Sandra‘s Closet

Life in plastic — it’s fantastic! British accessories designer Charlotte Olympia, known for her fun patterns and cheeky designs, brings our childhood dreams to life with this pink-tastic collection of clutches and shoes in collaboration with Barbie®.

Personally speaking, the greatest Barbie® collaboration ever!

LoL, Sandra

Vanina textured-leather box clutch

Pomeline patent-leather and mesh sandals

Barbie Girl platform sandals

Barbie World Perspex box clutch

Kitty embroidered leopard-print velvet slippers

Collection doll

Photos: Courtesy of Mattel and Charlotte Olympia

The first ever designer colouring book, perfect for fashion and colouring fans alike. From inspiration to reality, Matthew has selected from his collection of iconic prints and shares the inspiration, research sketches, and behind-the-scenes creation. Follow the journey of his idea, and then colour and create your own version with exclusive versions of Matthew Williamson prints for you to colour yourself.

Prints include the Butterfly Wheel, Peacock Heart and Pineapple Paisley. Matthew is signing the first 100 copies of the book for customers of our online boutique.

Matthew Williamson with me

If you get a chance, check out also Matthew’s first range of gift cards, notebooks and journals using prints from the brand’s 20-year history. To shop, click here please.

Such beautiful notebooks.

I love the wrapping papers. Pictured here the Peacock Heart print.

With Matthew Williamson in his London shop that has the most beautiful interior design.

You can shop the brand’s wallpapers that transform every room into something magical.

From wallpapers to dresses – discover the new fashion collections from Matthew Williamson by clicking HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Matthew Williamson and © Sandra Bauknecht

“What amuses me while drawing is the fact to draw,” added Karl Lagerfeld. “To me, drawing is like breathing and writing. These are things that almost relax me.”

Yesterday, KARL LAGERFELD and Faber-Castell have announced their amazing collaboration, the KARLBOX, a limited-edition collection of high-end drawing tools and artists’ supplies.

 Only 2,500 of the KARLBOX have been made and are exclusively available at Faber-Castell stores, KARL LAGERFELD boutiques worldwide and Harrods in London from now.
In select department stores and specialty stores from September 19, 2016.

Anchored in simple elegance, the KARLBOX comes in a sleek black box that has been designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Produced with exemplary craftsmanship, its wooden frame resembles a Chinese wedding cabinet. Inside, the individual drawers are removable in order to set them up for creative work. Every one-of-a-kind box has a serial number and certificate of authenticity, making each completely unique and unmistakeable.

The KARLBOX collection features a varied selection of premium artists’ tools including ALBRECHT DÜRER and POLYCHROMOS colour pencils, highly pigmented PITT Artist ink pens, Castell 9000 graphite pencils and PITT crayons and -pastels, watercolour brushes and accessories like a foldable water cup, an eraser and sharpeners. Crafted with the highest degree of quality, shades are sorted by primary and secondary colours, ranging from soft pastels to vibrant and intense pigmentations. Karl Lagerfeld’s own favourite product line is the ALBRECHT DÜRER artist range of watersoluble color pencils, and all 120 shades are included in the KARLBOX.

“Since I was a child in Germany, Faber-Castell has been the most famous brand, known for its especially good quality,” said Karl Lagerfeld. “That reputation remains just as true today, particularly for artist pencils.”

Over the course of his illustrious career, the designer has used Faber-Castell products to create countless works of art. From fashion and design to writing and penmanship, Karl Lagerfeld most often turns to pen and paper to bring his ideas to life, with each brush of a pencil or pastel expressing a new vision from within his creative mind.

I wished I had one at home…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Karl Lagerfeld / Faber-Castell

Long-running rumors in the industry have been finally confirmed today: RAF SIMONS has been formally appointed as Chief Creative Officer at Calvin Klein, filling the vacant position left by Francisco Costa in April. It is said that the American brand and Simons have been unable to make any announcement due to the year-long non-compete clause in Simons’s Christian Dior contract that came to an end last month.

Iconic minimalism:
Bara tulle-paneled stretch-crepe dress by Calvin Klein Collection

Mr. Simons will lead the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home brands. As part of his role as Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Simons will oversee all aspects of design, global marketing and communications, and visual creative services. Mr. Simons’ first collections will debut for the F/W 2017 season.

The famous underwear:
Modern Cotton stretch cotton-blend soft-cup bra by Calvin Klein Underwear

Raf Simons with me

The appointment of Mr. Simons as Chief Creative Officer marks the implementation of Calvin Klein’s new global creative strategy, announced in April 2016, to unify all Calvin Klein brands under one creative vision. The strategy comes as part of a global evolution of the Calvin Klein brand, which began with the reacquisition of the Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear businesses in 2013. As Calvin Klein looks to grow the brand to $10 billion in global retail sales, this new leadership is intended to further strengthen the brand’s premium positioning worldwide and pave the way for future long-term global growth.

Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc.

“The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,” said Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc. “Not since Mr. Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf’s exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand.”

Raf Simons & his right hand Pieter Mulier in Dior and I (Courtesy of Dior)

As part of the creative strategy for the apparel and accessories business, Calvin Klein also announced the hire of Pieter Mulier as Creative Director, reporting directly to Mr. Simons. Mr. Mulier will be responsible for executing Mr. Simons’ creative and design vision for men’s and women’s ready to wear, as well as the bridge and better apparel lines and accessories. He will also manage all men’s and women’s design teams within the Calvin Klein brand, under Mr. Simons’ leadership.

Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH], is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide. Product lines under the various Calvin Klein brands include women’s dresses and suits, men’s dress furnishings and tailored clothing, men’s and women’s sportswear and bridge and collection apparel, golf apparel, jeanswear, underwear, fragrances, eyewear, women’s performance apparel, hosiery, socks, footwear, swimwear, jewelry, watches, outerwear, handbags, small leather goods, and home furnishings (including furniture).

With a heritage going back over 130 years, PVH Corp. has excelled at growing brands and businesses with rich American heritages, becoming one of the largest apparel companies in the world, having over 30,000 associates operating in over 40 countries with over $8 billion in 2015 revenues. Among the brands are Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, IZOD, ARROW, Speedo, Warner’s and more.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Calvin Klein and © 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

“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

For more than 15 years, the name Lola Paltinger has been standing for an unmistakeable creative signature which combines Alpine tradition with pleasurable eccentricity. At the heart of her company is her bespoke dirndl atelier in Munich’s city centre. Lola is like my humble self a former ESMOD student. Later she trained with Vivienne Westwood and has been running her enterprise with her mother Brigitte since 1999. Her timelessly beautiful couture dirndls delight every woman’s heart in search of an outfit for the Munich Beer Festival, a wedding or another, very personal crowning event. All the models are produced and finished off in the ateliers in Germany.

Designer Lola Paltinger on the streets of Munich in one of her designs.

Lola Paltinger Couture

Let your dream of a timelessly glamorous couture dirndl come true in Lola Paltinger’s atelier! Only materials of her own creation are used for the unique dirndls and Bavarian style ensembles: luxurious, sometimes hand-painted materials, combined with magnificent embroidery, buttons and charivaris. All the models are produced in the ateliers in Germany, on request even within 24 hours.

Here are some of my favorite couture models:

Couture 1015
Piqué dirndl in soft blue with printed Alpine motifs, decorative borders, floral bouquet, embroidered cotton blouse and glitter apron: € 2,800

Couture 1016
“MARIE” red-check dirndl with hand-embroidered, ornate rhinestone border, lace and ruffle trims, taffeta underskirt, lace blouse and hand-embroidered, bordered velvet apron: € 3,200

Couture 1019
Jacquard dirndl in denim blue with hand-embroidery at the front, decorative borders and taffeta underskirt, high-necked lace blouse and glitter apron: € 3,100

Couture 2020
Dirndl ensemble consisting of bodice and skirt “MARIE” bodice with hand-embroidered insets: € 1,550, Flared skirt with decorative border: € 1,200
Combined with: High-necked lace blouse: € 550, Patch apron with decorative borders: € 550

Couture 2021
Jacquard dirndl with lace borders, floral brooch and patch apron: € 3,000

Couture 2025
“MARIE” jacquard dirndl with hand-embroidered insets: € 3,100
Combined with: “PEGGY” blouse in pink, Patch apron

Lola Paltinger with one of her famous clients Kim Kardashian.

Happy Heidi

This limited-edition less expensive collection of prêt-à-porter dirndls, which appears annually right in time for the Munich Beer Festival, is bright and cheerful, and highly fashionable. The enchanting combinations with apron and charivari or embroidery are made from specially created materials and are rich in elaborate and lovingly placed details. They come in several attractive colours and are complemented by blouses which are available separately.

Happy Heidi 5137
HAPPY HEIDI printed linen dirndl with brooch, taffeta underskirt and taffeta apron: € 699
Combined with: Cotton blouse: € 139

Happy Heidi 5139
HAPPY HEIDI “UNGARN”  jacquard dirndl in bordeaux with brooch, taffeta underskirt and taffeta apron: € 699
Combined with: Cotton blouse: € 139

Happy Heidi 6145
HAPPY HEIDI cotton dirndl with embroidered inset and organza apron: € 699
Combined with: “SALZBURG” lace blouse: € 159

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lola Paltinger

From left: Carol Lim, Ann-Sofie Johansson and Humberto Leon

Today, H&M has announced that its next designer collaboration which will be with KENZO, the vibrant and playful Parisian house that captures the energy of global culture to create its unique, youthful spirit. Creative Directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon will bring this vibe to H&M, creating collections for women and men as well as accessories. KENZO x H&M will be available in over 250 selected H&M stores worldwide, as well as online, from November 3, 2016.

TO SHOP KENZO’S RECENT PRÊT-À-PORTER COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE!

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of H&M

As part of the month of the French culture in Cuba, the House of CHANEL presents the exhibition “Obra en Proceso / Work in Progress” by Karl Lagerfeld at the Factoría Habana art gallery. To celebrate its inauguration two days before the Cruise 2017 show, guests were able to discover more than 200 photographs by the famous designer.

The exhibition is divided into three sections representing Karl Lagerfeld’s main interests – fashion, architecture and landscapes. It explores the great diversity of subjects, approaches and techniques that define the very personal and subtle interpretation that makes his photography. For him, a photo is not just an image but also a unique visual object. It is open until tomorrow and the admission is free.

Obra en Proceso / Work in Progress
Factoría Habana
Calle O’Reilly No.°308, e/ Habana y Aguiar
La Habana Vieja
La Habana, Cuba

Enjoy my personal moments of the opening celebration:

On our way to the exhibition through the streets of the old town of Havana…

… we were guided by beautiful Cuban models.

Factoría Habana art gallery

Karl Lagerfeld arriving at the opening celebration.

With lovely Stella Tennant in front of Karl Lagerfeld’s photos of her.

I fell in love with Lagerfeld’s photos of his muse Baptiste Giabiconi…

… that show the model in a different way.

More to come from Cuba! Stay tuned!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel / © Olivier Saillant / © Anne Combaz and © Sandra Bauknecht

Rumors had been going on already, but only last week we got the confirmation that Hedi Slimane is leaving Saint Laurent. It was only a four-year tenure, but the designer wove a serious fashion tale, definitely in my closet. I went crazy when his first collection (Cruise 2013) for the French Maison hit the shelves.

In 2012, when Slimane started, he first changed the name YSL to a simple Saint Laurent and ushered in rock ‘n’ roll influences. He included menswear into the women’s runway shows and created iconic pieces such as biker jackets, the Janis heels, the Sac de Jour bag that he presented every season in other shades. Due to this, he designs never went out of style but on the other hand, it got a little boring after a while.

Saint Laurent is under the helmet of the Kering giant and to add fuel to the fire, a likely successor might have been already chosen: Anthony Vaccarello, who was handpicked by Donatella Versace to spearhead the Versus brand, and was named its creative director last September.

French Fashion carrousel is turning as Raf Simons (Dior), Alber Elbaz (Lanvin) and Alexander Wang (Balenciaga) had left their posts last year.

Below you can enjoy some of my favourite outfits that I wore during the last years designed by Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

March 2013: At the Valentino S/S 2013 Fashion Show

September 2013: Piaget Movie Night in Zurich

October 2013: Tartan

November 2013: Driven By Something

December 2013: It’s a Plaid, Plaid World

December 2013: I See You in the Stars

January 2014: Place Vendôme

January 2014: Sense on the Edge

January 2014: Birthday Girl

May 2014: Vampires Everywhere

May 2014: Dressing in Black and White

July 2014: Party Time in Marrakesh

October 2014: Leather Rebel

October 2014: Into the Wild

November 2014: Milan

November 2014: Glitz and Glam

December 2014: Wherever You Go

December 2014: Clash of the Tartans

January 2015: Is It Friday Yet?

February 2015: Shoot for the Moon

April 2015: Oh La La

April 2015: Leo

May 2015: Everyone Is Fighting a Battle

August 2015: At the Alpina Gstaad

August 2015: Rive Gauche Summer Party

November 2015: Acid Leopard

March 2016: Spring Picnic

Photos: Courtesy of Saint Laurent and © Sandra Bauknecht