Sandra‘s Closet

Natacha Ramsay-Levi is the first French woman to take the helm at Chloé since 1998. Incorporating the signature edge we saw from her at Balenciaga while maintaining Clare Waight Keller‘s sense of lightness, her debut S/S 2018 collection includes feminine dresses for which she has reworked iconic house codes, the new Rylee motorcycle boots and a new much-anticipated fragrance: Chloé Nomade. I am completely in love and you will see me wearing a lot of the French house in the next months!

My look: Appliquéd shearling-trimmed denim jacket by Gucci, paneled lace, stretch and jacquard-knit mini dress, and Rylee cutout woven leather knee boots, both by Chloé
, Bayswater shoulder bag by Mulberry, leopard sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, rose diamond ring and necklace, both by Piaget.

Where would you call home? Encounter the world with Chloé’s new floral chypre scent Nomade that includes notes of oak moss, Mirabelle plum and freesia. It’s about discovering your daring and adventurous side. It is all about crossing the next frontier, always pushing the boundaries of who you are. Start with the fragrance and work your way up to the collection – you will surely love it!

Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 97.00), 50ml (CHF 128.00) and 75ml (CHF 150.00).
Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 52.00) and Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 57.00)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dancing through the streets. Soaked in sunshine. Streaked with colour. Surrounded by tropical fruits and flowers.

For the brand’s first fruit-inspired Blossom Cologne, JO MALONE  leaves the English countryside and takes us to the beach with a new limited edition duo: TROPICAL CHERIMOYA Cologne and CATTLEYA FLOWER Body Mist. Together they comprise the HOT BLOSSOMS collection. «The inspiration came when I was travelling around Brazil. We loved the flamboyant vibrancy of the flowers and the sumptuous textures of the fruits there, so we thought why not create two fragrances instead of one?» explains Céline Roux, Jo Malone London Head of Fragrance Development.

TROPICAL CHERIMOYA Cologne
«A sea of green cherimoya fruit. Basking in the heat. Mouth-watering. Tempting. Topped with juicy pear. The sun-filled notes of passion flower. Warmed by Brazilian copahu resin and creamy tonka bean.»
Jo Malone Tropical Cherimoya Cologne 30ml (CHF 72.00) and 100ml (CHF 135.00)

CATTLEYA FLOWER Body Mist
«A delectable beach-side cocktail. Cattleya, queen of the wild. Sumptuous orchid petals. Fresh and exotically floral. Stirred with sparkling citrus fruit. A splash of bitter gentian. Deepened by intoxicating vetiver. A spritz of pure sunshine. Lightweight yet luxurious, Jo Malone Cattleya Flower Body Mist refreshes skin whilst enveloping you in the velvety scent of the Cattleya Flower.»
Jo Malone Cattleya Orchid Body Mist 100ml (CHF 59.00)

Both are designed to be worn alone or layered together. In Switzerland, the limited edition will be exclusively available at Jelmoli Zurich, Globus Glatt, Globus Bellevue, Globus Lucerne, Globus Geneva and Globus Lausanne for a limited time starting from May 2, 2018.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht –  Stills: Courtesy of Jo Malone
The fragrances were sent to me as samples.
@JoMaloneLondon #BrilliantBlossoms #HotBlossoms

Since Maria Grazia Chiuri has taken the helmet at Dior, she has not been afraid of delivering powerful statements. Last year, she already gave us one politically charged look with her famous «We Should All Be Feminists» T-shirt, and now she is back for another round.  To open the S/S 2018 show, Sasha Pivovarova went down the runway in a Breton-striped shirt that read «Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?», a direct reference to historian Linda Nochlin’s 1971 essay on patriarchy’s lasting effect on art. It is absolutely worth reading.

But personally speaking, I think Maria Grazia has forgotten one tiny thing:-) …, most of us are great artists on a daily basis. And our skin is our canvas. Dior has come up with some great painting tools this S/S 2018, enjoy this quick insight of what I can recommend for the perfect oeuvre.

PREPARE YOUR CANVAS

DIOR HYDRA LIFE Balancing Hydration
2 in 1 Sorbet Water
It is as yummy as it sounds. This new generation waters highly concentrated in a bouquet of Jasmin, mallow, haber lea and fine mineral powders of natural origin. It immediately moisturizes and rebalances for skin so naturally beautiful you will prefer it bare.
CHF 47.00 (175ml)

DIOR HYDRA LIFE Cooling Hydration
Sorbet Eye Gel
A must for summer and after a night out. This ultra-fresh eye gel moisturizes, balances and revitalizes the delicate skin around the eyes while mineral pearls illuminate it. Best if you keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
CHF 66.50 (15ml)

PREP YOUR CANVAS

DIOR PRESTIGE Le Cushion Teint de Rose
Fond de Teint Revitalisant d’Exception
Rose Glow – High Correction
SPF 50 – PA+++/ Long Wear

Dior’s first revitalizing foundation concentrates the power of at least 500 rose petals for the most radiant rose-petal complexion. It ideally evens out the complexion with a weightless finish while enhancing the rosy glow on the skin’s surface. Available in 5 shades. Love, love, love!

COLOUR YOUR CANVAS

DIOR ADDICT Lacquer Plump
Plumbing Lacquered Lip Ink
Long-Wear Colour
CHF 50.00

In mere seconds, its fine formula delivers color with intense lacquer shine and fusional hold. Enriched with hibiscus extract and hyaluronic acid, it plumps and deeply hydrates lips (+78% hydration after 24 hours) to achieve a fuller effect. You don’t need much more during warm summer days. My favorite shades are: 456 Dior Pretty, 538 Dior Glitz and 758 D-Mesure

FINISH OFF YOUR ARTWORK WITH A TOUCH OF PERFUME

MISS DIOR Blooming Bouquet
Roller-Pearl Eau de Toilette
CHF 52.50 (20ml)

A beautiful glass bottle in the right size for your handbag topped with a delicate pearl for discreet and sensorial fragrance application that offers you to wrap yourself in the fresh floral scent of Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet anywhere, anytime.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior and © Sandra Bauknecht

This was my comfy outfit for a great sunny day in Paris filled with culture, fun and shopping.

My look: Printed silk dress by Stella McCartney, Soho mini textured-leather shoulder bag, and embellished leather mid-heel loafers, both by Gucci, Carlina round-frame gold-plated sunglasses by Chloé, eiffel tower earrings and pearl embellished cuff, both by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last weekend, I was in Paris to celebrate my daughter’s birthday with her girlfriends. On Saturday morning, we were very lucky as LOUIS VUITTON opened their Foundation Louis Vuitton exclusively for us so that we had a private tour all alone in the museum (a huge thank you!). I have to say this was one of the best experiences ever as the exhibitions are in general very well visited and crowded. Forget «A Night at the Museum», a day is much better ….

Having the exhibition all to ourselves was amazing…

We explored the Foundation’s new selection from its collection in an exhibition entitled In Tune with the World (AU DIAPASON DU MONDE) that will be open until August 27, 2018. This hanging of modern and contemporary works is presented in all the galleries throughout the stunning building designed by Frank Gehry.

Pretty impressive use of taxidermy, a race horse dangling from the ceiling: Maurizio Cattelan – «La ballata di Trotski» 1996

A sense of irony: Maurizio Cattelan – «Spermini» 1997, 150 latex masks that are self-portraits of the artist.

It invites visitors to reflect upon the place of humankind in the universe and the relationship between people and their environment and the living world. his reflects today’s questions about man’s place in the universe and the bonds that tie him to his surrounding environment and living world, highlighting the interconnections between humans, animals, plants, and even inanimate objects. The exhibition features nearly 30 artists – including Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse, Gerhard Richter, Pierre Huyghe, Yves Klein and Takashi Murakami – in a hanging that brings together modern and contemporary works.

Takashi Murakami aka Gero Tan Noahs Ark 2016

The exhibition spans all the galleries at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, organized in two complementary parts:

• Part A on Level 2 of the building (Galleries 9, 10 and 11) is entirely devoted to the world and works of one of my favorite artists in the world, Japanese born Takashi Murakami. Conceived in collaboration with him, this hanging is organized in three sequences: one centered on the artist’s alter ego DOB; a second is a monumental fresco, The Octopus Eats its Own Leg, displayed for the first time in public; and a third sequence featuring the Kawaii (which means “cute” in Japanese) aesthetic, comprising works in myriad different media.

Takashi Murakami – The Octopus Eats its Own Leg

• Part B is called Man in the Living Universe, featuring 28 French and international artists from different generations and works in a variety of media and techniques. This part stretches throughout the other three levels of the building, as well as the exterior, in the Grotto. Part B also comprises three sequences: Irradiances (Level 1), Here, Infinitely…” (Level 0) and The Man Who Capsizes (Level -1).

Yves Klein painted models in his favorite color and made them roll over the canvas for this masterpiece, «ANT 104, Anthropométrie sans titre», 1960

Giovanni Anselmo – «Entrare nell’Opera», 1971
Art changes people’s awareness of their relationship to the world.

Takashi Murakami

Let me tell you a little more about one of my favourite artists who collaborated with Louis Vuitton for over 13 years (2002-2015).

Some pieces from my own personal Louis Vuitton x Murakami collection.

Since the early 1990s, Takashi Murakami has been crafting a unique world of darkness and wonder, one populated by fantastic characters, marvellous animals, fabulous creatures and mischievous monsters.Blessed with an unbridled imagination and a resolutely innovative language combining ancient techniques and advanced technologies, his important body of work is marked by its multiplicity of forms and media – painting, sculpture, installations and even animated film.

A little kiss for Murakami’s artwork «Max & Shimon».

Drawing on Japan’s political, social and cultural history, his colour-saturated universe borrows as often from Kawaii aesthetics and manga pop as from the ancient masters of classical painting and Buddhist iconography. Also omnipresent are references to recent traumatic events, such as the atomic bomb and the tsunami.

Takashi Murakami Flower Ball – one of my favorite art works.

The exhibition In Tune with the World is accompanied by a series of conversations with artists and experts.

Location:
8, avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 75116 Paris.
Exhibition until 27th August 2018
Reservations: on the website www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr.

LoL, Sandra

Portrait Takashi Murakami: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
All other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Mother’s Day is around the corner, so why not getting prepared on time to give a little unexpected surprise to your beloved mum. Here are some of my favorite new beauty products for Spring 2018. To shop, click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.

ALAÏA PARIS Eau de Parfum Nude, 30ml
also available as 100ml
After black and white was nude the third important color for the late designer. He took the art of fragrance even a step further by saying: «the foundation of beauty is the body,» and your fragrance is the first step. Alaïa’s new Nude Eau de Parfum is an evocative, exotic scent that’s layered with orange blossom. It has warm tonka bean, cardamom and suede at the base, while woody top notes of cedar and sandalwood give it a luxurious finish. Just wonderful for a warm summer night.

TOM FORD Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette – Soleil D’Ambre
Perfect for traveling as everything you need is housed in a sleek compact that comes with a mirror for touch-ups on the go. This limited edition «Soleil D’Ambre» palette contains a coral-pink blush and antique-rose highlighter to give your cheeks a pop of color, with four shimmering eyeshadows ranging from cream to an aubergine chocolate. Time to get your subtle sun-kissed glow.

BY TERRY Baume de Rose Body Scrub, 180g
A gift your mum will surely love. Adding this scrub into the daily regime will keep the skin smooth, soft and radiant (also a prefect preparation for applying self tanning products). Infused with multiple elements of precious rose including butter, oil and extracts, this rich formula hydrates, repairs and protects dry and fragile skin. The naturally moisturizing sugar crystals will gently remove dead cells.

LA MER The Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream, 60ml
As a huge La Mer fan, I can only recommend this new texture of the famous cream which is so lightweight that it is just perfect for the warmer summer months. It is also infused with the brand’s signature Miracle Broth™ formula that works to heal skin down to its core, while soothing irritation and leaving you feel refreshed.

NURSE JAMIE Neck & Décolleté Wrap – Skin Perfecting Silicone Treatment
When you mum thought there might be no help, you will surprise her hugely with this new «Neck & Décolleté Wrap» that helps minimize the signs of aging caused by sun damage, gravity and sleeping on your side tremendously. Something we will all experience when we get older. Inspired by scar treatments that have been used in the medical field for years, it works by blanketing the chosen area and amplifying the effects of your favorite moisturizer – for best results, the brand recommends leaving it on for at least 20 minutes. Great news is that it is reusable for up to 20 treatments.

TOM FORD Eau de Parfum – ******* Fabulous, 50ml
This is highly exclusive and you better order it fast as this bottle is something really special. After Tom Ford had sent out 300 of those bottles of its new fragrance «F***ing Fabulous» with the invites to his S/S 2018 show, fashionistas started craving for it after the first pictures appeared on Instagram of some of the lucky guests. The name was created the second Tom smelled the scent during a business meeting and proclaimed those very words and after that no other name could compete. It is an alluring leathery Eau de Parfum infused with spicy and bold notes of bitter almond oil, tonka resinoid and cashmeran, but there are also hints of lavender and vanilla for freshness, too. What a lovely way of telling your mum that she is f***ing fabulous!

FREDERIC MALLE Essentials Collection, 5 x 7ml
If your mum is a fragrance lover, she will adore this curated selection of Frederic Malle’s most-loved scents. Each bottle is perfectly sized for travel and bears the name of the perfumer who created the fragrance. Included are Carnal Flower, Magnolia, Iris Poudre, Musc Ravageur (my favorite) and Portrait of a Lady.

ANYA HINDMARCH Baby Powder scented candle, 700g
Evoke some of your mum’s happiest times with this candle that smells reminiscent of newborn babies and the memories they create. Set in a black glass vessel with hand-poured wax, this «Baby Powder» version blends notes of bergamot, Italian mandarin and rose petal with a base of vanilla, tonka bean and musk – reminding your mum of sleepless nights and first smiles… and that it was all worth it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

When it comes to accessories, there are those born of necessity and those born of coquetting. This season, there are both, from practical shopping bags to small pouchettes worn as belts or necklaces. As for the pleasure of fashion, there’s a new emphasis on statement earrings, chunky sneakers, and ever-impractical gloves that render a touchscreen phone essentially useless. So you better carry them only in your hands. Below are the 10 accessory trends worth trying next fall.

LoL, Sandra

The season’s animal-print shoes ensure that everyone will be looking at your feet when you make an entrance.

Designers were thinking about the potential of the classic silk scarf accessories, using them as bag straps; purse accessories; nontraditional ankle straps or wrapped around the head.

Sneakers, sneakers, sneakers – the hype is to over yet! The large, thick-soled models offer new extremes while being orthopedically posh.

Personally speaking, I adore this season’s necklace pouchettes and belt bags as they are so practical. Large enough to fit just the essentials inside, it’s a hands-free way to go.

The oversized statement earrings are here to stay – the bigger the better.

Shopping bags and plastic totes are the new luxe accessories. This is what high-low fashion is all about.

Matching your boots to your outfit will give you this winter’s most sophisticated look for an eye-catching effect.

This season’s totes and carryalls are, in all seriousness, quite supersized, pack your weekenders in style.

This season’s best gloves extend to the elbow and come in all the colors of the rainbow.

The cowboy boot is the must-have boot for fall. This Western silhouette is having a moment from New York to Paris and beyond.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Balenciaga’s green dollar–print shirt offers a sublime example of Demna Gvasalia‘s reinvention of timeless house codes. Convertible and layered, it can be worn in different ways –  one of my favorite pieces of the season. In Switzerland you can find a great selection at Trois Pommes.

My look: Newspaper dollar bill print convertible layered poplin shirt, and Fuseau stirrup trousers, both by Balenciaga, black calf leather lace up Janis pumps by Saint Laurent, shopping tote (S/S 2009) and handbag raincoat, both by Chanel, and Le Chapeau Vallauris felt hat by Jacquemus, heart diamond necklace by Cartier, daisy necklace and Rose des Vents bracelet, 18k yellow gold, diamond and turquoise, both by Dior Fine Jewellery, T Wire Narrow 18-karat rose gold cuff by Tiffany & Co. and Tonda 1950 Galaxy by Parmigiani Fleurier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Momentum and possibility, movement and progression have always been the forces behind Shayne Oliver’s vision, driving the artistic direction of his collections and collaborations. These elements have informed Oliver’s overall point of view, which he brings to his new collaboration with Longchamp. The founder of New York-based cult menswear label HOOD BY AIR joined forces with the luxury French leather goods and fashion house, Longchamp, to develop an inventive capsule collection of travel accessories and ready-to-wear that merges the distinct creative spirit of both collaborators.

Taking the concept of travel gear into a new era, the collection Longchamp by Shayne Oliver merges Longchamp’s history of craftsmanship and French elegance with Oliver’s transformative aesthetic, resulting in a dynamic offering for both men and women. The collection includes leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear and garment bags, as well as a new iteration of Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage® tote, reimagined by Oliver.

«I really like the idea of working with brands that are masters of their craft,» Oliver shared. «Longchamp has a prestigious history of providing luxury travel essentials with expert craftsmanship. It made total sense to work with them on my first all accessories project.»

Throughout the collection, proportions are challenged and silhouettes are altered, disrupting the preconceptions of modern day travel. Travel takes on a new art form, underscored by unwavering freedom and temporal mobility. «While this is not the first collaboration for Longchamp or Shayne Oliver, it was a particularly energizing experience to work with Shayne in order to offer an unexpected collection to our customers,» said Longchamp Artistic Director and granddaughter of the founder, Sophie Delafontaine. «Designing Longchamp product through Shayne’s lens was an exciting challenge that allowed us to create product that is truly original.»

Sophie Delafontaine and Shayne Oliver

ABOUT SHAYNE OLIVER

Trinidad and Brooklyn raised, Shayne Oliver is the founder of the creative cult label Hood by Air based in New York City. Oliver’s interest in fashion and experimentation began at an early age where he founded the HBA creative collective in an underground warehouse dance community that subsequently emerged as a major fashion house in 2013. After exponential success and collaborations with the brand, Oliver decided to expand his vision by guest designing at major fashion houses under the legacy series A.S.S.O. (As Seen by Shayne Oliver) in order to promote his core concepts of individuality, high/low juxtaposition and expression. 2018 sees A.S.S.O.’s major collaboration with French luxury fashion brand, Longchamp, in a redesign of the capsule. The A.S.S.O. series will continue to work with designers who are considered Masters of Craft in their industries. These partnerships will propel conceptions of Oliver while paying homage to the brands’ heritage and legacies.

 As a designer, how did this collaboration with Longchamp enrich your personal point of view? 

I like to challenge myself and do things that are unconventional, I think that can be very liberating. I liked how this project had a strong sense of heritage and a different perspective that was based in people’s everyday lives. I was inspired by this. For me, living in New York, Longchamp is part of the, dare I say, streetwear, because a lot of people own Longchamp bags. It has a language that feels very organic to me. 

New York is my home and it will always be what I am inspired but Paris is fashion. 

How did this collaboration with Longchamp come about? 

The first thing that interested me about the project was the garment bag and from there, and I began to think about how travel influenced me in my own collections from the past. I came to think about the travel ties that we did for my previous brand HOOD BY AIR. (HBA) and bringing that into the language of Longchamp via the graphic. 

What do the graphics symbolize? 

HIATUS means ‘a gap’ or ‘a break’. The HIATUS logo relates to the period when we began working on this collaboration, at the time it was very important that I took a break. It was specifically the right time for this collaboration to happen so I feel like it was a great way of speaking about what was going on in my life – about needing to take a hiatus from the project I was working on and focusing on where I was heading, which is this new project ‘by Shayne Oliver’ – a series of collaborations with brands that have great heritage and renowned craftsmanship and putting my own spin on it. 

These bags are meant for the realness of life, it is less about having it be logos. 

This capsule collection brings some interesting styles, what inspired them? 

The collection is made to be used in multiple different ways, it is multipurpose. This multi-functionality is how I like to live my life in general and so I tried to make that as much a part of this as possible. 

SLING BAG 

For one, a lot of things that were happening to me at the time that involved healing, including physically being injured. We used the idea of an arm sling, like a sling you use when you are healing yourself, and turned it into a bag but it can still be used both ways. 

DOUBLE LE PLIAGE® 

This came from the idea of having a bag that was more personal and having one bag that was more business. You know which side you are using by the graphic on the front. The HIATUS side is meant for having fun and the other is more business. I was trying to make the Le Pliage® consistent with this idea of the new world. 

T-SHIRT 

We introduced a t-shirt style for the collaboration that speaks to the usage of the Longchamp graphic. I felt like it was important for that to be printed on a t-shirt as part of this new aesthetic for the collaboration. We then added the handles from the iconic Le Pliage® so it is branded in a way that mixes the new idea of branding and the old idea of branding. 

Longchamp By Shayne Oliver will launch at select Longchamp stores including the Longchamp Soho store in the US and on Longchamp.com before rolling out to Longchamp stores internationally in early May 2018.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Longchamp

After four cities, countless runway shows, it’s time to reflect on the themes and trends that emerged, both within the fashion industry and the cultural vibrations in general. So what’s new for next winter? Plenty. Easywear continues to be big, we’ll still see lots of ’80s references, and real fur has almost disappeared.  The overall trend might have been towards real clothes that are easy to wear in daily life. Next winter will be determined, celebrating individuality and style with a multitude of trends that are dying to be worn. It’s all about having fun!

Below is a summary of the most important trends for F/W 2018. Enjoy and choose yours!

LoL, Sandra

Layering is the absolute must next winter, with plays on texture and volume in a masterful game of accumulation.

After Gucci announced that it won’t be using any more real fur, many brands have followed the movement.

The only «real» fur trending next season is sheepskin which seems to be the natural choice for a cold weather wardrobe.

One of my favorite trends: the comeback of the cape, so versatile and easy to put over even the biggest sleeves.

Checkmate! Checks are at its best in fantastically mad all-over and color-blocked looks.

Classic Saville Row fabrics such as herringbone, glen plaid, and houndstooth look richer than ever. Enter the season with some swagger and a great men’s overcoat.

Wild West feeling!  Fashion looked to America to discover the New World through Western accents.

Black leather is out in full force. Rock your glam power woman silhouette with an sophisticated attitude to take the idea from Matrix remake to decidedly modern.

With a sensual masculinity and a boudoir elegance, those runway looks proved once again that nightwear is not restricted to an evening in.

From Brigitte Bardot’s beehive to Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat, and Mary Quant’s geometric prints, every ’60s fashion icon’s style has been revisited this season.

I don’t remember one season without any florals on the catwalks. F/W 2018 is no different -perennials come in every charming varietal – most important update is the three-dimensional effect.

This season, scarf prints are worn all over the body for a vibrant and flowing appearance.

With all these vibrant looks on the runway, clean, lean, and chic-white seems to be a very welcome alternative. Think: Maxi in length and slim in silhouette.

Ultra-reflective, high-shine materials – holographic, futuristic looks are big this winter. 

Think Dynasty in the ’80s where the focus was on glamorous eveningwear: sensual and festive frills.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands