Sandra‘s Closet

Pure Prada. A new collection of foulards and scarves create a new wardrobe of Prada prints, drawing on emblematic patterns and approaches from the Prada archive and current seasons, rediscovering and reworking them afresh. They are used to create timeless accessories – definitive accents to a look, across four themes: DOUBLE MATCH, PITTORESQUE, BAROQUE and FANTASY.

The ‘DOUBLE MATCH’ group boldly combines signature yet contrasting Prada prints as inspired by the striking juxtapositions from the Prada Pre-Fall 2018 womenswear collection – icons, approached iconoclastically.

‘PITTORESQUE’ showcases hand-drawn picture-postcard views of significant cities around the world – Milan to London, Moscow to Shanghai, a wide-ranging global journey in brilliant hues.

The ‘BAROQUE’ foulards draw inspiration from the seminal graphics of the Prada S/S 2011 ‘Minimal Baroque’ collection, for a sumptuously-coloured duo of scarves in patterns influenced by the curlicues and arabesques of barocco décor.

‘FANTASY’ proposes fantastical illustrations of the impossible – a surreal world of the feminine and the floral depicted by James Jean and Jeanne Detallante, the wild reveries of Prada.

Offered in a spectrum of sizes – both square and rectilinear – the foulards are crafted from silk-twill with hand rolled edges.

The Prada ‘DOUBLE MATCH’ foulard collection is on sale now; the accompanying trio of collections will join throughout the beginning of 2019, offered to clients at selection of Prada boutiques across the world, and via the digital flagship prada.com.

TO SHOP PRADA ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada

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

Something for my Swiss based readers today, especially for those who are looking for some cute Christmas gifts that you cannot find anywhere else. Let me introduce you to one of my dear friends Nina who started her business «Nina and the City» formerly known as «Kids and the City» 10 years ago as she was giving birth to her second child and the series «Sex and the City» was at its peak popularity. At the time, the focus was on personalized accessories for urban babies as the original name of the company indicated. My avid readers might still remember, for all others have a look at previous posts from 2010 and 2013.

Nina is a great business woman combining motherhood and her pop-up store in an amazing way. Her concept grew quickly and over the years the scope of the business broadened by including accessories for urban mothers being it textile or jewelry.

Today, «Nina and the City» distributes over 80 brands from all over the world. The differentiation lies in the uniqueness and the smaller scale productions of the products that range from fully affordable to more exclusive. The secret is in the discovery of unknown brands around the world in which Nina – the «truffle dog» as her friends call her – excels.

As every year, Nina and the City will soon open its doors again for a traditional
Private Christmas Sale.

Dates
Oct 31 – Nov 3 : 9 am – 7 pm
Nov 4: 9 am – 2 pm
Nov 6-7 : 9 am – 7 pm

Address
Binderstrasse 61, 8702 Zollikon, Switzerland

For us, she gave us a sneak preview about what to expect and told us about her favorites that will be available for sale next week:

These rings look so adorable stacked! Wear the initials of your family…

Rings – diamond rings with initials that are made out of 18 kt solid yellow, white or rose gold. The diameter of the circle is 8mm and the initial is surrounded by 0,17-0,21 kt (depends on which initial) white (F-VS), brown or black diamonds. This gives an amazing sparkle. To top it off a black rhodium can be added. The rings are stackable for those who have more loved ones to honour with initials. The rings are fully tailored for a very affordable price.

A beautiful look from Manidou

Fashion – cashmere from la Capra, women fashion from Ann&Line, scarves from Manidou (all Swiss brands!) and capes from the Capemädchen.

A personalized bangle

Personalized jewelry – broad variety of personalized jewelry from bangles to bracelets or necklaces in different gold tones, plated or solid, with diamonds or without and for every budget.

With plenty of unique gift ideas and Christmas around the corner, it’s definitely an event not to be missed! See you there!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands via Nina and the City

Sandra’s Closet is very proud to be the first one to announce the launch of the new Swiss based label “BRAND OF SISTERS“. The entire project is the brainchild of two visionaries, Martina Vondruska and Barbara Portaluri.

Martina Vondruska and Barbara Portaluri

The two brunettes had a fantastic idea, merging a fashion label with a social enterprise. The shared vision of the two founders is to combine the world of luxury together with the rough reality of most of the less fortunate «Sisters» around the world.

HALF OF EVERYTHING THEY MAKE GOES TO SUPPORT GIRLS AND WOMEN’S CAUSES AROUND THE WORLD. THAT IS 50 % STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE AND THE PROMISE THEY MAKE.

Brand of Sisters‘ first non-governmental organization (NGO) partner is Girl Rising – a global campaign for the improvement of girl’s lives through the power of education. Let’s believe in sisterhood where giving back and making a difference and caring for each other all come together. Shopping and helping others in one, what could be better, ladies?! So let’s have a look at what Brand of Sisters has to offer.

The new label invites the most desirable established and emerging designers to produce beautiful, unique and highly covetable pieces for their collections, launching their line with an iconic debut scarves collection from Italian designer Gabriele Colangelo.

Gabriele Colangelo with me

Some of you might remember his innovative designs from a previous post when Gabriele came to Switzerland for the opening night of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2013.

The first collection of 15 scarves is now available online HERE. Here are some of my favorites:

Scarf «Jason Martin»

Scarf «Fog in the Woods»

Scarf «City Lights»

Brand of Sisters believes in sisterhood where giving back and making a difference and caring for each other all come together. So let’s help them to make this great idea a huge success! Enjoy your virtual shopping spree and share their wonderful website and their powerful message.

Happy Thoughts Sisters!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Brands of Sisters/ © Daniel Reiter, © Sandra Bauknecht

FOULARDS D’ARTISTES III NEW CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS FOR S/S 2014

This summer, Louis Vuitton continues its world tour of the vibrant street art scene by inviting three new artists from three different continents to collaborate on its collections of textile. The artists of this third season are André Saraiva, famed for his jaunty ‘Mr. A’ character who inhabits the walls of Paris, American Kenny Scharf, and INTI from Chile.

ANDRÉ SARAIVA
For André Saraiva, his studio drop cloth was the inspiration for the background of his interpretation of Louis Vuitton’s Monogram shawl. Once he had translated his paint spatters to the luxurious silk and wool wrap, it became a natural habitat for ‘Mr. A’, the artist’s signature blue figure with asymmetrical eyes.

KENNY SCHARF
Californian Kenny Scharf, a remarkable figure in the worlds of painting, sculpture and performance, describes himself as a pop-surrealist artist whose guiding principle is to reach out beyond the elitist boundaries of fine art and to connect to popular culture. He has covered Louis Vuitton’s giant silk crepe square with a colorful collage of astronomic motifs and symbols of pop culture on a blurred psychedelic background.

INTI
True to his name, derived from the Inca sun god, INTI is inspired by ancestral Andean culture, which he transcribes in brightly colored, monumental works. He revisits the giant square with a sun motif referencing the image of ‘Wiracocha’, god of TIWANAKU culture, one of the most important Inca deities. Infused with warm shades of gold and orange, the design is bordered in red with a pattern of ancient symbols surrounding the Louis Vuitton signature.

Alongside these artistic collaborations, Louis Vuitton introduces further new designs for S/S 2014.

Two are variations on the iconic leopard print created for Louis Vuitton by the artist Stephen Sprouse: the Leopard Spray giant silk crepe square combines leopard spots with a spray-paint motif in vibrant fuchsia or pimento,…

… while the Leopard Pop stole, available in coral or pimento, presents a delicate arty gradation of shades.

The Monogram Rayures shawl juxtaposes faded denim-style stripes with lines of brighter coral or pimento,…

… while the Papillon silk square is woven with a subtle tone-on-tone Monogram pattern. Its generous size and array of colors, including beige, black, fuchsia, orange and violet, make it a stylish and versatile choice all year round.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton