Sandra‘s Closet

The Met Gala is the party of the year, like the Oscars in fashion. It is also the opening night of the annual fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. After last year’s posthumous Alexander McQueen retrospective “Savage Beauty”, the “Schiaparelli & Prada – Impossible Conversations“ is now on show.

With the met gala being one of the biggest red carpet events, it is quite a task narrowing down the many fabulous gowns to choose my absolute favourites. The ones in the collage above are on my best-dressed list, with the following three being at the top:

Dreamlike: Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada…

…with beautiful jewels by Anna Hu

A piece of art: Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou F/W 2012

Soulmate: Lizzy Tisch in Mary Katranzou‘s stunning Harp Hazzard dress from S/S 2012

But it wouldn’t be fun if I didn’t point out the more questionable fashion moments or let’s say to show you the most daring appearances. Enjoy!

Bird of Paradise: Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen

Too much bronzer: Leighton Meester in Marchesa

Scene-stealer: Marc Jacobs in Comme des Garçons with Lorenzo Martone

Booty Call: Beyoncé in Givenchy Haute Couture

Unlikely couple: Karolina Kourkova with tiny Rachel Zoe, the designer of her space-like gown

The new Anna? Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana with Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld

The Jolie-leg effect: Anja Rubik in a scary hip-slit gown by Anthony Vaccarello

Daughter of Daphne Guiness? Mary-Kate Olsen in The Row

Which one is your favourite or which one don’t you like at all? You can comment on Sandra’s Closet’s facebook page here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Getty Images and © Rex Features

After over one week in bed sick, I have been ready for some vibrant colours to embrace spring.
I really like the colour combination of orange and turquoise blue.

My look: Wool jacket with lamé trimand embellished wool-cashmere cardigan, both by Marc Jacobs, ballet flats by Dolce & Gabbana (similiar to the leather ballerina by Repetto), straight-leg pants by Stella McCartney, orange-coloured Birkin bag by Hermès, earrings by Christian Dior and striped scarf by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

My last show for the F/W 2012 season was Miu Miu yesterday.

Imagine Austin Powers and the dandy style, add some late sixties and very early seventies and the outcome would be Miuccia Prada’s moodboard for her Miu Miu F/W 2012 collection. The pants worn cropped played a major role as already seen at Prada. It seemed like she had an obsession with them. Just in the end of the show, some short dresses with lots of embellishments appeared on the runway. I loved it, it was a fresh and different approach to the winter season and her colour combinations were absolutely gorgeous.

And do you know who else I spotted? Marc Jacobs who just had presented his F/W 2012 collection for Louis Vuitton earlier in the morning, was sitting front row and congratulated Miuccia later on her designs. Yes, she nailed it again as the matching-print pantsuit is a must for the next season! And Miu Miu will definitely be on my shopping list!

Enjoy the photos of the show and see which famous blue-haired singer was there below:

The blue-haired celebrity I was talking about was Katy Perry who came to the Miu Miu show in head-to-toe Prada.

When she saw her friend, American actress, Kate Mara, all dressed in Miu Miu, she seemed to compare their looks. I thought that it was pretty funny to watch.

Below you can see Anna dello Russo wearing the famous Miu Miu sunglasses.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday morning in Paris, I attended the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show which was the best I have ever seen (It even topped Chanel’s Paris – Bombay…).

When I arrived, I found myself inside a 1920’s inspired train station with a huge Louis Vuitton station clock hanging from the ceiling. And what looked like the runway in the middle, was actually something else…

The show started on time as usual and a gigantic gate opened, there was steam. All of a sudden, I saw rails…

…and an amazing old-fashioned train with a lot of steam rolled inside the hall. The crowd cheered and applauded. Believe me, it takes something to charm the fashionable audience.

Inside the wagon, the models were seated. You could already see the gigantic hats. The ambiance reminded me immediately of the Titanic era. The ladies looked like belonging to the upper class de-boarding the “Vuitton Express”.

THE BAGS

Each lady had a her own porter helping her to carry the oversized bags which were absolutely divine. Hat boxes, vanity cases, weekend bags and petites valises all make an appearance for everyday use. The traditional canvas Monogram finds itself trimmed in real crocodile or embroidered in sequins on a blanket wool, trimmed with box calf. The Speedy has an intense reworking this season, based on and featuring a round signature buckle.

Mink makes its way into Vuitton baggage, utilising vibrant colours to accompany its rich, sumptuous texture.

THE LOOKS

Marc Jacobs played with proportions and this collection seems to be for the tall ones among you. It is all about elongation. The clothing is layered in rich, sumptuous fabrics; long skirts over cigarette pants, long coats over all, each look topped by a tall hat. There is a certain, simple geometry to this elongation, an extended A-line to engulf the entire body.

The normal sized porters seemed tiny in comparison to the tall models. Marc Jacobs did it on purpose to reinforce the point of his towering female silhouette; the men are merely added accessories.

The materials are rich, from kangaroo leather that is patch-worked and bejewelled with plastics to heavy metal yarns replicating Afghan blanket fabrics and brocades and jacquards.

I loved Marc’s thinking about the company’s nineteenth-century origins and travel heritage. Can you believe that he started Louis Vuitton’s Prêt-à-porter collection fifteen years ago… time flies!

Marc after the show in the train

The “Vuitton Express” from inside

Me in front of the train

Bryan Boy with me, isn’t his Jil Sander hat too cute?!

Anna dello Russo

Famous guest: Sarah Jessica Parker

Another reason for my enthusiasm for this amazing, outstanding Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 show might be that it reminded me so much of a collection inspired by the Titanic era that I created during my fashion design studies.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Red is a must next summer and in combination with nude and beige just irresistible. 
Clare Waight Keller, who has replaced Chloé‘s Hannah MacGibbon, shows for her debut collection this colour combination in perfection.

If you are in the mood for shopping, have a look at this stunning outfit below, perfect for the cold temperatures now.

I personally absolutely adore the colour combination of red and nude, so French and so chic!

This rosette-embellished silk top by Lanvin will be a great addition to your wardrobe. It works best partnered with a simple pencil skirt or this trendy pleated leather skirt by Marc Jacobs. Stay warm during winter time with a cozy cardigan by Missoni and the gorgeous red flared wool princess coat by Issa. Add a classic bag such as the nude vitello bow-embellished leather tote by Miu Miu and some killer heels like thestudded open toe sandals by Valentino and you will me make heads turn.

LoL, Sandra

In the mood to shop the floral trend for S/S 2012?
Here are the best pieces available at the moment.
Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly! Happy Shopping!

DRESSES

1 Floral-print silk crepe de chine dress by Dolce & Gabbana
2 Floral-print silk crepe de chine dress by Sonia Rykiel
3 Floral-print silk-chiffon dress by Jason Wu

SKIRTS

1 Floral-print silk-georgette skirt by Proenza Schouler
2 Embroidered tulle skirt by Marc Jacobs (my personal must-have)
3 Floral-print ruched silk-chiffon skirt by Jason Wu

TOPS

1 Floral-print jacquard blazer by Etro
2 Rose-print silk blouse by Prabal Gurung
3 Shay floral-print silk scarf by Jimmy Choo

GOWNS

1 Lucietta floral-print silk crepe de chine gown by Erdem
2 Draped floral-print silk-chiffon gown by Roberto Cavalli

LoL, Sandra

Here is your sneak preview of the Louis Vuitton advertising campaign for S/S 2012 that captures the essence of this amazing collection perfectly and that is definitely among my favourites. It was shot by Steven Meisel who did also the Prada S/S 2012 campaign.

“The spirit of our S/S 2012 collection is reflected beautifully in this new ad campaign,” says Louis Vuitton Artistic Director Marc Jacobs. “All the tone and texture of the collection – the lightness, the prettiness, the broderie anglaise, the millefeuille layers of organza – are recreated in these wonderful images by Steven Meisel. It is all very soft and very sweet, yet at the same time very bold and very graphic.”

In an intriguing echo of the previous season, the Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 advertising campaign once again takes up the narrative of the fashion show, continuing it from the point where the woman steps daintily off the pure white fairground carrousel and into the pastel pink paradise of a nearby ice cream parlor.

Up-and-coming models Daria Strokous and Kati Nescher are the lucky pair chosen to sample the parlor’s assorted delights while wearing some of the season’s standout looks, including romantic broderie anglaise dresses, ladylike shifts embellished with strass, studs and 3D flowers, and sorbetcoloured suits with white lace collars. Accessories, too, feature prominently in the nine visuals, foremost among them the Lockit bag in sheer nylon voile that opened the runway show, the Speedy in powdered, whitewashed crocodile, and the pointed-toe mules in pastel shades with metal toe caps, dainty laces or rows of tiny buttons.

“The whole ambiance is very pretty, very special and very magical,” says Marc Jacobs, “and I’m sure it will look just delicious and fresh come the spring.”

The Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 advertising campaign will break in the February 2012 issues of magazines worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

It is this exciting time of the year when the new pieces for Resort 2012 are hitting the shelves. Indulge yourself with spring coolness and enjoy the vibrant colours. Probably you are one of the lucky ones leaving for an exotic hot spot. But even if you are going to the mountains, you could work this metallic leather mini skirt by Gucci with boots, tights and a great sweater perfectly. To shop the pieces, please just click on the highlighted text below:

Shopping Wish List

Intrecciato oxidized-silver bracelet by Bottega Veneta

Metallic leather mini skirt by Gucci

Croc-embossed leather mini skirt by Kelly Bergin

Printed silk blouse by Peter Pilotto

Tribtoo suede pumps by Yves Saint Laurent

Marlene feather and suede sandals by Jimmy Choo

Single quilted leather shoulder bag by Marc Jacobs

LoL, Sandra

This was my look for the Mercedes Benz Fashion Show last Friday in Zurich: Velvet blazer, stretch-velvet skinny pants, fur stole, ruffled silk-jacquard pussybow blouse and python platform pumps, all by Gucci, vintage quilted leather bag with python trimming by Marc Jacobs and earrings by Louis Vuitton.

Hope that you will like this tone-on-tone 70’s-inspired outfit!

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.