Sandra‘s Closet

Sometimes I receive a press release that truly makes me happy and excited. Today, I got one of those. Great news! The ALEXANDER MCQUEEN brand launches its first women’s fragrance under the creative direction of Sarah Burton after signing a deal with P&G Prestige.

Do note that there were already two scents on the market, Kingdom, in 2003, and My Queen, in 2005, that were developed by YSL Beauté. Both were disappearing very quickly from the shelves after being discontinued in 2008.

Although Alexander McQueen passed away six years ago, his legacy lives on in his label’s stunning designs by Sarah Burton, who was also in charge for the amazing juice that is the base for those two new scents, McQueen Parfum and McQueen Eau de Parfum.

Inspired by the craftsmanship of haute parfumerie, McQueen has created a unique scent made from the precious essence of three night-blooming flowers: Sambac jasmine, tuberose and ylang ylang. There are also topnotes of clove, pink and black pepper, as well as vetiver. Solid, sensual, with the artisan’s love of form, the parfum bottle is a small work of art. Gold feathers crown the perfume bottle, reflecting bespoke craftsmanship that is pure McQueen.

ORIENTAL FLORAL

Top notes: Clove, pink and black pepper
Middle notes: Sambac jasmine, tuberose and ylang ylang
Base note: Vetiver

The association with these nighttime flowers launched the social media hashtag #BloomAtNight, a tag that can easily be tied to more than a few of the pieces in the new F/W 2016 collection.

McQueen Parfum
50ml – CHF 450.00

McQueen Eau de Parfum
30ml – CHF 90.00, 50ml – CHF 119.00, 75ml – CHF 149.00

Available in Switzerland from September 5, 2016.

TO SHOP THE NEW ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FALL COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Finally the sun is out. I love those bikini summer days with beach waves and a little tan. Here you see me chilling in St. Barths, my favorite little island in the world.

My look: Embroidered silk crepe de chine kaftan by Matthew Williamson, cutout bandage bikini by Hervé Léger, sandals by Prada, leopard print tote by Lanvin and «So Real» sunglasses by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In the end of last week, it was announced that Maria Grazia Chiuri had left Valentino, where she was co-creative director with partner Pierpaolo Piccioli. One day later, we knew where she would head to. It is quite breaking news: she will be the new artistic director at Dior, which marks the first woman in the fashion label’s 59 year history to take this position. Chiuri takes the place of Raf Simons who departed in October (for the previous post, click here please).

Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri take a bow after the Valentino couture show on Wednesday.

Somehow, it feels quite sad. Chiuri worked with Piccioli for 25 years, first at Fendi then behind the scenes at Valentino. In 2008, they were named creative directors in 2008 and brought the label into a new era.

Rockstud embellished leather sandals

Think of all the famous «Rockstuds» that gained a huge following… romance with a twist of coolness, that is what there collections have been made of. The Valentino sales rose constantly, in the first quarter of 2016, already by 9%.

TO SHOP VALENTINO PRE-FALL 2016, CLICK HERE PLEASE.


It is sure that LVMH, Christian Dior’s parent company, is hoping for Chiuri bringing the same success there. She beat other contenders for the highly prized job, including Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton and ex-Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz.
Her first ready to wear collection will take place on September 30 in Paris.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino, © Sandra Bauknecht and SIPA/REX/Shutterstock

The CHANEL F/W 2016 handbags and small leather goods collection revisits the great classics of the House of CHANEL.

Karl Lagerfeld reinterprets several fundamental elements of CHANEL’s stylistic vocabulary, starting with the emblematic quilting of the House that we discover here as an ultra-light version on the flap bags, the shopping bags and even a backpack, uniting comfort with elegance.

The designer has also reinvented the iconic CHANEL bag and in particular the 11.12 which, this season appears in a laser treated faded denim.

The 2.55 is attached to a clip hanger with a discreet little mirror. It comes in aged or metallic leather as well as overstitched beige suede split calfskin inspired by the toiles used in the ateliers to make the handbag prototypes. This same material covers the drawstring, flap and bowling bags, plus the clutches and a camera case.

Meanwhile the BOY CHANEL bag appears to be patterned with pins. The Montex Atelier has created a special embroidery composed of silver tube beads and multi-coloured round beads, and which required more than 20 hours of work. Another version is embellished with precious braiding.

A key detail in the collection, the lacing inspired by corsetry that cleaves the dresses and boots, is also present on handbags in leather or combined with tweed.

The Girl bag adopts a clutch format in quilted leather or united with tweed. Functional thanks to its numerous pockets, its leather-interlaced chain is detachable at one end allowing it to be hand held or worn over the shoulder.

For evening, the clutches in leather, lizard or python play the ultimate luxury card with chains made of leather, metal and fantasy pearls.

As a tribute to the ateliers and their treasures, the resin minaudières adopt the shapes of a dual compartment sewing-box or a bobbin of golden thread.

Karl Lagerfeld has also conceived a line of accessories dedicated to Smartphones and tablets: the cases covered with tweed (including two versions woven by the House of Lesage) or with quilted or exotic leathers are designed to accommodate the devices in style. On certain models the iconic chain alternates gold and silver links.

The CHANEL F/W 2016 handbags and small leather goods collection will be available in boutiques from September 2016 onwards.

I cannot wait for those beauties to arrive!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel

Today, Gucci is launching an online exclusive collection of women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, available solely on gucci.com. Known as Gucci Garden, this capsule is characterised by a new print created by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, which showcases flora and fauna symbols that are part of the House’s new design lexicon. The Gucci Garden special collection is delivered in exclusively designed packaging – black-pink-and-red gift boxes and paper bags.

Here are some of the highly exclusive pieces:

Gucci Garden exclusive silk shirt

Gucci Garden exclusive Dionysus shoulder bag

Gucci Garden exclusive silk skirt

TO SHOP THE COMPLETE GUCCI GARDEN ONLINE EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci

Bye-bye beautyblender!

Ladies, here is your answer to flawless foundation. When you were happy you just had mastered your beautyblender technique, there comes a new beauty gadget and believe it or not, it is a vibrator. The Automatic Foundation Applicator Pro Edition by Color Me was developed with celebrity makeup artists, that delivers flawless 8-hour coverage that’s superior to what you can achieve with your fingers or a brush. This premium version uses sonic pulse technology (15,000 sonic pulses per minute) to mimic the tapping technique of the professionals and comes with the brand’s new universal sponges so you don’t have to switch between liquid and powder applicators. You’ll immediately notice a more even, air-brushed finish.

To shop your Automatic Foundation Applicator Pro Edition, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

“Fendi is my Italian version of creativity. It’s Italian to its core. It’s not only Italian, it’s Roman,” says Karl Lagerfeld of his position as Creative Director.

This book set celebrates his astounding 50 year tenure with the label – the longest collaboration ever between a designer and a luxury fashion house.

Beautifully presented in a custom-made wooden case modeled on the box of oil pastels on Lagerfeld’s work desk, it’s a compilation of exclusive interviews, recorded conversations, personal sketches and DVDs of his short films, through which we discover some of his earliest and fondest memories of the past five decades.

Get your issue of Karl Lagerfeld: Fendi 50 Years by Steidl online HERE.

Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini (the granddaughter of Adele and Edorado Fendi) at the Fendi F/W 2011 runway show

THE STORY

Fendi was founded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi as a fur and leather shop in Via del Plebiscito, Rome in 1925. In 1965, their five daughters hired the young Karl Lagerfeld, who was around 30 years old at that time to come on board and help them to revitalize their fur business. Previously Lagerfeld had worked for Parisian houses Balmain and Jean Patou. Upon his arrival at Fendi, the German-born designer changed the way the house used fur and took the luxurious fabric rather as an embellishment for coats, stoles, and trimmings. He introduced bright colors of fur and mixed it with different fabrics to create interesting textures and silhouettes. He is responsible for the term «fun fur» along with the double F logo that is now recognizable worldwide.

In 1977, Lagerfeld introduced Fendi’s women’s ready-to-wear collection providing a wardrobe that the already popular furs and accessories could accentuate. The eighties became a time of expansion where many categories were licensed out to other manufactures to facilitate growth and global recognition. Also, during this time the next generation of Fendi children started to get involved in the company. Since 2001, the Italian House became a multinational luxury fashion brand and member of LVMH group.

Here are some of this season’s must-haves you should definitely get:

A must: Karlito mink and fox-fur bag charm by Fendi

Already a classic: Petite 2Jours leather tote by Fendi

The most famous baguette in the world: Micro Baguette hand-embroidered cross-body bag by Fendi

The most charming monsters: Bag Bugs fur-appliqué roll-neck sweater by Fendi

The backpack everybody wants: Bag Bugs nylon and fur mini backpack by Fendi

It all started with fur: Flowerland appliqué fur coat by Fendi

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fendi

Here’s a trend that has been taking flight for some time now: butterflies! Embroidered onto outerwear at  Valentino and stitched on a Gucci sweater, the butterfly is about everywhere this fall.

1 Butterfly embellished wool sweater by Gucci for Net-à-Porter
2 Butterfly-embroidered canvas guitar strap for handbag by Valentino
3 Fil coupé silk-blend scarf by Alexander McQueen
4 Butterfly crocodile small clutch bag by Nancy Gonzalez
5 Appliquéd stretch-suede over-the-knee boots by Valentino
6 3D Glitter Butterfly Sunglasses by Anna-Karin Karlsson
7 Chiara metallic patent-leather platform sandals by Sophia Webster

A piece of art: the embroidered cotton coat by Valentino.

I am literally dying for those appliquéd stretch-suede over-the-knee boots by Valentino, aren’t they to die for?

Many designers have seeked inspiration from the beautiful world of the butterflies for pre-fall 2016, from left to right: Gucci, Giamba, Valentino and Philipp Plein.

Are you having butterflies in your tummy now like me?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Here is the outfit that I wore to the opening of Art in the Park at the Baur au Lac two weeks ago. It was a rainy day but it couldn’t stop me from wearing this colorful outfit that blended in with the exhibited art of Finish shootingstar Jani Leinonen perfectly. Isn’t it wonderful to see how fashion and art inspire each other in multiple ways.

My look: Cropped trench jacket and bowtie pasta and cameo clip earrings, both by Dolce & Gabbana, printed cotton-blend faille skirt, matching bustier top, cigarette-inspired leather bag and iPhone case, all by Moschino, velvet bow booties by Miu Miu and Tonda 1950 Set Clarity watch by Parmigiani Fleurier.

LoL, Sandra

Jani Leinonen with the host and inventor of Art in the Park Gigi Kracht.

Photos: Courtesy of Art in the Park and © Sandra Bauknecht

Pairing two mismatched earrings (such as the ones by Louis Vuitton above) might sound like another frightening fashion trend, but it’s actually the name of the game this season and  definitely not as complicated as it looks. Pulling off this look is all about having fun and creating unexpected silhouettes that can instantly update your look. Many designers offer now some trend-proof possibilities. Enjoy shopping those eye-catching must-haves.

I Do silver-plated, crystal and faux pearl earrings by Erickson Beamon (50% off)

Silver crystal earrings by Maison Margiela (40% off)

Gold-plated crystal earrings by Oscar de la Renta

Little Round Eye gold-plated cubic zirconia earrings by IAM by Ileana Makri (40% off)

14-karat gold aquamarine earrings by Melissa Joy Manning

Guatemala gold-tone, quartz and pompom earrings by Rosantica

Sphered Arrows set of three gold-plated earrings by Arme De L’Amour

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands