Sandra‘s Closet

Summer has officially just started, but when it comes to fashion, we are right in the middle of winter.
The F/W 2011 ad campaigns are popping up and one of the most talked about this season is Prada’s „fashion maximalism“. Shot by Steven Meisel, the photos show never-before-seen faces such as Frida Gustavsson, Ondria Hardin, Dorte Limkilde, Kelly Mittendorf, Antonia Wesseloh and Julia Zimmer.

One thing is for sure, same as the S/S 2011 banana prints, those trompe l’oeil boots in bright and exotic skins will be seen everywhere the next season and the `60s colour block shift dress will be on every fashionista’s shopping list.

It wouldn’t be Miuccia Prada, if she didn’t surprise us once more. The face of her Miu Miu F/W 2011 ad campaign is 14-year-old actress Hailee Steinfeld who was photographed by Bruce Weber.

After nine seasons working with Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Miu Miu is going in a new direction, with this different and fresh campaign.

Those glitter booties are sure to get even more buzz, they are to-die-for! Same as the oversized clutch bags, preferably in fur.

LoL, Sandra

The reason why I am in the Hamptons is the global press launch of Baume et Mercier’s newest addition to their watch family: The Hampton. Sandra’s Closet is one of the first ones to unveil this beautiful new creation.

Let me take you on a little trip to make you understand more about the idea behind the collection.

Baume et Mercier took inspiration from the Golden Twenties. It was the era of jazz, the emancipation of women like Marlene Dietrich and Louis Brooks and the spirit of the Great Gatsby. Most importantly, it was the beginning of leisure time. Recharging your batteries and the relaxed style of the Hamptons has transformed into a watch.

Alexandre Peraldi, Baume et Mercier’s Creative Director, had a myriad of models from the `20s, `30s and `40s to get inspired from.  The first Hampton collection had been launched in 1994 and today, it is celebrating its rebirth.

The new Hampton watch has a satine domed volume at 12 and 6 o`clock, an enhanced curve sapphire crystal and a curve case side at 3 and 9 o’ clock.

In different workshops, we learnt more about the design process which was very interesting. Below you can see some wax templates and first sketches.

Alexandre Peraldi got inspired by the Art Déco architecture that is emblematic for this period along with the amazing art community in the Hamptons. Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock were all part of this movement.
Below you can see the studio of the Pollock-Krasner house where one of the workshops took place.

Today, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the brand’s ambassador, Stella McCartney, Cindy Sherman enjoy their vacation homes in Long Island’s happening East End.

For the straps, Baume et Mercier invented a new technology to achieve different levels of softness. The alligator cannot grow too big in order to have the perfect size of the skin’s pattern. The animals mostly come from Louisana and Florida.

The production of the sapphire glass takes 10-25 minutes per step.

The Hampton’s range for women comes with a quartz movement, the gentlemen’s watches with a mechanical one.

The prices are affordable, a key aspect for Baume et Mercier. The core collection for men for example is around CHF 3000, the emblematic pieces retail between CHF 7700 -13000.

For lunch we experienced a truly beautiful scenery. We went to the Kennedy house located directly at the beach where the advertising campaign was shot.

Even our pictures were taken and transformed into little pieces of art.

Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini to the left with the beautiful Baldwin family that modeled for the campaign.

What a lovely day! Stay tuned for more to come and to see the final result of the new Hampton watch by Baume et Mercier.

LoL, Sandra

Today, I would like to give you an exclusive view behind the scenes at the Closed F/W 2011 campaign shoot. It was a truly amazing experience and I am still overwhelmed by the fact that I will be one of their advertising faces for the winter season that will be launched worldwide in publications like French Vogue, Love Magazine among others and will be hanging in every Closed store around the globe. How cool is that?!

My “colleagues” for the camapign were all so lovely, interesting people with interesting jobs and it was a pleasure to meet them all.

Lina Scheynius, who shoot the campaign all film and with old cameras, is one of the most requested photographers in the fashion industry. She was born in Sweden and is based in London now. If you are interested, check out her homepage by clicking here.

Make-up was done by Berlin based Anna Neugebauer and hair by the famous Tomohiro Obashi who lives in Paris and did for example the gorgeous Louis Vuitton Cruise 2011 campaign. The stylist was sweet Emilie Johansson from Copenhagen.

So please enjoy my backstage report and all the fab Closed clothes that will be in stores this fall.

LoL, Sandra

Beauty team: Anna Neugebauer and Tomohiro Obashi

Best head massage ever!

Stylist Emilie Johansson and photographer Lina Scheynius.

Analog photography: good old cameras, all film and polaroids.

Bettina Krieg, Maya Villiger and me.

Eileen Peters, Claude Serieux, Mark Wiesmayr and me.

Maren and Christian were filming me outside and made me dance for the backstage video.

Being interviewed.

Art directors: Nina Zywietz and Jesse Becker.

Sweet Isabelle Brenning took the photos of me for this post.

Gentlemen power: Marcus Ross (London), Claude Serieux (Paris) and Michele Venitucci (Rome).

Mark Wiesmayr from Los Angeles.

Spanish artist Carla Fuentes Fuertes with her boyfriend Guillaume.

Maya Villiger from New York.

Me with Italian actor Michele Venitucci
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Summer is right in front of us and it is time to think about your beach apparel. Sand, sun and salty water are not bikini’s best friends. Therefore I am not so keen on spending too much on something that won’t last long.

H&M is always the best solution and for S/S 2011 their beachwear collection is truly divine. There are lots of different styles and colours to choose from with matching pareos, kaftans, tunics and bags available. You better go shopping now as those pieces will sell out fast.

I tried my new tiger print bikini this weekend with the see-through jumpsuit and lots of H&M jewelry (looks cool and you don’t need to worry about it!). The straw hat is from the little shop at Club 55 in St.Tropez. Unfortunately, I am still very pale especially compared to H&M’s campaign models but hope that this will change soon…

Jumpsuit CHF 29.90, Bikini top CHF 19.90, Bikini briefs CHF 14.90
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The recent H&M swimwear advertisements starring Edita Vilkeviciute, Frida Gustavsson and Filippa Hamilton were shot by Patrick Demarchelier and capture the colourful bikinis on those gorgeous bodies perfectly. Ready for a sun-drenched summer?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Courtesy of H&M

Finally, I can tell you my exciting news why I am Berlin at the moment. I arrived yesterday for the shoot of the X’ campaign for Closed.

‘The X’ ,also associated with Closed’s innovative pocket design, is an ongoing campaign – first launched one year ago – that celebrates individualism and variety, creativity and location. Ten innovators in ten cities around the world comprise the talent pool for this debut campaign. Now you can understand my excitement, I am one of them.

Today, the fittings took place. Here you can get a sneak preview of what is coming for F/W 2011. The looks are ultracool, having a certain edge, perfect for everyday life. Stay tuned for more to be posted soon and in the meantime enjoy those photos.

LoL, Sandra

The mood board

Let the fittting start...

The chinos -

...Closed's bestsellers.

What looks best? Nina Zywietz (Closed) with stylist Emilie Johansson

Italian actor Michele Venitucci

L.A. based Eileen Peters in a stunning denim overall.

Closed owner Gordon and Closed menswear designer Vito

A true prep? Yale Breslin from N.Y.

Claude Serieux from Paris

Which colour should the pants for Mark Wiesmayr have?

This baseball jacket looks so good on Carla Fuentes Fuertes.

My first look: A chunky striped cardigan worn with a lace top and red pants.

My second look: A dress with a sweater top and a leather skirt, awesome combo.

Me in action

... taking all those photos.

What are these guys watching?

...the royal wedding livestreamed.

Bon appétit!

Kate Moss is the new face of Dior Beauté, specifically Dior Addict Lipstick. The English supermodel is proving that at 37, the girl’s still got it.

Dior Addict Lipstick N°578 Diorkiss

The advertising campaign will include a very cool TV-spot that shows Kate during Paris Spring Fashion Week last October, applying Dior Addict Lipstick in Diorkiss N° 578. She was spotted front row at Dior wearing already the new make-up look.

Therefore the fashion world had begun speculating about Kate’s possible advertising contract with the luxury fashion house months ago. What a clever idea, well done, Dior!

The Dior Addict Lipstick collection will hit the shelves on March 1st in a revised look. I was lucky to try them out. The new texture is amazing. Aside from the iconic lipstick, the high shine will offer more translucent shades. 
Creamy, opaque but still very shiny and light. So modern. I am in love with them. Below you can find my favourite shades for summer.

LoL, Sandra

N°745 New Look

N°881 Fashion Week

N°762 Paris

John Galliano has drawn a portrait of his muse, Kate Moss, on a limited series, collector’s edition T-shirt, designed exclusively for the launch of the Dior Addict lipstick. My gift from Dior, thank you!

Giuseppe Zanotti with me

Giuseppe Zanotti’s S/S 2011 ad campaign makes me dream of sunny weather, the beach and the ocean. No wonder as a vacation getaway in St. Barts served as inspiration for it. Sensual and sizzling fashion model, Anja Rubik is the face of the gorgeous campaign that was photographed by iconic duo Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Ladies, better start getting in shape now…

All those beautiful shoes are already available or can be pre-ordered. Which one is your favourite?

LoL, Sandra

I am completely in love with Miu Miu’s S/S  2011 womenswear collection and the campaign that evokes the spirit of performance and stage.

Models Querelle Jansen, Sasha Pivovarova and Kasia Struss were photographed in London by renowned duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, styled in the manner of barely breathing mannequins, all slicked back hair and crimson mouths.
Far from passive, however, it wouldn’t be Miuccia Prada if there wasn’t a message and this time it is her reflection on a society that is obsessed with celebrity.

Inspired by on-screen costume, flower, flame, snake and star prints are re-invented to suitably stylised effect. It is a study of feminity that is as playfully inventive as it is alluring.

To support this idea, Miu Miu presents the “Miu Miu Women’s Tales”, a series of short movies directed by international female filmmakers that explore their fantasies about the brand.

The first one has been directed by Zoe Cassavetes (Broken English) and is called “The Powder Room”, an enchanting and dramatic short film set in London’s Claridges hotel.
It is a beautiful how Zoe Cassavetes were able to capture the luxury codes of the Miu Miu universe. I especially like her close-ups. To view the movie, click here.

The next directors will be announced soon. Another interesting approach to adverstising and communicating a brand. But as always, Miuccia is leading the way…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

The American actress and singer and her two-year-old twins, Max and Emme, star in a special ad campaign for Gucci Kids that was shot in Malibu by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Gucci donated $1 million to UNICEF and $50.000 to Jennifer’s charity, the Maribel Foundation, which focuses on medical care for women and children worldwide.

The fashionable trio looks so adorable on the beach. Jennifer wears pieces from the absolutely gorgeous Resort 2011 collection. The theme of Frida Giannini’s cruise creations is “stylish travel“. Working with a neutral palette of khaki, rust, and army green, the designer also included elements of the equestrian world. This collection is super-wearable with a bit of military and a lot of urban cool. The safari looks present the sexy attitude and glamour Gucci is known for.

It is not surprisingly that I couldn’t resist. One of my favourite pieces is the military green silk jumpsuit. I rolled up the legs and teamed with some vintage Gucci sandals and a vintage Ralph Lauren belt. The  long 70s inspired earrings are from Chanel Cruise 2011.

Moreover, I truly adore the brand’s iconic saddle-printed silks in dégradé, a dip-dyed hem. The printed silk-crepe mini skirt (see below) had to be mine. I already wore it with a greige sweater by Stella McCartney, a patchwork Chanel bag and my beloved suede overknees by Gucci, all from F/W 2010. This is a great way of working your new cruise pieces into your winter wardrobe.

The Gucci resort 2011 collection is available now at Gucci stores or at www.net-à-porter.com.

LoL, Sandra

Over the past six months, the Gucci’s Facebook fanbase has more than doubled (almost 3 million by today) making the Italian fashion house the most “liked” luxury brand on Facebook.

Gucci has realized the importance of social media and has come up with some new and interesting ideas to spread the word and to advertise without a huge budget.

“Eye Want You” is the newest coup, a viral video Facebook application that allows users to share their moods with friends through customized video messages from Gucci models wearing the new eyewear from the Gucci eyeweb collection. Based on their own mood, visitors select a message to personalize with sunglasses of their choice and with their own “Eye Want You” message to the recipient. Once created, the video can be shared on Facebook friend’s walls or sent through as a private message.
What a smart move to advertise the eyewear!

LoL, Sandra