANGMEADMr & Mrs Porter: Jeremy Langmead & Natalie Massenet

PIXIE GELDOFPixie Geldof

PIXIE LOTTPixie Lott

DOMENICO, NATALIE, NAOMI, STEFANOStefano Gabbana, Natalie Massenet, Naomi Campbell and Domenico Dolce

Photos: © Net-à-Porter / Mr Porter, © Sandra Bauknecht

Fruity Friday

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During Milan and Paris menswear S/S 2012 fashion weeks, the streets have been filled with people wearing all sorts of fruits. Prada’s bananas (especially loved by the stronger sex, Tim Blanks rocked the print) plus Stella’s lemons and oranges were  seen everywhere. Remember, I have warned you before that this might happen. Please click here for the previous post in February.

And with the EHEC virus going around, wearing vitamins seems a lot more healthier than consuming them.

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STREETFSNPhotos: © Tommy Ton, Streetfsn, Upscale

I love my fruits. Recently at the Lovers Lane party with Bex Rox, I wore my Stella McCartney citrusy print dress with my Prada bananas earrings. Python Palais shoes by YSL, necklace Bex Rox.

LoL, Sandra

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261350_10150654847415268_188271525267_18838190_1840507_nPhotos: © Kevin McHey

At the Stella McCartney F/W 2011 Show

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IMG_1292What a lovely morning. The sky was blue and the sun was shining when I went to the to see the Stella McCartney F/W 2011 show in the Paris Opera house. The collection was like the weather, just amazing, probably one of her best presentations.

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Me inside...

..sitting next to Tim Blanks from style.com.

..sitting next to Tim Blanks from style.com.

The fashionable crowd is waiting for...

The fashionable crowd is waiting for...

...the show to begin.

...the show to begin.

The first looks were sculptural pleated silhouettes in black and astro blue.

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Stella defined a new silhouette with broader shoulders borrowed from the menswear. She is always strong when it comes to tailoring. For winter, it will be masculine and exggerated. Her knitwear pieces were all about texture. I loved the gold foil felted wool in bold volumes.

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The show got better from piece to piece. Blue velvet was bonded with scuba stretch, introducing body contouring silhouettes. Those dresses are so sexy. 
Hand embroidered spots floated on transparent tulle. Separates were layered using different sizes of polka dots to graphic effect.

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Accessories echoed the collection, from stiletto pumps with gold foiled soles to flat masculine loafers and clutches made of hand cut resin with rounded brass details for evening. So beautiful!

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The Finale

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Look whom and what I spotted after the show:

Grace Coddington

Grace Coddington

Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo

Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo

Model Liya Kebede

Model Liya Kebede

Aline Weber in a Marc Jacobs jacket

Aline Weber in a Marc Jacobs jacket

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Suzy Menkes

Prada stripes

Prada stripes

Floor-sweeping fur at Stella, I am sure she wasn't happy about that!

Floor-sweeping fur at Stella, I am sure she wasn't happy about that!

Stay tuned as I got some great streetstyle shots today in front of the opera!

LoL, Sandra