Sandra‘s Closet

This week, I flew to London to meet very talented designer Thakoon Panichgul. He was in town for a very intimate trunk show and presented his amazing F/W 2011 collection in the Net-à-porter offices to his very loyal long-standing English customers.

The Thai-born, Omaha-raised designer who is based today in New York has been an early forerunner of mismatched prints. For him, it is all about the silhouette, about a certain nonchalance, a modern and sporty way to interpret couture. He has a talent for intricate detail and loves to play with construction.

I had a really nice conversation with him. Thakoon is such a lovely guy. He told me that his passion for fashion started at a very early age because his mom and grandma were both seamstresses. He started his career first in production, then merchandising for J.Crew. Later on, he spent four years as a writer and editor for Harper’s Bazaar and took courses at Parsons School of Design. He also earned a business degree at Boston University. I would call this a very profound foundation to start a successful company which he did in September 2004. He has quickly become a shooting star to emerge from the New York fashion scene.

His fan base is huge. Hollywood celebrities like Jessica Biel or Drew Barrymore and  fashion A-listers like Sienna Miller belong to it. His probably biggest supporter is Michelle Obama. America’s First Lady is often seen in Thakoon’s designs.

Thakoon thanked Natalie Massanet for giving him a voice. He explained: „First I did five pieces and thought it was a collection. Net-à-porter bought all of them and has been so supportive since then.“

Natalie Massanet answered: „We are all about great products!“
The founder of the well-known online platform Net-à-porter was like me crazy for the gorgeous sleeveless blazer in yellow and black.

Thakoon’s collection for F/W 2011 reminded me of Marie Antoinette as an African tribal warrior.
The designer kept the juxtapositions going in all ways. A long-in-back ball skirt worn with a checked puffy coat was among my favourite looks. See below some of the best looks. The pieces were a little big on me as they were the sample sizes.

Please click here to shop Thakoon’s beautiful collection.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I received many e-mails from my American friends to tell me that my photo was in The New York Times. Can you imagine how excited I was?! Above you can see it on top to the left, for the whole report you can click here.

On the streets in Paris during Fashion Week, the first signs of spring have brought a welcome change of colour. Bright, vibrant, energetic, the hues put you immediately in a good mood.

I loved the look of this Asian girl. Tangerine and electric blue are the shades of the season and combined together they just look amazing.

Get her look: Blouse by Gucci, tailored blazer, flap messenger bag, and two-tone shoes, all by Zara, cotton pants by See by Chloé, sunglasses by Ray-Ban.

The Zara shoes and bag are wonderful eyecatchers without your budget going overboard. Get the look by clicking on the links below.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

During London Fashion Week, I was photographed by Marie Claire Brazil. I am showing you this to demonstrate how one pair of bright patent pumps can change a whole outfit. This season, those vibrant coloured heels are a must and absolutely worth the investment.
Mine are by Miu Miu. Coat – Etro, Scarf – Alexander McQueen, Cardigan – Miu Miu and Boston Bag – Céline.

Please enjoy the nice selection of the best pumps available at the moment, from YSL to Brian Atwood to Miu Miu and Christian Louboutin. Happy shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Here are some news for my Swiss readers: The April edition of the SI Style is available now with my second fashion column.

This time, you can read all about my experiences during my trip to Florence to the LuisaViaRoma Firenze4Ever event and how I met Roberto Cavalli’s son, Daniele.

LoL, Sandra

Thank you for all your sweet comments on my outfit that I wore to the Stella McCartney F/W 2011 show. Candy colours are just great for summer, they feel fresh and light.

The linen blazer and pants are by Stella McCartney as well as the gorgeous Falabella crochet bag and the python-print scarf. I combined the look with nude sandals by Prada and a cardigan by Ralph Lauren Black Label. The taupe-coloured headpiece by Miu Miu is definitely an eyecatcher. I have even made it on the French Vogue website.

If you are in the shopping mood now, just click on the links below. Net-à-porter offers free shipping until March 20.

LoL, Sandra

The location: The Grand Palais

Yesterday, outside the Chanel F/W 2011 show I took so many great photos of the fashionable crowd and celebrities. I truly hope that you will like my shots. The défilé took place in the morning at the Grand Palais and as glamourous as the outside was as “smoking hot” (seriously!) was the inside. More to be published soon.

LoL, Sandra

Leopard Ladies

Art Performance

Lovely Chanel outfit with the must-have Chanel S/S 2011 bag

Little princess

PR-Lady and Designer of her own brand Coje Yasmin Eitouni-Nannen in a gorgeous Chanel jacket...

...and Chanel bag.

Pretty Woman Julia Restoin-Roitfeld...

...sporting a Chanel bag.

Fashion Icon Anna Dello Russo

...looked so beautiful...

...and stylish...

...talking to Giovanna Battaglia

...the famous Italian stylist.

Details of the two editorilistas

Giovanna's polka dots

Loved both pair of shoes

Back shot

Franca Sozzani

Suzy Menkes in Chanel

Emma Roberts in Chanel

Me outside before the show

My outfit at the Chanel show

Leather pants – Fendi, Chanel-inspired Tweed Blazer – Marc Jacobs, Cashmere Sweater – Gucci, Long multi-coloured fur stole – Prada, Shoes – Prada, Bag – Chanel

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Earlier this week I promised you, that I will keep you posted about a S/S 2011 trend that I spotted front row at London Fashion Week. Think Tutti Frutti and you got it.

Charlotte Olympia, "Bananas is My Business" Shoe in Python

Shoe designer Charlotte Olympia often cites the energy and vitality of Brazil, the home country of her mother, ex-model Andrea Dellal. This summer, she included lots of fruit references into her collection.

Charlotte Olympia, Banana-shaped "Baker" Bag in Python

The „Bananas is My Buisness“ fruit shoe in python is divine and the gorgeous banana-shaped „Baker“ bag was worn by her mother to the Emilio de la Morena F/W 2011 show together with the banana-print skirt by Prada (see photos below).
I loved how she made the look her own and didn’t push the healthy vibe too much. The black sandals, also from her daughter’s collection, were the perfect addition to her outfit. Don’t go head to toe fruity, you do not want to look like the produce department in the supermarket.

Stella McCartney went for vitamin C. Her collection was all about lemons and oranges.

Fruity display at the Stella McCartney store in London

Colourful and vibrant prints are must-haves this summer. With the vintage appeal of fruit patterns, the retro-inspired trend is very appealing and seems so healthy.

Below you see me in my Stella McCartney citrus print slash-detailed silk dress that I combined with platform sandals by Prada and my lovely Louis Vuitton floppy straw hat.

I hope that I whet your appetite to get your own fruit cocktail! Cheers!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Alexander Wang teamed up with LOVE editor-in-chief Katie Grand to host a party at Liberty in honour of the magazine’s Androgyny issue last Monday. An abundance of famous faces celebrated with the American designer at the store’s first floor international designer room.

Beth Ditto

„Thank you, Liberty, for having me,” Beth Ditto called during her guest performance, “You’ll never have me back here again after this, but thanks to Katie Grand and Alexander Wang I’ve got all your free clothes, and I’m totally cool with that.”

Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldorf

Ditto sang an acappella rendition of Whitney Houston’s „I Will Always Love You“ that made guests cheer in awe of her extraordinary vocal talent. Party girls like Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldorf conquered the dance floor with Boy George and Erin O’Connor. Even the Beckhams breezed in to join the party.

Alexander Wang with me

My heart leaped with joy when Alexander Wang came up to me and said: „Hi Sandra, how are you? Great to have you here!“ Always nice to be remembered… (click here for my interview with him last year).

LoL, Sandra

Boy George with me

Erin O'Connor

Love the hair piece

Beth after her performance...

...talking to Katie Grand...

...and finally leaving the party...

...like the Beckhams!

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Julien Macdonald, who is half-Welsh and half-Scottish, surprised me with his F/W 2011 show that I truly liked. The presentation took place in a church. The goth athomosphere was amazing, especially with the head-banging soundtrack and light effects rocking the show.

The designer started off with some black looks, followed by delicate layers of spiderweb-like fabrics. My absolute favourites were the beautiful embellished long flowing gowns, romantic but edgy and the lace-up boots. Truly ethereal!

Please enjoy my photo coverage and check out the celebrities who were sitting front row.

LoL, Sandra

Me front row at Julien Macdonald

Me with American actress Juliette Lewis

Model Amber Rose framed by other "ladies" in red

Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director of the Daily Telegraph, going ethno

Swimwear designer Melissa Odabash with me

British socialite Tamara Beckworth with her daughter Anouska that she had at the age of 17 - they look like sisters.

Aren't those Manolos to die for?!

Let the show begin:

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today’s Burberry Prorsum F/W 2011 show took place in a massive tent in London’s Royal Park of Kensington Gardens. It was a true spectacle with many celebrities attending the event., including among others Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth, Alexa Chung, Stella Tennant, Maggie Cheung, Anna Wintour, Samantha Cameron, Mario Testino, Laura Haddock, Lily Donaldson, Julia Restoin Roitfield, Daisy Lowe, Alice Dellal, Sophie Kennedy-Clark, Poppy Delevingne, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon.

My invitation

I was photographed many times

What a spectacle!

People are watching the arrival of the celebrities

Caroline Daily

Lily Donaldson...

...on her way in.

Stella Tennant in Burberry studs with Tim Blanks

Duran Duran arrives: Nick Rhodes & Simon Le Bon

A "catwalk" for the celebrities to be interviewed and photographed

Me at Burberry Prorsum

Photographer Mario Testino

Poppy Delevigne

Me inside

Natalie Massenet, founder of net-à-porter, with me

Christopher Bailey named his F/W 2011 collection after the icon of the Swinging Sixties “Jean Shrimpton”. The look and sound of her golden era shaped the show. The Shrimp once did advertising for Burberry so she had history with the house.
Trim coats with matching bags, drop-waisted tulip-skirted dresses, bold colours, check at its best, the designer played with the silhouettes. Two thumbs up!

Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo in front of me

Loved this mink coat!

Gorgeous pants

Beautiful silhouettes

Outerwear

Black and white moments

Check

The finale of the show was divine. Snow was falling of the ceiling and the models were protected with little rain capes. Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Live stream at Piccadilly Circus

As part of 40 events, the show was broadcasted live globally in Burberry flagship stores from Boston to Beijing, creating ‘buy from the runway’ in-store virtual trunk show events across 4 continents
.
The 40th venue, London’s iconic Piccadilly Circus, streamed the show live onto the famous 32 metre digital screen viewed by an estimated 1.2 million people a week – a first for any brand.

LoL, Sandra