Sandra‘s Closet

This week, I flew to London to meet very talented designer Thakoon Panichgul. He was in town for a very intimate trunk show and presented his amazing F/W 2011 collection in the Net-à-porter offices to his very loyal long-standing English customers.

The Thai-born, Omaha-raised designer who is based today in New York has been an early forerunner of mismatched prints. For him, it is all about the silhouette, about a certain nonchalance, a modern and sporty way to interpret couture. He has a talent for intricate detail and loves to play with construction.

I had a really nice conversation with him. Thakoon is such a lovely guy. He told me that his passion for fashion started at a very early age because his mom and grandma were both seamstresses. He started his career first in production, then merchandising for J.Crew. Later on, he spent four years as a writer and editor for Harper’s Bazaar and took courses at Parsons School of Design. He also earned a business degree at Boston University. I would call this a very profound foundation to start a successful company which he did in September 2004. He has quickly become a shooting star to emerge from the New York fashion scene.

His fan base is huge. Hollywood celebrities like Jessica Biel or Drew Barrymore and  fashion A-listers like Sienna Miller belong to it. His probably biggest supporter is Michelle Obama. America’s First Lady is often seen in Thakoon’s designs.

Thakoon thanked Natalie Massanet for giving him a voice. He explained: „First I did five pieces and thought it was a collection. Net-à-porter bought all of them and has been so supportive since then.“

Natalie Massanet answered: „We are all about great products!“
The founder of the well-known online platform Net-à-porter was like me crazy for the gorgeous sleeveless blazer in yellow and black.

Thakoon’s collection for F/W 2011 reminded me of Marie Antoinette as an African tribal warrior.
The designer kept the juxtapositions going in all ways. A long-in-back ball skirt worn with a checked puffy coat was among my favourite looks. See below some of the best looks. The pieces were a little big on me as they were the sample sizes.

Please click here to shop Thakoon’s beautiful collection.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Now available online at net-à-porter is J Brand’s new It-pants: The Gigi.

Cropped, flared and skinny, J brand’s hot shape takes style to a whole new level. Combine them with ankle boots or strappy sandals with a fur vest or a tank top. It is a simple way to update your wardrobe and easy to wear whatever the temperature. My favourites are the waxed ones, love this special fabric.

LoL, Sandra

It is weekend. Time to get cozy. If you have been looking for stylish clothes you could also relax in, I have the perfect solution for you: The beautiful Lounge Lover collection. Founded in 2004 by Belgian designer Sylvie Gabriel, the line focuses on easy chic loungewear, from soft cashmere pants to well-shaped tops and comfy wraps. Those ultra-luxe essentials work well around the house or for Sunday brunch. The perfect upgrade for your off-duty look!

Travel Babe

After the huge success of Sylvie’s Travel Babe set, there is going to be another great special edition:
Yoga Babe.

Folded away in a soft poem-embellished drawstring pouch you will find a metal grey support tank top with raw hem, completed by a stirrup legging with faux button fly.
The material has this wonderful velvety “second skin” feel. Available this November exclusively at net-à-porter for £149.-.

Two Lounge Lovers: Sylvie Gabriel and me

Those babes totally meet my fashion mantra!

Once a Lounge Lover, always a Lounge Lover.

LoL, Sandra

When I was in London recently, I visited the new headquarters of net-à-porter which are absolutely stunning.

The best part was my exclusive preview of Alexander McQueen’s exquisite F/W 2010 collection.
The late Bristish designer’s final work is a piece of art, to be taken literally and owning such a statement collector’s piece is like owning a piece of fashion history.

Have a look at my favourites and see how much work and dedication the genius put in his creations. Which one would be your cultural heritage fashionwise?

Look 2

Incrusted harness dress with bulletted duchesse skirt. The printed jacquard was inspired by 3 paintings from Heironymous Bosch entitled “Earthly paradise”, “Garden of Earthly delights”, and “Musical Hell”. The harness has an all over metal sequin embroidery inspired by Byzantine Mosaics.

Retail price £12,420.00

Look 3

Duchesse dress draped with minimal use of seams and darts to form two exaggerated pockets on the side. The embroidery is a metal based embroidery inspired by the 17th century Dutch wood carver, Grinling Gibbons. The embroidery combines bullion, threadwork, metal sequins, metal flowers, metal beading.

Retail price £7,640.00

Look 5

This is the last dress that Lee McQueen draped on the mannequin. The print is inspired by the 15th century artist Stephan Lochner’s 3 church paintings of the Inunciation. Print is on silk duchesse placed following the drape of the dress. The underskirt is made of gold painted goose feathers. This dress has a bustier as part of it’s construction.

Retail price £7,165.00

Look 12

This dress is a combination of the angel wing print translated on Duchesse and chiffon. The print is inspired by the 15th Century Flemish church painter, Hugo van der Goes. The duchesse part of the dress is very sleek with a train creating a stiffness which is softened by the airy chiffon skirt that seems as if revealed. The embroidery is a silver and light gold bullion embroidery backed unto organza.

Retail price £7,165.00

Here are some photos of the beautiful display and me enjoying every detail of those divine creations.

LoL, Sandra

One of my favourite online stores Net-à-Porter has started to receive the new pre-fall 2010 collections and I do not want you to miss this. The beginning of the season offers always so many stunning pieces. Here are some of them, already put together in complete outfits. The Burberry Prorsum jackets are divine just as the python prints by Stella McCartney. A belted cardigan is a must-have for next season, why not go for this Fendi one and think leather, leather, leather! The Burberry Prorsum pencil skirt below would be the perfect opportunity. Do you feel the same urge to push the “add to shopping bag” button like I do?!

Natalie Massenet

As it has been a week of announcements, I have another one, this time for my male readers who probably feel a little left behind. Ten years to the day Net-à-Porter was founded and right after its acquisition by Richemont earlier this spring, the online shop`s founder Natalie Massenet and the Net-à-Porter family announced that they are adding a stand-alone menswear luxury retail site to the company, called Mr Porter. It will launch in January 2011 for next spring and will offer the most exclusive service along with style advice.  Brands like Balmain, Burberry, Lanvin, YSL and John Lobb, just to name a few, will make the stressed business man happy shopping from his desk. Or we could order for our men a little pre-selection to enjoy at home. I like it!

LoL, Sandra