Sandra‘s Closet

Giorgio Armani‘s beautiful ROUGE & BLACK ECSTASY collection is inspired by two of the most prominent colors: red and black. Strong and seductive, those shades are made for the Femme Fatale inside you.

I love the Rouge Ecstasy lipstick collection with its lightweight yet pigment-rich texture. Now there are three bold and vibrant new shades, all with oriental names.

ROUGE ECSTASY CHF 56.00
#404 Spice – #405 Orient – #406 Sultan (pictured) – (all Limited Edition).

All shades are also available as matte lip lacquers – LIP MAESTRO CHF 51.00 (#404 Spice pictured).

Part of this elegant collection is the new Black Ecstasy Mascara. Its high-tech technology that contains a black hosting polymer helps you to achieve thicker, longer and intensified lashes in a single stroke. Available in 4 different shades.

BLACK ECSTASY CHF 51.00
#01 Obsidian Black (pictured) – #02 Armani Navy (Limited Edition) – #03 Wood – #04 Tadzio (Limited Edition).

In Switzerland, the new collection will be launched in September 2014. The perfect products for sensual red lips and dramatic black lashes. Love this collection and I am sure that you will, too!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Friday one week ago, I went to the iconic Rive Gauche Summer Party at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich. The theme of the beautiful event was “ARIGATAU LAC – A NIGHT OF ASIAN DELIGHT“. With many enchanting performances, yummy food and lots of champagne, it still keeps its crisp flavour of freshness as the first social event after the summer break when everybody in the city enjoys the “to see and to be seen” part a lot! The dress code was “Asian Cocktail, Tokyo-Chic, Dress to Impress the West.” I didn’t want to wear a traditional cheongsam (Mandarin gown) as I was sure most of the guest would show up in something similar so I went for this origami-inspired gown spiced with some Chinese ideographs on my bag.

My look: Draped jersey dress by Givenchy, Jane sandals with chunky silver-tone studding by Saint Laurent, “Take Away” bag by Chanel, diamond bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery, Limelight Gala watch by Piaget, necklace and earrings by Dior.

For the photos of last year’s Rive Gauche Summer Party, please click HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography and © Sandra Bauknecht

A perennial favourite, leopard print takes centre stage this season. Whether you choose traditional spots or a colour-injected style, balance the look with ultra-chic extras to truly master the trend. This is how the trend works best, balance the eye-catching effect of an animal-printed statement jacket with elegant layers and great tailoring. Finish off your outfit with some fun heels and a pastel colored bag.

Get the look: Leopard-print calf hair peacoat by Gucci, pussy-bow chiffon blouse by Chloé, high-rise wool tapered pants by Victoria Beckham, D-Cube Piccolo Check leather tote by Tod’s and Desirée leopard-print calf hair pumps by Charlotte Olympia.

LoL, Sandra

Tuesday evening, I attended the Estée Lauder press conference in Zurich at the Metropol restaurant. The famous house celebrates this years its 50th anniversary in Switzerland and has been since decades the number one beauty brand in the country. Therefore we were spoilt with this yummy cake and amazing products.

Many new launches will take place during the next months but two have absolutely caught my eyes and I couldn’t wait any longer to share them with you.

The new ENLIGHTEN range is designed to work as a trio to provide prevention and treatment for pigmentation, day and night. It includes a moisturizer, a serum and a completely new product, the EE (Even Effect) cream. Yes, after BB and CC creams, there is now an EE cream, not a double D! It gives you an even skin tone while defending environmental stressors, protecting against UV rays with a SPF 30 and building a barrier against pollution and free radicals. I have been sold immediately!

Enlighten Serum CHF 95.00 (30ml) and CHF 142.00 (50ml)
Enlighten Moisturizer CHF 95.00 (50ml)
Enlighten EE Cream in Light, Medium and Deep CHF 52.00 (30ml)
In stores from October 22, 2014.

The house’s new flanker fragrance MODERN MUSE CHIC is a warm and sensual scent that I personally like much more than the original Modern Muse that had been launched last year.
Please click HERE for the interview with the face of the campaign Arizona Muse.

FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Plum and artemisia
Middle notes: Jasmine sambac, tuberose and lily
Base notes: Cashmere wood, agarwood, labdanum, patchouli, ebony tree, musk, madagascar vanilla and suede

Modern Muse Chic Eau de Parfum Spray is available from September 2014 for CHF 68.00 (30ml), CHF 98.00 (50ml) and CHF 138.00 (100ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

Available from today is the new and amazing collaboration between Edgardo Osorio‘s shoe cult brand Aquazurra (for a previous post please click HERE) and style icon Olivia Palermo.

The collection features a little something for everyone’s closet, from suede boots made from the Italian label’s patented ultra-soft cashmere leather to lace-up gladiator heels and embellished sparkling sandals.

The pieces are sold in 12 specially selected stores around the world and luckily, if you aren’t in one of those major cities, the collaboration is also available exclusively on Net-à-Porter.

Hurry up to snag our own pairs before they all sell out. Below are my favorites. I attached you the photos with the shoes on the models as you really have to see them worn. So beautiful!

LoL, Sandra

Embellished suede sandals

Cutout leather sandals

Suede ankle boots

Photos: © Getty Images and Courtesy of Net-à-porter

World-renowned architect, Frank Gehry, winner of the 1989 Pritzker Prize, is turning his talents to the design of window displays for the first time. In September, Louis Vuitton store windows will feature Gehry’s sculptures alongside its F/W 2014 collection.

Passers-by and visitors will be able to view exclusive content when they scan the window displays with their mobile phones using the Louis Vuitton Pass app.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Do you suffer from serious eyebrow envy looking at Cara Delevingne?! Here is your cure: Giorgio Armani‘s new EYE & BROW MAESTRO, a cream to create the perfect natural brow that lasts for over 20 hours. It can even be used as eyeliner, eyeshadow and even sculpt the face or colour the hair line.

Linda Cantello, International Make-Up Artist, Giorgio Armani, “I wanted to offer women an innovative product inspired by my needs backstage on Giorgio Armani fashion shows, a product that does all, that would be fast and faultless when applied, long lasting, and fault proof.”

The promised results are amazing, EYE & BROW MAESTRO is easy to blend and work with. Available in nine shades worldwide, of which six are in stores in Switzerland: 01 Black, 02 Drak Brown, 03 Red (One Shot), 04 Medium Brown, 05 Light Brown and 06 Blond for CHF 46.00 each.

There’s a fabulous brush for application which is essential for sculpting the brows that can be bought separately. EYE & BROW BRUSH, CHF 43.00.

For a Brow Know How Guide with Anastasia, the Queen of Eyebrows, please click HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Giorgio Armani Beauty

Supermodel Cara Delevingne is undoubtedly taking over the world, just named one of the industry’s highest-paid models by Forbes. Her face can be seen in multiple ads, she has walked a gazillion of runway shows, Mulberry named a bag collection after her and the blonde beauty is one of the “Instagirls” on the cover of American Vogue’s famous September issue.

Her latest coup, as the face of Tom Ford Black Orchid fragrance, has landed her in a pool of orchids photographed by Mario Sorrenti. Aren’t her eyebrows just divine?!

LoL, Sandra

Vogue US Cover September 2014 shot by Mario Testino

Chanel F/W 2014 Ad Campaign photographed by Karl Lagerfeld

On Saturday evening, I attended the Zoofäscht 2014 one of the highlights of Zurich’s social calendar. The black tie event takes place every second year and collects money to support the Zurich Zoo. This time, CHF 850.000 were collected for the new Yak-enclosure.

My look: Striped tiered feather jacket by Givenchy, cutout crepe gown by Alexander McQueen, Jane leather sandals by Saint Laurent, satin clutch by Prada, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring, both by Piaget, earrings by Chanel and diamond bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

With my dearest friend Dusa Bibus at the Zoofäscht 2014

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This fall, CHANEL launches its new poetic makeup collection ÉTATS POÉTIQUES inspired by passion and emotion with the main focus on eyes.

Eyeshadow aficionados should be all over it – along with a neutral shadow quad, the new releases include six shades of Ombre Essentielle singles. A redesigned eyeliner pen defines a tone of mystery with a sleek felt tip for ultimate precision.

It is an intriguing game of opposites: innocent and stormy, soft and intense. A spectrum of pink shades, a poetic tenderness, balanced with tones of purple, radiant yellow and dramatic grey.

Art of poetry that we love… here is the complete collection:

LE TEINT
Joues Contraste Powder Blush (CHF 60.00)
160 Innocence

LE REGARD
Les 4 Ombres (CHF 77.00)
234 Poésie

Ombre Essentielle (CHF 43.00)
102 Sensation (ivory pink)
104 Palpitation (soft rose)
106 Hésitation (pink plum)
108 Exaltation (bright pink)
112 Pulsion (deep plum)
114 Admiration (golden yellow)

Ecriture de Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyeliner (CHF 49.00)
10 Noir
20 Brun

LES LEVRES
Rouge Coco Shine (CHF 46.00)
93 Intime (soft pink)
94 Confident (intense rosewood)

Rouge Coco Shine Full Colour (CHF 46.00)
95 Viva (raspberry)
96 Aura (plum)

Lèvres Scintillantes (CHF 41.00)
189 Rose Rêvé (milky pink)
191 Songe (iridescent pearl)

LES ONGLES
Le Vernis (CHF 35.00)
625 Secret (nude)
629 Atmosphere (iridescent pearl)
631 Orage (grey blue)

My favorite shade is 625 Secret, it is just the perfect nude tone that suits every skin color.
The collection will hit the stores in Switzerland in the end of August 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel, Julien Claessens et Thomas Deschamps, © Sandra Bauknecht