Sandra‘s Closet

On April 22nd, 2010 Christie`s will be honouring the 40th annual celebration of Earth Day to raise awareness and funds for our planet with their inaugural Green Auction. In case you are thinking this will only be a bash for Birkenstock-lovers, you are completely mistaken. In the 21th century, the green movement can go well together with the luxury lifestyle. The fashion industry has united with the art, philantrophy, finance and celebrity worlds to make “A Bid to Save the Earth”. The auction boasts several unique “once-in-a-lifetime” fashion-themed lots including for example a custom-made scent by Nina Ricci or jewellery by Harry Winston.
Please find below my very own favourites:

“The Rape of Africa”, that will be auctioned off, is the first official art piece by David LaChapelle not shot for a magazine. The famous fashion photographer got his inspiration from Botticelli`s Venus and Mars painting. In his work, Naomi Campbell is the African Venus showing many of the horrors endured by the Africans including diamond mining.
I am a big fan of LaChapelle`s work in general. What seems truly interesting to me is that he is obviously attacking his colleague Damien Hirst. Hirst`s famous diamond skull is laying at the feet of the child to the right and is definitely reduced a symbol of cruelty. The catalogue has been published by the Alex Daniels-Reflex Gallery.

You can buy a lunch with Vera Wang at the famous Mercer Kitchen restaurant in NYC and get a $10.000 credit to her flagship store. Might be a good idea for bridal shoppers.

If you get the following lot, your first fitting for “His and Hers” bespoke suits made of sustainable fabric will be by the queen of ecological chic herself: Stella McCartney.

I love the “Forever Now” package including a vintage 1960`s Bamboo Bag from Gucci`s archive in Florence, and a New Bamboo bag designed and customized by Creative Director Frida Giannini exclusively for the Christie`s Green Auction, in addition to two tickets to the women`s runway show in Milan, and backstage access to meet the designer herself.

Last but not least, Giorgio Armani is giving a glamorous evening outfit to accompany the “Los Angeles Oscars experience”, complete with tickets to the Vanity-Fair-After-Party.

To me, the Green movement is a wonderful idea. The silent auction starts on April 8th and goes until May 6th. Details on how to participate in the silent auction or how to donate, volunteer and act can be found at “A Bid to Save the Earth”. The live auction will be on April 22nd in New York at Christie`s Rockefeller Center.

LoL, Sandra

If you don`t want to spend so much on such an eyecatching dress that everybody will remember you in, the smocked version from the H&M Garden Collection in organic cotton with a floral pattern is a great choice. The price (£29.99, $39.95, €39.95) is very attractive and like that you can`t go wrong.

To the Ladies in Red!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Stella McCartney and H&M

Green comes in all shades this summer. Due to the military trend on the runways, camouflage prints and olive colours are among the must-haves. In addition floral patterns were seen everywhere along with soft pastel peppermint tones. Here are some of my suggestions to get the look right. Start mixing different shades and add some flower accessories like the cute Vivienne Westwood bag or Oscar de la Renta headband above.

A great entrance makes the combination of camouflage and animal print. A military jacket like Balmain’s stunning interpretation here is the absolute It-piece this season along with Stella McCartney‘s camouflage print dress.

Mint green is always lovely in union with different water colours like turquoise for example. Do the unexpected and add a bold accessory to get that twist that is so hard to copy.
My preferred choice is yellow as it works great with all sorts of green.

Happy Saint Patrick`s day to my Irish readers!

LoL, Sandra

Today net-à-porter.com`s new wedding boutique went finally online. You can choose between many different amazing styles for the bride, the bridesmaid and the mother of the bride.  Also available are fabulous lingerie and great items for your honeymoon.

Have a look at my suggestions for the perfect wedding-day chic and enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Lace top by Stella McCartney and suit by Yves Saint Laurent

Jacket and skirt by Alberta Ferretti

Dress by Lanvin Blanche

With lots of love from me for Valentine`s Day I styled some beautiful looks for you. Light pastels are everywhere this summer. Romanticism seeks for special attention. Especially nude and pale pink are among the favourite shades. Hairbands, ruffles, frills, lace and pearls would be a good way to finish your soft and glowing appearance. But it is not all about sweetness, it is more about a sugar-coated glamour that speaks the language of feminine sexuality.

Unveil the new pretty and the love will be all yours! Happy Valentine`s Day!

LoL, Sandra

Jumpsuits are so hot again and the material of the moment is definitely lace. So here is a stunning look by Stella McCartney combining both. The London designer is known for her true love for these all-in-ones and is including them in every collection. This one here comes in two different versions: One (above and on Victoria Beckham below) is made of sequined lace with embellished shoulders and a deeper neckline. It can even be made to measure. For further enquiries contact the London store: +44 (0)20 7518 3100.

The other model (below to the right) is a little more basic without the sequins and sharp cuts. You can order it at www.net-a-porter.com. I like the idea of combining that beautiful jumpsuit with dark or olive green accessories.

A little anecdote regarding the development of this lovely piece. Stella McCartney attended with her close friends Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson the Met Gala 2009 in New York.

She made this jumpsuit in her suite at the Carlyle a few hours before the party with her girlfriends who were all dressed in Stella`s designs. Obviously they all had a blast cutting the lace fabric and sticking it together.

Unfortunately the Daily Mail called Stella the worst dressed attendee wearing “Granny`s lace curtains” that night. To me, totally unfair. I think that she looked stunning. But nevertheless tastes differ. What do you think?

LoL, Sandra

The new movie “Leap Year”  starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode is hitting the cinemas today. The romantic comedy is about the Irish tradition that women may only propose to men in leap years on February 29th. It is believed this antiquated custom was started in 5th century  Ireland by the legendary St. Patrick.

In the movie, Anna (Amy Adams) is disappointed because her boyfriend does not ask the important question on their four-year anniversary. Therefore she wants to take matters into her own hands and follows him to Dublin to get down on one knee herself on Leap Day. But before that she has to face all sorts of problems as she is stranded on the other side of the Emerald Isle due to bad weather conditions. With the help of an innkeeper named Declan (Matthew Goode) she travels across the beautiful country and experiences that the road to love can be unexpected.

As I am really looking forward to seeing this movie, I got inspired to create an outfit for the perfect proposal in the Irish countryside. Wouldn`t Anna look awesome in this cute belted flower dress by Stella McCartney combined with the faux-fur cocoon shrug by Elizabeth and James to keep her warm?! As it can be really muddy, the adorable quilted wellingtons by Marc Jacobs would be a functional but stylish addition to this cute look. And last but not least who could resist her glamorous embroidered sequined clutch by Stella McCartney and the vintage Bulgari pieces? Me- definitely not!

LoL, Sandra