Sandra‘s Closet

Louis Vuitton launches a new iconic trainer, with the first model offered exclusively in Miami, in the very first Men’s store in the United States. The LV Runner Tatic is a new addition to the iconic family of Louis Vuitton trainers. Inspired by the running spirit and smooth curves of the 90s, this shoe is the most flexible, technical and agile in the collection. Its design boasts many areas of expertise.The wave-shaped sole is injected with foam, making it cushioning and resilient to support every rebound, every quest for speed.

It’s meticulously constructed from heatsealed mesh and suede calf-leather, using the minimum amount of stitching necessary. The shoe features finely detailed, reflective Monogram flowers, adding further vibrancy. A new iconic statement piece with a dynamic, fresh appeal, the LV Runner Tatic complements every look in the S/S 2022 collection.

A green model will be available exclusively in Miami, from 29th November, in the first Louis Vuitton store in the United States dedicated entirely to men’s collections. This new location, situated in the Design District, will be the second Louis Vuitton Men’s store in the world, after the first opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, last year.

In January, this ultra-collector’s piece will be joined by five equally desirable versions, featuring contrasting colours (blue, mocha, white…) or a monochrome bias (black). These five alternative colourways incorporate the same materials, as well as a Louis Vuitton label on the tongue. They also sport a new dynamic, contrasting LV signature embroidered on the side.

Available in store starting January 20th.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

adidas and Prada return to introduce a new chapter of their ongoing collaborative partnership – blending Prada’s expert craftsmanship with adidas’ lineage of sportswear innovation. Today, both brands pursue shared commitments to crucial sustainability goals while celebrating two timeless icons: the adidas Originals Forum and Prada’s Re-Nylon fabric.

Demonstrating this partnership’s commitment to innovation, the adidas for Prada Re-Nylon collection reimagines luxury sportswear through a more sustainable lens. For the first time in the collaboration’s history, this collection includes ready-to-wear, accessories, and bags, as well as elevated takes on the adidas Forum High and Low silhouettes. Each piece has been made in Italy by Prada, composed of the brand’s signature, infinitely recyclable Re-Nylon fabric.

First launched in 2019, Prada Re-Nylon is a groundbreaking textile created through the recycling of plastic waste collected from oceans and textile fiber waste – it can be purified and recycled indefinitely, with no loss of quality. Prada Re-Nylon is a fundamental reflection of Prada’s environmentally conscious ideology and commitment to sustainable practices – woven into the very fiber of its signature fabric. This celebration of Prada Re-Nylon through the adidas for Prada collection underscores a landmark: the shift of the entire Prada production from virgin nylon to Re-Nylon, achieved by the end of 2021.

adidas and Prada are also set to celebrate the inherently innovative spirit of their latest collection with a unique digital activation, bringing brands and people together in a radically inclusive manner. Collaborative by nature, fans of the collection will be invited to participate in the metaverse with adidas and Prada through open-source co-creation.

The adidas for Prada Re-Nylon collection launches globally on January 13th, 2022 via Prada boutiques, prada.com and adidas.com/prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada #adidasforPrada
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

The North Face and Gucci collaborate on the second chapter of designs that celebrates the spirit of exploration and pushes the limits of tradition. The latest selection of ready-to-wear and accessories embraces self-discovery through a mix of bold logo prints, geometric patterns and forest-themed motifs.

From jackets and T-shirts to cats, from backpacks to tracking boots, a massive selection of 126 co-branded pieces with an outdoor-inspired feel is available now.

My absolute favorite piece from the second chapter is the hooded cotton-blend canvas-jacquard down jacket. The sizing runs pretty big. I am wearing an XXS.

The collection is colorful and vibrant. TO SHOP THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE NORTH FACE x GUCCI, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Gucci
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Louis Vuitton launches a capsule collection of nine belts in the select colours of nine global cities.

This season Virgil Abloh reinvents the LV Pyramide belt first seen on the F/W 2021 runway. The belt with its bevel-edged buckle returns in a capsule collection of nine exclusive versions, spotlighting nine cities that hold a special place in the heart of Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director.

Featuring Monogram canvas on one face and soft calfskin on the other, the belt still displays the iconic LV buckle. Virgil Abloh put it through a special treatment recalling his urban inspirations and influences drawn from crushing cars. The metal has been artfully eroded to reveal a new colour pairing that coordinates with the leather of the belt. Each is crafted by the deft hands of Louis Vuitton artisans, making every item unique.

The new design is available in nine colourways, each associated with one world city – green and purple for Bangkok, red and black for Hong Kong, yellow and blue for London, and pink and blue for Paris. The city name is displayed in a popping colour combination of its own on each face of the belt, both the Monogram canvas and the leather side. All belts are reversible, so you can mix it up depending on your mood or your outfit, and each can be found exclusively in a limited edition at the flagship store of its namesake city, starting November 25th, 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton introduces the Vendôme Flex collection, three signature staple styles for the men’s wardrobe.

This classic and timeless line includes a Derby shoe, loafer and Chelsea boot, and combines shoemaking expertise with all of today’s needs for comfort and elegance. Each of the three Vendôme Flex styles requires the mastery of expert artisans at the Louis Vuitton shoe workshop in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy. The traditional Goodyear-welted seam has been enhanced with a new flex technique, the result of an extensive reworking of the traditional sole, lining, and upper leather to improve their softness. Special technical materials have also been placed within the insole to provide comfort formerly reserved for sneakers.

Comfort aside, these iconic and timeless shapes exude a modern and relaxed attitude in a contemporary style. The Derby is made from a single piece of waxed calfskin, while the loafer and Chelsea boot feature accents of Louis Vuitton’s emblematic Monogram canvas across the former’s upper, and along the tab of the latter. Crafted in the finest leathers and sublimed by exceptional craftmanship, the three Vendôme Flex styles indulge in a world of supple elegance, breathing independence and freedom with every step.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Unveiled during Louis Vuitton’s F/W 2021 show by Men’s Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh, the Felt Line, features three iconic leather good pieces and reflect the Maison’s ground-breaking approach to circular creativity. Designed using several eco-responsible materials: organic cotton and recycled wool-based jacquard, 100% recycled polyester derived from existing stocks, as well as recycled plastic for the chains.

A Keepall, a Keepall XS and a Soft Trunk — a design created by Virgil Abloh since his very first fashion show for Louis Vuitton; these three staple pieces from the menswear collection showcase Louis Vuitton’s commitment to circular creativity. Moving blankets — functional, protective and on-the-go — were Virgil Abloh’s inspiration for this new adventure, perfectly in line with the sustainability dedication he has shown since joining Louis Vuitton in 2018. A real creative challenge, this holistic approach is embodied in the creation and use of sustainable and responsible materials used for each product in the Felt Line collection.

An innovative textile — the main material of the pieces — was designed using 43% certified organic cotton, the highest standard, and 20% recycled wool. The unpredictable result of this jacquard underscores the uniqueness of each leather good, on which the Monogram pattern appears and disappears thanks to a lurex thread tufting. The global process emerges in every detail of these three light and practical models, as well as in a form of stylistic adaptation. The lining comes from the House’s existing stocks of 100% recycled polyester, which have been upcycled, thus maximising the use of existing materials and limiting production. The chains and corners were produced using 70% recycled plastic with a multi-colour effect reflecting the jacquard’s chromatic aspects. For the straps and handles, an LWG (Leather Working group)-certified leather was selected, the most exacting environmental label for tanning.

Meeting all the quality and durability criteria cherished by Louis Vuitton, the three models of the Felt Line, as well as one piece of ready-to-wear, a long coat, express the choice of a responsible and sustainable sophistication. By celebrating beauty and creativity in everyday life, which is the central theme of the F/W 2021 fashion show, the Felt Line demonstrates the vivacity of Louis Vuitton’s expertise and ingenuity to provide the best response to its clients’ needs as well as the challenges of the contemporary world. All products feature the signature initially conceived by Virgil Abloh, placed on a leather patch from existing stocks. This emblem is the symbol of Louis Vuitton’s sustainable development policy, as by 2025, 100% of its products will be created through eco-conception.

«Our committed journey» is Louis Vuitton’s sustainable development plan, in line with the LIFE360 (LVMH Initiatives For the Environment) plan. Through six lines of action, it aims to preserve natural resources (sustainable supply of materials, contribution to climate protection, circular approach of creativity) and to have a positive impact on society (diversity and inclusion, commitment to local communities, development of know-how).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

First presented during Virgil Abloh’s debut S/S 2019 show for Louis Vuitton, this season the LV TRAINER inspires new style variations in keeping with its exacting standards: each pair requires at least seven hours of manufacturing.

Drawing inspiration from vintage basketball sneakers, held dear by Virgil Abloh, and set on a technical rubber sole injected with gel and encrusted with contrasting Monogram flowers, this new version will add a lively touch to all the memories summer 2021 has in store for you. The House’s identity stands out once again with the LV signature on the tongue and side and the #54 signature on the back, recalling 1854, the year Louis Vuitton was founded.

As always, the Monogram pattern is in the spotlight, whether reinvented on denim or embossed on grained calfskin, nubuck or smooth leather. But with its blend of materials and patterns, each LV Trainer boasts its own identity in a rainbow of vivid hues, symbolising all the colours of a summer under the sun of optimism, from dawn to sunset.

Burgundy lit up by sunny orange, blue enhanced with black accents, green contrasted with yellow details… The colours are galvanised on a grained and smooth leather design. The collection also showcases the essential white leather sneaker, adorned with the hand-written Louis Vuitton signature, and the denim canvas one, this time beige-tinted, alongside a reflective silver leather model.

This season, three versions in suede leather and denim take on neon pink and yellow shades, echoing the ready-to-wear line. One of them is entirely covered with pink rhinestones, to attract light and style at every step. While the white leather sneaker is bound to last, each colour and style variation will be subject to a limited drop launch.

Lastly, a pair of sandals, available in identical neon shades, adds the finishing touch to the collection. Fitted with the same sole as the sneaker, it is light and supple, the perfect variation of a model designed to be worn at any time of the day.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has co-created a magnificent Bespoke Phantom in a unique collaboration with Hermès. Designed and handcrafted by a combined team of Bespoke specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, and Hermès in Paris, Phantom Oribe reflects the personality and passions of its owner, Japanese entrepreneur and art collector Yusaku Maezawa, who envisioned the car as a «land jet», bringing the serene exclusivity of private air travel to the road.

Yusaku Maezawa

The car’s striking two-tone exterior matches the characteristic green and cream glazes of antique Japanese Oribe ware, of which Maezawa-san is a prominent collector. The upper part is finished in Oribe Green, a fully Bespoke colour created exclusively for the client; in an unusual move, Rolls-Royce has made the paint available for use on the client’s private jet the Phantom will be paired with. Developed over many months by specialists in the Surface Finish Centre at Goodwood, it perfectly captures the lustrous, deep-green glaze that characterises these 16th century ceramics. The effect is beautifully completed by the cream-white lower section.

The Oribe ware-inspired colourway harmoniously continues through the interior, created and realised through a true meeting of minds between Hermès designers and craftspeople, and the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople. Together, they applied their shared expertise and ingenuity to ensure every individual component embodies the finest traditions of both houses.

The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea Green leather, extending to details that include the immediate touch-points of the client; for example, the steering wheel, duchess handles, gear selector and the rotary controls for the motor car’s climate settings.

The Hermès leather flows around the upper instrument panel, interior pillars and parcel shelf. It also enrobes less visible surfaces including the glove compartment and luggage compartment lining, centre console, decanter stowage compartment and Champagne cooler. In a sign of the project’s truly collaborative nature, and the two makers’ mutual esteem, the glove compartment lid is embossed with the signature Habillé par Hermès Paris.

Delicate Hermès piping adorns the headrest cushions and calf supports of the rear seats, while soft Seashell White accents and matching lambswool floor mats create a sense of light and space throughout.

The interior is also replete with examples of Rolls-Royce Bespoke design and handcraftsmanship. Wooden speaker frets, for example, are formed by meticulously perforating the Open Pore Royal Walnut veneer applied to the doors, creating a seamless, textured aesthetic and delicate haptics. Open Pore Royal Walnut is additionally applied to the centre and rear consoles and picnic table backs; in another first for Rolls-Royce, the interior features Hermès «Toile H» canvas on the door armrests, centre and rear consoles and, most notably, the signature headliner.

Hermès brings its distinctive equestrian heritage and innovative craftsmanship know-how to the car, with the leather upholstery created using stitching and edge-painting techniques originally employed by master saddlers. For Phantom’s Gallery, a feature unique to Rolls-Royce, that runs the length of the motor car’s fascia, Hermès commissioned an artwork based on a design by the celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988) who created many of the House’s iconic scarves. The work, inspired by the famous Hermès horse motif, is hand-painted on Open Pore Royal Walnut and is presented as though staged in an art gallery, behind glass.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös added, «This majestic and tasteful Rolls-Royce Phantom demonstrates what is possible when talented people from two of the world’s great houses work closely together alongside a far-sighted, inspirational client like Maezawa-san. It is a meeting of minds, expertise, visions and skill that represents the very best of our respective craftspeople and capabilities.»

I am speechless. What a beauty! Bravo!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce

Jeans don’t really get any cooler than Levi’s®, especially when they’re made in collaboration with Valentino. Don’t miss these limited-edition reworked denim pieces, putting a feminine spin on iconic vintage styles, that were first shown in September 2020 during the Valentino show in Milan. At that time, vintage 517 Levi’s pants were used with a slight alteration to the back label: VALENTINO was added.

So in love with this look.

Now, months later, the collab is available for purchase. The collaboration features the LEVI’S® VINTAGE 517 (1969) and the LEVI’S® RE-EDITION 517, a special tag has been designed to celebrate the beginning of a new fashion exploration.

LEVI’S® VINTAGE 517 (1969)
It is fitting to note the collaborative vintage designs have been limited worldwide to just 517 units. Each piece of denim is a vintage, unaltered original that has been upcycled from previously-worn 517 jeans.

LEVI’S® RE-EDITION 517
These denims are a re-elaboration of the original style, exclusively produced by Levi’s® in occasion of the collaboration with Maison Valentino.

It is definitely the most covetable denim to own this season – a must-have for all fashion lovers.
YOU CAN SHOP THE JEANS EXCLUSIVELY AT NET-À-PORTER HERE and also at Valentino.com.

The style is also available in a menswear iteration. Available at MR PORTER.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © VALENTINO and Net-à-Porter
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the world’s pre-eminent super-luxury SUV, promises the intrepid owner an unrivalled blend of comfort and capability surmised as «Effortless, Everywhere». In addition to conveying its occupants to their destination in absolute serenity, off road or on road, Cullinan offers two unique Bespoke features to ensure that, on arrival, clients are equipped with everything required for their adventure.

The first is the Recreation Module, a motorised drawer cassette designed to fit securely and invisibly into the luggage compartment floor of Cullinan. At the touch of a button, the Recreation Module slides open to reveal equipment, accessories and paraphernalia personally selected by the motor car’s commissioning client, each item ensconced in its own individually tailored container. The Recreation Module can be trimmed to match or contrast with the car’s interior and exterior colourway according to the commissioning client’s preference.

THE LUXURY OF VERSATILITY
The Recreation Module provides 48 litres of space that can be configured precisely to accommodate the customer’s requirements. Furthermore, the entire assembly can be removed and stored separately, allowing customers to create Recreation Modules for specific hobbies and applications, from fly fishing, rock climbing, snowboarding or parascending to kite-boarding or base-jumping. For example, a Cullinan client could devise three individual Recreation Modules for shooting, skiing and photography equipment, then select and install the appropriate unit prior to departure.

While the Recreation Module adds enormously to Cullinan’s versatility and individuality, it does so without compromising the car’s spacious 2,245 mm loading length and boot capacity of up to 1,930 litres.

KING OF THE NIGHT
In late 2019, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars commissioned photographer Mark Riccioni to create a series of innovative and subversive images featuring Black Badge Cullinan, under the cover of darkness, among the distinctive automotive subcultures of Greater Los Angeles. To support the project, the marque developed a personalised Urban Photography Recreation Module, incorporating specialist equipment including a DJI Mavic Mini drone, 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro and 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro for image capture and editing on location. The Bespoke Collective of Designers, Engineers and Craftspeople also found room for Riccioni’s Sennheiser PXC550 MkII noise-cancelling headphones, Persol PO3225-S sunglasses and outerwear from streetwear brand Supreme.

HOSTING SERVICE
To accommodate hosting in even the most rugged locations, the marque developed a permanent Bespoke feature for Cullinan named the Hosting Service. This remarkable marriage of design, craftsmanship and engineering offers a range of accoutrements to create the perfect beverage while enjoying the world’s most breathtaking vistas. Suited to hosting up to eight adults, the Hosting Service comes complete with glassware and the utensils for creating a fresh cocktail or a classic gin and tonic for passengers. Elegant highball glasses are adorned with discreet Rolls-Royce monograms whilst wooden chopping boards are made of the highest quality American walnut. Additionally, space is provisioned for a light snack service.

THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
As well as the Recreation Module, the rear compartment can accommodate a second Bespoke feature, unique to Cullinan, that customers can specify to enhance their explorations. With the tailgate open, a touch of a button deploys the Viewing Suite – two rear-facing sociably arranged either side of a retractable cocktail table. The Viewing Suite provides the perfect place in which to relax and reflect on the day’s events. Truly the best seat in the house.

I love the Urban Photography Recreation Module, let’s see if I can convince my lovely fiancé to transform his car into a blogger vehicle, haha! A little dressing drawer would be nice too …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce