Sandra‘s Closet

Pharell Williams is a genius, a multifaceted musician-artist-entrepreneur in one.  So no wonder that companies like Moncler or Louis Vuitton have been branching out to collaborate with the rapper for some very special editions.

Pharell who is addicted to sparkles was called to create some bling bling for Louis Vuitton with Camille Miceli (who was Jewelry and Creative designer at this time, now she is at Dior) in 2008. The beautiful Blason collection (see above) revisits the idea of aristrocracy and is still sold in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.

The F/W 2010 down vests and jackets for the new Moncler V line (see below) are reminding me of bullet-proof vests, very cool. They are made of Bionic yarn, which is produced by Pharell’s textile company. Available at Restir or Moncler.

Last night, Pharell Williams performed at Stella McCartney’s After Party that was held at Don Camilo, a cabaret/ night club in the 7th arrondissement. It was amazing! Here are some impressions, enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

(Photos: Sandra Bauknecht)

Pharell Williams at his best

The Stella girls having a blast!

Claudia Schiffer

Famous model Anouck Lepère with me

It is the beginning of October and we should slowly start thinking of  X-mas presents. What is always causing headaches for me is finding something for my hubby. Therefore I thought I have to show you those cool pieces that I have come across recently. From very expensive to absolutely affordable. And for my lovely male readers probably something interesting to treat yourselves a little. Enjoy!

The Versace “Business” watch is limited to 500 pieces and is sold in Versace stores worldwide for €1600.- which is truly an amazing price for a limited edition watch.

Prada offers some beautiful iPad (€150.-/€400.-) and iPhone (€95.-) cases along with matching USB sticks (€100.-), all made of their signature saffiano leather. Available from November in Prada stores.

The Ralph Lauren Home Brabham vice box in subtle leather is ideal for entertaining, with included crystal decanter and four glasses, poker chips, signature cards and coordinating coasters. It is a limited-edition of fifty and comes with an embossed nameplate stating so. The dream has its price: $4995.-

The Hammond chess set is a sleek and modern rendition of a classic favourite, an ideal gift for the luxury loving game aficionado, $1995.-.

The GG pattern shawl by Gucci is an iconic piece and comes in beige and metallic gold with brown GG or in grey and metallic silver with black GG.
Available online or in Gucci stores for CHF 420.-.

The Special Edition has a reminiscent design of early 60s music, fountain pen (CHF 1055.-).

For all music lovers, Montblanc has released the John Lennon Collection, in commemoration of the late legend’s 70th birthday. The writing instruments collection consists of three editions.

I hope that I have inspired you a little!

LoL, Sandra

The Commemoration Edition 1940 is limited to only 1940 pieces and marks the year of Lennon’s birth, fountain pen (CHF 3.875.-).

The Limited Edition 70 is limited to 70 pieces, the age John Lennon would have since this October, fountain pen (CHF 31.000.-).

Ladurée is worldwide known for their double-decker macaroons which come in various flavours and seasonal specials. Founded in Paris by Louis-Ernest Ladurée, in 1862, the famous luxury pastries shop and café is always worth a visit. Today, the brand can be found all over the world and has even opened its doors in Zurich last winter.

Even if you are not into caloric treats, you should pay the shop a visit. The interior itself is overly stunning and inspiring, definitely nothing for minimalists.
Remember my friend, I wrote about, that built her dream closet in the famous Ladurée green.

The Ladurée universe includes much more than sweets. They sell the most beautiful gifts you can imagine from scented candles to shower gel, from ruffled printed umbrellas to tea degustation sets. All gorgeously wrapped and packed in their signature boxes in pastel colours.

Many designers got together with the famous French patisserie for the best fashion/food collaborations ever. Names like Christian Lacroix, Christian Louboutin, Marni, which are making our hearts go all aflutter with their designs, have created adorable macarons gift sets.
In the end of October, John Galliano will be decorating his special edition for Ladurée: The rose-ginger macaroons.

While the sweets inside may not last long, the fashionable packaging will be worth keeping it forever.

LoL, Sandra

Recently the couture bottle design has become a huge craze. Companies team up with famous designers to get new “clothes” for their drinks.

After some really amazing collaborations with some of the biggest names in fashion, like Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paul Smith, Evian has chosen Issey Miyake this year to create a stylish cover. Clean, contemporary and colourful is the new design that will be available in gourmet stores.

Perrier is spicing up his bubbles with the help of burlesque star Dita van Teese who will be their new cover girl this year. Before that they worked with Custo Barcelona, Agnès B. and Paul & Joe to create some very desirable cans and bottles.

Finally San Pellegrino decided to be part of the hype and has chosen Missoni to cover their famous bottle label with the Italian fashion house’s zig zag pattern for their 111th anniversary. Thirty million units are being produced and will be sold in the best restaurants worldwide. In Zurich, they are everywhere.

Diet Coke has been increasing its connections with the world of fashion since quite a while. So no wonder that a long list of famous designers already have got a chance to embellish the beloved soft drink. Karl Lagerfeld has even changed the shape of the bottle this spring.

For all champagne loving fashionistas, Piper-Heidsieck has got some amazing pieces, from the corset bottle designed by Jean Paul Gaultier in 1999 to Christian Louboutin’s Le Rituel Box with a red soled shoe flute and Viktor & Rolf’s limited edition Rose Sauvage set with an upside down bottle.

Dolce & Gabbana’s first experiment in the wines and spirits sector is the Martini Gold Limited Edition. The exclusive mix: bergamot from Calabria, lemons from Sicily as well as oranges, Spanish saffron, myrrh from Ethiopia, ginger from India, and cubebe pepper from Indonesia was developed by the design duo themselves.

A good investment was definitely one of the 2000 individually numbered whiskey bottles that featured Alexander McQueen’s signature Union Jack colours. The late designer had teamed up with Chivas Regal to create that special piece in 2008.

As to me, all those bottles are really striking and sophisticated object d’arts and a show stopping addition to any dinner party.

Cheers!

LoL, Sandra

Vending machines selling luxury goods seem to be on the rise. Katie Grand, editor-in-chief of LOVE magazine has teamed up with Selfridges to create such a machine for the beginning of London Fashion Week until October 15th. The new retail concept can be found in the lobby of London’s It-hotel St Martin’s Lane where many editors, models and buyers are staying at the moment.

You can get a lot of fantastic items, some highly exclusive, let me name a few:

-Falabella bag by Stella McCartney

-leather and sequined dress by Alexander Wang

-draped dress by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

-a unique pair of trainers by Rick Owens customized by Chrome Hearts with solid silver hardware

-Amazona handbag by Loewe

-limited Dior nail polishes

-Mimosa candles by Diptyque exclusive to Selfridges in yellow

–Falke’s new „secret socks“ for men

-a vintage Rolex watch

-embossed leather wallets by Comme des Garçons

-clutch purses by Mulberry

A word to the wise, do not get drunk in the hotel bar, you might lose control and this could end on the way to your room passing the LOVE machine in a financial disaster.

LoL, Sandra

A limited collection to covet: Ugg for Jimmy Choo, launching in October but available now for pre-order at Saks (shipping worldwide) and Ugg Australia.
The stylish versions of the ultracomfy must-have boots have already got their own nickname: Chuggs. But with a $495.- and more price tag, not everybody can affored to keep warm in style.

Two icons, one collection – I am crazy for them!

LoL, Sandra

Ladies, mark your calendars. On November 23rd fashionistas around the globe will line up in front of H&M shops to participate in one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year: Lanvin’s exclusive collection for H&M that will include womenswear as well as menswear.

It will definitely be a very interesting collabration given Lanvin’s artistic director Alber Elbaz’s quote: “H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public.”

Alber Elbaz, Photo: Paolo Roversi

Above you can see some stunning pieces of Lanvin’s F/W 2010 collection as well as in my last post about the gorgeous leopard print pieces.

I totally love the French house and cannot wait for those covetable pieces for H&M to be revealed in the beginning of November. Stay tuned as I will keep you posted immediately.

LoL, Sandra

Sounds unreal, but it is true. On September 10th (also known as Fashion’s Night Out ), Chanel will be launching another limited-edition make-up collection in honour of their Soho shop reopening. Chanel`s highly-anticipated Peter Marino-redesigned shop on 139 Spring Street in New York ( +1 212 334 0055) will be the only place to get the so-called “Soho Story Collection” that includes the following gorgeous products:

Soho de Chanel Palette (with the four letters of Soho engraved in the powder)

Quadra Eyeshadow Palette Stupendous (beige, brown, prune and steel)

Rouge Coco Lip Colour Stunning (beige pink)

Glossimer Star (light shimmery pink)

Rouge Allure Stunt (soft mauve)

Nail Colours Strong (blackberry glitter) and Steel (grayish blue glitter)

The new shop has even got its own campaign featuring plus size model Crystal Renn and Lagerfeld’s muse Baptiste Giabiconi.

So, New Yorkeresses, get your hands on those pieces and ship them to your fellow fashionistas around the globe. Thanks!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

If you are a cat and lipstick lover, you will purr over Paul and Joe’s limited-edition F/W 2010 collection that features 3 new lipsticks in the shape of cat faces, available through Shopstyle. Those products are so hilarious that I had to share the news with you. Applying them might be quite challenging but after the cat-eyes hype, why shouldn`t there be a cat-lips trend?!

Meow to all pussycats!

LoL, Sandra

Last year at the first Fashion’s Night Out, the launch of Chanel’s mint green nail polish “Jade” went done in nail polish history. Peter Philips, global creative director of Chanel make-up, started a hype that has not come to an end yet. Fashionistas all over the world have craved for the limited vernis colours since then.

This fall at the second Fashion’s Night Out hosted by Vogue , that will take place in 16 cities around the globe (like New York, Paris, London, Berlin and Tokyo) it won`t be any different.  
The world’s biggest shopping event stands for a fab night with late store opening hours, fashion shows, pop-ups and exclusive offers.

Chanel will launch the very limited Les Khakis de Chanel, a collection of 3 Le Vernis Nail Colours that can be worn alone or combined for a camouflage effect. With the ongoing military trend, the shades in so-called Khaki Rose, Khaki Brun and Khaki Vert are a must!

Get ready for Sept 9th (like Berlin) or Sept 10th (like New York )! Book your flights, call your girlfriends in one of those 16 metropoles and  pray for the grace of the Beauty Gods!
Nothing else will help…

I will be on the field in London that night!

LoL, Sandra