Sandra‘s Closet

“Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

In Milan, I met Burak Uyan, the designer behind the eponymous shoe label that leaves fashionistas around the world drool. He has worked for Givenchy, Giambattista Valli and Aperlai before launching his own label in 2010. Since then, he is on the rise, his creations are sold in high-end stores around the world. The reason? He creates high heels that you can wear without discomfort or pain.

Recently, Cameron Diaz wore his multi-coloured architectural sandals to the 2011 Teen Choice Awards and proved that the right pair of shoes can change your look completely. Her basic dress combined with those amazing heels took her outfit to a whole new level.

Burak Uyan with me

Enjoy the photos that I took in the showroom of the upcoming S/S 2012 collection and of his collaboration with the Mulleavy sisters.
Burak Uyan created the heels for their S/S 2012 Rodarte show.

Below you can see Burak Uyan’s S/S 2012 MOODBOARD:
His inspiration: Geometric shapes, the sea and butterfly colours.

My must-have for the summer is one of those multi-coloured bags, to-die-for!

Ladies, there is only one thing to say: Redefine your wardrobe from your feet up!
To shop Burak Uyan shoes, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Working in fashion can be quite contradictory. While I am telling you all about the upcoming Christmas treats, special holiday collections and beauty must-haves during the next weeks, I am already exploring the S/S 2012 showrooms, like yesterday evening at Replay.

Needless to say, there was a lot of denim and an iconic mix and match of fabrics and patterns. Very bohemian with a lot of floral embroideries and prints plus a nice array of vibrant colours with green, orange and blue leading the way.

The sweetest thing was the give-away bag (see photo below)…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Most of you know that I am a Louis Vuitton aficionado. Therefore I am always looking forward to the LV show that with its beautiful stunning decor surprises each season. Yesterday, it was a gigantic carrousel with models riding on it in pastel-coloured clothes, leaving quite another impression after Marc’s fetish-like creations for F/W 2011.

The S/S 2012 collection is sweet, full of rich details and materials, from matte crocodile jackets, coats and skirts to laser-cut tops and 3-D floral embellishments and plastic paillettes. I am completely taken by the tweed fabrics that are adorned with marabou feathers. The craftmanship that went into this collection is truly outstanding.

The last look was presented by Kate Moss, same as last season. But instead having her smoke on the runway in hot pants, she appeared in a light white floral dress like an innocent bride. I was wondering if she might be pregnant. Rumours are going around those days, same as the fashion crowd is wondering if Marc Jacobs will leave for Dior. The Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 collection looked like a slight approach. Let’s see in which direction fashion’s merry-go-round will be turning…

Below you can see some photos of the front row action!

LoL, Sandra

Caroline Sieber, Claire Courtin Clarins, Antoine Arnault, Virginie Courtin Clarins

Dasha Zhukova, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld, Marie-Amélie Sauvé, Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Peter Marino

Natalia Vodianova, Uma Thurman

Best friends: Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss

Alexa Chung in a Louis Vuitton dress from the F/W 2011 collection.

Last Sunday, Albert Kriemler presented his Akris S/S 2012 runway show during Paris Fashion Week and surprised us with some amazing prints which have become his signature.
Ladies, start your engines!

Like Miuccia Prada, the designer got turned on by cars this season and seeked inspiration from John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film Grand Prix, set in Monaco.

One print is a shot of the Hotel de l’Hermitage at Monte Carlo on a racing day with people watching the event from the balcony:

This dress would be the perfect look for Princess Charlene next May at the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race, don’t you think? The princess, who has been seen many times in Akris, sat front row at the show and I am pretty sure that she was kind of Albert Kriemler’s muse for this collection.

Anna Wintour, Peter Kriemler and Princess Charlene front row at the Akris S/S 2012 show.

Haven’t seen Anna that happy in a long time…she must have really liked the collection.
Princess Charlene, Albert Kriemler and Anna Wintour.

Sport is an important trend for next summer and Akris offers some clean and crisp choices. But my favourite part of this collection is definitely the motor sports section!

Enjoy the looks! For my Zurich based readers, Gassmann carries a large selection of Akris.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Akris

Roberto Cavalli gave me an interesting interview (coming soon)

The Just Cavalli S/S 2012 show marks the relaunch of the brand and can be best described as romantic, sweet, light and positive. From the photos of Roberto Cavalli’s travels, the prints are born: absolute protagonists of this very sexy collection, inspired as always by the wonder of nature. Overlapping the butterfly and floral print for example is an animalier motif, creating a very special effect.
The customers? Sunny girls who want to enjoy themselves, in the beautiful and unique time of their youth, who like to go to music festivals. Maxi dresses, gilets encrusted with metallic stitching and bags with small foulards and marmot tails like new good luck charms provide the perfect look. To shop Just Cavalli, please click here.

For my Swiss based readers, here is a taste of what is to come in November when Roberto Cavalli will present his Just Cavalli S/S 2012 collection during the annabelle awards (The winner will receive a one year internship with Roberto Cavalli in Florence.) for the second edition of the Charles Vögele Fashion Days Zurich. If you don’t want to miss the fashion show, tickets are available at ticketcorner.ch.

Here is your sneak preview of what you can watch live this fall in Zurich.

Hope that you will like it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I was able to go backstage before the Just Cavalli S/S 2012 show. Please enjoy those behind-the-scene photos. It will give you a wonderful insight into the fashion world and you might be amazed what is really going on behind the runway. Enjoy!

The runway one hour before the show was supposed to start!

The S/S 2012 looks and the moodboards.

Swiss television Glanz & Gloria interviewed me backstage.

Hair inspiration: Beautiful fishtail braids.

Moroccanoil products were a must.

Makeup inspiration: Lots of glitter on the eyelids.

It wouldn’t be Cavalli, if there weren’t lots of accessories.

Roberto & Eva Cavalli arrived around 45 minutes before the show.

Roberto watched the last rehearsal while enjoying a cigarette.

All photos from the show will be posted soon, so please stay tuned.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

It might not be for everyone, but if you like Versace, you are going to fall in love with this S/S 2012 collection. It was truly sexy. Short mini dresses and hot pants were all over the runway. If you were looking for pants, no chance! Pastel colours gave a very feminine approach and even made the studded materials look soft. Of course, there was leather and lots of beautiful embellished  evening gowns. The final look resumed the beginning having a sparkling coral on the belly. And with the help of the Neptune-like prints showing sea shells and corals, Donatella has whetted our appetite for the next summer already.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I also went to see the Ermanno Scervino S/S 2012 show which took place at la Scuola Militare, the military school. The scenery was quite impressive and a wonderful juxtaposition to the very romantic and feminine collection.

With the next summer collection, Ermanno Scervino takes us on a voyage across India of Rajasthan and of the Maharajas. The Florence based designer is constantly melting different worlds and different materials, combining sportswear and couture by playing with unexpected combinations, such as geometric jackets over light ruffled dresses.

In the front row (so-called “frow” now), I spotted Alice Dellal (model and sister of shoe designer Charlotte Olympia) who is the new advertising face for the Ermanno Scervino F/W 2011 campaign, in the amazing black overall from the winter collection. Alice with her edgy look adds the right twist to those soft and playful creations.

Great choice! I have loved the S/S 2012 show and you? You can watch it at the end of this post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Campaign Photos: Courtesy of Ermanno Scervino

This evening I went to see the Prada S/S 2012 show which was truly amazing!

Miuccia Prada always surprises us. This time, she came up with a road-style runway that had pink oil spills and foam cars as decoration (and seats!). A lovely fifties vibe with car prints, amazing floral prints and lots of beautiful colours. A very feminine collection. I am completely taken by the beautiful dresses and pleated fabrics. The leather pencil skirts were also divine. But the most insane part were the shoes with heels on fire…more to come.

Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Welcome Drink: Vodka with red wine

Some treats

Guests in Prada F/W 2011

Anna is here

Aren’t Carine’s boots to die for?!

Twiggy in Prada?!

Let the show begin!

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today I drove to Milan for Fashion Week S/S 2012. It is actually pretty nice to take the car as there is so much space to fit in all the lovely outfits. My first show was Gucci. As you know, I love the Italian brand.

Frida Giannini started of the show with some iconic prints and the combination of green and black. There was a lot of black and white to follow, definitely less colours than her two last seasons. Sharp tailored pants with cropped jackets. Fringes were all over. Next summer, there will be a lot of glitter and shine. Sparkling sequined flapper dresses, reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties, finished of this very wearable, beautiful collection.

Are you a Gucci girl? I surely am… stay tuned for the outfit I wore today (…and somebody else, too!).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht