Sandra‘s Closet

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon and you might be looking for the perfect outfit to wear on a romantic date. Amanda Seyfried looked pretty amazing at the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala in Los Angeles sporting a scarlet red bodice dress from Prabal Gurung’s Resort 2013 collection combined with trendy metallic accessories. A look that would prove your style prowess and that is in stores now.

Mesh-trimmed silk and cotton-blend satin dress by Prabal Gurung, Pearce metal and Perspex octagonal clutch by Kotur and Biel leather wedge pumps by Jimmy Choo.

Happy Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Following in his famous parents’ fashionable footsteps, Romeo Beckham is the leading star of Burberry’s S/S 2013 ad campaign, shot by a friend of the family, Mario Testino. According to the MailOnline, the 10-year-old was on the campaign set without mum Victoria or dad David, and was accompanied by his nanny and security guards.

Burberry’s S/S 2013 collection is a bright and playful collection and along Romeo, there are some more beautiful faces starring in the new campaign: Cara Delevingne, Max Rendell, Charlotte Wiggins, Alex Dunstan, plus Charlie France and  Edie Campbell, who appear in the first campaign image, alongside the celebrity offspring, with all three of them wearing the British House’s iconic beige trench coats with check print lining.

“This season’s campaign lights up with the infectious energy of an amazing young cast of old and new Burberry family. Cara, Edie, Charlie and Alex are joined by Max and Romeo, who was a joy to work with and really stole the show. We had such fun shooting the campaign and I think that comes through in the images which really reflect the upbeat spirit of the collection.”
Burberry Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey

I like his cute happy grin!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Burberry

For S/S 2013, Mulberry‘s original Del Rey inspired by singer Lana Del Rey comes in new finishes, including Milk Chocolate Heavy Suede and Nude Silky Snake Print Leather, as well as two luxurious statement options: Slate Blue Ostrich and textured Giraffe Haircalf.

But the most exciting news is that the iconic bag gets a little sister.
Meet the newest Mulberry miniature – the SMALL DEL REY.

The Del Rey is a modern Mulberry classic that combines retro American glamour with common-sense English practicality to create a bag with understated elegance and timeless appeal. For S/S 2013 a Small Del Rey is introduced, shrinking the proportions of the original and adding a versatile cross-body strap for multi-wear options.

Have a look at those new must-haves bag to hit the shelves very soon:

Small Del Rey in Black Grainy Print Leather

Small Del Rey in Deer Brown Grainy Print Leather

Small Del Rey in Milk Chocolate Heavy Suede

Small Del Rey in Slate Blue Grainy Print Leather

British actress Helena Bonham Carter carried the Small Del Rey to the Mulberry-sponsored launch of Tim Walker’s new exhibition at Somerset House last month.

YOU CAN SHOP A GREAT SELECTION OF MULBERRY BAGS AT HARRODS, LUISAVIAROMA, MATCHES and NET-À-PORTER.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

This week, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich take place. In comparison to the Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, London and New York, those days focus more on the business-to-consumer side with tickets available for sale to get a feeling of high class fashion in reality. They are also devoted to helping upcoming young designers, enjoying the S/S 2013 collections of established and famous designers and to just having a lot of fun.

Speaking of which, the four-day event kicked off on Wednesday with the Mercedes-Benz Opening Night. Among the famous guests American actress and former model Lauren Hutton, the world’s first male supermodel Markus Schenkenberg and British singer Dionne Bromfield. 
MSGM di Massimo Giorgetti, Marco de Vincenzo, Mila Schön and Angelos Bratis presented their collections for the next season, followed by a musical performance of the Swiss band Pegasus. The culmination of the event was the runway show of Laurèl.

Spotted on the red carpet in the VIP-tent and later on the runway: Luisa Hartema, winner of Germany’s Next Topmodel 2012.

Markus Schenkenberg with me

How cool are the shoes of Patrick Liotard-Vogt, especially in combination with his purple pants…

Greek designer Angelos Bratis,“The Draper”, won the first prize of the “Who Is On next?” competion for emerging fashion designers in 2011, organized by AltaRoma and Vogue Italia. The international jury was composed by important names of the fashion industry such as Suzy Menkes (International Herald Tribune) and Franca Sozzani (Vogue Italia). His winning brought him international press acclaim and a new job. He just moved to Milan to design the Vionnet collection. I couldn’t think of a better match!

“I love the air, the sky and the people”, Massimo Giorgetti said about being in Zurich. He went on about his designs: “I love Indie music. MSGM is my soundtrack of the last six months when I was preparing the collection.” Massimo Giorgetti’s idea of MSGM is to mix and match great tradition with revolutionary ideas from the new millennium, and the first collections have been celebrated by the industry thanks to their inner iconoclastic and celebrative spirit.
To shop MSGM by Massimo Giorgetti click here.

Marco di Vincenzo is Italian fashion’s rising star. He started his career as one of Silvia Venturnini Fendi’s key assistant on accessories at Fendi. Now with his own line, he has gone spare for the S/S 2013 season, showing cotton poplin pieces with jersey backs, sporty with an interesting approach to volume.

Bianca Gervasio, Creative Director of Mila Schön, has a very good eye for colour and feminine cuts and showed a contemporary lightness paired with romantic details for the next summer. The young designer said about Zurich that she likes “the colourful and prismic light that gives it an elegant ambiance and its sophisticated people.”

Lauren Hutton, who had graced 27 Vogue covers, was sitting of course front row and told Annina Frey that “her beauty secret is having a good man in your life”.

At the Mercedes-Benz Opening Night, Laurèl sent their models in ’50s bikinis, pencil skirts and cute little tops down the runway. Highlight of the collection: The vibrant gowns.

The after party took place at the Park Hyatt and was a lot of fun.

Bianca Gervasio with me

Lauren Hutton at the after party framed by Raquel Marquard and me

Lauren Hutton’s backpack was hilarious.

Celebrating with Angelos Bratis and his friends.

Stay tuned for a detailed post of my outfit and of course all the other nights coming up soon. Unfortunately, I am little behind with my posts as my blog has experienced some technical problems during the last days due to maintenance work. You might have realized that the newsletter hasn’t been sent neither. My apologies for that!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Fashion icon Daphne Guinness has now joined the exclusive circle of friends of Roger Dubuis. To mark this new collaboration, the internationally renowned photographer Nick Knight captured the Anglo-Irish aristocrat wearing the Velvet models that were launched this year at the SIHH 2012 in January.

In this exceptional photo shoot produced, the watches are highlighted perfectly on her wrist as she wears wonderful creations from her personal vintage wardrobe. I am really keen to give you an exclusive preview of Nick Knight’s series of pictures and the film presenting the making of the photo shooting made with Daphne Guinness.

Daphne Guinness is the friend and muse of the most famous photographers, designers and art directors. It is as if fate decreed that this muse with a creative temperament should meet Roger Dubuis and should personify the watchmaker’s feminine collections that exercise a fascinating and daring appeal… just like her.

“Daphne is a superbly mysterious woman – you can never unravel her secrets. She is an ideal photo subject and I love working with her”, Nick Knight said after the session. “Her amazing creative spirit is a real inspiration”.

Christian Louboutin with Daphne Guinness to the right and me to the left

I was pretty fascinated by her temperament, when I met her at a gala hosted by Roger Dubuis in Monte Carlo last fall. As you know, I am a big fan of Roger Dubuis and am wearing the Lady Excalibur watch with great pleasure.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roger Dubuis, © Nick Knight and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last weekend, I went to the preview of the new James Bond movie SKYFALL (directed by Sam Mendes) in Zurich, in which Bond’s (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the sacrifice.

Personally speaking, Skyfall is one of the best Bonds in its 50-year history. I truly enjoyed its outstanding dose of Bond-esque humour and Javier Bardem is excellent as crazy bad-guy Silva. Of course, there has to be a female temptation for 007 and Bérénice Marlohe showed off why she’s the new Bond Girl on the red carpet for the royal premiere in London this week.

The beautiful actress, who plays the character of Sévérine, worked her curves in a sizzling red draped couture gown by dame Vivienne Westwood. The show stopping frock featured designer’s iconic corset and was accessorized with Stephen Webster fine jewelry pieces from his F/W 2012 collections ‘Forget me Knot’ and ‘Deco Haze’ set in 18ct white gold with hematite and white diamonds. That is what I would call “dressed to kill”.

Inspired by the new Bond film, Skyfall, Stephen Webster has created four exclusive designs for Swarovski which encapsulate all the movie magic of 007’s latest adventure. On screen, French actress Bérénice Marlohe is wearing select jewelry pieces from the collection. As Stephen Webster stated: “Without question, collaborating with Swarovski on the jewelry for Skyfall has been exciting from the word go. The themes in the film seem to fit perfectly with the design aesthetic of the jewelry I create, and the many creative meetings at Pinewood Studios between Swarovski, ourselves and the Bond team have only added to our enthusiasm for the project. We can’t wait to see the jewels, shaken not stirred within the movie.” The beautiful collection is available in Swarovski stores worldwide.

If you are interested to find out more about Stephen Webster, I recommend this previous interview I did with him this summer.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski, Stephen Webster, IMDb and © Getty Images

Another blockbuster fashion event took place this week in NYC. One evening after the Maison Martin Margiela with H&M launch party, Donatella Versace hosted a cocktail party to celebrate the opening of her new Versace boutique in Soho on 160, Mercer Street followed by a dinner at the Waldorf Towers.

A huge variety of celebrities chose to attend both events, with everyone from Gerard Butler and Kanye West to supermodel Linda Evangelista and close friend of the House Lady Gaga.

Carrying both menswear and womenswear ready-to-wear collections in addition to accessories, the store will also house special collaborations.

Kicking off the shop’s opening, Donatella Versace tapped Christopher Kane, who also creates the Versus line, to design a capsule collection of tees and other items with iconic Versace images pulled from the archives, which will be sold exclusively at the Soho store. With printed T-shirts being so à la mode, be sure that those tops will activate another fashion hype!

Below, find a complete list of celebrities who chose to wear Versace:

Donatella Versace entered the cocktail party at the boutique in a Fall 2012 black corset top with a Swarovski encrusted jewelled cross emblem on the front with a velvet pencil skirt (see photo below with Princess Charlene of Monaco).  She changed later for the dinner into another look from Fall 2012 (as you can see above with Lady Gaga) – she was perfect in a black Versace leather top with crescent-shaped neckline with Swarovski crystal details and Versace leather pants, completely embedded with Swarovski crystal details from the knee down.

Princess Charlene of Monaco wore a chic black Versace cocktail dress paired with thigh-high leather Versace runway boots with a gold capped-toe. She finished her look with a black Versace cashmere waistcoat with leather inserts.

Linda Evangelista wore a black velvet Versace coat from the Fall 2012 runway enriched by Swarovski crystal crosses.

Doutzen Kroes wore a Versace Fall 2012 black coat with flared skirt covered entirely in Swarovski crystals.

Bar Refaeli looked amazing in a fitted black leather cocktail dress with Swarovski crystals detailing with a matching leather jacket and black Versace booties.

Coco Rocha wore a black dress with metallic detailing from Versace Fall 2012 paired with black Versace Fall pointed toe pumps.

Alexa Chung here with Christopher Kane wore a look from the Versus Fall 2012 runway: a burgundy knit turtleneck top paired with a matching leather miniskirt.

Karolina Kurkova wore a black leather bomber jacket with intricate floral detailing with a pencil skirt with a matching pattern, paired with black Versace pumps and a black Versace clutch.

Leigh Lezark sporting a yellow cocktail dress with leather cutouts at the hem and on the side with a modern crescent shaped neckline. She completed her look with black Versace shoes.

Tali Lennox, daughter of Annie Lennox, wore a full look from Versus Fall 2012 – she looked fabulous in a fuchsia top, miniskirt, and huge fur coat. She completed her outfit with blue booties with fuchsia inserts.

Hunger Games star Alexander Ludwig chose a Fall 2012 look – he wore a blue floral printed suit with matching tie. He completed his look with Versace Fall boots with gold buckles and a black Versace belt with a medusa buckle.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versace

Yesterday night, the Maison Martin Margiela with H&M collection was celebrated in New York. Mena Suvari, Chace Crawford, Alan Cumming, Helena Christensen, Julianne Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Selma Blair, Doutzen Kroes, Alexander Wang, and my humble self were some of the over 1 000 guests at the spectacular party on 5, Beekman Street.

The derelict and raw nine-story historical building in the city’s financial distric, housed around a glass-roofed atrium, was the perfect setting for the celebration of Maison Martin Margiela with H&M, decorated in the label’s signature white-painted style. As you can see, people were slack-jawed looking at the gorgeous location.

All celebrities wore already the new Maison Martin Margiela with H&M collection.
Enjoy my photos!

Chace Crawford with me

Me with the beautiful and overly sweet Julianne Moore who said: “It’s an amazing collaboration! Margiela is a beautiful brand – arty, iconoclastic and always edgy. And the quality is always amazing with H&M. Fashion is great because it’s an expression of who you are.”

Sarah Jessica Parker stated: “It’s incredible, so exciting to celebrate one of my favourite designers. They are mysterious and compelling and I’ve been a great fan of Margiela for many years. H&M, well, look at the lines of men and women lined up! It’s a great opportunity for people to have access to great designers. It makes luxury available to everyone. It’s very democratic and I’m all for it.”

Mena Suvari impressed with her lion tattoo.

Gorgeous Selma Blair talked a little about her beautiful newborn baby boy Arthur with me. Mums united!

Selma’s amazing shoes from the Maison Martin Margiela with H&M collection.

Me with Alan Cumming who said: “I’m here to see the lovely Margiela collection. I love the way H&M is doing collaborations with other designers. It’s a great thing, to make clothes stylish and affordable. The collaborations are a great idea, they are really amazing!”

Fashion designer Olivier Theyskens with me

Kayne West

Elena Perminova with me

“I’m a huge fan of Margiela and I love H&M – it’s a great collaboration. I never get surprised by H&M’s choices, every designer they pick I’m interested in. I’m always standing in the queue with my mother in the early mornings. I’ve been a fan of Margiela since the start”, said Helena Christensen.

Topmodel Doutzen Kroes

The collection was shown in an art and dance performace by choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker in squares of sand and further revealed in special art installations on various floors: artists Daniel Arsham, Frederique Chauveaux and Noemie Goudal, created sculptures, projections and photographs exclusively for the event. After that, DJ’s kept the party going into the early hours.

On the 9th floor of the buliding, a special pop-store was located where guests could shop the Maison Martin Margiela with H&M collection before its official launch on November 15th in around 230 H&M stores worldwide. Unfortunately, when I had finally arrived on the top floor, the best pieces were gone.

What an amazing night and a gorgeous collection – it was all about superlatives! Thank you, H&M, for having me! You guys rock!

LoL, Sandra

Photos of the first collage: Courtesy of H&M – All other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

During the last months, we have been eagerly waiting to finally see the new campaign for CHANEL N°5 featuring Brad Pitt. This morning, the result was revealed. Joe Wright, the director of the new advertising campaign, shows Brad Pitt delivering a monologue directly into the camera. The actor’s voice comes across as both, captivating and passionate in the dramatic black and white film that you can enjoy below.

LoL, Sandra

Campaign photo and film: © Chanel

Chanel keeps us in suspense until the last minute. Fans of the brand are eager to see the final campaign photos featuring Brad Pitt as the first male model for the house’s iconic Chanel N°5 scent. For the first time, a man will give his view on the most feminine and legendary of fragrances. On October 15th, 2012 the secret will be finally lifted.

In the meantime enjoy those 7 seconds of mystery.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Chanel