Sandra‘s Closet

The Mediterranean love story of Dolce & Gabbana’s LIGHT BLUE fragrances returns with a fascinating new chapter. This time, the two lovers chart a new course, with Italian model Bianca Balti cast as a classic Mediterranean beauty who takes the lead in a game of seduction. She is irresistible to the gorgeous David Gandy.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are extremely proud of Light Blue’s legacy, which includes several fragrance awards. Light Blue was also featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York as one of the century’s most groundbreaking scents.

Bianca Balti’s character portrays the Italian femme fatale in perfection.

Light Blue Pour Femme is available as EdT 50ml (€ 69), 100ml (€ 93), Shower Gel 200ml (€ 34), Body Cream 200ml (€ 36) and Deodorant Spray 150ml (€ 34).

David Gandy celebrates his third Light Blue advertising campaign with this episode.

Light Blue Pour Homme is available as EdT 40ml (€ 49), 75ml (€ 61), 125ml (€ 86), Shower Gel 200ml (€ 28), Deodorant Spray 150ml (€ 28) and Deodorant Stick 75g (€ 28).

The advertising campaign features the glittering sapphire blue waters of Capri and was shot by Mario Testino. This time the imagery has a retro Mediterranean look, with Bianca dressed in a 50s style bikini of high-waisted briefs and a balcony bra, like the seaside fashion of Capri when Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy holidayed there. The island has always been one of Italy’s most beautiful summer playgrounds and the backdrop to many great love affairs.

Below you can enjoy some exclusive behind the scenes shots. David and Bianca look so stunning together… I love it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Any clue what those icons have in common? They all have their birthday today!

I have been truly amazed when I stumbled upon this fact. Marc Jacobs for example is celebrating his 50th and Jean Paul Belmondo his 80th birthday. Any astrologist among my readers who can explain me this phenomena please? Being born under the sign of aries, they are all creative and fashionable…

1 Jean-Paul Belmondo, French actor; 1933
2 Martin Margiela, Belgian fashion designer; 1957
3 Anna dello Russo, Italian style icon; 1962
4 Marc Jacobs, American fashion designer; 1963
5 Paulina Porizkova, Czech model; 1965
6 Leighton Meester, American actress; 1986
7 Sara Blomqvist, Swedish model; 1989
8 Kristen Stewart, American actress; 1990
9 Elle Fanning, American actress and Rodarte muse; 1998

Happy Birthday, also to Hugh Hefner (1922) and Dennis Quaid (1954)!

LoL, Sandra

Sunday night, I had a blast in Paris at the Purple x Bulgari dinner at the famous Café de Flore, followed by the after party at Le Montana. The room was filled with the “Who’s Who in High Fashion” and of course many celebrities such as Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody.

Enjoy some of the impressions! It doesn’t get more “in” than here…

Caroline Gaimari (Purple) with me

Famous crowd: Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, Betony Vernon, Sandro Kopp, Waris Ahluwalia, and founder/owner of Purple Olivier Zahm

Arriving from the Givenchy F/W 2013 runway show with an extravagant hairdo: Models Magdalena Frackowiak and…

…Isabeli Fontana, here with Olivier Zahm

Patrick Liotard-Vogt (Chairman A Small World) and Olivier Zahm

Olivier Zahm and designer Haider Ackermann

Patrick Liotard-Vogt with me

Charlotte Stockdale, Derek Blasberg, Samantha Traina, and Gaia Repossi

One of my favourite designers: Olivier Theyskens with me

At the after party at Le Montana

Waris Ahluwalia

I truly had a blast and went to bed far too late. But when I got to my hotel room, I had a meltdown when spotting the fag burns in my beloved strapless lace and tulle dress by Dolce & Gabbana.

I truly hope that Dolce & Gabbana can save this amazing piece!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Purple © Stéphane Feugère, © Sandra Bauknecht

I have been in love with Jason Wu’s embellished lace and silk-chiffon gown from the first moment when I spotted it on Karlie Kloss at the Met Gala in May (Always good to be friends with a designer… you get to wear it first). Now, this stunning piece is in stores. Get Karlie’s look:

Embellished lace and silk-chiffon gown by Jason Wu, velvet pumps by Dolce & Gabbana, Tonda clutch bag by Diane von Furstenberg and jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels.

LoL, Sandra

This week, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich take place. In comparison to the Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, London and New York, those days focus more on the business-to-consumer side with tickets available for sale to get a feeling of high class fashion in reality. They are also devoted to helping upcoming young designers, enjoying the S/S 2013 collections of established and famous designers and to just having a lot of fun.

Speaking of which, the four-day event kicked off on Wednesday with the Mercedes-Benz Opening Night. Among the famous guests American actress and former model Lauren Hutton, the world’s first male supermodel Markus Schenkenberg and British singer Dionne Bromfield. 
MSGM di Massimo Giorgetti, Marco de Vincenzo, Mila Schön and Angelos Bratis presented their collections for the next season, followed by a musical performance of the Swiss band Pegasus. The culmination of the event was the runway show of Laurèl.

Spotted on the red carpet in the VIP-tent and later on the runway: Luisa Hartema, winner of Germany’s Next Topmodel 2012.

Markus Schenkenberg with me

How cool are the shoes of Patrick Liotard-Vogt, especially in combination with his purple pants…

Greek designer Angelos Bratis,“The Draper”, won the first prize of the “Who Is On next?” competion for emerging fashion designers in 2011, organized by AltaRoma and Vogue Italia. The international jury was composed by important names of the fashion industry such as Suzy Menkes (International Herald Tribune) and Franca Sozzani (Vogue Italia). His winning brought him international press acclaim and a new job. He just moved to Milan to design the Vionnet collection. I couldn’t think of a better match!

“I love the air, the sky and the people”, Massimo Giorgetti said about being in Zurich. He went on about his designs: “I love Indie music. MSGM is my soundtrack of the last six months when I was preparing the collection.” Massimo Giorgetti’s idea of MSGM is to mix and match great tradition with revolutionary ideas from the new millennium, and the first collections have been celebrated by the industry thanks to their inner iconoclastic and celebrative spirit.
To shop MSGM by Massimo Giorgetti click here.

Marco di Vincenzo is Italian fashion’s rising star. He started his career as one of Silvia Venturnini Fendi’s key assistant on accessories at Fendi. Now with his own line, he has gone spare for the S/S 2013 season, showing cotton poplin pieces with jersey backs, sporty with an interesting approach to volume.

Bianca Gervasio, Creative Director of Mila Schön, has a very good eye for colour and feminine cuts and showed a contemporary lightness paired with romantic details for the next summer. The young designer said about Zurich that she likes “the colourful and prismic light that gives it an elegant ambiance and its sophisticated people.”

Lauren Hutton, who had graced 27 Vogue covers, was sitting of course front row and told Annina Frey that “her beauty secret is having a good man in your life”.

At the Mercedes-Benz Opening Night, Laurèl sent their models in ’50s bikinis, pencil skirts and cute little tops down the runway. Highlight of the collection: The vibrant gowns.

The after party took place at the Park Hyatt and was a lot of fun.

Bianca Gervasio with me

Lauren Hutton at the after party framed by Raquel Marquard and me

Lauren Hutton’s backpack was hilarious.

Celebrating with Angelos Bratis and his friends.

Stay tuned for a detailed post of my outfit and of course all the other nights coming up soon. Unfortunately, I am little behind with my posts as my blog has experienced some technical problems during the last days due to maintenance work. You might have realized that the newsletter hasn’t been sent neither. My apologies for that!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In case that you are in the city of Zurich tomorrow, September 8, 2012 looking for your Cinderella shoe, you should pay a visit to the newly redecorated Giahi flagship store at Löwenstrasse 8 that is now Europe’s biggest tattoo and piercing studio. A famous guest is waiting there between 1-4 pm for an autograph session: He is none other than Rick Genest, aka Rico, aka Zombie Boy, aka the muse of Mugler’s and Gaga’s Nicola Formichetti.

Rick’s ambition was turning himself into a zombie after he had survived a brain tumor at the age of 16. After countless hours of tattoos, the 28-year-old performance artist has covered today 80% of his body with black ink. The skeleton tattooed Rick Genest walked on Mugler’s catwalk, starred in the house’s ad campaign and played in Lady Gaga’s video “Born This Way”.

I am completely fascinated by him. Last February, I saw him in NYC during Fashion Week and couldn’t take my eyes of him. Scary and intriguing at the same time.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Giahi, Vogue Hommes Japan, Zimbio, Getty Images and Courtesy of Mugler

“After creating Flowerbomb, we felt a twinge of jealousy: why aren’t we allowed our own bomb?” - Viktor & Rolf

In 2005, Viktor & Rolf launched its first bomb: a profusion of flowers in an excessively sensual fragrance for women… Created by famous perfumer Olivier Polge, the Flowerbomb legend was born. This September, men will have their turn.

Spicebomb, an explosion of the senses

Instant olfactory detonation. Viktor & Rolf is once again overturning convention with the help of Olivier Polge and revealing a fragrance that makes no concessions. An explosive concentrate of masculine sensuality. Surprising at first breath, its spices addictive from the very next second…

Top Notes: Chili, saffron, leather, tobacco and vetiver
Middle Notes: Bergamot and grapefruit
Base Notes: Elemi and pink pepper

Long-standing collaborators of Viktor & Rolf, the photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin created a visual campaign for Spicebomb that makes an instant impression.

The American model Sean O’Pry is in the line of sight: a mysterious, almost iconic beauty. Classic, but sexy. Virile, but sensual. What a feast for the eyes, ladies!

Just looking at the bottle you know that something is about to… go boom!

A tailor-made grenade revisited for a fragrance with an explosive scent. A chic and sophisticated weapon, given a twist with the arty touch that characterizes Viktor & Rolf. The ultimate detail: the fragrance is released by priming the pin.

Available end of September 2012.
EdT  50ml (CHF 89.-) and 90ml (CHF 119.-)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf

Givenchy’s Creative Director Riccardo Tisci asked models Stella Tennant, Joan Smalls, Stef van der Laan, Daniela Braga, Simone Nobili, Jarrod Scott, and Rodrigo Braga to come up with their best dance moves for the latest GIVENCHY RAVE ad campaign. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and styled by Carine Roitfeld. The clothes are divine, definitely on my shopping list this winter.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Givenchy

I know it is not even summer yet, but in fashion you are always thinking ahead. The first pre-fall pieces have been arriving in stores and Versace is the first of the major ad campaigns for F/W 2012 to be revealed.

Shot by photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott in a studio in London, it features model Elza Luijendijk with the same blunt razored bangs and bleached eyebrows that were present at the runway show, very gothic and dark. The men’s campaign shows male models Philipp Schmidt, Dmitriy Tanner and Kacey Carrig.

“I’m really thrilled with our new campaign. The result is bold, strong, iconic and perfectly conveys the sexy rock vibe of our Fall/Winter collection.”

- Donatella Versace

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versace

When I stumbled across the new US April Vogue and this amazing editorial featuring Kate Moss showcasing the most beautiful of January’s couture collections at the hotel Ritz in Paris, before closing its doors for renovation, I had to share this with you.

Lensed by one of my favourite photographers Tim Walker and styled by Grace Coddington, this is a feast for your eyes! Enjoy!

My Bleu Heaven
A cornflower-blue dress by Sarah Burton, reminiscent of 1950s couture, plays on proportion and contrast: nipped-in waist and voluminous skirt; flat jacquard against exploding lace. Alexander McQueen lace bustier jacquard dress.

At First Blush
Moss, in the bathroom of the Coco Chanel Suite, wears a petal-like cocktail dress and cape, inspired by a 1960 design, from a pink-and-silver cloque lamé created by Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Life Imitates Art I
Like the neoclassical crimson satin sofa, a dramatic tiered evening dress (Dior’s finale look) adds a jolt of brilliant color to the hushed palette of an Imperial Suite salon. Dior Haute Couture silk dress.

Life Imitates Art II
Bellhop Nicolas Deschamps balances a Roger Vivier silk-and-feather pump on his cap.

Sleeping Beauty
For three decades, Coco Chanel called the hotel her home. Here, the bedroom of the suite named for her. Armani Privé sequined embroidered flared bustier dress.

Boxed Out
Karl Lagerfeld took over the first-floor-spanning Imperial Suite, seen here, for his 1996 couture collection. Chanel Haute Couture embroidered organza flower coat and pumps.

Cocktail Hour
“I drink the French 76: vodka, sugar, lemon juice topped up with champagne; it’s the best drink ever, but it only tastes like that in the Hemingway Bar,” says Moss, here in L’Espadon. “Colin [Field, Ritz Paris head bartender] made it for my wedding. It doesn’t taste at all strong—and then, whoa, whoops-a-daisy!” Alexis Mabille Haute Couture burnished lamé dress and hat.

Light Show
“When I was with Johnny Depp, he always stayed there. I had an apartment in Paris at the time, but he said, ‘No, we’re staying at the Ritz,’ so he came by and swept me up to the Ritz—he didn’t want to slum it in my apartment!” Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.

Room Service
“Gianni’s [Versace] shows were amazing—and sooo convenient. Walk downstairs, go to work: Love that!” says Moss, with housekeepers Khadidja Fakri and Lollie Bacete (standing). Dior Haute Couture embroidered silk dress. Headpiece created by Julien d’Ys.

View From the Top
Giambattista Valli sent out a cinched draped-shoulder goddess dress in “a color so deep, so intense, you can almost smell it—like bougainvillea on the Mediterranean coast.” Giambattista Valli Haute Couture silk dress and necklace.

Special Delivery
In the Flower Room, a team of five florists overseen by floral designer Djordje Varda is charged with, among other things, selecting and arranging 10,000 blooms for the hotel each week.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Vogue, Tim Walker