Sandra‘s Closet

The Burberry Beauty Lip Charm is a limited edition, inspired by the Burberry fashion accessory collection. Three silver cubes embossed with the British fashion house’s iconic check, one of which contains a perfect nude-beige lip gloss for to pups on the go.
This lovely piece makes a super gift, available now for $85.-/ CHF 120.-.; in Zurich at the new Jelmoli Burberry Beauty counter.

LoL, Sandra

Lancôme’s S/S 2011 make-up collection “Ultra Lavande” is extremely pretty. Aaron de Mey, the house’s artistic director, got inspired by the 70s with lots of disco shimmer and soft colours in lavender, purple and silver. The butterfly decoration along with the beautiful sparkles make this collection so desirable.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, daughter of French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld, is the face of the camapign. In stores in the beginning of next year. Please find below my favourite products.

LoL, Sandra

 

 

 

In the end of October, designers and artists teamed up for installations at MOMA PS1 (not meaning Proenza Schoulers’s It-bag). The MOMA PS1, one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the US, devotes its energy and resources to displaying the most experimental art in the world. MOVE! was a two-day event merging the worlds of fashion and art.
Those famous collaborations included among others Kalup Linzy and Diane von Furstenberg; Rob Pruitt and Marc Jacobs; Brody Condon and the Rodarte sisters; Dan Colen and Proenza Schouler; David Blaine and Adam Kimmel; Jonah Bokaer and Narciso Rodriguez and last but not least Olaf Breuning and Cynthia Rowley.

The dream team came up with one of the most popular projects. They dressed volunteers in denim garments to be used as canvas. The model took her place in a makeshift wodden container and Breuning doused her with bright splashes of paint upon her head. The photos that were made subsequently became then a part of the exhibition.

If you are interested to buy one or more of the 100 one-of-a-kind dress arts, please click here.

American fashion designer Cynthia Rowley is an admirer of contemporary art and an avid art collector. So it is no wonder that she teamed up with Swiss born wunderkind Olaf Breuning, one of the most singular multi-talented artists of today. His works include paintings, video-art, sculpture and photography. Previously, he had already collaborated with other fashion houses like Bernhard Wilhelm or Pleasure Principle.

Last weekend, Olaf Breuning, who is currently living in New York, came to Zurich for his solo-exhibition, on display in the beautiful garden of the Baur au Lac and implemented by the wife of the sixth-generation hotel owner, Gigi Kracht, in collaboration with Galerie Nicola von Senger.

Gigi has been spot-on from the first moment she started Art in the Park by successfully shifting the hotel’s grounds into an art gallery and bringing lots of famous artists to the Swiss city. Her passion has paid off.
At the vernissage one week ago, four of Breuning’s specially for Art in the Park VI crafted sculptures were sold already.

I truly recommend a visit to the Baur au Lac. The exhibition will be open until the first week of February 2011. For those of you who cannot make it, please enjoy the photos.

LoL, Sandra

Today, I would like to introduce you to Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Pur Couture new lipstick line that includes 16 + 2 beautiful shades with a rich and luminous satin texture, divided into three families – reds, fuchsias and oranges.

 

What makes them so special, is the +2 addition: N°12 Blanc Manifesto (a white shimmering shade) and N°18 Noir Laque (a deep dark cola brown) that are used for blending and customising with other lipsticks to create your own, unique tone. This is such an awesome idea because it gives you the possibilty to change the lipsticks you already have at home into the perfect or just a new shade.

LoL, Sandra

Now available in Austria, Germany and Switzerland: The sixth Weltwoche Style Edition featuring my must-haves for the festive season, from the best fur pieces to beautiful knitwear and opulent brocade.
Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

While browsing the internet looking for some personalized lunchboxes and more, I came across Alphabet Goods. Laura, graphic designer, artist and mom-of-three, founded the site out of the same need.
The cute designs offer many possibilties, featuring the child’s name, initials, characterizations, hobbies and favourite foods – all served up with bold colors and tasty graphics. The products are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and break-resistant. I fell in love immediately. The newest product to be launched soon is the Face It waterbottles that you can see above.
Alphabet Goods offer worldwide shipping!

By the way, a portion of the sales is donated to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.
Thumbs up for the fashionable idea!

LoL, Sandra

Now the boys can relax and play a nice round of foosball, while the fairer sex is sure to be all over the game, too. The ultra-pink Barbie Foosball table definitely bridges the gap of gender quality.

From the imagination of young French designer Chloé Ruchon, a student at Decorative Arts School in Strausburg, comes this crazy creation. It was produced in partnership with Mattel and the Bonzini group, the worldwide leader of foosball tables.

In place of the standard aluminium figurines of soccer (or “football” in Europe) players are leggy-line-ups of Barbie dools, ready for action. Guys, don’t you dream of getting in the game with a bunch of girls in hot pants?

This super-glam spin on the game-room classic is limited to only 8 numered pieces. Bearing an asking price of $24.999.-, it is available for special order by contacting the FAO Schwarz NYC Flagship Store at + 1 (212) 644-9400 or by clicking here.

The Barbie Foosball Table belongs to Mattel’s limited “The Plastic Collection” of carefully curated Barbie items from around the world.
Enjoy some of the other stunning pieces (photos above):

1 Barbie’s Pop Art (first in series), $750.- 
2 Jonathan Adler 1959 Barbie mirror, $8800.-
3 Kitschy-cute rings made out of dolls’ shoes by jewelry designer Margaux Lange, $235.-
4 Barbie chair that references Starck’s Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck and Kartell, $650.-
5 Only 180 Commes des Garçons Barbies will be produced, each $350.-
6 Trenchcoat by Martin Grant, covered with little dolls kisses, $600.-
7 Barbie neon sign is built to order, $2500.-

Many designers have dressed the famous doll already. A real treat for the Barbie lovers and fashionistas! I am still not over my Barbie phase and would love to collect them all!

Therefore, I am dying to pay a visit to the first Barbie flagship store that has opened its doors this year in Shanghai. One thing is for sure, it captures the imagination not just of young girls, but of women of all ages.

Children can enjoy a walk on the runway in Barbie-esque clothes and learn how to sing and dance to the Barbie song. For adults there is a clothing line from Patricia Fields, the stylist behind Sex and the City, a café where you can enjoy Barbie-tinis and a day spa.

For all Barbie lovers, a little idea for a great girly birthday cake. Just put a naked Barbie in the middle and make the frosting look like her dress. Easy with an amazing effect! Your daughter is going to love you for it…

Life in plastic seems fantastic!

LoL, Sandra

Ladies, get ready. A few months ago, I gave you already a glimpse, now it is official! The new must-have nail polish shade from the St. Tropez Chanel Cruise 2011 show, so-called “Riva“, will be in Chanel stores only! on December 1st.
This time, we can enjoy a 70’s inspired beautiful pastel baby blue shade. Even if you have not planned a trip to the caribbean islands, it will also look good in the snowy mountains of St. Moritz.

LoL, Sandra

My last article concerning the Fashion Days Zurich is about upcoming Swiss designers. On Thursday morning, they had the opportunity to present their collections. Three of them caught my eye and I would like to present them to you.

First of all, Aleksandra Wisniewska, who during her studies at Esmod Paris, completed an internship with Chloé and launched her own label in 2005. Today, she is based in Lausanne where she designs her elegant, feminine and extravagant collections. Her S/S 2011 collection is called „Architecture Une Histoire de Famille“. I especially liked the well tailored shoulder details and the silver fabric.

Available for example online at styleserver.de or at Glam.in in Zurich.

Photos: Image Gate © 2010 Getty Images

ALEKSANDRA WISNIEWSKA

REDLEY EXANTUS

Redley Exantus was born in New York where she later studied at the famous Fashion Institut of Technology (FIT). She improved her skills while working two years for Calvin Klein. After having moved to Geneva, she founded her brand in 2006. Her creations are modern, combining the American way of dressing with European craftmanship. For S/S 2011, I liked her digital psychedlic prints even if they reminded me a little too much of Alexander McQueen.
What I absolutely adored was the well-tailored black dress with the moving hemline and the kind of woven fabrics, first and foremost the black gala cape. My absolute favourite.

TOUJOURS TOI- FAMILY AFFAIRS

The name has to be taken literally. New York based jewelry designer (Toujours Toi) Nina Egli, has teamed up with her mother Kaya to form Family Affairs. A transatlantic design partnership that stands for romantic, feminine fashion. For all women who adore bow-tie blouses and flowing materials. I fell in love with the headpieces and the feathers hanging down the hats.
In Zurich, they divided the show in their F/W 2010 „Moon River“ and S/S 2011 „Ocean Lemonande“ collections.
Available for example in Zurich at Dings.

Switzerland has more more to offer than cheese and chocolat. Not only the best watches are made here, as you see, there are great talents around.
Let’s support them!

LoL, Sandra

26-year-old Alexander Wang has been conquering the high fashion world since his first eponymous collection in 2007. Born and raised in San Francisco, the wunderkind moved to New York City at the age of 18 to try his hand at designing clothes. He attended Parsons School of Design for two years and interned with Mark Jacobs.

Wang has become well-known for his M.O.D., “model–off–duty–look“. He says: „Anyone can get all dressed up and glamourous, but it is how people dress in their off days, that is the most intriguing.“
With a growing fan crowd embracing his modern approach to dressing, he has taken the industry by storm.

The bag collection was launched in 2008, followed by the diffusion line T by Alexander Wang and shoes in 2009. Wang has created already many signature It-pieces like the cat’s eye sunglasses spotted first on Lady Gaga or the bottom-studded Rocco bag, Mary–Kate Olsen was frequently seen.

He is the recipient of the VOGUE/CFDA Fashion Fund in 2009 as the Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year, celebrated again in 2010 with another Swarovski Designer of the Year Award (this time in the Accessory category). 
Last year he won the Swiss Textiles Award. As a culmination of this year’s gala, the king of sexed-up streetwear cool showed his surprising S/S 2011 collection, seen before on the New York runway.
The colour range went from all-white to ivory, mint, curry and terracotta. Deconstructed looks, coverall straps, stiff canvas covered with paint spots and industrial materials like Tyvek played an important role. Rose gold stripes reminding of duct tape and white paint in the models’ hair finally evoke the theme of carpenters.

I was very lucky to meet Alex in person and do an interview with him. Enjoy his answers and the photos of his S/S 2011 show in Zurich!
Photos: Image Gate © 2010 Getty Images

You are back in Switzerland again. How do you like it here?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been out that much. Hopefully I will see more. I was pretty busy. This time, I am enjoying it not to be under the pressure to compete.

You received a lot of top honours, among them last year’s Swiss Textiles Award. Those prizes are accompanied by a generous financial support. Did that help you building up your company and gaining even more popularity?

The monetary component is always an advantage but I wouldn’t say it is a priority. I think just the recognition of being in a different market than where we are based, having that awareness and exposure was definitely something that we experienced over the last year. Especially the opportunity and the ressources to work with the Swiss Textiles Foundation gave us the possibility of developing new fabrications for our S/S 2011 collection, that are much more special and expensive. That was definitely the part that I thought was the top advantage of winning the award.

You launched the your first collection in 2007.  Despite the financial worldwide crisis, you were on the rise during those for many people very tough last two years.
After your Wall Street inspired Fall runway, you are trying something new again, something unexpected was seen on the summer catwalk. After the deconstructed bankers there are now deconstructed carpenters…. What is your message?

I want to show the world that they don’t have me all figured out yet. For me, the most important thing is having a very strong point of view that you can evolve.
Every designer has their own method of doing things. This is my way of communicating to my customer and to the industry of what I have to say.

This season, we didn’t show any black on the runway. It wasn’t something that felt too urban. It wasn’t about doing something downtown or New York. I wanted to create something that felt very optimistic, very uplifting and pure, so with print and colour. That was the outcome of my vision.

You are opening your first store in the old Yohji space on Grand street in New York. Will we see more of your own stores in the future? What does your first store mean to you?

Hopefully, there will be more to follow but nothing is planned so far. I really wanted to take the time and do something right that I feel very strong about. A lot of people rush into things very quickly. I can’t say that. We obviously had a lot of growth in the last couple of years but sometimes you really have to take a moment to think what you are doing, to consider the next steps and where you want to expand.
For us, the store has always been the best possibility to really showcase the full brand and its entirety, where you can really control the image. We are opening it in New York next year. It is an intense process and I want to make sure that each and every detail is done correctly to my standards of perfection.

You already did a collaboration with Gap. Can you imagine to do something similiar with H&M, too?

We have done a couple of collaborations in the past. I kind of promised myself to be somehow over collaborations in that sort of sense.
Any collaboration that I will be doing in the future moving forward will have to speak to the brand on a completely different level. It has to be organic. The period of doing high-low collaborations feels over for me, to what it represents to our company. I think anything that we do now has to be something that feels fresh and looks modern.
If we were to do another collaboration, it would have to be definitely different and not with a high street brand.

Let’s take all that a little further. If another long-established fashion house asked you to become their new creative director and you could dream of one, which one would it be?

I don’t know if I could answer that question right now. The opportunity has definitely been there before but I feel that my focus should be on growing my own brand and company. Building something solid is my top priority at the moment.

Wangsters, Wang-ettes, fashion editors come up with all sorts of names for your fan crowd. How does it feel to be the leader of a cult?

I find it very flattering of course that people really dedicate themselves to what we are creating.

I do what I love and I am very thankful for having an audience that really appreciates my work. That is why I am a designer. I create clothes for people that want to wear, buy and live in them.
It is not for my own selfish indulgence, to do something just purely creative. It is about the combination of creativity and yet being commercially buyable, that goes to the stores and makes people desire it.

You are very good friends with Erin Wasson? Would you call her your muse? Who is inspiring you?

Erin is a friend of mine, for sure, but I rarely use the term of muse. I think it is outdated and old-fashioned.
I am inspired by people who work for me that are my family and friends, that I interact with, that I constantly have a communication with.

You went to Parsons for a four-year programme and dropped out after two years to focus on your first collection that was mainly about knitwear and sold to over 200 stores. That is absolutely amazing. Did you have any connections? How did you do that?

(Laughs) There has been the myths that my family owns production facilities. Probably because we are Chinese, people make that association. Other rumors said that we made a big investment. This is all not true.

The brand started off very small with only six styles. It was just that people really responded to the authenticity, to the genuine feeling. When you have someone who really believes in doing something and would do anything to make it happen. Luckily, I had a very big support in terms of a family and I don’t mean just financial.
The people around me encouraged me to keep going. My mum who let me leave school and friends who encouraged me to do what I believed in and not listening so much to what the stores were telling me to do, what the showroom wanted me to do. Saying so what, that is my customer, this is the one I want to design for, that is the one, I want to sell to and this how I want to approach it! And I just stuck with it.

Can describe the Wang factor, the Wang DNA in three words?

I wouldn’t limit it to three words. There is definitely a sense of ease. At the end of the day, it is fashion, it is fun. People need to enjoy it. At a certain point when it is so strict, so controlled, pretentious, I don’t fun with it anymore. And that is not what our brand is about it. It is about individuality, ease and a sense of humour. I always look at it light-heartedly.

I love dressing men and women of all different ages and sizes. I don’t want to dictate how to wear my clothes. I get motivated by how people bring their own approach to my designs.

What do you think of all those fashion blogs? Are they the future?

This is part of a generation discovering a new method of communicating. It is definitely about being more acknowlegdeable of what is around me, my surrounding and how to communicate. It changed the way that fashion functions. I feel very priviledged to be part of this advanced generation.

And I feel very priviledged to have met you. Thanks, Alex, for this lovely interview!

It was truly a pleasure to talk to Alexander Wang. He is a very charismatic, energetic person with a very strong vison and full of enthusiasm. On one hand, he seems like the young boy he still is, a little hyper and kind of innocent, on the other side, he is an already experienced business man who goes his own way. This is a very interesting combination and probably his key to success.

LoL, Sandra