Sandra‘s Closet

This was my look for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich Opening Night on Wednesday:

Mietta embroidered crepe top, Jessica flared crepe mini skirt, both by Stella McCartney, fur shrug by Prada, gold-plated Swarovski crystal clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, bow-embellished suede and snake-effect leather ankle boots by Miu Miu, Trapeze bag by Céline and cocktail ring by Roberto Cavalli.

If you are wondering why I brought such a huge bag, I was carrying two cameras. During the next days, I will show you all the photos from the events and runway shows.

There was a lot of press coverage from the night and I gave some interviews. If you are interested to see them, have a look at annabelle, 20 Minuten online and NZZ.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Screenshots via annabelle, 20 Minuten and NZZ

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

From the 7th to the 10th of November 2012, Switzerland celebrates for the third time the ZURICH FASHION DAYS, this year for the first year under the helmet of a famous sponsor: Mercedes-Benz and at the trendy location “Schiffbau” in Zurich West.

With numerous side events and runway shows of national and international acclaimed designers, it will surely be a lot of fun. Follow me on Sandra’s Closet to always stay up to date with the program. The Zurich Fashion Days offer a unique opportunity for fashion lovers: Tickets to the fashion shows are available for sale. To get yours, please click here.

Here is a brief summary of what is coming up:

Wednesday, 7th of November 2012

Mercedes-Benz Opening Night
“An Homage to Design and Desire”

Runway Shows: MSGM di Massimo Giorgetti, Marco de Vincenzo, Mila Schön, Angelos Bratis
Music: Pegasus

Thursday, 8th of November 2012

annabelle award 2012 presented by Paul Mitchell
“An Homage to the Youth”

Runway shows: Claudia Zuber, Laend Phuengkit, van Bery
Runway Show: Barbara Bui/ Paris

Barbara Bui is coming to Zurich! The Parisian designer will be choosing the 9th winner of the annabelle award and show her collection on the runway of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich.

Friday, 9th of November 2012

Swiss Designers Show presented by Oerlikon
“An Homage to Diversity”

Special: Fibers & Yarns Award
Runway Show: Portenier Roth, Marc Stone, LBD White, Javier Reyes, KAZU

Official After Show Party: Radio 24 FridayNite, Kaufleuten

Four official languages and numerous different cultural regions are characteristic for Switzerland. This will also be visible on Friday evening when “an homage to diversity” is the motto. There will be various designers from different Swiss regions, who partially also manufacture their collection locally – something that has become relatively rare nowadays. Fashion from Switzerland for the whole world.

The collections will also be showcased the next day at the Swiss Designer Showroom. For more information, please click here.

Saturday, 10th of November 2012

International Closing Night
“An Homage to Glamour and Nightlife”

Runway Shows: Dawid Tomaszweski, Arzu Kaprol, Dimitri
Music: Kyla La Grange
Runway Show: Charlotte Ronson

Official After Show Party: Club Circuit Festival, Jade/Amber/Prive/Station

The closing night of the most important fashion event in Switzerland will end with the big closing party of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2012.

For all shopaholics, I have some great news. The Mercedes Benz Fashion Days will already kick off with on Tuesday evening with the Late Fashion Shopping Zurich event in cooperation with annabelle magazine and cool shopping maps. Around 40 shops will open their doors until 11pm and host special events, among them trend store Vestibule where you can create your own annabelle cover with the help of the egoshooting machine. The best one will win a CHF 1000.- shopping spree. All guests receive a 10% shopping discount during the event!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich, annabelle, Vestibule and © Sandra Bauknecht

This Christmas, Harrods and Disney are celebrating a glamorous collaboration with a pop-up boutique and exciting in-store events. The exclusive 7,000 square-foot boutique is open on the Fourth Floor at Harrods until January 2012. Housing an array of Disney products, it will also include bespoke limited-edition items, collectables and show-stopping dress-up pieces.

For truly royal treatment, visit the Disney Princess Parlour dress-up area and try on iconic costumes. Plus, for £19.95, visitors will have the opportunity to have a 15 minute photographic experience against an enchanting Disney backdrop and take home mounted photographs (by appointment only).

There will also be a Cinderella Slipper Salon offering replica glitter-embellished glass limited-edition slippers, ranging from £24.95 to £34.95; with limited stock available be sure to stop by early to guarantee your purchase.

To celebrate this pink and sparkly paradise, leading fashion designers including Versace, Valentino, Elie Saab and Roberto Cavalli were invited by Harrods to create a special interpretation of one of 10 Disney Princesses animating the store’s Christmas project.

An here is your exclusive first look at the beautiful gowns that will be unveiled in the famous Harrods Christmas windows on Thursday November 1, 2012. I love!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP DISNEY AT HARRODS.

LoL, Sandra

Pocahontas by Roberto Cavalli

Aurora by Elie Saab

Cinderella by Versace

Snow White by Oscar de la Renta

Belle by Valentino
Photos: Courtesy of Harrods

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

Here we go: Your exclusive preview of Maison Martin Margiela with H&M really up close! Today, I was able to browse through and try on the amazing collection at Mondrian Soho‘s penthouse suite. Personally speaking, I was truly impressed.

Before talking you through the collaboration, let me tell you a little more about the house of Margiela: The influential Belgian designer Martin Margiela founded his brand Maison Martin Margiela in 1988. He is the fashion scene’s ghost, compared to other eccentric designers, he has never granted an interview or even considered to being photographed. His employees are wearing lab coats and have also never been seen in pictures. I met some of them today. You will see their white uniform in the photos but I am not allowed to show you their faces. Margiela’s main focus is on the product and not on the individual behind it.

The label on his clothes is equally anonymous, a blank white rectangle and a circled number from 0 to 23 that corresponds to one of various lines in the Margiela range. Of course, the white stitches used to affix his label—often visible at the back of the garment—have become funilly enough an internationally recognized icon. Margiela has pushed fashion boundaries with clothes made of trash bags or vintage home furnishings  such as car seats or seat belts. In 2002, he sold a majority stake to Renzo Rosso, owner of Diesel.

The collaboration between Maison Martin Margiela and H&M presents a re-edition of iconic Margiela garnets and accessories for men and women. It consists of around 100 pieces. Each of them is specifically labelled with a unique tag indicating the season from which it originated, spanning 23 years. The most representative pieces of Margiela’s archive are reproduced in updated shapes and materials and offered to the broad public as an exclusive synopsis of their history. I think that is a very interesting approach of H&M. They are bringing fashion history to the masses which I adore.

The entire collection is divided into five groups:

Shape & Volume: Masculine shapes are adjusted to frame the female body.

Oversized: Pieces of the masculine and feminine wardrobe are presented in oversized versions of themselves.

Ambiguity: Conveyed through the use of trompe l’oeil.

Transformation: This occurs in different ways. Offering a new use and shape to otherwise typical objects and materials.

My favourites: The adjusted biker jacket and the amazing candy clutch in pink.

The adjusted biker jacket for women also looks great on men as René sports it in perfection. If you like his style, follow him on instagram @renewho.

Gray of Bootiesonmyfeet looks stunning in the belted Maison Martin Margiela with H&M leather jacket.

The candy clutches SS2010. A candy bar packaging is enlarged and transformed into an evening clutch bag.

Process of Tailoring: Traditional finishings and tailoring procedures are visible. Similarly, more specific sartorial concepts, particular to the world of couture are exposed.

Margareta van den Bosch, H&M’s Creative Advisor, with me

The accessories are absolutely divine. Now, I am getting ready for tonight’s party where we can also shop the new collection before it will officially hit the stores on November 15, 2012 worldwide.

Stay tuned for more.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Good morning from NYC! The sun is shining and I am awake early due to the time difference. This is the view of my beautiful hotel, the MONDRIAN SOHO.

I am typing this while I am enjoying my healthy breakfast in bed, some fresh pineapple with a soy cappuccino (actually three). This feels like heaven on earth.

The reason for my trip to NYC is an amazing invitation from H&M for their upcoming collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela. Tonight, on Tuesday October 23 at 8.30pm EST (Wednesday October 24 at 2.30am CET/1.30am GMT) the big launch party will take place here in New York. There will be an exclusive live footage from the red carpet on Facebook!

And of course, lots of photos from the event, the celebrities and my look here on Sandra’s Closet during the next days! Can you believe that it was one year ago, that I was here for the Versace for H&M launch party…?!

In the meantime, I have some beautiful photos of the hotel and my room for you:

To embellish the lobby walls, Mondrian SoHo has collaborated with NYC-based painter and photographer Marilyn Minter in presenting a wallpaper installation of her famous Kicksilver photograph, that captures a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos in a splash of metallic vodka.

Here you see my room that offers some very sweet details. I love the colour combination of creamy blue and white.

A little surprise was waiting for me on the desk…

So excited for tonight…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

“What is important to my work is the individual picture. I photograph stories on assignment, and of course they have to be put together coherently. But what matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling.” – Steve McCurry

Steve McCurry certainly is one of the most beloved and renowned photographers of all times. Born in 1950, the American is best known for his images of the conflict in Afghanistan. His career kicked off, when, disguised in native garb and with full beard, he crossed the Pakistan border into the rebel-controlled country just before the Russian Invasion was closing it to all Western journalists. McCurry had rolls of film sewn into his clothes and was one of the first ones putting a human face to the issue on every masthead.

His photograph, “Afghan Girl” that originally appeared in National Geographic magazine, is one of the most published photos in the world. Steve McCurry lives in New York but spends two-thirds of the year travelling the globe.

Steve McCurry with me

Being such an iconic voices in contemporary photography, McCurry is also shooting more “glossy” things, such as the world’s most famous Pirelli calendar. During the St. Moritz Art Masters, I had the honour to meet him and being photographed by him.

As for me, the reason of his success is to be found in the aesthetics of his photos, the way he works with his “object”. He saw me in a different way, found my long hair too graphic and made me put it up in a disheveled chignon to show more of my shoulders that he liked a lot.

Enjoy some of the behind-the-scenes shots! I cannot wait to show you the final result. And of course, stay tuned for a detailed outfit post to be published soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Steve McCurry and © Sandra Bauknecht

Thursday night, during Paris fashion week, an extravagant party launched the AdR at H&M collection with theatrical flair. Hosted by H&M together with fashion icon Anna Dello Russo, the Paradise Ball took place in Paris famed cabaret nightclub Paradis Latin.

The glitzy party married fashion, performance and a live showcase by music star Azealia Banks. Staying true to AdR’s belief that fashion is something that makes you dream, the eccentric party was all about fantasy and decoration.
“Excess for me means success”, said the fashion icon.

Caroline Piccinin (Le Matin), René Zibold (H&M) with me

Wigs and paper masks transformed the fashionable crowd all into Mini-Annas.

Cabaret-style “vogueing performances” as Anna described them, presented the collection in a very distinctive truly Parisian way.

My look: Powder gun dress by Mary Katrantzou, head piece by Christian Dior, pink bag by Lanvin and Tribtoo textured leather pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

Friends and fashionistas, including Olivier Theyskens, Rachel Zoe, Poppy Delevingne, and super models Karlie Kloss, Constance Jablonski, and Liya Kebede among many others gathered to celebrate. There were so many famous people at the Paradis Latin as you can see below:

Renzo Rosso and Anna Dello Russo in a dress by Fausto Puglisi

Thomas Hayo (Germany’s Next Topmodel) and me

My beloved Mary Katrantzou

Fashion designer Jeremy Scott with me

Peter Dundas, Creative Director of Emilio Pucci, with me

It was a very fun night, the Paradise Ball was such a glamorous way to launch such an eye-catching collection. The playful line of jewelry, shoes and accessories that Anna Dello Russo designed for H&M, will be on sale from October 4, 2012, in 140 stores worldwide and online. Below are some of my favourite pieces.

LoL, Sandra

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