Sandra‘s Closet

Fashion house Taller Marmo is a fusion of luxurious design with ‘60s and ‘70s-inspired spirit. Based in Milan, the label uses quality fabrics to craft eveningwear that mirrors styles seen on the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren. Discover the elegant silk kaftans HERE.

On  the occasion of Milan Design Week 2024, the brand’s founders Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea spotlight the work of Studio Sana Benzaitar, a female-led studio that produces one-of-a-kind rugs in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Each rug tells a story, that of Amazigh and Berber weavers who hold a know-how passed down from mothers to daughters.

For the occasion, artist Sana Benzaitar also realized an exclusive rug paying tribute to the brand’s signature Mrs. Ross caftan and replicating the exact roomy shape of the fringed garment.

Sana Benzaitar’s reinterpretation of Taller Marmo’s signature Mrs. Ross caftan.

You can visit the exhibition at the new Casa Taller Marmo in Milan on the occasion of Salone Del Mobile 2024 until Friday 19th of April, 2024.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Taller Marmo
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For Milan Design Week 2024, Fornasetti unveils its surreal interpretation of one of the most welcoming spaces in the home: the dining room.

In this setting where nothing is ever as it seems, décor and objects merge in an effortless matching game between content and container, between furniture and the room that hosts it.

The Atelier’s collection of furniture and home accessories is enriched with new elements: storage furniture and polyhedral bar cabinets, tables boasting new shapes and materials, and chairs that seamlessly combine the charm of mid-century design with the comfort of upholstery. Incongruous and extravagant combinations give rise to new patterns and intricate images created with meticulous care and skill, simulating a hint of reality that is in fact pure design.

In Ceci n’est pas une salle à manger, the fusion of seemingly incompatible elements transforms the dining room into a theatre of surrealism, creating a world free of any conscious association, preconception, or specific intention. Fornasetti furniture and accessories introduce a unique perspective, where the boundaries of reality and fiction intertwine, creating an experience in which the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

ON THE EDGES OF REALITY
The new curved bar cabinet engages in a visual dialogue with the dining room, elegantly anticipating the decorated world hidden within. Inspired by Piero Fornasetti’s iconic interior design projects for the Pasticceria Dulciora and Casa Lucano in the 1950s, the buffet and curved bar cabinet transform the dining room into a fascinating setting with a surrealist twist.

TABLE ENTERTAINMENT
Fornasetti’s new dining tables are a tribute to the design and aesthetics of the 1950s. An array of scattered objects floating on the surface, and swirls of vivid colours are an irresistible invitation for the curious eye to get closer and discover hidden details.

An invitation to sit at Fornasetti’s surreal table. The iconic chair is enriched with high-quality jacquard fabric designed with bottles, cocktails and scattered objects that bring a touch of imagination and energy to the room.

A REDISCOVERED REPERTOIRE
The Atelier reissues its oval tray, an original model from the 1950s: an extraordinary, rediscovered repertoire, rich in expressive variations that accommodate the symbols of Fornasetti’s prolific hand and mind.

I am a huge Fornasetti fan and personally speaking love this new collection for the dining room.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Fornasetti
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As part of Milan Design Week, Off-White™ is releasing a limited-edition rug, which also takes center stage at the brand’s Via Verri flagship with an immersive floor-to-ceiling installation and a takeover of its windows.

Spanning 170×240 centimeters, the rug is available in only 40 pieces and is coming with a numbered label.  The design is marked by a floral pattern in a deep blue shade and bold lettering in popping yellow reading «Don’t walk here.» Crafted in Germany with a double-layer felt lining, the rug is to retail at €1,250 euros exclusively at Off-White™ Milano Verri store, beginning April 15, 2024. The brand will also host live DJ sets in-store on April 17 and 18, extending opening hours to 9pm in honor of the occasion.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: PR © Off-White™
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As part of Milan Design Week, Louis Vuitton unveils a unique reinterpretation of its iconic Bed-Trunk at its Garage Traversi store in Milan. This exceptional piece draws inspiration from the very first Bed-Trunk, designed in 1865 by Louis Vuitton himself and now updated to blend tradition with modernity.

Created for the design connoisseur and the elegant traveller, this new variation celebrates the Maison’s heritage – innovating while respecting traditions and savoir-faire since 1854. The exterior of the trunk is covered in Louis Vuitton’s classic Monogram Canvas, while its interior displays the bed’s sophisticated structure – an innovative combination of aluminium and beechwood that allows the Bed-Trunk to quickly and easily transform into a stable bedframe.

The mattress is split into four sections specially crafted to support and accommodate its owner in total comfort. A memory-foam mattress topper covers every section, which rest on the same woven cotton straps that have been used to keep clients’ belongings safe during travel since the very earliest Louis Vuitton trunks. The mattress is covered in waterproofed cotton precisely embroidered with the classic Monogram pattern. For even more comfort, the head of the bed – with an included pillow – can be raised to the perfect angle and a small beechwood side table attached to the edge of the trunk.

In the mid-1880s, Louis Vuitton came up with a new Bed-Trunk specially designed for explorers from around the world – an invention patented by his son Georges in 1885. The Bed-Trunk was then showcased in several universal and international exhibitions, spurring its immense success among travellers, explorers and other nomads – just as the Camp Bed-Trunk became indispensable for officers in training or on active duty.

The Louis Vuitton Bed-Trunk will be available for pre-order from 16 April.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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DESIGN ANCORA GUCCI PRESENTS FIVE DESIGN ICONS AT ITS FLAGSHIP STORE ON VIA MONTE NAPOLEONE

From an idea of Creative Director Sabato De Sarno, GUCCI Design Ancora is a special project co-curated by Michela Pelizzari. From April 15 th 2024, five icons of Italian design, reedited and customized, are showcased in an immersive exhibition conceived by Spanish architect Guillermo Santomà at Gucci’s flagship store in via Monte Napoleone, 7.

From April 21st 2024, a special edition of the objects will be available online on gucci.com.

• Storet by Nanda Vigo for Acerbis (1994, reedition 2020)

• Clessidra rug, Portaluppi Pattern Project by Nicolò Castellini Baldissera (great grandson of Piero Portaluppi) from an iconic design of Piero Portaluppi, edited by cc-tapis (2024)

• Parola by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for FontanaArte (1980)

• Le Mura by Mario Bellini for Tacchini (1972, reedition 2022)

• Opachi by Tobia Scarpa for Venini (1960, reedition 2021)

«Through Design Ancora, Gucci doesn’t simply celebrate old icons, it creates new ones,» explains Michela Pelizzari, founder of Milan based creative agency P:S, which co-curated the project, «The aura emanating from the brand spotlights five pieces by Italian masters that are perfect from a design standpoint but less known to the general public.»

The chosen objects represent the golden age of Italian design, while also reminding us of the important relationship between designers and brands, craftsmanship and industrial production. All objects are re-edited in Rosso Ancora, the red hue chosen by De Sarno to mark the beginning of Gucci’s new creative chapter.

Gucci Design Ancora comes to life at the Gucci flagship store in Via Monte Napoleone, 7.
In every room, the curved walls in green a color chosen by Sabato De Sarno contribute to blurring boundaries and creating a metaphysical space in which each object appears on its own, displayed as an idea rather than as a mere product.

«If we had put the objects all together, we would have created a living room. Instead, we decided to remove the boundaries given by how we use these objects and create a sort of limbo,» explains Guillermo Santomà, who is known for a multidisciplinary approach merging design, architecture, sculpture and scenography, «Floating objects don’t have meaning or a function. They are just shape, materiality, color.»

The same visual approach is applied to the windows on Via Monte Napoleone, 7. In one of them, a pair of Gucci Cub3d a limited edition sneaker created combining 3D printed elements and the House’s own Demetra material float in the middle of the air and rotate on their own in a magnetic installation. In another one, a 3D printer is displayed as a unique object customized by Santomà himself.

Definitely worth seeing when you are in Milan!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci
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Here comes H&M’s latest designer collaboration with rokh, an emerging cult label known for its deconstructed style.

Korean-born, Texas-raised, UK-educated ’s style is instantly intriguing. It is smart, deliberate, elegant, timeless and iconoclastic — all at once. There’s an experimental quality to his garments: He dissects, examines, reimagines and reconstructs. The resulting pieces are conceptual, even avant-garde — yet eminently refined, fit for purpose and a pleasure to wear.

Rokh, Rok Hwang & H&M, Ann-Sofie Johansson

After designing for some of the most beloved names in womenswear, Hwang founded his eponymous label, rokh, in 2016 and started showing at Paris Fashion Week just three years later. He’s a rising star in the fashion world, with a devoted following.

Together with H&M, Hwang has created a collection that reconsiders and deftly subverts key components of the classic professional wardrobe. There are pieces for men and women, with double-layer trench coats, detachable-hem dresses, corset tops, reworked trousers and denim, a subdued floral print top and pleated skirt set with matching gloves and tights, underwear and logo t-shirts, graphic two-tone metallic jewellery and playful office-inspired accessories, like a briefcase bag and an accordion file clutch.

rokh H&M explores the complexities — and possibilities — of tailoring, with Hwang building extra layers into his clothes, merging and doubling pieces, lifting elements from one style to add to another, as with the trench dress. He presents a quiet kind of radicalism, breaking down established tropes and offering new alternatives.

The collection is highly modifiable. Pieces can be layered, altered and even worn backwards, and many feature detachable, adjustable elements, like hook-and-eye hems and button-up seams. These are interactive details, not simply decorative; they are an invitation to the wearer to experiment, to make the styles their own, imbuing a uniqueness in every piece.

«I always focus on making my collections as timeless as possible, and one way of doing that is with customizable details», explains Hwang. «I’ve seen people wearing panels from our signature multi-button trench coat upside down and inside out, in brilliantly unique ways I never imagined when I first came up with the design. To see my clothes being interpreted by people in their own way is one of my greatest pleasures, and I can’t wait to see how customers engage with this fun and dynamic collection for H&M.»

rokh H&M launches in selected stores and on hm.com April 18 2024. Get your wishlists at the ready to know ahead of what you will be adding to your cart on the launch date.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © rokh H&M
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Weekends in Paris are always well spent. The House of Courrèges is known for its chic retro vibe, so you’ll be in for a stylish time. From exploring the iconic landmarks to enjoying leisure strolls along the Seine river, everything is fashionable in the French capital.

If you would like to know more abut the French Maison, that was founded in the ’60s by André Courrèges, click here for a previous post.

My look: Belted short heritage crepe coat, cut-out sleeveless minidress, heritage leather knee boots, and re-edition leather shoulder bag, all by Courrèges, oval-frame acetate sunglasses, and grooved cabochon clip earrings, all by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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Breaking news today. Roberto Cavalli (November 15, 1940 – April 12, 2024) has died at age 83. The «King of Bling», who has been synonymous with vibrant animal prints and sand-blasted denim, has died in his hometown Florence.

«Surround yourself with love, because love will be the beacon of your life.» – Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli launched his eponymous label in 1970 after his textile print studies and presented his first prêt-à-porter collection at age 30. He rose to fame extremely fast thanks to a revolutionary printing procedure on leather that he patented. He went on to open his first boutique in Saint-Tropez in 1972, and was soon after invited to present at the Sala Bianca in Florence.

With Roberto Cavalli in 2011.

Throughout his career, Roberto Cavalli created very sexy clothes in bright and bold colors. Animal prints were in his DNA as well as a very innovative approach to fabrics. He went on to introduce additional lines, including RC Menswear, Just Cavalli, which was marketed to a younger consumer, and a children’s collection. The brand also expanded into hospitality, opening its Cavalli Café in Florence in 2002, a concept it eventually brought to other cities, including Milan, Ibiza and Miami.

According to BoF, his company has faced a series of challenges in the last decade: In 2014, it began posting annual losses. In 2015, the Cavalli family sold 90 percent of the business to private equity firm Clessidra Capital Partners. In 2019, it closed its US stores and laid off 93 employees. It filed for bankruptcy in Italy in March 2019. The company went on to be acquired by Dubai-based real estate devloper Vision Investment Co. LLC later that same year.

With Fausto Puglisi in Café Cavalli in Milano in 2012.

The Cavalli collections are currently designed by Fausto Puglisi.

At the home of Roberto Cavalli were lots of animals.

Personally speaking, I met Roberto on several occasions and was invited to his house several times in Florence. He loved animals and was a very kind man who loved to host. RIP, Roberto, you will be missed and I feel privileged to have so many beautiful outfits from you in my closet.

In Roberto’s living room in his house in Florence.

If you are interested, I invite you to read an interview with him from 2011 here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Roberto Cavalli
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Every craftsmanship done with passion and love is art to me! The art of coffee making is like the art of dressing up or the art of watchmaking … yesterday everything was united at the Nespresso booth at Watches & Wonders when Geneva-based artist Jean-Philippe Kalonji created an amazing portrait with coffee of me while I enjoyed my «Forte», an espresso from Nespresso Professional «Classics» coffee range.

At home I have a not only a wonderful closet  but also a wardrobe of coffee capsules as I love to change my coffee varieties depending my mood. Drinking coffee is my guilty pleasure and I truly enjoy those peaceful moments for myself.

Let me take you with me on my journey this week in Geneva …

Arrived at Watches and Wonders …
But first, Nespresso Professional coffee… As every coffee – or watch – is an unforgettable timeless moment.

When coffee triggers creativity …
Talking to Geneva-based artist Jean-Philippe Kalonji about his amazing work, who painted portraits with coffee yesterday.

My favorite…
«Forte», an espresso from the Nespresso Professional «Classics» coffee range.

Double tasking … getting portrayed by Jean-Philippe Kalonji while enjoying a cup of «Forte».

When coffee becomes an art in its own right …..

I absolutely love the result … the art of coffee!

Thank you Jean-Philippe Kalonji for capturing me so well and to Nespresso for this amazing experience.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nicolas Stajic
@nespresso.ch #CoffeeTriggersCreativity #WatchesAndWonders #NespressoProfessional #AD
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Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny are the new faces of Gucci Valigeria. The House’s latest campaign embraces the spirit of «Gucci Ancora» as a celebration of the love that lies at the centre of Gucci’s community.

Shot in an airport, the meeting place where journeys begin, the campaign explores the intimacy of traveling together through the creative lens of Anthony Seklaoui. Stills capture the fleeting spirit of Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny’s airport stroll, redefining the Jet Set glamour of the 1990s.

Effortlessly casual and chic looks complement the timeless elegance that defines the House’s travel collections. Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny carry items from the signature Gucci Savoy collection including GG Supreme duffle bags in different sizes, backpacks, rigid suitcases, and trolleys distinguished by a combination of heritage-infused design elements such as the GG monogram and/or the Web stripe. The campaign also introduces novel designs defined by fluorescent leather details alongside embossed GG rubberized leather styles.

I am so in love with this Savoy leather-trimmed printed coated-canvas suitcase by Gucci.

Through this Valigeria campaign, Gucci pays tribute to its founding history and heralds a new era of adventure and luxury travel in line with the vision of Creative Director Sabato De Sarno.

TO SHOP GUCCI VALIGERIA, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Credits Creative Director: Sabato De Sarno Artistic Director: Riccardo Zanola Director: Nikita Kuzmeko Photographer: Anthony Seklaoui Stylist: Alastair McKimm Make-Up KJ: Mary Phillips Make-Up BB: Mira Chai Hyde Hair: Paul Hanlon Talents: Kendall Jenner & Bad Bunny
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