Sandra‘s Closet

Most of you know that I am a Louis Vuitton aficionado. Therefore I am always looking forward to the LV show that with its beautiful stunning decor surprises each season. Yesterday, it was a gigantic carrousel with models riding on it in pastel-coloured clothes, leaving quite another impression after Marc’s fetish-like creations for F/W 2011.

The S/S 2012 collection is sweet, full of rich details and materials, from matte crocodile jackets, coats and skirts to laser-cut tops and 3-D floral embellishments and plastic paillettes. I am completely taken by the tweed fabrics that are adorned with marabou feathers. The craftmanship that went into this collection is truly outstanding.

The last look was presented by Kate Moss, same as last season. But instead having her smoke on the runway in hot pants, she appeared in a light white floral dress like an innocent bride. I was wondering if she might be pregnant. Rumours are going around those days, same as the fashion crowd is wondering if Marc Jacobs will leave for Dior. The Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 collection looked like a slight approach. Let’s see in which direction fashion’s merry-go-round will be turning…

Below you can see some photos of the front row action!

LoL, Sandra

Caroline Sieber, Claire Courtin Clarins, Antoine Arnault, Virginie Courtin Clarins

Dasha Zhukova, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld, Marie-Amélie Sauvé, Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Peter Marino

Natalia Vodianova, Uma Thurman

Best friends: Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss

Alexa Chung in a Louis Vuitton dress from the F/W 2011 collection.

Last Sunday, Albert Kriemler presented his Akris S/S 2012 runway show during Paris Fashion Week and surprised us with some amazing prints which have become his signature.
Ladies, start your engines!

Like Miuccia Prada, the designer got turned on by cars this season and seeked inspiration from John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film Grand Prix, set in Monaco.

One print is a shot of the Hotel de l’Hermitage at Monte Carlo on a racing day with people watching the event from the balcony:

This dress would be the perfect look for Princess Charlene next May at the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race, don’t you think? The princess, who has been seen many times in Akris, sat front row at the show and I am pretty sure that she was kind of Albert Kriemler’s muse for this collection.

Anna Wintour, Peter Kriemler and Princess Charlene front row at the Akris S/S 2012 show.

Haven’t seen Anna that happy in a long time…she must have really liked the collection.
Princess Charlene, Albert Kriemler and Anna Wintour.

Sport is an important trend for next summer and Akris offers some clean and crisp choices. But my favourite part of this collection is definitely the motor sports section!

Enjoy the looks! For my Zurich based readers, Gassmann carries a large selection of Akris.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Akris

Top off your fabulously chic signature look with Michael Kors fragrance for a chance to win a Michael Kors $1,000 gift card! Create luxurious, all-American sportswear looks for and combine them with his latest scent Gold!

Michael Kors will choose one grand prize winner himself to receive a $1000 Michael Kors gift card and a framed autographed copy of your winning set. In addition, one reader of Sandra’s Closet will receive a Michael Kors fragrance gift set. And remember all that glitters is not gold, so stay true…

How American style looks like in perfection showed Academy Award winning actress and director Angelina Jolie two days ago when she wore a white double face 3/4 sleeve v-neck sheath from the Michael Kors S/S 2011 collection while being honored for her outstanding humanitarian work by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Geneva.

Good luck! The contest runs from now until Oct. 7, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

LoL, Sandra

Kate Winslet collaborates on a limited edition makeup collection with Lancôme to raise funds for her charity, The Golden Hat Foundation. The Golden Hat Foundation helps children with autism in a number of ways. Kate’s commitment started after the realisation of an Icelandic documentary in whichthe actress tells the tale of a child with autism: “A Mother Courage – Talking Back To Autism” (also as “The Sunshine Boy”).

So when Lancôme suggested collaborating on a fund-raising limited edition makeup line in partnership with her, promising to donate €150,000 from its sales profits to the Foundation, she jumped at the opportunity: “Lancôme’s instant offer of support was a huge display of confidence and generosity and I knew it would open many doors”, Kate said.

The Golden Hat Collection is a one-off line which comprises the basic beauty staples such as blush, lipstick and nail polish – each embossed with the Golden Hat symbol and Kate’s signature, available this month.

LoL, Sandra

L’ Absolu Rouge, N°132, N°340, N°341, N°343, each CHF 44, N°001 (La Base) CHF 35

Le Vernis, N°102, N°26, N°27, N°28, N°003, each CHF 25

Blush Golden Hat, CHF 65

Photos: Courtesy of Lancôme

Last Friday, I went to the opening of Marco Perego’s first solo exhibition in Switzerland entitled “Secrets” curated by Isabelle Bscher at Galerie Gmurzynska. The exhibition features works from 2011 including 
3 sculptures, 40 drawings and 10 paintings and will be open until October 25, 2011.

The artist Marco Perego with me last Friday at the opening

Perego, born 1979 in Verona, Italy, is a very good-looking former soccer star who is now based in Los Angeles. He has presented solo shows worldwide, including a solo exhibition at the Museo Archeolgico Nazionale in Florence in 2008. In the same year, he unveiled one of his most controversial pieces, “The only good rockstar is a dead rock star”, a sculpture of a dead Amy Winehouse lying in a pool of blood, long before the soulful R’n’B songstress met an untimely end past July. In 2008 his painted works formed the background of Dolce & Gabbana’s advertising campaign. His animated film “Burn to Shine” will premiere next year at Sundance Film Festival.

Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 2008 ad campaign with Marco Perego’s paintings in the back

Marco Perego with Isabelle Bscher*

Perego’s Portrait of Isabelle Bscher, Mixed media on paper, 2011

In 2007 Marco describes himself in an interview with the New York Observer like this: “I just believe in my dreams, the sun in the face, wind in the back, the rest take care from the destiny to dance with the stars.” He spent a year with Shamans in Argentina, after which he started his series „Secrets“. Perego who has taken inspiration from Freuds dream analysis, told Bscher: „These are drawings of the unconsious, of the inner demon within.“

The artist is known for his controversial paintings, often a fantasy that perverts images that we take for granted as innocent. For example, when the Evil Queen drops all pretensions of prude as well as her knickers in front of the Seven Dwarves.

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld with me

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld’s son, art dealer and curator himself, counts the artist amongst his closest friends. So no wonder, he came with an entourage of famous and close friends to the opening, among them Fiat scion Lapo Elkann and Starvos Niarchos.

From left to right: Mathias Rastorfer, Andrea Kracht, Marco Perego and Lapo Elkann*

Famous friends: Niclas Pol, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Starvos Niarchos, Andy Valmorbida with Marco Perego.*

About his life in the city and his friends he said once to the New York Observer: “It’s the same, because I never forget where I’m from. I am the same kid. I love to sit down and be like a voyeur. I love to watch people, and feel like a pirate. My friends are the best pirates in the world. I promise.”

Marco Perego, La terre et la lune, 2011, Gypsum, 158 x 140 x 140cm

I especially love the sculpture “La terre et la lune“.
You can count me definitely among Perego’s fans.

LoL, Sandra

My outfit last Friday: 
Baseball jacket, striped pants and top by Balmain, patent shoes by Stella McCartney and bag by Gucci.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Photos with* are courtesy of Galerie Gmurzynska

Last week in Milan, there was quite a party stress going on.
Across from the Gucci party on Via Montenapoleone, Louis Vuitton celebrated the re-opening of their shop on the famous street, followed by a dinner and later a party with cocktails and music to toast the exhibition “The Art of Fashion” curated by Katie Grand which is on show at La Triennale di Milano until October 9th, 2011.

The interior of the Louis Vuitton Via Montenapoleone store.

Gorgeous decoration.

Party people

Lots of celebrities were there.

Beautiful Isabeli Fontana (right) in a sequined dress from the Louis Vuitton Pre-fall 2011 collection.

Anna dello Russo in a head-to-toe look from the Louis Vuitton F/W 2011 runway

Enjoy those photos from the exhibition:

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, © Sandra Bauknecht

LoL, Sandra

Keira Knightley recently wore Mary Katrantzou‘s Caramolengo dress in Venice. The British designer who is known for her amazing prints belongs to my favourites. Yesterday, here in Milan, I wore the same mid-length silk printed dress.

My outfit: Caramolengo dress by Mary Katrantzou, glitter booties (the shoes of the season!) and oversized clutch by Miu Miu, watch by Roger Dubuis.

To shop Mary Katrantzou dresses, please click here.

This photo was taken by Mr.Newton, the famous street style photographer for Harper’s Bazaar.
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Net-à-porter features the Caramolengo dress in their beautiful ad campaign.

LoL, Sandra

Today, I also went to see the Ermanno Scervino S/S 2012 show which took place at la Scuola Militare, the military school. The scenery was quite impressive and a wonderful juxtaposition to the very romantic and feminine collection.

With the next summer collection, Ermanno Scervino takes us on a voyage across India of Rajasthan and of the Maharajas. The Florence based designer is constantly melting different worlds and different materials, combining sportswear and couture by playing with unexpected combinations, such as geometric jackets over light ruffled dresses.

In the front row (so-called “frow” now), I spotted Alice Dellal (model and sister of shoe designer Charlotte Olympia) who is the new advertising face for the Ermanno Scervino F/W 2011 campaign, in the amazing black overall from the winter collection. Alice with her edgy look adds the right twist to those soft and playful creations.

Great choice! I have loved the S/S 2012 show and you? You can watch it at the end of this post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Campaign Photos: Courtesy of Ermanno Scervino

For 2011’s Cannes International Film Festival, Only The Brave Foundation and Le Baron have invited celebrities (Jude Law, Kirsten Dunst an many more) to sign a Diesel Black Gold denim, during their fabulous nights at Le Baron Piano Bar.

This denim is now sold by auction on ebay until 22nd September : all profits will be donated to the Only The Brave Foundation, that supports and develops a variety of innovative development projects in Africa.

Many celebrities attended last week’s S/S 2012 runway presentation in New York City, among them Gerard Butler with his date Petra Nemcova and the Roitfeld girls.

“It’s time to reflect.” This was written on the program at the Diesel Black Gold S/S 2012 show. There were dangling mirrors hanging down, perfectly reflecting the light and preparing the audience for a show full of metallics. I am in love with those shiny materials. As this is already a huge trend for F/W 2011, I am glad to see that this is going to stay for a while.
Let the light of Diesel Black Gold shine on me…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Diesel Black Gold

“I always wanted to make a perfume which would have the same resonance for everyone, something like tenderness, or childhood and I wanted there to be such a sensual contact with this perfume, that you almost feel like devouring the person you love.”

Thierry Mugler

Love it or hate it! It seems that this oriental-gourmand fragrance allows only the extreme. Since its creation in 1992, it is one of the bestselling scents around the globe.

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS ANGEL…
A GOURMAND PERFUME THAT HAS BECOME LEGENDARY.

FROM STAR TO COMET – A NEW EAU DE TOILETTE

Almost 20 years later, a new satellite appears, Angel will be available as Eau de Toilette with a new shaped flacon in a modern interpretation.. Angel’s dazzling star gives birth to an undulating comet.

More than just a difference in concentration, Angel Eau de Toilette is a unique harmony of scents composed by Amandine Marie (Robertet). It has become “oriental-gourmand-powdery”.

Top Notes: Bergamot, red berries and pepper

Middle Notes: Praliné, caramel and berries

Base Notes: Patchouli, vanilla, cedar and white musk.

Faithful to Angel’s tradition, the Comet, available in 40 ml and in 80 ml, is refillable, thanks to its eco-source bottle (40 ml).

A MESMERIZING CAMPAIGN

Eva Mendes is the glamorous woman for the Eau de Parfum and beguiling icon for the Eau de Toilette, she embodies all the addictions of Angel.

New muse, new campaign… I loved the illustrations so much that I wanted to share them with you.

Always spectacular, the Angel woman rediscovers a certain type of intimacy in her perfume and in her dreams, expressing a seduction more moving than ever.

One woman, two stories…

A deserted train station. A shimmering clear night. The Angel woman waits for the train that, with its guiding star, will take her to the depths of her dreams.

In the “Dream Machine”, comfortably seated, she sprays her wrist lightly. After scarcely a whiff, she gives into pleasure, eyes closed, and takes off…

Her first dream brings her back to childhood memories of a fair, the Ferris wheel and cotton candy. This vision becomes hazy and takes the shape of the Eau de Toilette bottle followed by the Eau de Parfum bottle that sets her off on her next trip. She dances in this day dream, as though completely spellbound, among constellations of stars. Enchanting…

And the imaginary odyssey ends, giving way to reality. As she gets off the train immersed in a blue light, her exalted expression keeps you guessing about the thrill and the transgression of her experience.

Looking up to the sky that welcomed her, she takes the ultimate memento of her recent experience out of her trench coat pocket: the scintillating Angel bottle.

Illustrations: © Stefano Canulli

The world wide campaign, conceived by Thierry Mugler and orchestrated by Christophe de Lataillade, the brand’s Artistic Director, has brought together an exceptional cast. British director, Baillie Walsh, directed the film and the image was immortalized by the duo of fashion photographers Inez van Lansweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.

Below is the new commercial with Eva Mendes singing. Hope that you like it.

LoL, Sandra