Sandra‘s Closet

Remember the iconic puka shell necklace – when it was absolutely so cool to come back from your tropical vacation with a plastic flower in your hair and a shell choker around your neck? I am talking about this ubiquitous beachy accessory of the late ‘90s, that was loved by tween girls and surfer guys alike.

Puka shell necklace of the ’90s

You are lucky if you kept one in your jewellery box like I did. If not, it is time to get one. Only this time you can opt for a luxier, infinitely more grown up vibe.

Prada F/W 2017

Seen already at the Prada’s F/W 2017 show – as usual Miuccia knows how to set a trend – the chunky shell necklaces made an appearance layered over hefty coats and sweaters. So ladies, this piece can be taken to the winter season.

Shells are back but they’re literally cooler than ever before. Here some amazing pieces available now:

Large Puka natural shell necklace by Tohum

Eloise shell-embellished necklace by Heimat Atlantica

Sybile shell choker necklace by Heimat Atlantica

Cauri 9-karat rose gold, diamond and porcelain necklace by Pascale Monvoisin

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, via Instagram Gilda Ambrosio

Bucket bags are perfect for vacation but can still be used back in the city, too. The perfect pieces to take a little summer feeling to fall. With each model, you can pull the drawstring top tight to keep your cell phone and sunglasses secure.

1 Cleo woven leather bucket bag by Loeffler Randall
2 Lunchpail leather-trimmed woven sisal bucket bag by Cesta Collective
3 Linea Cestino leather-trimmed wicker bucket bag by Gucci (my favorite)
4 Seau straw and striped cotton-canvas bucket bag by Muuñ
5 Colada leather-trimmed wicker tote by Kayu

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands, Collage: © Sandra Bauknecht

MIU MIU’s woven basket bag is the perfect summer companion. Classic with a little retro touch, it’s embroidered with the label’s logo, topped with vibrant red, blue and black-striped grosgrain handles, and fitted with a zipped pocket at the canvas-lined interior.

My own limited edition woven basket from Cannes (there was only one, sorry :-)!).

If you want to prove your true jet-setting spirit, look for one of the limited edition versions that MIU MIU has launched in small quantities for some of their shops around the globe. A red tag is attached to the bag that indicates the location where you bought it.

Limited edition woven basket that is still available in MIU MIU’s newly opened St. Tropez boutique.

Those limited editions are available at the following MIU MIU stores around the globe: Madrid, Barcelona, Capri, Porto Cervo, Forte dei Marmi, Cannes, St. Tropez, Miami and Hawaii.

My personal summer essentials: Woven basket bag, frayed St. Tropez embroidered straw sunhat, and suede platform sandals, all by MIU MIU.

The perfect pieces to breeze effortless style from town to beach and back again.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: first one courtesy of Matchesfashion, all others © Sandra Bauknecht

It seems like every season, the bag shapes on the runway get more inventive and eye-catching. Something that has definitely caught my eye is that one bag shape, that is traditionally used for night, makes this season an appearance during the day: the fancy drawstring pouch bag. Load up your elbow with a mega embellished satin version, as suggested at Attico, and combine it with some jeans and a silk robe for the ultimate chic.

Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly to the store.

LoL, Sandra

Tasseled embellished satin pouch by Attico

Tasseled embellished satin pouch with stars by Attico

Feather-embellished poplin pouch by Attico

Tasseled sequined tulle pouch by Attico

Tula velvet shoulder bag by Hunting Season

Maison leather-trimmed metallic jacquard pouch by Clare V.

Maison glittered suede pouch by Clare V.

Tasseled lace and silk-jacquard pouch bag by Etro

Photos: Courtesy of Attico and the Brands

Chunky sneakers are trending as never before – that is a fact! But over the past couple of months, you may have noticed the term «dad sneaker»all over. If you follow the fashion world, you’ll be well aware what this is. However some of you may still be in the dark, therefore I am about to inform you with this post. Meet the most important version: Balenciaga’s sneakers «Triple S» are the epitome of dad shoes that are sold out everywhere (still popping up from time to time).

Triple S sneakers by Balenciaga

Those sneakers perfectly capture the street-style look of the moment. The toe is embroidered with the size of the shoe, while the side has the brand name embroidered for recognition.

Triple S low-top trainers by Balenciaga

How did the «Triple S» got its name?
Taken from running, basketball and track shoes, molds were stacked to create the silhouette of this heavily padded, triple-soled design. The name «Triple S» comes from its three layers of soles. The shoe was originally presented at the Balenciaga men’s F/W 2017 show by artistic director Demna Gvasalia in Paris.

Multi-coloured Triple S sneakers by Balenciaga

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga

History does repeat itself, and so do trends. Here’s another throwback to ’90s hair must-haves (after the revival of the barrettes) that is celebrated this S/S 2018 season: SCRUNCHIES.

Sarah Jessica Parker with a perm and a scrunchie in 1988.

It was no other than Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City who sentenced scrunchies in one episode to the purgatory of style faux pas with her portentous proclamation to her boyfriend Berger for mentioning a scrunchie in his novel, claiming that no New Yorker in her right mind would ever wear one. Love them, hate them, but you cannot ignore them, scrunchies were making a comeback even on the catwalk, and funkier than the ones we had been wearing decades ago.

Times change. Would it be controversial to say that now looking at those fabulous Balenciaga leather ones, I actually disagree with Carrie Bradshaw and totally think that they really are rather fabulous?!

YOU CAN SHOP THE BALENCIAGA SCRUNCHIES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS AT BROWNS FASHION AND NET-A-PORTER. FOR AROUND €150 EACH.

Styling tip: Because those leather scrunchies tend to keep sliding down your hair, I recommend giving it a good grip by applying SACHAJUAN’s Hair Powder to the part where the base of your ponytail will be. This will give your hair texture, fullness and help keep your scrunchie stay in place without adding any weight to your tresses.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and © Getty Images

Gosh, sometimes I still remember the time when I was a little girl and wore barrettes in all sorts of colors, especially in school to keep my hair out of my face. Funilly enough, I kept loosing them to the dislike of my mum. Now, we are back with this trend. But this S/S 2018 season, you would want to hold on to them tightly because they’re so much fancier and you wouldn’t want to loose a gold or bedazzled hair clip for over €100 each.

How to wear this hair accessory in 2018? The coolest way is to position it on the level of the top of your ear. Gucci‘s jaw-dropping, rhinestone-affixed logo version is a such a pretty way to secure a swept-back style.

TO SHOP GUCCI’S LOGO BARRETTES, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Simone Rocha’s cast of Victorian-esque Brits captured the hearts of It-girls worldwide with their pearl-encrusted barrettes placed properly to the side.

TO SHOP SIMONE ROCHA HAIR CLIPS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Donnatella Versace’s delicate gold hairpins that graced the beautiful heads of Gigi, Kendall, and Kaia Gerber in Milan will definitely be on every fashionista’s shopping list.

TO SHOP VERSACE’S MEDUSA SLIDE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

But leave it to the showstopping House of Saint Laurent to deliver the most extravagant (and expensive) hair clip of the season.

TO SHOP SAINT LAURENT’S EMBELLISHED HAIR CLIP, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

As these decorative details quickly make their way onto red carpets and the heads of street style’s finest, all that is left to say is: Let party season begin. Barettes in 2018 are much fancier than in the ’90s!

And to keep your hair in place, I recommend BJÖRN AXEN’S MEGAFIX HAIRSPRAY SUPER STRONG HOLD. This hairspray gives you shine, holds and is easy to brush out leaving no white flakes.

Stay tuned! Another ’90s hair trend is back that I will tell you all about this week!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

The «Louis Vuitton New Wave» collection heralds a new attitude, taking inspiration from the musical genre of the same name to revisit the joyful, colourful spirit of the Eighties in an unexpected way.

This collection is rooted in the art of travel that sealed the House’s reputation as soon as 
it was founded in 1854. In particular, one trunk was decorated with a graphic, multicoloured motif that undulated like a wave. From this historical detail comes the subtle quilted design of the «Louis Vuitton New Wave» line. To make these bags the ideal everyday companion, like a favorite leather jacket you never leave home without, the house chose to create each style in exceptionally soft, supple lambskin.

Available in store starting July 7th.
Freesia and Emerald colours available starting September.

I am so in love with the embellished or denim version. One of those will definitely be on my shopping list!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

I have always been obsessed with straw hats, but this season’s large statement versions are truly to die for. Oversized and twisted into a wave at Jacquemus, the beachy style is so much more than your basic Panama hat.

Oversized straw hat «La Bomba» by Jacquemus

Missoni’s S/S 2018 floppy hats fit right along this description – very visible, supersized straw hats that are protecting not only your head but also your back from the sun.

Oversized striped straw hat by Missoni

Woven oversized straw hat by Missoni

Delpozo, fashion’s reigning prince of prêt-à-couture, showed large bow straw hats. Those headpieces on the S/S 2018 runway were huge and stiff, holding their shape perfectly.

Delpozo S/S 2108

This summer, there are many options to find the perfect floppy Sunday straw hat.

Large paper-braid glamour hat by Sensi Studio

Gucci really made an impression with interestingly shaped straw hats tied with a ribbon in different shades.

Straw hat with ribbon by Gucci

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

The ugly sneaker trend is everywhere right now, and available at all price points. And now it looks like it’s even more trending as one of the world’s most influential fashion designers, Nicolas Ghesquière, put a ton of futuristic runners on his S/S 2018 runway for Louis Vuitton. Consider the so-called LV Archlight Sneakers one of high-fashion’s biggest style musts this season.

I love this model: LV Archlight Sneakers

V.N.R. Sneaker – available in four colours

For men, this month, the V.N.R. (Vuitton New Runner), a full knit sneaker, is launching in four new colour ways, combining classic, elegant design and the House’s signatures with ultimate technical innovation.

V.N.R. Sneaker in blue

Twelve months of meticulous research and development have led to a shoe that is light and flexible. In total, each pair of shoes requires three hours to be assembled with keen attention to detail. Now in stores.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton