Sandra‘s Closet

On Thursday evening, the Houses of CHANEL, FENDI (LVMH) and KARL LAGERFELD all came together at the Grand Palais in Paris to pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at a celebration designed, directed and staged by Robert Carsen.

The many facets of this extraordinary man were evoked through a tapestry of videos filmed throughout his life, interspersed with testimonials from people who knew him, as well as the generous «live» contributions of highly talented actors, musicians, dancers who interpreted some of the music and literature Karl loved so much.

Charlotte Casiraghi, H.R.H. Princess of Hanover, Andrea Casiraghi and Madame Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.

Actresses Tilda Swinton, Fanny Ardant, Cara Delevingne and Helen Mirren, friends of Karl Lagerfeld, recited and read excerpts from works by his favourite authors, such as Virginia Woolf, Stéphane Mallarmé, Colette and Edith Sitwell.

Pianist Lang Lang at Karl Forever at the Grand Palais in Paris.

The extraordinary Jookin dancer Lil Buck, the brilliant violinist Charlie Siem (who played Paganini, one of the favourite composers of Karl Lagerfeld’s mother Elizabeth), Argentinian choreographer German Cornejo, accompanied by his troupe of 17 tango dancers and his 7-piece orchestra from Buenos Aires (Carlos Gardel was Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite singer and the tango was his favourite dance), the celebrated pianist Lang Lang (who played Chopin on the grand piano designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the 150th anniversary of Steinway), and American artist Pharrell Williams were also on stage to pay homage to the man who had deeply marked them and who was their friend.

The Steinway designed by Karl Lagerfeld on display.

These artists – as well as the 2,500 guests present at the Grand Palais to celebrate Karl Lagerfeld – were immersed in a spectacular exhibition of 56 giant enlargements of portraits taken throughout his life by some of the most famous photographers in a setting designed by Robert Carsen, inspired by Karl’s favourite colours: black and white enhanced with a touch of red.

In turn, the participants also paid tribute to the aesthete, this man of culture, photographer, creator… in an exceptional moment as grand as his talent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld, © Luc Castel and Julio Piatti

Pride is good… and so much more fun with this dedicated capsule collection created by Jeremy Scott for Moschino.

«I’m excited to announce I was able to convince Playboy to let me alter their iconic logo to read as GAYBOY for pride month and create an 8 piece capsule collection at the PLAYBOY pop-up in Soho with the net proceeds going to support the Trevor Project.»
– Jeremy Scott

The 8 piece capsule collection is available online by clicking here to be transferred directly. The only piece for women is this cool cropped sweater below – a must for my closet!

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: Courtesy of Moschino and Playboy

A must for every fashion and ballet lover. This upcoming Saturday and Sunday will see the performance of Svetlana Zakharova’s program MODANSE of two one-act ballets: «Come Un Respiro» (Like Breath) and the premiere of «Gabrielle Chanel» at the Bolshoi Theatre on the famous historic stage in Moscow.

Inside the famous Bolshoi Theater.

The latter is the creative work of the congenial trio of Yuri Posokhov (choreography), Ilya Demutsky (composition) and Alexey Frandetti (director and writer) who created an homage to the life and work of Coco Chanel, her role as a revolutionist in the industry and her rise to become the queen of fashion. The main role of the late designer was created especially for the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater and the Milan Scala, Svetlana Zakharova by the production company MuzArts and is tailor-made for her. Among the dancers are Denis Savin, Jacopo Tissi, Mikhail Lobukhin, Vyacheslav Lopatin, and Ana Turazashvili.

Hotel Metropol Moscow, seen from the Bolshoi Theater.

If you want to visit the ballet in Moscow, I recommend staying at the Metropol Hotel that is located on the opposite side of Teatralnaya Ploshchad (Theatre Square) from the main building of the Bolshoi Theatre. Following the traditions of the founder of the hotel, the patron of art Savva Mamontov, the Metropol Hotel Moscow supports another world premiere of the MODANSE series and hotel guests have the unique opportunity to buy tickets for the best seats.

Inside the newly renovated Metropol Hotel Moscow.

Reading the last autobiography of Coco Chanel, I got to know that she was a true philanthropist by providing significant financial support to the Diaghilev ballet. Like this, she truly showed her admiration for talent and art.

Coco Chanel with Ballets Russes dancer Serge Lifar.

The new ballet about Coco Chanel will be performed not only at the Bolshoi Theatre, but also in Paris, the city that cherishes the memory of the legendary Frenchwoman.

Two dancers of the Ballets Russes in costumes by Coco Chanel, from 1928. 

While you are reading this, I am on my way to London to see «The Mother», a powerful narrative dance production based on Hans Christian Andersen‘s dark tale, choreographed by Arthur Pita and starring Natalia Osipova, the famous Russian ballerina, who is currently performing as a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London. So excited…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hotel Metropol, Bolshoi, CHANEL and Sasha/V&A Images

Last week, Art Basel took place, that brings the international artworld together, with leading galleries  from all over showing the works of over 4,000 modern and contemporary artists. Creating an exciting, region-wide art week, Art Basel is one of three shows – others are taking place in Hong Kong, and Miami Beach. I went there for the First Choice Preview on Tuesday, that you can only visit by invitation only, wearing one of my favorite outfits of the season.

My look: Lace-trimmed printed silk-twill bustier top, printed stretch-jersey leggings, and gold-tone and printed silk-twill earrings, all by Versace, black oversized tuxedo jacket by Stella McCartney, classic Paris D’Orsay pumps with bow and metallic-trimmed leather clutch, both by Saint Laurent, Mitza ring by Dior Fine Jewellery, and Tonda 1950 Galaxy by Parmigiani Fleurier.

Inside the fair, there is also the Collectors Lounge, where the event’s main sponsors have their dedicated areas and which you can only visit by invitation. As guest of UBS, I enjoyed my time at the UBS Lounge that was decorated by Costa Rican artist Federico Herrero. Later, I went for a glass of champagne at the Ruinart Lounge that showed the artworks of Brazilian artist Vik Muniz. Luxury beauty brand La Prairie partnered with three up-and-coming Swiss female artists to interpret the beauty, the mystery and the enduring timelessness of the gaze, resulting in the creation of three photographic installations.

I got asked what my favorite artwork is and I replied: «I love fashion – for me that is wearing art on my body». But of course, there were many amazing pieces to be discovered. Enjoy!

A big thank you to my hosts Gabriel Cohen, UBS Wealth Management, and Natascha Lander, UBS Chief Investment Office, Wealth Management.

I hope you like my look and the little excursion into the art world…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

«One click is all it takes
Fallin’ in love with me
Possibilities
I look like all you need»

Finally the sun is out and we are looking forward to enjoying the warm temperatures. Luckily, Haute Horlogerie and cutting-edge technology at HUBLOT are anything but stiff and rigorous. The brand’s one-click bracelets this summer offer radiant holographic effects or present themselves with a logo in pop art style. These bracelets add an original, fun touch to the permanent collection of alligator leather, calfskin and rubber bracelets for the Big Bang. How cool is it to have all these possibilities for your watch….

One Click is a sophisticated, patented attachment system that allows you to change the bracelets of the 39, 42 and 45 mm Big Bang with just one click. So a truly timeless watch becomes a precious accessory that adapts to any outfit. Just looking at all these colorful beautiful options makes me dream…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot

Deriving its name from the Latin term for «sense and emotion,» RATIO ET MOTUS only launched in 2018, yet New York-based Angela Wang and Daniel Li, the creative minds behind the brand, are already making waves with their cult pieces. Their classic and artful handbags immediately caught the attention of NET-A-PORTER’s fashion buyers who support the label as part of their Vanguard initiative, that is promoting new and rising talent in the industry.

The brand aims to produce products with considered design details utilizing Italian craftsmanship all while keeping longevity in mind. Being sustainable is important to them, therefore the duo only source leather from local Italian tanneries with a mission of low carbon footprint, minimum toxic wastage, low water consumption and ethical supply chain. All leathers used in the collections are by-products from the meat industry and the water repellent lining is made of vegan leather.

Look out for the unique «Disco» bag, which has modern details like specific slots for iPhones …

… or opt for my favorite, the «Twin Frame» leather tote. I adore its sleek, structured silhouette with the separate clutch at the front that can be unscrewed and used alone.

TO SEE AND SHOP ALL BAG MODELS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Ratio et Modus and Net-à-Porter

Just for you, Clarins has created three scrubs with active, sensorial textures and instant actions. With natural beads from wood cellulose, lava and sugar from beetroot, they refresh, purify or nourish the skin and adapt to the needs of all skin types. So, are you ready to exfoliate?

Fresh Scrub – A refreshing cream scrub for soft, supple skin
Comfort Scrub – A comforting oil scrub for silky, smooth skin
Pure Scrub – A foaming scrub to dislodge and remove impurities

Available from August 12, 2019 for CHF 42.00 each.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the importance of exfoliation for your skin:

Is exfoliation good for keeping my skin young?
Absolutely! Regularly exfoliating your skin removes dead cells and stimulates cellular renewal.

How many times a week should I exfoliate my skin?
To remove deep-set impurities, exfoliating once or twice a week is recommended. Particularly for more mature skin which naturally eliminates dead cells slower and less efficiently than young skin.

What happens if I don’t exfoliate my skin?
Dead cells which accumulate on the skin surface, make the complexion look dull, create a barrier to skin products and hinder the boosting of cellular renewal. Also, unexfoliated skin is not as soft and is more prone to imperfections and roughness.

Can you exfoliate all skin types, even sensitive skin?
Oh yes. For particularly sensitive skin, exfoliation should be carried out with very light, gentle movements. Never rub the skin, or you risk weakening it further.

Happy scrubbing!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarins

This is industry news that I don’t want you to miss. Stéphane Bianchi, President of the LVMH Watch Division, and Jean-Christophe Babin, President of the Bvlgari Group, are announcing the first LVMH Swiss Watch Manufactures Exhibition.

The event will take place at the Dubai Bvlgari Hotel in January 2020 and will include Bvlgari,
TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith. The four watch brands will introduce to the international medias and retail partners their watchmaking news 2020.

Dubai Bvlgari Hotel

«In between Geneva in January and Basel in March, we have had in the recent years two major product presentations in the first quarter. This early discovery of our strategies, news and novelties has allowed our media and retail partners to better plan the year ahead and as such we have decided on this set up for 2020 to balance the scheduling of the other events», declared Jean-Christophe Babin.

Watch news this month: TAG Heuer’s second of five limited-edition Monaco timepieces that mark the icon’s 50th anniversary. 

As previously announced, Bvlgari, TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith are also confirming in parallel their presence at Baselworld 2020, late April/early May.

«We remain very supportive and loyal to Baselworld and the Swiss watchmaking industry. However, it was not possible for us to go 13 months without a global presentation of our products and brands. This additional event further confirms the LVMH commitment to the strategic and profitable watch category», said Stéphane Bianchi.

Hublot – proud official timekeeper of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.

Personally speaking, I find this idea very interesting. Let’s be frank, watch fairs are extremely expensive and not very flexible. In my post about SIHH 2019 from January, I told you already about several changes that are going to happen next year with many brands leaving Baselworld or the SIHH. Solutions were found though, with the Geneva- and the Basel-based shows uniting forces and coordinating their dates from 2020.

Zenith’s new Pilot Type 20 Adventure

Still, the situation isn’t ideal for everyone. I am curious to see LVMH’s own, private «Pre-Baselworld event» in Dubai, in January 2020. The location is an interesting choice as well… stay tuned!

LoL, Sandra

An example of Bvlgari’s new watch creations for 2019

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Red and turquoise create one of those unexpected color combinations that will turn heads. The reason? Red looks more brilliant next to turquoise than it does when paired with most other colors. Here you see me wearing this fabulous duo at a beach club in Saint-Tropez on a cloudy day.

My look: Embellished circus patch denim jacket and layered silk and multi-stone necklace, both by Etro, crocheted lace-trimmed silk crepe de chine maxi dress by Costarellos, Impatiens clip-on earrings by Oscar de la Renta, Candy metallic elaphe platform sandals by Saint Laurent, Cahier raffia crossbody bag by Prada, gold-tone and shell necklace by Isabel Marant, and cuff by Stella McCartney.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © David Biedert Photography

The Florentine fashion house reveals a new publication «Unexpected Pucci», edited by Laudomia Pucci and published by Rizzoli New York. A book narrating the world of Emilio Pucci beyond fashion by presenting key projects explored in the field of interior design and art from the 1960s to present.

The introduction is signed by Suzy Menkes, editor of Vogue International, followed by the valuable contributions of independent journalist Angelo Flaccavento, architect and designer Piero Lissoni and artists Francesco Vezzoli and Joana Vasconcelos.

«Unexpected Pucci defines the designer’s wider world, encompassing colorful rugs, modernist porcelain, furniture and interior design – all in the spirit of the early years of Milan’s Salone del Mobile. Perhaps the easiest artistic flow was in the rugs, where blocks, swirls and linear shapes were contained inside a geometric square – just like in the famous “Emilio” head scarves, as worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Capri set. Bringing things together—history and modernity, linear and rounded, pattern and plain – were all part of the artistry of Emilio Pucci. His prints stamped their place on the body or in the home». – Suzy Menkes

The brand’s artistic journey – from Mediterranean colours and silk scarves to ground-breaking
partnerships with international leaders of art and design – is told through chapters covering rugs,
porcelains, art and collaborations.

An archive treasure rediscovered. The Pucci rugs, first launched at the Museum of Decorative Arts,
Buenos Aires in 1970 have been reissued in the brand’s historic prints (Ovali, Occhi, Giardino,
Lamborghini, Menelik and Hawaii) available through a bespoke service at the Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub.

A dedicated chapter to chinaware, includes masterpieces made in collaboration with Rosenthal, where iconic prints (including the «unexpected» Pebble motif) adorn coffee and tea sets, vases and plates.

The final chapter of the book chronicles the brand’s collaborations and partnerships with leading brands of homeware and interior design. With Bisazza, Emilio Pucci turned prints into handmade decorative panels for interiors and swimming pools. Whereas unique seating solutions have been produced with Cappellini, including the Rive Droite armchair designed by Patrick Norguet, and the poolside collection by Piero Lissoni. With Kartell, the Florentine brand in 2014 launched the iconic Madame chair, designed by Philippe Starck. In 2016, the patterns from the Pucci’s project «Cities of The World» embellished the cups designed by Matteo Thun in 1991 for Illy.

To celebrate the launch of the book, an installation will be set up in Palazzo Pucci – also known as the Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub (via de’ Pucci 6, Florence), – where key elements from the book will be exhibited in a labyrinth inspired by the graphic and unexpected Torre print. Key highlights will include, chinaware, rugs and never-before exhibited artworks inspired by the founder Emilio Pucci.

«With this book, we want to narrate the versatility and the universe of our brand. These objects have overtime embellished key moments of our fashion house and I’m excited to share the creative richness of these deluxe collaborations, especially with the younger generation. » – Laudomia Pucci

Unexpected Pucci will be available September 2019 in all Emilio Pucci boutiques and online store as well as in the Rizzoli networks. Price 90 $| 90$ Euro.

I will be soon in Florence and cannot wait to discover this beautiful universe of one of my favorite brands. To read an interview that I did with Laudomia Pucci many years ago, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Emilio Pucci