Sandra‘s Closet

To embody the most beautiful S/S 2020 pre-collection, Virginie Viard has chosen Caroline de Maigret, ambassador of the House. She was shot by photographer Leila Smara at the legendary CHANEL address at 31 rue Cambon in Paris.

For this pre-collection, Virginie Viard has imagined a very Parisian silhouette, with a cool and chic allure that lights up everyday life. The soft, comfortable lines emphasise the masculine-feminine spirit characteristic of CHANEL, further illustrated by the choice of materials such as tweed, denim, leather, satin and cotton poplin.

A yellow and gold tweed jacket with four pockets is worn naturally with faded jeans. Tweed also comes as a black and white checked blazer whose rigour is softened by an ethereal jabot blouse and a pair of diaphanous shorts in cotton poplin.

Tweed is feminised as a sensual and graphic bustier top accompanied by trousers in quilted leather. Leather, again, is printed with silver pinstripes for a straight-cut jacket and trouser ensemble.

Ease and freedom of movement are at the heart of the CHANEL silhouette. A tweed trouser suit with an ultra-fluid cut worn over a jersey top, a very soft long coat in cotton tweed combined with white jeans, and a casual chic ensemble in printed satin all perfectly correspond with this philosophy.

To walk, move, to come and go in the utmost comfort, the shoes are flat or have a small square heel: derby shoes in patent leather, slingback pumps in fishnet, flat sandals trimmed with chains and loafers in crêpe and grosgrain embellished with a rhinestone comet. A small tote bag in quilted leather has integrated handles and a strap allowing for two ways of wearing it. Finally, couture jewelry – multi-strand sautoirs, pearl necklaces, cuff bracelets, curb chains and XL chain belts – punctuates all the silhouettes.

With the S/S 2020 pre-collection, Virginie Viard reinvents the essence of the Parisienne and her nonchalant elegance. She infuses her with a youthfulness that reflects the eternal and contemporary allure of the CHANEL woman. Discover the collection in boutiques from January 2020.

Just so beautiful…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
#CHANELPreCollection

«An important part of my life designing installations, spaces and experiences is actually spent putting out fires! I thought it was time to celebrate that fire…and help put the Art World on fire too! So I chose to show only burnt art and art relating to fire from the fantastic Gmurzynska collection, and create for these an environment that is pop and thematic, inspired by the beautiful look of fire stations, as a boy dreaming of them, pop and joyful, yet modern, minimal and fairly neutral, to enhance the viewing of such important art. It is made of traditional industrial materials, lacquered diamond steel plates and fire extinguishers, but reinterpreted to serve their new purpose in a luxurious manner.» Alexandre de Betak

Having presented a Karl Lagerfeld designed booth in 2011 at FIAC, Galerie Gmurzynska – the leading international art gallery specializing in masterpieces of both classic modern and post-war art – is returning to the fair with a visionary installation by French designer, scenographer and creative director Alexandre de Betak, who is mostly known for his involvement in the production of Victoria’s Secret shows, which he has producing and choreographing for many years.

Sketch by Karl Lagerfeld, FIAC 2011, Galerie Gmurzynska’s booth design

2003 marked de Betak’s debut in design, when he created an acrylic glass bookshelf and a leather bench with French design house Domeau & Perez. Moreover, he is known for various collaborations with important museums, among others the MOCA in Los Angeles and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

Preparatory rendering by Alexandre de Betak, FIAC 2018

Since its discovery, fire has been the propelling force of innovation, civilization and ultimately cultural advancement. Artists throughout the history of art have been drawn to its ethereal power to destroy, create, cleanse and illuminate.

Roberto Matta, Les Fumoïsses, 1973

The survey exhibition «On Fire» will include a diverse list of artists using or depicting fire in all forms throughout the 20th Century, from Joan Miró to Otto Piene, Yves Klein, Alberto Burri, Roberto Matta up to Tom Wesselmann and others. A booklet with an introduction by Germano Celant will be accompanying the exhibition.

Mathias Rastorfer at the booth with Alexandre de Betak

Isabelle Bscher at the opening party with Francesco Vezzoli

On Wednesday evening, the opening party of the gallery took place next to the Seine with a huge fire installation by Alexandre de Betak. The gallery owners Isabelle Bscher, Krystyna Gmurzynska and Mathias Rastorfer and star designer Alexandre de Betak welcomed actor Vincent Cassel, not only since his role as Vincent van Gogh in «Loving Vincent», an art fanatic, Parisian model and author Caroline de Maigret, star photographer Ellen von Unwerth, hotel guru André Balazs and actor and artist André Saraiva, the u.a. also designed for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tiffany and Converse, the Italian concept artist and filmmaker («Multimedia Popartist»), Francesco Vezzoli and Michel Gaubert, the best sound designer in the fashion world with clients such as Gucci, Fendi, Jil Sander, Roberto Cavalli, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Chanel.

Galerie Gmurzynska @ FIAC: OCTOBER 18 – 21, 2018 Booth 0.C24
When the world of fashion meets the world of art, there is fire…

LoL, Sandra

André Balazs and André Saraiva

Ellen von Unwerth

Vincent Cassel

Photos: Courtesy of Galerie Gmurzysnka

Bag aficionados, here we go! Meet CHANEL‘s new GABRIELLE bag. The official advertising campaign is announced to launch on April 3rd 2017, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld and featuring four guests of honour: Kristen Stewart, Caroline de Maigret, Pharrell Williams, along with Cara Delevingne.

Pharrell Williams, Cara Delevingne and Karl Lagerfeld at the Chanel Collection des Metiers d’Art Pre-fall 2017: Paris Cosmopolite Show at Hotel Ritz on December 6, 2016 in Paris.

All four of them have woven strong links with CHANEL. Kristen Stewart has appeared in several fashion and beauty campaigns since 2013. Model, music producer and writer, Caroline de Maigret is also a close friend of Karl Lagerfeld. Pharrell Williams appeared in the designer’s short film that celebrated the Paris-Salzburg collection; he composed the film’s music and was the face of that same collection alongside Cara Delevingne, who is ever loyal to Karl Lagerfeld.

First presented at the S/S 2017 show, CHANEL’s GABRIELLE bag is like a mischievous wink to Gabrielle Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld wanted it to have the same aesthetic and practical spirit in that blend of strength and elegance that characterises CHANEL handbags. Fitted on a rigid thermoformed base, the main body of the bag is extremely light and ultra-supple: this contrasting structure gives it perfect stability and makes finding belongings effortless. In tune with a continuing search for comfort advocated by the founder of the House, it hugs the silhouette, moving with the gait and never hindering it.

Its adjustable strap comes with a double chain woven from leather and golden and silver metal. A highly original detail permitting several ways of wearing it: over the shoulder, across the body or both at the same time, with the chain going over one shoulder and then diagonally across the other.

Stay tuned – more to come in April! I am already in love…
#TheCHANELGABRIELLEbag

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel, Sketch: © Karl Lagerfeld/Chanel

Marc Jacobs dedicated his final collection for Louis Vuitton to the women who inspire him. In the same spirit, the S/S 2014 advertising campaign is devoted to a series of portraits of the designer’s muses.

Catherine Deneuve, Sofia Coppola, Gisele Bündchen, Fan Bingbing, Caroline de Maigret and Edie Campbell, the model hand-picked by Marc Jacobs to open his final runway show, are photographed by Steven Meisel.

The simple studio backdrop and restrained color palette turn the spotlight on the personality of each, as well as on the season’s variations on the iconic Noé bag – embroidered with feathers, crystals, alligator or Sprouse sequins, in supple calfskin, or in Monogram canvas trimmed with black leather.

Just as Marc Jacobs’ valedictory show was intended as a celebration, so this, his final campaign for Louis Vuitton, offers a vibrant homage to women and to enduring style.

On the S/S 2014 runway, a single bag appeared in a myriad different guises, the NN14 – the season’s statement update of the iconic Noé bag, famously designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton in 1932 in response to a request from a champagne producer for an elegant way of carrying five bottles of fizz.

The limited-edition NN14 was created through what Marc Jacobs described as a “cleaning” of the original design – smaller, more streamlined, but still recognizable as a “bucket” for champagne. In addition to Les Extraordinaires, the extremely rare and precious editions whose extravagant embellishments – feathers, crystals, sequins, studs, alligator appliqués – testify to Louis Vuitton’s exceptional savoir-faire, several simpler versions of the NN14 bag will set the tone of the next season.

All share the NN14’s distinctive details: a hand-pleated leather tassel closure, a Louis Vuitton-embossed leather handle, and the emblematic LV padlock and key bell. Inside the bag, a matching removable zippered pocket is perfect for stowing valuables.

The NN14 in Monogram Idole combines canvas with calfskin trim in black, dark red or deep blue. The bag comes in two sizes: small for elbow and hand carry (also available in classic Monogram canvas with natural cowhide trim), and large, which can additionally be worn on the shoulder.

This bag will surely fly of the shelves… question is which one is your favorite?! I am crazy for this embellished one…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Sophistication and raw sensuality come together in Prada’s F/W 2013 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel in New York.

A stellar ensemble of fresh new faces such as Amanda Murphy and Kristine Froseth star alongside iconic, era-defining stars like Christy Turlington and Freja Beha. They inhabit seductively stark scenes, the pivotal characters in an enigmatic portrait of femininity.

Photographer: Steven Meisel

Models: Amanda Murphy, Catherine McNeil, Kristine Froseth, Christy Turlington, Caroline De Maigret, Cameron Russell, Fei Fei Sun, Rachel Williams, Malaika Firth, Freja Beha, Sophia Ahrens

Location: New York, studio, April 15th-20th 2013

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada