Sandra‘s Closet

Arriving perfectly dressed for the new season, the F/W 2021 Prêt-à-Portea collection at The Berkeley Hotel in London showcases couture cakes inspired by designers from Ganni to Gucci. A contemporary twist on afternoon tea, this playful and stylish edit is set to become another favourite for sweet-toothed fashionistas.

This season’s collection opens with a striking ensemble from Balenciaga Couture – reimagined as a velvety mandarin cheesecake, topped with an oversized chocolate hat. While a delicately spiced and intricately iced biscuit – complete with red lipstick and oversized glasses – is our pastry team’s fitting tribute to fashion icon Iris Apfel’s 100th birthday.

Seasonal flavours are firmly on the menu, with the cassis mousse with blackcurrant jelly, depicting Stella McCartney’s psychedelic jumpsuit. A Pink Lady apple pavlova is a refreshing nod to Giambattista Valli’s avant-garde look, and a hazelnut dacquoise with salted caramel sees cult Danish brand Ganni make its Prêt-à-Portea debut.

The season’s centrepiece is a made-to-share red velvet mascarpone mousse, finished with a chocolate truffle riding hat – straight from Gucci’s 100th anniversary collection.

As always, your tea also includes elegant canapés and sandwiches, with a selection of loose-leaf teas from our extensive collection.

Until 2 January 2022, festive Prêt-à-Portea will be served only, from £79 per person. This will include our fashion-inspired delicacies, as well as festive treats and your choice of a mocktail, a glass of champagne or a glass of mulled wine.

From 11 – 14 Feburary, 26 & 27 March and 15 – 18 April 2022, the seasonal Prêt-à-Portea will be served only, from £79 per person. This will include our fashion-inspired delicacies, as well as seasonal treats and your choice of a glass of champage or a mocktail.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Berkeley and Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored.

Two years after her first THE BEATLES capsule collection, Stella McCartney reveals a new collaboration with the famous band, timed to Peter Jackson’s documentary, «The Beatles: Get Back», which debuted on Disney+ this Thanksgiving weekend. The three-part film chronicles – with cuts from over 60 hours of never-before-seen footage and unheard recordings – covers the making of the Beatles’ 1970 album «Let It Be», which had the working title of «Get Back».

For the occasion, Stella, who is the daughter of Beatles Paul McCartney, developed a limited collection using a mix of iconic and less-familiar Beatles images and graphics, all produced to the same rigorous, sustainable standards as her main line.

It is featuring graphic prints and off-duty silhouettes, the new genderless Get Back capsule celebrates music, community and positive change. Every piece is unisex and is available exclusively in Stella McCartney stores and on Net-à-Porter.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Stella McCartney
DISCLOSURE: All products featured on Sandra’s Closet are independently curated by me. However, when you buy something through the retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

One jacket, two looks. Power shoulders have always made a strong statement in fashion and they work with pants and skirts. The strong shoulder is most associated with the 80s, but it first had a heyday in the 30s and 40s, as a sign of women’s liberation, when the female suit was primarily birthed. I love this versatile Balenciaga jacket that comes with a built-in skirt. One piece, many options and styles … statement fashion for the woman of the new 20s.

My look: Oversized plaid wool jacket with built-in skirt detail (2017) by Balenciaga, cropped high-rise wide-leg jeans by Stella McCartney, cashmere circles appliqué scarf and logo striped oversized silk shirt, both by Prada, New Abby tweed sailor cap by Maison Michel, JW-charm gold-plated choker by JW Anderson, bean embellished leather tote by Simone Rocha, Vita suede platform sandals by Amina Muaddi, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis, and leopard face mask by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Amazing news for all fashion addicts. Our beloved Phoebe Philo announced that she is returning to the world of fashion with an independent, namesake label with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton as a minority investor.

«Being in my studio and making once again has been both exciting and incredibly fulfilling,» Philo said in a brief statement. «I am very much looking forward to being back in touch with my audience and people everywhere. To be independent, to govern and experiment on my own terms is hugely significant to me.»

A graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins fashion college, Philo was classmates with Stella McCartney. Being close friends, Philo joined Stella at Chloé in 1997 as her design assistant succeeding her as creative director in 2001 when McCartney left to set up her own fashion house in a joint venture with Gucci Group.

With her amazing personal style, Philo succeeded in accelerating Chloé’s rejuvenation and catapulting it into the high-margin leather goods business. During her tenure, Chloé’s look was widely copied by fast-fashion chains and she created hit handbags like the Paddington (see photo below) and Silverado.

In 2006 Philo left Chloé. During this break from the industry, she moved back to London to be with her family and had her second child. In 2008, LVMH offered her a job as creative director and board member of the French Maison Céline, where she set up her studio for the company and continued to work in London whilst showing in Paris. She agreed, and presented her debut collection the next year to much critical acclaim.

In 2017 after 10 years of working at Céline and much speculation in the media it was announced that Philo would step down as the creative director of Céline after the Pre-Fall 2018 collection.

Phoebe Philo’s work at Céline redefined what women aspire to wear, with her minimalist aesthetic, clean lines and tonal colour palette gaining traction with critics and consumers alike. Consistently name checked by fashion insiders as the label they want to wear, Philo successfully resuscitated a tired Parisian house and recast it as an imperative part of each season’s fashion dialogue.

It is said that Phoebe has had a small team working in London since late last year to set up her own company.

«I have had a very constructive and creative working relationship with LVMH for many years. So it is a natural progression for us to reconnect on this new project. I have greatly appreciated discussing new ideas with Bernard Arnault and Delphine Arnault and I am delighted to be embarking on this adventure with their support,» Phoebe explained.

Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH, called Philo «one of the most talented designers of our time.»

«We have known her and appreciated her for a long time. Phoebe contributed to the success of the group through her magnificent creations over several years,» he said. «With this in mind, I am very happy to partner with Phoebe on her entrepreneurial adventure and wish her great success.»

I am so excited to see Phoebe’s first collection as I still love to wear all her previous designs at Chloé and Céline. According to an interview with WWD, Phoebe Philo’s eponymous label create clothing and accessories «rooted in exceptional quality and design.» More details about her new brand are said to be revealed in January 2022.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Phoebe Philo, Chloé and Céline

As promised here are all the details of the beautiful young look my daughter Anouk wore in yesterday’s post with me. I love how she gave the cropped top such an edge by combining it with a floral dress and Dr. Martens.

Get her look: Off-the-shoulder cropped cotton-blend jersey sweatshirt by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Embry ruffled floral-print georgette midi dress by Reformation, Rose des Vents necklace in rose gold with diamonds and red lacquered ceramic by Dior Fine Jewellery, Falabella crossbody bag by Stella McCartney, Jadon patent leather platform boots by Dr. Martens, and Ivy sunglasses by Foster Grant.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Just smile – Easter weekend is calling and the sun is out. Blue jeans and a white tee are always a good idea and I love them in combination with my favorite spring cardigan, for which Stella McCartney asked artist and friend Jeff Koons to create the artwork for «K is for Kindness» in her #StellaAtoZ series, and the message is spread loud and clear on the back of this cardigan. The perfect remedy for gloomy days and a must-have for for eternal optimists, it’s knitted with cheerful intarsia of a natural landscape reminding you to smile.

My look: Kind intarsia wool and cotton-blend cardigan by Stella McCartney, white cotton cropped top (Look 44 Pre-collection Summer 2021), and AirPods Pro case in white, both by CHANEL, high rise straight jeans with embellishments by Dolce & Gabbana, iPhone cover in blue ostrich leather by The Collector, and Lady Bug 100 patent leather pumps by Christian Louboutin.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken inside the fumoir at Gstaad Palace Hotel.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

After a year like no other, supporting and celebrating feels more important than ever for NET-A-PORTER that showcase their #PowerToChange commitment by collaborating with incredible female designers to create an exclusive INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EDIT, reflecting the designers’ personal interpretation of female empowerment. 13 exclusive pieces across ready-to-wear, lifestyle and jewelry, with 100 percent of the NET-A-PORTER profits donated to Women for Women International, helping women living in war-torn countries rebuild their lives and creating lasting change in their communities.

To showcase these 13 exclusive fabulous pieces, some incredible women have been invited to wear these T-shirts with pride, among them supermodel, mother, writer and activist Coco Rocha, Interior designer, culinary storyteller and entertaining expert Athena Calderone and Model, student and co-author of Mixed Feelings, Naomi Shimada, just to name a few.

The exclusive collection consists of nine T-shirts, designed by Stella McCartney, Emilia Wickstead, Westman Atelier, Tove, Anya Hindmarch, Jennifer Fisher, Simone Rocha, Amina Muaddi and Ninety Percent; jewelry by Roxanne Assoulin and Alighieri, and homeware by Anissa Kermiche.

Model and LGBTQ+ campaigner Teddy Quinlivan sports Westman Atelier’s ‘FORCE FEMININE’ T-shirt.

«Nothing is more powerful than women connecting, inspiring and advocating for
each other which is why I’m so honored to be supporting Women for Women International. We have to invest in those who are held back by social, cultural and economic inequality. Women are the driving force of change.» – Gucci Westman / Wetsman Atelier

Author, writer and founder of Gal-Dem – the award-winning media company committed to sharing the perspectives of people of color from marginalized communities – Liv Little is wearing the Tove ‘Womanhood’ embroidered T-shirt.

In addition to the donation of 100 percent of profits from the sales within this collection, for every public post tagged #PowerToChange, @womenforwomen and @netaporter on TikTok or Instagram, between now to March 8, 2021, NET-A-PORTER will donate $1 to Women for Women International.  I encourage you to take part in this, so please do share your posts and pledges!

TO SHOP THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EDIT, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Net-à-Porter
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Dropping on 3rd of December at 14:00 GMT: Stella McCartney‘s first three exclusive artist tees, all individually numbered, limited-edition pieces featuring the artworks of George Condo, Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman and supporting causes of their choosing. Inspired by the McCartney A to Z Manifesto, only 30 of each will be made globally.

Stella’s A to Z Manifesto originated during lockdown; a moment of pause that allowed the community to reflect and return to the world more mindful. A guiding alphabet, each of the 26 letters is a conversation about our values, brought to life through the visions of global artists – ranging from next-gen talents to friends of Stella like Olafur Eliasson, Jeff Koons, Sam Taylor-Johnson and more.

Blending fashion, art and sustainability, this is what Stella does best!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Stella McCartney

I am moving houses at the moment. The only problem is that the new house is not ready yet and completely under construction. It is a fact, there is no way you can live there. Therefore I need to move in an interim solution and store some of my stuff. No fun, I can assure you that. However, I am not losing my smile and lend a hand with the refurbishing whenever I can. In style… of course.

My look: Intarsia knitted track jacket, and matching knitted track pants, both by Stella McCartney, ruffled boxy shirt in olive green by Miu Miu, heart monogram-print face mask by Dolce & Gabbana, Multi Pochette Accessories in monogram canvas and rubber LV Archlight sneaker, both by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

The official start of summer is coming soon, so it’s time to pack away our boots and trade them in for airier shoes, like the ever-popular espadrilles, the absolute summer shoe.

This season, they take tying to a whole new level being trimmed with crisscrossing laces all over the shoe, eye-catching details made for not only tropical vacationing but also a stroll through the city. If you live in a city like Zurich, you’ll appreciate the cobblestone-friendly footwear so much.

LoL, Sandra

Suede espadrilles by Off-White

Gaia canvas platform espadrilles by Stella McCartney

Logo-print tie suede & jute espadrilles by Loewe Paula’s Ibiza

Gina canvas & jute espadrilles by Castañer

125 laser-cut leather-trimmed canvas wedge espadrilles by Alaïa

Crystal-embellished canvas & jute espadrilles by Loewe Paula’s Ibiza

Cucu 80 canvas & jute espadrille wedges by Castañer

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
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